Tuesday, Februar y 1, 2011
Oser Communications Group
Orlando
SMART TECHNOLOGIES DISPLAYS NEW SMART BOARD AT FETC 2011
COMPASSLEARNING BRINGS 21ST CENTURY SKILLS TO THE CLASSROOM
ESD: What new products is SMART showing at FETC?
NK: The featured product will be our new SMART Board 800 series interactive whiteboard. We’re calling it a new class of interactive whiteboard because it enhances collaboration by supporting multiuser writing and common multi-touch gestures. It offers features such as freestyle interactions, touch gestures and full object awareness, meaning that the whiteboard recognizes whether a user interacts using a finger, fist, pen or an eraser and responds accordingly. This series includes the 880 and 880i models, and the
In an era characterized by an indisputable crisis in American education, few topics generate more excitement and diverse opinions than that of 21st century skill development. Proponents herald it as the necessary step to recovering American students’ global academic competitiveness. Critics fear positive steps toward accountability and academic rigor will be replaced with “fuzzy” pedagogy and vague standards. In 2008, only 74.9 percent of American high school seniors received their diplomas*; the figures are even bleaker for students in poverty and students of color. In addition, the gap is widening between what colleges
RM: I’ve seen in real time the changes occur right in front of me. We’re at a tipping point, where leaders in education have to invest in getting their staffs trained to utilize the available technology, in turn allowing them to make more informed decisions. It’s just as simple as that. We want to avoid scenarios in which too much gear is purchased, or it’s purchased and not used as effectively as it can be. These are just a few of
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An interview with Nancy Knowlton, CEO of SMART Technologies.
TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE WITH ENO BY POLYVISION Angela Brotherton, ESL Teacher at Pittsburg Primary School, Texas, talks about PolyVision.
By Melanie Pritchett, Director of Education Policy, CompassLearning
SP CONTROLS’ NEW PRODUCT LINE WILL CHANGE THE WAY THE CLASSROOM WORKS The education market is a key focus for SP Controls of San Francisco, Calif. Gary Arcudi, SP Controls’ Director of Marketing, says attendees at FETC will see a revolutionary suite of products designed to give the instructor the freedom to teach and interact with all their technology tools anywhere in the classroom from an iPad.
WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, AVI-SPL FOCUSES ON ‘THE TOTAL SOLUTION’ AVI-SPL Vice President of Sales– Education, Rob Moss, reflects on where the education market is headed, and the role his company has to play.
ESD: What is your perspective on the current state of the education market?
TI DLP SHOWCASES INTERACTIVE 3D PROJECTOR TECH & DUAL-PEN FOR HANDS-ON LEARNING
ESD: What type of technology is employed in your school?
GA: We are really excited about this year’s show. We think that our new product offering will truly revolutionize and unify how teachers work with various technologies in the
Further advancing collaboration in the classroom, DLP’s new dual-pen and 3D interactive projector bring added opportunities for collaboration between teachers and their students as well as between students and their classmates. One example of this is DLP’s interactive projector, allowing teachers and students to manipulate projected images on any surface with the touch of a pen or from a distance without the need for calibration. Using a special interactive pen that functions similarly to a wireless mouse, teachers and students can interact with an image on the screen from up to 7 meters away by simply rolling, pointing, clicking, scrolling, navigating and writing. With new dual-pen capabilities classrooms can have two students interacting with the projected image at the
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ESD: How can you best describe Pittsburgh Primary?
AB: Pittsburg Primary is located in a small town in Northeast Texas. Our school is comprised of over 400 pre-kindergarten through first grade students. With several bilingual classrooms and four English as a Second Language [ESL] classrooms, the population at Pittsburg Primary is representative of our community’s diversity.
ESD: SP Controls is well known for its educator-friendly audio-visual control systems―what’s new for FETC 2011?
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ASC DIRECT OFFERS EDUCATIONAL TOOLS FOR GLOBAL LANGUAGE TRAINING George Washington, President, ASC Direct Inc., talks about what lies ahead for his company.
ESD: What does ASC Direct market?
GW: ASC Direct markets educational language tools used for global language training, ESL, ASL and language courseware produced in 130plus languages by the world’s No. 1 supplier, EuroTalk. ESD: What types of language tools do you offer?
GW: We have several options, such as our ReLANpro for use on desktop computers, MAC or PC, a turnkey cart-based Voyager lab which operates independently of the school’s wireless infrastructure, an Internet-based ReLANpro.NET language lab which operates from any PC connected to the Internet, and even an iPhone app for complete mobility and flexibility. ESD: What type of language learning courseware do you offer?
GW: We offer EuroTalk programs in over 130 languages. Many commonly taught languages offer six or seven levels in each language, so if you want your students to learn Spanish, Chinese or Arabic [modern or classical] we have sets of disks, or if you want less commonly taught languages such as Latin, Esperanto or Icelandic we have disks for those, too. ESD: Are language labs still a useful addition to a school’s equipment range?
GW: Yes, language labs are still being used to improve student’s aural and oral comprehension, a deeper understanding of the target language and culture of the country of study and improved communicative [spoken] skills. Language labs offer Advanced Placement™? Testing, allowing the teachers to test students and forward student tests to the College Board for grading.
ESD: How has the Internet affected the use and development of language labs?
GW: ASC has pioneered the development of the ReLANpro Mobile app which can be used on an iPhone or iPad. The app allows students to learn languages ‘on the go’ 24/7 with the approved content the teacher has uploaded to our secure online server. The app is a fully functioning, dual track language lab player recorder that allows ‘comparative’ playback and recording [students can listen to the teacher’s lesson and record their oral responses to a separate ‘track’]. ESD: What was the intention when developing the Voyager?
