SmileBox

If you're looking for a fun alternative to MixBook or a simple, straightforward digital scrapbooking program that yields eye-popping results, you should definitely check out SmileBox, a free downloadable program for Mac or PC that will turn your photos and even videos into a sleek digital keepsake.

You start by downloading and installing the program, and don't worry because it's not a RAM hog and runs fairly quickly and smoothly even on an older machine. Right when you start up the program the first time, the interface feels very familiar and easy to operate. Just upload your photos and even your videos into the project and simply begin inserting and arranging all your stuff until you're ready to finalize it. When you're finished, you can export your SmileBox to DVD or email it as a video file (my personal favorite), or even send SmileBox a little money and get an actual professionally printed copy of your scrapbook sent to you.

How does it work in the classroom?

SmileBox provides students and teachers alike with a great way to chronicle everything that happened throughout the course of a project, a class, a school year, a sports season, or even something as simple as an assembly or any special event. Students will have no difficulty at all picking up the fine nuances of getting the most out of the program, and their creations will be sure to raise some eyebrows. And remember if a student's work is truly worthy of high praise and lasting admiration, you can even cough up a little cash to get it printed and mailed to you.

Click here for a sample of what you can do.