GW: To solve many of the problems encountered in schools such as computer lab scheduling conflicts, inadequate, slow networks and insufficient shared technology resources. Voyager is a completely self-contained language teaching solution ‘on wheels.’ Teachers are fully cognizant of ‘cow’s’ [computers on wheels] but the Voyager differs in as much as it operates completely free of the school’s wireless and server infrastructure. The student netbooks are draft-N based, allowing them to communicate with the cart’s internal N-based access point at speeds six times that of a G-based network, allowing seamless video and audio transmission to the student netbooks. Voyager is also AP Testing compliant, allowing teachers to use the cart for testing. Continued on Page 20
HOW SCHOOLWIRES HELPED ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL When the Dalai Lama comes for a visit, public attention follows. The spiritual leader of Tibet was scheduled to visit Costano Elementary School, part of the Ravenswood City School District, on Oct. 13, 2010, to engage in a public conversation with children who reside in East Palo Alto before an audience of more than 400 students and special guests. Knowing that the eyes of the world would be on them, school officials wanted to implement a new website that would better reflect the high-quality educational opportunities that the district provides for students and their families. However, there was one problem: His Holiness was arriving in eight days. For most districts, migrating content to a new content management system and launching a new district website often
takes months. With the support of the Schoolwires services team, the new Ravenswood City School District website went live within five days. “We really had eight business days before the visit, but we set a deadline for going live within five days to be certain that we met the district’s requirements,” said Diego Rodriguez, Sales Consultant for Schoolwires. Migration, Development, and Implementation started on a Monday. By that Friday, Ravenswood’s new website (http:// ravenswood.schoolwires.net), built with Schoolwires Centricity, launched to the public. “It really wasn’t anything too different than what we normally do,” recalled Peter Weyandt, Manager of Activation Services with Schoolwires, who played
WEEKLY READER CONNECT BUILDS BETTER READERS … ONLINE In our ultramodern, 24/7/365 world, one ancient skill still matters. Whether words are presented on a whiteboard or a billboard, an iPad or a memo pad, a computer screen or in a magazine, understanding what those words mean is absolutely essential. That’s one explanation for the success of Weekly Reader Connect. Less than a year since it launched, this online
reading-comprehension program for students in grades K–6 is already being used in hundreds of schools across 44 states. It has been named one of the Top 100 products of 2010 by District Administration magazine. The Massachusetts Innovation Technology Exchange proclaimed the digital editions one of the “most innovative, effective and compelling achievements in the development and implementation of
an integral role in this pivotal district implementation and launch. “We just gave it a bit of extra attention to make sure that it was done really quickly.” Centricity is a strategic website and community management platform that brings together robust and flexible website management, community management and web 2.0/social network capabilities in a single, user-centric solution. “Not every district can implement in five business days,” said Jeff Windsor, the Product Manager for Centricity. “But we really try to go out of our way to meet the needs of our clients, even if they may interactive technologies.” Weekly Reader Connect is a superb tool for teaching children to understand what they read. It presents hundreds of high-interest nonfiction stories— enriched with meaningful multimedia that deepens students’ understanding. WR Connect complements those stories with 129 onscreen lessons that teach reading comprehension in a clear, concise and consistent way. “Weekly Reader Connect brings together elements that teachers have told us are crucial: easy-to-use 21st century technology; compelling, newsworthy
EdTech Show Daily
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European Sales EdTech Show Daily is published by Oser Communications Group ©2011. All rights reserved. Executive and editorial offices at: 1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85715 520-721-1300/Fax: 520-721-6300 www.oser.com / www.edtechshowdaily.com European offices located at Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini, 11, 50125 Florence, Italy.
not seem possible at the time.” The Schoolwires services team has successfully implemented the Centricity platform at nearly 1,200 districts nationwide. The tech-savvy Schoolwires Implementation Specialists draw upon their expertise and broad situational experience to meet the schedule and budget of individual districts so that they can go live quickly and begin to strengthen their connections with their communities. Schoolwires believes that districts should not have to compromise on functionality, price or delivery date. “We have created very effective tools and processes to help districts go live very quickly, whether the implementation is complex or straightforward,” said Weyandt. “We recognize that an effective website has significant impact on district and student success, and we want to deliver these benefits to school districts as quickly as possible.” Visit Schoolwires at booth 1138 or www.schoolwires.com or sales@ schoolwires.com. nonfiction; exciting multimedia; and engaging, curriculum-rich lessons,” said Ira Wolfman, Senior Vice President of Weekly Reader. “WR Connect enables schools to integrate technology seamlessly into the classroom and reach today’s tech-savvy kids directly where they live.” WR Connect requires no additional software or tech expertise. Developed by Weekly Reader—the innovative, 108year-old educational publishing company that virtually invented current-events coverage in the classroom—Weekly Continued on Page 12
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EdTech Show Daily
INTRODUCING THE KINEO What will handhelds look like in classrooms this year? Are they powerful learning devices for learning, or just fancy entertainment distractions that may drive classrooms into chaos from texting and surfing? Brainchild’s Kineo 7-inch tablet device preserves the benefits of mobile technology while eliminating potential problems. “With 15 years of manufacturing devices exclusively for school improvement, we’ve learned how to maximize the effectiveness of the individualized instruction they can provide. To hand out handheld
devices in a school without first providing an action plan is very distracting. First we look at the educational outcome. Then we design the technology, not the other way around,” said Jeff Cameron, President. “Our Kineo tablet puts educators in control. Kineo does not let students message, take pictures, visit unauthorized websites, or add or delete applications. Brainchild provides awardwinning, standards-based software for school improvement. For implementation, teachers can call on Brainchild’s experienced customer service team.”
BRITANNICA IMAGE QUEST GIVES STUDENTS, TEACHERS PHOTOS THEY CAN USE Students and teachers who need photos and other images for research and special projects can now find them easily in Britannica Image Quest, a new online resource from Britannica Digital Learning. Unlike other image collections, this collection automatically grants use for academic purposes, to help schools avoid copyright violations. Image Quest provides images from more than 60 of the best collections in the world, including Dorling Kindersley, Getty, the Granger Collection, the National
Portrait Gallery of London, the National Geographic Society and Oxford Scientific. These photos and illustrations are not available elsewhere on the public Internet. The collection contains more than a million images with more added each month. Suppliers of content come from the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, Australia and New Zealand―“a truly global representation of the finest historical, fine arts and contemporary images,” according to Michael Ross, a Senior Vice
STUDENTS AT AUDUBON PARK ELEMENTARY LEARN ON PROMETHEAN’S NEXT GENERATION PEN AND ‘TOUCHBOARD’ Students from Audubon Park Elementary School in Orlando, Fla., were moving content with their fingers and then an ActivPen to complete a recent geography lesson on the Promethean ActivBoard 500. This next generation interactive whiteboard engaged the students in multi-touch, iPad-like gestures that allowed them to work together in teams to identify contents and other significant landmarks. The new interactive whiteboard introduces, for the first time, leadingedge technology that allows students to
work on the ActivBoard simultaneously by both pen and ‘gesture’ touch. The ActivBoard 500 will enable the use of new and emerging multi-touch functionality similar to that used in Apple and Microsoft (Windows 7) applications. This flexibility allows teachers to reach students in a variety of ways or modes, supporting a wider range of learning types. Users will have the ability to easily move and scale objects with finger-touch using natural hand movements, in conjunction with the precision of the “pen” for tasks such
RESULTS SHOW WHY AWARD CHOSEN BY FLORIDA SCHOOLS FOR ELECTRONIC TEXTBOOKS Florida schools have chosen AWARD Reading as an electronic textbook program to be used for digital learning in the classroom. As schools move forward to embrace new learning resources in this digital age, there is an increasing demand for online programs that have proven research results. AWARD Reading was creatively developed for electronic instruction that
would teach and motivate digital natives. The term “digital native,” along with “digital immigrant,” is being more and more used to explain the differences between those born after the “tech movement” and those born before it. It doesn’t necessarily mean that “natives” are technically expert but their thinking is different. A study of kindergarten and first
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Kineo utilizes Achiever!, Brainchild’s award-winning, standardsbased assessment and instruction program. Achiever! automates data-driven instruction with pre-tests and post-tests, multimedia instruction, and a “Study” mode for self-paced learning. Data from the program can be shared between teachers, administrators and parents so they can monitor student progress and provide intervention and differentiated instruction as needed. Kineo addresses specific school needs. Significant features include Administrator control of Web access and loading of applications, a huge battery for long operating times, and a flash
player for multimedia. Physical buttons for commonly used functions augment the touchscreen, making Kineo an assistive technology device for Special Education. Teachers are also able to use the Kineo’s HDMI output with whiteboards or LCD projectors for group instruction. Designed with students in mind, Kineo boasts a high quality 7-inch touchscreen, eBook reader and a sturdy case to fully protect the product. For a hands-on demonstration of Kineo, visit Brainchild at FETC booth 231. You may also visit their website www.brainchild.com, e-mail at questions@brainchild.com, or call 800-811-2724.
President at Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., and General Manager of Britannica Digital Learning. Image Quest provides easy access to high-quality photos and illustrations from trustworthy sources for students of all ages on a wide range of topics. Images are organized by subject matter, and the site is fully searchable. Each image, which is cleared for educational use, includes a caption, citation, copyright information, etc. With all the images in one convenient place, it simplifies the search for photos because researchers don’t have to comb through multiple websites or worry about permission to use them. The product has many uses. Students can turn to Image Quest for homework assignments and course projects, and
teachers can use the images in lesson plans and classroom activities. It’s ideal for whiteboards, school websites, newsletters, newspapers and bulletins. “Students today don’t just write reports; they produce rich expositions that combine research and relevant illustrations,” said Ross. “But it can be hard to find the right images, to identify what’s in them and to know if you’re allowed to use them. We’ve made all of that a lot easier.” Britannica Image Quest is produced in collaboration with the Universal Images Group. Schools, universities and libraries interested in Britannica Image Quest can call 800-621-3900 or go to http://info.eb.com/ for more information or trial subscriptions. Visit them in Orlando at FETC booth 1337.
as writing or drawing. This offers a more intuitive and efficient way of performing tasks and allows for more collaborative classroom activities. “We believe the ActivBoard 500 represents the most significant advance in interactive whiteboard technology since it was first introduced in schools,” said Jean-Yves Charlier, Chief Executive Officer at Promethean. “The intuitive pen and touch capabilities deliver engaging and collaborative teaching and learning opportunities, for both teachers and students. “Expectations and usability of technology have changed with developments in consumer electronics, and with it a new set of actions has emerged—the tap of a screen has replaced the click of a button. These digital behaviors are now second nature to most technology users and can now be used in the classroom to operate our new generation of interactive
whiteboards. Feedback from pilot schools has confirmed that we have created a ‘best of breed’ solution that offers a collaborative, immersive and inclusive digital experience.” “The pen and touch capability of the ActivBoard 500 offers the best of both worlds and provides a more intuitive and fluid way of working. Our teachers used the pen to write and their finger to resize or move images around the screen simultaneously,” explained Trevor Honohan, Principal at Audubon Park Elementary, Orange County Public Schools, Orlando, Fla. “This constant, natural movement minimizes the need for breaks during instruction. As you might imagine, students are quite comfortable using the touch technologies because of all the iPad-type technologies in their day-to-day lives.
grade students in Texas, New York and New Jersey coordinated by Dr. Cathy Collins Block, Professor of Education at Texas Christian University, reviewed outcomes based on the use of AWARD Reading and control subjects using standard basal reading programs. Results showed that after only 20 weeks, the AWARD program significantly improved subjects’ abilities in phonics, continuous reading and attitudes toward reading. Increases in positive attitudes toward reading were especially profound with African American students (48 percent increase) and Hispanics (15 percent). The students showed more enthusiasm for reading, and they engaged positively
with the animated and interactive texts and activities. AWARD Reading significantly improves reading abilities in the critical early school years, in particular with ELLs, students with disabilities, those from low socio-economic backgrounds and students who benefit from accelerated learning opportunities. Published by the balanced literacy publisher that first brought big books and guided readers such as Mrs. Wishy Washy to U.S. classrooms, AWARD Reading offers teachers and students an opportunity to interact with technology in new ways to create
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TRACK BENCHMARK ASSESSMENTS WITH ASSESSTRAX AND EDCO EDCO (Education Consultant Specialists) has partnered with EduTrax to provide a better management solution for assessing and measuring student/ teacher progress. AssessTrax is a Webbased, flexible test management solution used to monitor student performance on standards-based benchmark and unit assessments. Test results are instantly available to teachers and staff allowing for the immediate development of intervention strategies.
Districts are using this new technology to better manage and gauge the results of assessments, and to make it easier for teachers to focus on teaching their students. By eliminating bubble sheets, which need to be manually scored by teachers, and then sent to be scanned and analyzed by the school system, this new technology allows for an immediate response to improve student achievement. AssessTrax is available to any school district which utilizes benchmark
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT ACQUIRES THE LEADERSHIP AND LEARNING CENTER Global education leader Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s (HMH) Educational Consulting Services group has acquired The Leadership and Learning Center, a world-class professional development research and solutions provider, to expand its core capabilities with experienced professionals and proven practices that provide measurable and sustainable school improvement and student achievement gains. “By investing in groundbreaking practices and technologies, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has been the trusted name in educational leadership,” said Barry O’Callaghan, Chief Executive
Officer of HMH. “This breakthrough partnership with The Leadership and Learning Center is a significant investment into revolutionizing how teachers teach and students learn.” The HMH Educational Consulting Services group offers professional development training, comprehensive services and school turnaround solutions under the banner Insight into Action: an Informed Approach to Transforming Education. HMH’s partnership with The Leadership and Learning Center offers unique integrated solutions that combine the best learning resources available today with services that support deep
CompassLearning (Con’t. from p. 1)
• Curiosity and imagination.
require and graduating high school seniors’ proficiency. College professors across the country say high school does not prepare students for college and indicate that most of their students require some form of remediation after admission. In his exploration of educational inconsistencies, Harvard researcher Tony Wagner identified “Seven Survival Skills for the 21st Century.” Based on Wagner’s conversations with corporate CEOs about the skills and competencies they seek in new employees, Wagner outlined the following as critical for 21st century learning: • Critical thinking and problem solving. • Collaboration across networks and leading by influence. • Agility and adaptability. • Initiative and entrepreneurialism. • Effective oral and written communication. • Accessing and analyzing information. Weekly Reader Connect (Con’t. from p. 4)
Reader Connect brings the following elements to all subscribing schools: • Exclusive interactive Weekly Reader digital editions, presenting timely, highinterest and grade-specific nonfiction content that has been carefully crafted to align to state curricula. • Downloadable companion Teacher’s Guides that incorporate wide-ranging background information, informal assessments
In addition to Wagner’s Change Leadership Group at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and the Metiri Group are among the organizations defining 21st century learning. However, in addition to strong guidelines defining 21st century skills, educators must learn how to transform education to follow those guidelines. How do we make the major changes to assessment and instruction and the philosophical shift necessary to ensure that America’s students are both college- and careerready? The following five recommendations provide direction to schools and districts wondering where to start. 1. Elevate the quality of teaching and learning―aligning with 21st century skills and competencies―through a balanced assessment program, including formative and summative assessment measures to inform instruction and and other engaging extension activities along with practical tips and techniques on how to broaden the lessons. • 129 onscreen Concepts of Comprehension© Skill Builder lessons, with teacher tips and additional reading passages specifically designed to build reading skills and scores while improving students’ understanding of texts. Weekly Reader Connect is built on the Concepts of Comprehension, a
EdTech Show Daily test scores, standardized test scores, surveys, etc., to gauge student performance. EduTrax stores the data, offers analysis options, and produces easily understood reports and graphs suitable for the school district, school or teacher use. Because AssessTrax is a Web-based tool, test results are instantly available to teachers and staff, allowing for the immediate development of intervention strategies. AssessTrax aims to target the needs of each individual student by pinpointing proficiency levels across a range of subject areas. With AssessTrax, school systems can monitor student performance on standards-based benchmark and unit
tests; target instruction to address any needs prior to state and federal assessments; and test as desired (benchmark, unit, or pre-/post-test). EDCO efforts focus on partnering with school systems to plan and implement solutions that will improve student achievement. Whether implementing a comprehensive assessment plan, managing district benchmark testing or providing a wide range of data analysis programs, EDCO along with EduTrax is committed to helping school systems improve student achievement. Please visit EDCO at booth 966 or visit www.edcousa.biz to learn more about assessment solutions.
implementation. These include learning resources that are supported with effective professional development in classroom assessment, teacher effectiveness and high impact leadership, which are all proven to have a measurable and sustainable impact on student achievement. “One of HMH Education Group’s key strategic imperatives is to extend its value proposition beyond providing world-class curriculum, assessment and technology solutions through consulting services that position HMH as a partner with school districts in a shared goal of increased accountability for improvement,” said Mike Lavelle, President, HMH Education Group. “Partnering with The Leadership and Learning Center enables the HMH Educational Consulting Services group to provide deep implementation of professional development services that become part of that shared accountability model.”
The Leadership and Learning Center has devoted the last 15 years to building a suite of outstanding services, unique research and successful solutions. The Center’s Professional Development Associates comprise experienced superintendants, principals, administrators and educators who address standards, assessment, accountability, data analysis, collaboration, leadership and school improvement with their clients. “Together, HMH Educational Consulting Services and The Leadership and Learning Center can satisfy school districts’ unprecedented demand for critical service and training capabilities,” said Dave West, Senior Vice President, HMH Educational Consulting Services. “By aligning our respective strengths, HMH and The Leadership and Learning Center can support school districts as they
professional development. 2. Implement instructional programs that are based on world-class academic standards; provide relevant, engaging curriculum based on current and confirmed research and best practices; and ensure instructional delivery in state-of-the-art learning environments. 3. Cultivate digital-expert educators who can translate realistic college and workforce expectations into meaningful, substantive learning activities that mirror life experiences beyond high school graduation. 4. Provide rigorous instruction for students who have fallen behind their grade-level peers―and options for students whose lifestyles or circumstances are not aligned with the traditional school day―that build deep understanding of the critical skills and concepts required for success in college and 21st century careers. 5. Develop meaningful ways for students to feel connected to their
school communities, concentrating on relationship building with students who have no significant personal or educational ties to adults.
research-based framework of 21 inferential thinking skills developed by the nonprofit Urban Education Exchange. This framework enables students to expand their reading skills from year to year, and uses proven methods that teach kids to read for understanding. Ease of use is another outstanding feature of WR Connect. Subscribing schools just log on to www.wr connect.com for full access to the program. Teachers can project the content
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There is no magic bullet. Student success requires a strong commitment from students, parents, educators and community. One step is to implement instructional programs and materials, such as CompassLearning Odyssey®, that ensure mastery of critical academic content―and ensure these programs are implemented with fidelity. CompassLearning supports the goal of providing every child with a world-class education. To do less would ignore one of our most basic civic and moral responsibilities.
*Statistics Source: U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics, June 2010
Visit us at booth 508 and at www .compasslearning.com.
onto a screen or use an interactive whiteboard for group instruction. The program is also appropriate for individualized use on a single computer. With a simple password, instructors can also provide offpremises access to all students. Want to know more? If you’re a principal, school district leader, media or technology specialist, or classroom teacher, visit www.wrconnect.com and get a preview at Learning Services booth 1225.
Tuesday, Februar y 1, 2011
EdTech Show Daily
DON’T FEAR THE DATA How Fort Osage School District achieved a guaranteed, viable curriculum and satisfied teachers through standards-based grading.
It goes without saying that transitioning to a standards-based approach to student performance involves much more than implementing technology and new processes: there are also training and cultural considerations. Teachers in particular often have legitimate concerns about such transitions, from how will it affect the way they teach, to will it create extra work, or will it actually result in improved student achievement. Fort Osage School District in Independence, Mo., is an example of a school district that successfully made the AVI-SPL (Con’t. from p. 1)
the critical areas where the education team at AVI-SPL can help.
ESD: Tell us, why should education customers turn to AVI-SPL?
RM: I think the difference between AVI-SPL and our competitors lies in our level of certifications. We can help educators do everything, from planning to finding a unique solution for their school and students.
We’re truly interested in providing our educators with technology that makes a beneficial impact on them and their students. With us, hands-on training is a specialty. Our team’s expertise and goaloriented approach allow for the best customer service experience possible. SP Controls (Con’t. from p. 1)
classroom. This new suite of products will allow them to present lessons by taking control of the classroom computer, annotate―similar to the functions of an interactive whiteboard, and control the AV gear in the classroom from anywhere in the room.
To give you some more detail, we are using the Apple iPad as the user interface to the system. We’ve created an app that controls the classroom computer, allowing the teacher to navigate seamlessly among all the digital resources at hand, whether they’re on the classroom computer or DVD, software-based or Web-based. Our app gives the teacher the flexibility to stand anywhere in the room, TI DLP (Con’t. from p. 1)
same time. DLP dual-pen interactive projectors also work in conjunction with 3D to create interactive 3D teaching opportunities. Imagine multiple students racing each other to solve math equations projected on the ceiling or students viewing Earth in 3D and taking turns using the pen to break apart the earth into layers, all from wherever they are sitting in the classroom. 3D technology for the classroom is providing a rich interactive experience and being aggressively adopted worldwide with more than 1 million 3D-enabled
transition and not only achieved improved student performance districtwide, but also has seen a positive response among teachers. Administrators at Ft. Osage School District set out to alter their curriculum so that it could be taught adequately in the time allotted for instruction. They wanted to ensure that each teacher knew exactly what content their students should learn, and that they had the tools to monitor and assess their students on a daily basis. With more than 5,000 students to oversee, a team of administrators began the search to find the right technology to support their district’s unique and ambitious standards-based approach to assessment. “First and foremost, we were looking Our breadth of understanding is also significantly extensive, and we embrace a comprehensive scope of expertise. We are Cisco-certified, and can provide everything from inter-connect capabilities in the classroom to simple Internet connections, wiring, cabling—all the way to communications and safety structure. This includes bells, clocks and intercom sound systems.
ESD: What is AVI-SPL’s approach when it comes to the education market?
RM: We’d like to focus less on the equipment and more on the total solution. I think you’ll hear us talk more about the outcomes that the districts are looking for, with a stronger focus on their overall infrastructure needs. One area we’re strongly focused on is
for a tool that would help us link our assessment to our curriculum,” said Jeff White, former Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services, of the Fort Osage School District. After reviewing several tools, the committee selected Pinnacle developed by GlobalScholar. “To begin implementing Pinnacle in our district we agreed to ‘think big and start small,’” said White. “We started with a pilot program in one of our elementary schools, led by a professional development. We want to make sure that educators know how to apply technology so that it makes sense, and helps increase test scores and student motivation. Overall, we’d like to continue to build better long-term relationships, and strengthen the bonds of trust with our educators.
ESD: Are there any trends that we should be aware of?
RM: One of the intriguing emerging technologies is 3D. There are almost limitless possibilities with this technology, such as having elements of an image float into the middle of a classroom, and be able to be rotated and dissected in midair. I think you’ll see many applications for technology in the classroom, everything from turning a page in a book to putting that book under a document camera.
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technology-savvy principal who was willing to use performance data to inform future decision-making.” After administrators from the elementary school shared their first-year results, other schools in the district jumped at the chance to implement the solution the following year. In rolling the program out across the district, administrators focused on and were able to develop a model that supported the strengths of each individual teacher, allowing for creativity and a level of independence in the classroom. In other words, teachers have the authority to differentiate instruction for each of their students, but in the end, their students will have learned the same content as all other students in the same grade level. Fort Osage School District has now Continued on Page 20
ESD: In your opinion, where is the future of technology in education heading?
RM: At some point, a superintendent will be at their desk, and probably through something that looks like an iPad, be able to check any of his schools. This will be an up-to-the-minute, real-time experience, where they’ll quickly have the ability to compare their schools’ test scores against state standards. We’re not there yet, but I think we will be in about 10 or 15 years from now. I believe that’s where we’re headed, and it’s going to be interactive technology that gets us there. While at FETC, please be sure to visit AVI-SPL at booth 1413 to learn more about their comprehensive technology solutions for education. You can also contact AVI-SPL by calling 866-5598197 or visiting www.avispl.com.
ESD: Sounds like SP Controls is making the use of technologies in the classroom much simpler—no more multiple remotes!
interface, with the iPad controlling the many other things that are used in the typical classroom: DVD players, audio systems, projectors, etc. We have made cost-effective products to control these devices for the past 13 years, and our experience was incorporated into the development of the Doceri system. When used with our Networked Room Controllers, Doceri allows the teacher to control all of the AV gear in the room effortlessly through the iPad interface. The ‘Networked’ part means that the NRC sits on the network so it can be centrally maintained and managed by the school’s IT/AV staff.
GA: It’s surprisingly inexpensive. Like other SP Controls products, this system is priced so school districts can afford to put them into every classroom, not just one or two specialized AV rooms. Also, because Doceri can easily integrate with your existing technologies, there is no need to buy expensive new ‘all in one’ solutions that can cost several thousand dollars per room. Doceri from SP Controls brings it all together, giving the instructor mobile and intuitive access to the technology in their classroom. Easier to use and control, these devices now become a seamless resource to connect with students and creatively integrate into lessons.
projectors on the market today. TI DLP is driving 3D adoption through unique technological capabilities such as these: • Serving both passive and active 3D solutions and a variety of light sources. • Acting as the sole technology able to provide 3D through a single-projector solution. • Enabling 3D-ready and interactive projectors to also function as standard systems, essentially future-proofing classrooms by allowing for self-paced technology adoption. • Offering lamp-free projector solutions to save time, money and energy consumption.
TI DLP 3D Worldwide Pilot Program TI DLP has driven further adoption through the success of its 3D pilot school programs taking place in the United States, Europe, India and rolling out in Latin America later this year. Among the 30 U.S. classrooms piloting DLP 3D technology is Florida’s own Ocoee Middle School. Known for teaching with the latest technological innovations, Ocoee is teaching with 3D in math and science classes across a variety of grade levels. Ocoee will be showcasing their use of 3D learning to all interested during the school tour offered in part
with FETC on Thursday, Feb. 3. To experience this technology firsthand, be sure to check out Texas Instruments in booth 401 and visit DLP projector manufacturers’ exhibits throughout the show floor. To access the latest news, images and other digital content for DLP products from Texas Instruments, check out the online press kit at www.dlp.com/fetc2011. You can also follow DLP on Twitter at @TI_DLP, and view videos on DLP’s YouTube page, www.youtube.com/dlptechnology. For more information on DLP products, please visit www.dlp.com.
interact with the students, annotate the lesson, control software-based curriculum, and do free-form note-taking, all through a ‘what you see is what you get’ interface from the iPad. ESD: What are you calling this new product?
GA: We are calling it Doceri™, which is Latin for ‘to be taught or shown.’
GA: Our goal is to unify the classroom technology experience into one user
ESD: Are there cost advantages to the Doceri system?
Be sure to visit our booth 756 for a demonstration.
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Tuesday, Februar y 1, 2011
INCREASING ELL POPULATION DRIVES LEARN ENGLISH DEVELOPMENT Education City, the leading elementary online teaching and learning resource, recently announced the release of Learn English, an English Language Learning module designed to support the mainstream teacher and language specialist in teaching English and building student confidence. The new module has been developed for third, fourth and fifth grade ELLs ranging from beginning to intermediate. Focusing on language development and grade-level content instruction, the context has been designed for use by both the classroom teacher and the language specialist. Learn English content is organized according to Education City’s English Language proficiency standards and incorporates not only English development, but also math, social studies, science, and reading and writing. Activities are categorized into themes such as: My School, My Family, My Neighborhood, My Planet, Our Friends, and Our Living Things. All activities provide feedback and reinforcement for both correct and incorrect responses and are supported with teacher notes and interactive worksheet manipulatives. Learn English activities are compatible with Education City signature teacher features such as SuccessTracker, myCity, the Standards Map and Topic Filter. “In elementary schools, supporting ELLs means teaching them English,” said Matthew Kwak, President. “It also means, building a child’s confidence and setting them on a path to independence and achievement. Our Learn English program helps teachers do just that.” Students at Mary L. Welty Elementary School in Nogales, Ariz., GlobalScholar (Con’t. from p. 17)
been using Pinnacle for several years. “Our teachers constantly tell us they are now using performance data to identify where students are doing well and where they may need additional guidance,” said Carrie Luttrell, who was the Director of Curriculum and Assessment for Fort Osage School District spearheading the effort. “It is now possible to have real, in-depth conversations about student learning with all the stakeholders.” Combined with the district’s model, Pinnacle has given administrators and teachers the data they need to engage in conversations about the whole student, including learning patterns, attendance and discipline records. In addition, parents are able to monitor their child’s grades and attendance in real-time via the Internet, and students can access their grades to track their progress. “Ultimately, the data we can now access demystifies student learning,” White said. “Our teachers don’t fear data any longer—they’re using it to make better
have had the opportunity to work on a pilot version of Learn English since mid-April. Principal Claudia Welden says that the school’s ELL students are making great progress with Learn English. “Learn English has been wellreceived because the program fulfills student expectations according to their necessities,” Welden said. “Our students are making progress and their comments toward Learn English are positive and enthusiastic!” The Learn English module is available for $375 for a one-year subscription. For more information call 800-995-5410. About Education City Education City is an award-winning online teaching and learning resource designed for PreK-6th grade language arts, math and science. More than 14,000 schools worldwide take advantage of Education City’s bright, engaging, research-based activities to boost student achievement and inspire a lifelong love of learning. More information, including pricing for district, school and home subscriptions is available at www.educationcity.com.
About Archipelago Learning Archipelago Learning is a leading subscription-based online education company that provides standardsbased instruction, practice, assessments and productivity tools that improve the performance of educators and students via proprietary Web-based platforms. The Archipelago product line includes Study Island, Education City and Northstar Learning. For more information, please visit www.archipelago learning.com. Archipelago Learning is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
decisions for their students every day.” Luttrell added, “Our teachers feel comfortable using the results to ask their colleagues to share what strategies they’ve used to teach a similar subject and then make changes to their own methods of instruction. We are learning so much more about our students and ourselves as educators.” The results of its transition have been astonishing. A few years ago, Fort Osage School District scored barely high enough to retain its state accreditation. Since implementing Pinnacle district-wide, Fort Osage School District saw scores jump to 92 percent, a dramatic improvement. District administrators anticipate that results will continue to improve, as their efforts to provide students with quality instruction—and teachers the tools to make formative assessments throughout the grading period and to learn from the collected data— continue to prove successful. For more information, call 800-4734572, visit www.globalscholar.com or stop by booth 237.
EdTech Show Daily SMART Technologies (Con’t. from p. 1)
widescreen 885, 885i and 885ix models. The fact that two people can work anywhere on the 800 series interactive whiteboard at the same time will help teachers make effective use of class time, engage in meaningful collaboration and motivate all types of learners. Another product that will be shown is the SMART Table interactive learning center. Although not new, it continues to garner considerable interest from educators and be very popular. We are excited and think our customers will be too about our recently announced addition of more than 250 activity packs which can be downloaded at no charge via the SMART Exchange website [exchange.smarttech.com]. These new resources mean teachers now have access to thousands of multitouch, multiuser SMART Table activities. There will be many other exciting products at our booth so I encourage people to drop by for a visit.
ESD: Your company recently went public. How is that affecting how SMART operates, and how has it affected the way you offer your education solutions?
NK: It was an interesting step for SMART, but also just another along the growth path of our company. It means some changes for the way we do things internally–but what hasn’t changed is our commitment to our customers. We remain passionate about providing our customers with education solutions that will enable them to better engage and motivate students.
ESD: There have been recent reports in the media about SMART products and other classroom technology being used more as a fad rather than having positive results for students. What is your take on that?
NK: Some articles in the media tend to ASC Direct Inc. (Con’t. from p. 4)
ESD: Do your labs include any courseware?
GW: Yes, we include IPAC [Interactive Paired Activities Curriculum]. ReLANpro and Voyager offer Visual Pairing©, which allows students to see each other when the students are ‘paired’ to engage in conversation modes. IPAC uses this feature to its best advantage by offering 50 interactive activities which have been distinctively designed to both engage and empower language learners. The wide range of communication themes Promethean (Con’t. from p. 9)
The ActivBoard 500 mirrors ‘gestures’ pupils are used to using with other technologies making them more confident when using the board.” The ActivBoard 500 Pro also includes two free multi-touch applications for mind mapping and lesson planning: NoteBoard and TouchPad. These applications allow teachers to
talk about our products and other classroom technology products in isolation. At SMART, we have consistently said that simply putting our products in the classroom is not the answer–it’s how they are put to use. We believe SMART products are a valuable tool that, when combined with effective teaching and appropriate pedagogy can help transform the learning experience. There is a considerable body of research posted on our website from national and international sources indicating that our products, when properly used, can increase student motivation and engagement and improve learning outcomes and teacher effectiveness. ESD: Beyond products, tell us what SMART offers?
NK: SMART is committed to providing a wealth of resources and support for teachers to fully utilize SMART products and create dynamic learning activities for students. For example, SMART Exchange, an online community that helps educators share information on various topics, now has almost 50,000 classroom-ready resources. Teachers are also able to connect with educators around the world to exchange ideas. We’ve announced a new, free membership program to SMART Exchange that will mean even more exciting features for users. SMART also believes strongly in supporting our customers after their purchase. So we offer a variety of online training options, certification and professional development opportunities.
ESD: Any final thoughts on SMART in 2011? NK: Engage with us regularly to learn what is new in our product offerings and other materials supporting the use of our products. With more than 400 people on our R&D team, we are and will continue to be very active in new product releases and upgrades. For more information, visit booth 1101.
has been chosen to interest learners while providing them with exposure to a diverse array of topics. The organizational layout creates a learner-centered structure for language acquisition via interaction. By modifying input and forming questions and answers, students learn to create with the target language as they interact with their language partners. This curriculum can be used in both the regular classroom and the virtual global classroom [using Skype or other VoIP software]. For further information, contact ASC Direct Inc. at 800-613-9554, e-mail carlakay@ascd.us or stop by booth 243. aggregate ideas, collate learning points and use interactive ‘post-it’ notes to promote simple, easy-to-use mindmapping activities. Supporting the ActivBoard 500 is ActivInspire 1.5, Promethean’s award-winning software, available for download via prometheanplanet.com/activinspire. To see the new ActivBoard 500 in action, visit Promethean at FETC booth 701.
Tuesday, Februar y 1, 2011
EdTech Show Daily
DOE SOURCES CITE EFFECTIVENESS AND POPULARITY OF MCGRAW-HILL EVERYDAY MATH PROGRAM Everyday Mathematics, offered by McGraw-Hill Education, is one of the most effective and most widespread elementary school programs in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic states, according to U.S. Department of Education sources including the U.S. Department of Education‘s What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) and the department-funded Mid-Atlantic Regional Education Lab. A survey by the regional education lab tabulated the usage of instructional materials and programs that were evaluated by the WWC, a central government source of scientific evidence for what works in education. From March to September 2009, data was collected from 90 percent of some 1,113 school districts in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. “Everyday Mathematics’ researchbased curriculum actively engages students as they learn math, resulting in solid performance and progress across districts nationwide,” said Dan Caton, Executive Vice President of McGrawHill’s School Education Group. “This Department of Education survey highlights the reach of Everyday Mathematics, which is based on 25 years of research and development. We are extremely proud to provide this exceptional program to more than 4 million students nationwide.” As of March 1, 2010, the WWC had issued reports on studies of 15 of the instructional programs that were identified as being used by districts in MidAtlantic Region states and that had met Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Con’t. from p. 12)
navigate the unchartered course toward more rigorous academic standards, data and accountability demands, teacher and leader effectiveness measures, and student achievement levels relative to international benchmarks.” The Center’s founder, education thought leader Dr. Douglas B. Reeves, is the author of more than 20 books on education and an internationally recognized expert in teaching, leadership and student achievement. Commenting on the partnership with HMH, Reeves said, “The research is clear: improved student achievement depends upon the best combination of teaching, leadership, curriculum and technology. This new partnership will help educational systems do just that. The time and resources of school systems are under unprecedented pressure right now, and we are going to help schools get the greatest value possible to support student achievement.” Reeves authored the landmark case study for The 90/90/90 Schools™, which examined the high academic performance of schools where 90 percent or more of the students were eligible for free and reduced lunch, 90 percent or more of the students were members of ethnic minority groups, and 90 percent or more of the students met district or state academic
the Clearinghouse’s evidence standards with or without reservations. In 10 of these reports, the curricula were shown to have positive effects or potentially positive effects. At the time of the survey conducted by the government’s MidAtlantic Regional Education Lab, 256 responding districts (26 percent) had adopted one or more components (i.e., a core text, a workbook, a journal, online exercises, or a reference book) of at least one of these programs, and 17 districts (2 percent) had adopted some component of two of them. McGraw-Hill’s Everyday Mathematics was the only one of all of these programs with materials that were widely adopted and evaluated to be effective. Some 235 districts (24 percent of those reporting) adopted some edition of the Everyday Mathematics core text or some supplemental material or benchmark assessment associated with the McGraw-Hill curriculum. Until recently, Mid-Atlantic Region state education agencies have historically had little information about what instructional materials districts are adopting. The survey and corresponding report, What English Language Arts, Math, and Science Instructional Materials have Districts in the Mid-Atlantic Region States Adopted?, offer results of a project to share information on core texts, supplemental materials, and benchmark assessments adopted by Mid-Atlantic Region districts for specific grade levels in English language arts, math, and science. Additional information is available at http://www.mheducation.com/. standards in reading or another area. He added that he is committed to continuing his active schedule of travel, speaking, research and writing and will maintain personal connections with the educational systems served by HMH and The Leadership and Learning Center.
About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a global education and learning company that is leading the way with innovative solutions and approaches to the challenges facing education today. The world’s largest provider of educational products and solutions for pre-K–12 learning, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt develops and delivers interactive, results-driven learning solutions that advance teacher effectiveness and student achievement. Through curricula excellence and technology innovation, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt collaborates with school districts, administrators, teachers, parents and students. Today, HMH education products and services are used by 57 million students throughout all 50 U.S. states and 120 countries. With origins dating back to 1832, the company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning literature for adults and young readers. For more information, visit www.hmhpub.com.
PolyVision (Con’t. from p. 1)
AB: Our district utilized state technology allotment funds and a Rural Schools grant to purchase ēno™ interactive whiteboards and ēno mini slates. All kindergarten and first grade classrooms at Pittsburg Primary are equipped with ēno interactive whiteboards. ESD: Why is PolyVision technology the best choice for Pittsburgh Primary? AB: Our school’s principal and several members of our IT staff felt PolyVision ēno interactive whiteboard’s features and ease of use were important and second to none.
With comparable whiteboards, all of the technology resides inside the whiteboard and the school principal was concerned about the long-term costs of repairs and replacements. She decided to move forward with ēno when she learned that our school can count on the boards for a lifetime, thanks to PolyVision’s Forever Warranty™. ESD: Before implementing ēno, what challenges did you face as an ESL teacher?
AB: My ESL class is comprised of 15 Spanish-speaking students. I face the same challenges as other teachers, such as maintaining student engagement, creating strong lesson content and managing classroom time efficiently. However, as an ESL teacher, I have to tackle the additional challenge of communicating in a way that students and parents can comprehend. Although my students are intelligent and academically motivated, they were performing poorly on learning assessments because of their limited understanding of the English language.
ESD: How does ēno help you overcome challenges in your classroom?
AB: My students struggled specifically with social and academic vocabulary. I spent years explaining the definitions of words and showing pictures to illustrate concepts, but I knew deep down that my students needed visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning experiences to make memorable connections to the English language. With ēno, I can utilize websites and interactive tools to bring vocabulary
AWARD Reading (Con’t. from p. 9)
successful learning outcomes. One reason why AWARD has proven so successful in creating readers and changing attitudes to reading and learning lies in the richness of the texts. They aren’t e-books. They are animated and fully voiced for students to hear the words and understand the instructions. Each text, each grade level, is scaffolded to provide a gradual progression and the more than 900 interactive activities support and extend learning of the essential skills. The U.S. Department of Education sparked a national discussion around digital learning with the release in 2010 of The National Education Technology
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lessons to life for the entire class to see, hear and touch. I check for progress and understanding by passing the ēno mini slate around and asking individual students to circle the word that matches the picture. Now, my students are mastering new vocabulary words in minutes rather than days!
ESD: How do you use ēno to improve classroom efficiency?
AB: In our district, ESL teachers are required to post daily objectives so that when students arrive to class, they can view the words, math facts or historical figures they will learn about. With ēno, I create electronic objectives by linking all of the vocabulary pages, websites, songs, etc. that I will use in my lessons into one document. I have everything organized that I am going to need throughout the day. So, I can move with ease from one task to the next with a simple click of the stylus. I am absolutely amazed at how much content I can teach effectively in one day. This strategy has been so successful in my classroom that all of the first grade teachers at my school are using the electronic objectives I created as a template to deliver their lessons. ESD: How has PolyVision technology impacted teaching and learning in your classroom?
AB: As soon as ēno was installed in my classroom, I noticed a change in my students’ behavior. During lessons, every child was excited and engaged at a higher level than ever before. Many of my students come from low-income households and they do not have access to technology outside of school. The hightech skills and increasing confidence they are gaining through their interactions with 21st century technology will benefit them throughout their lives.
Just as I was wondering if I had chosen the right career, ēno transformed my classroom into a completely different learning environment and motivated my students and in ways that I never realized were possible. With ēno, my classroom has become exactly what I have been trying to build for the past five years―a seamless, efficient and fun learning environment!
Meet Angela and experience a day in the life of her classroom with ēno at booth 209. Plan. Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology calls for applying the advanced technologies used in daily life to our entire education system to improve student learning, accelerate and scale up the adoption of effective practices, and use data and information for continuous improvement. AWARD’s instructional materials parallel the recommendations of this plan and its principles connected to learning, assessing and teaching. AWARD Reading was selected as the innovative educational program to be showcased on the nationally televised “Today in America.” The TV program prominently featured teachers and students from Oak Hammock School, St. Lucie County.