EdTech Show Daily - Feb. 11, 2011 by Oser Communications

AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION NOT AFFILIATED WITH TCEA

Friday, Februar y 11, 2011

NETSUPPORT OFFERS RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR CLASS MONITORING

Marcus Kingsley, CEO of NetSupport Inc, discusses how Classroom Management software monitors student activity.

Providers

FORTRES GRAND DESKTOP SECURITY SOFTWARE RECEIVES HIGHEST RATING

Austin

NOVELL SHOWS TCEA COMIC LIFE ATTENDEES HOW TO ENCOURAGES CREATIVITY CREATE LONG-TERM VALUE IN THE CLASSROOM

Classroom

ESD: Can you tell me about your

Ross Chevalier has 29 years of experience in all aspects of networking. Mr. Chevalier is also a dedicated guitar collector and spends his leisure time in music, new media and riding motorcycles. The EdTech Show Daily spoke with

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ESD: Tell us about NetSupport and its product portfolio. MK:

Oser Communications Group

HARRIS SOLUTIONS’ NEW ETRITION 7 SCHOOL NUTRITION SOLUTION

Brian Copeland, Sales Manager for eTrition Division of Harris School Solutions, discusses Harris Solutions and their new eTrition School Nutrition Solution system.

Successfully securing school lab computers: An interview with Wayne Rickman, Technical Administrator for Brockport Central School District.

TYLER TECHNOLOGIES: EMPOWERING PEOPLE WHO SERVE THE PUBLIC

EdTech Show Daily talks to John S. Marr, Jr., CEO of Tyler Technologies, about what makes the company unique.

QOMO HITEVISION PROVIDES INTERACTIVE CLASSROOM SOLUTIONS

ESD: What are the competitive strengths

ESD: What makes Tyler unique in the public sector software and services industry?

QOMO HiteVision is a dynamic educational technology manufacturer/distributor specializing in providing complete interactive classroom solutions. All of QOMO’s products are designed to work seamlessly together to foster the most positive

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TOOLS4EVER: I.T. TECHS STREAMLINE USER ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT

James LozanoByerly, Senior Territory Manager with Tools4ever, discusses how the User Management Resource Administrator is being leveraged by school districts to create savings and efficiencies for network user account management.

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SCHOOLWIRES CONNECTS COMMUNITIES, SUPPORTS DISTRICT SUCCESS

Edward S. Marflak, Chairman and Founder, Schoolwires, discusses the issues facing today’s school district and how his company can help.

ESD: Tell us about your company.

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AN INTERVIEW WITH ALISSA RUSSELL, WALDEN GRADUATE

“I am now the head of the math department—that was directly a result of my degree. And I get more respect from the administration. Many of them seek my opinion now.”

What I Was Doing At The Same Time I was teaching mathematics at the Life Continued on Page 69

We’re talking with Robert Grant, CEO of plasq LLC and creator of Comic Life, about how Comic Life can be applied to learning activities.

ESD: What is Comic Life? Continued on Page 69

ALL IN LEARNING OFFERS FLEXIBLE STUDENT ASSESSMENT TOOLS

EdTech Show Daily interviews Darrell Ward of ALL In Learning about how their product supports student assessment.

ESD: Tell our readers about ALL In Learning. Continued on Page 49

PANDA SECURITY TOUTS CLOUD-BASED SECURITY TO COMBAT MALWARE

An interview with Rick Carlson, President of Panda Security USA.

ESD: Tell our readers a little about your company. Whats your main line of business? Continued on Page 43

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RESULTS SHOW WHY AWARD CHOSEN FOR ELECTRONIC TEXTBOOK LISTING Texas has listed AWARD Reading as one of the electronic textbook programs to be used for digital learning across the state. 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 used

more and more 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 experts but their thinking is different. A study of kindergarten and first 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

EDUCATION 2000 WORKS WITH TEXAS SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY Education 2000 is an authorized Mimio reseller that strives to place affordable interactive teaching tools in every classroom in Texas. Some of the Texas school districts that Education 2000 currently works with include Aldine ISD, Los Fresnos ISD, Port-Neches-Groves ISD, Conroe ISD and West Oso ISD. The MimioClassroom products include the MimioTeach, a bar that is placed on an existing whiteboard and transforms an ordinary whiteboard into

an interactive whiteboard, as well as MimioView, MimioVote, MimioCapture and the MimioPad. Education 2000 realizes that schools often have tight budgets. “One of the things I really emphasize to schools is that the MimioTeach interactive whiteboard solution will do the same thing as other interactive whiteboards but for considerably less,” Doug Pennekamp, CEO of Education 2000, said. “The lower cost allows schools and districts to buy more and can therefore

EdTech Show Daily 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 AfricanAmerican 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 Continued on Page 72

impact more students.” Education 2000 has represented the Mimio Interactive Classroom Solutions for more than 10 years and knows the importance of using technology in the classroom. “One of my favorite sayings is ‘Technology won’t replace teachers, but teachers using technology will replace those who don’t,’ ” Pennekamp said. “Technology is essential to the way teachers teach today.” In order to help ease the stress some teachers may feel when new technology is brought into the classroom, Education 2000 offers a free two-hour training with a purchase of five or more Continued on Page 69

AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION NOT AFFILIATED WITH TCEA

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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.

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EdTech Show Daily

SMART JOINS IMS GLOBAL LEARNING CONSORTIUM SMART To Collaborate With IMS Members To Further Interactive Technology Adoption In Education

SMART Technologies announces that the company has joined the IMS Global Learning Consortium (IMS GLC), a leading nonprofit organization for the advancement of educational technology adoption and interoperability standards to support and enhance K-12, higher education and corporate education worldwide. As a contributing member, SMART will work with IMS GLC to advance global interoperability standards for interactive whiteboards and interactive response systems for classroom, school, district and online learning systems. As SMART Board™ interactive whiteboards and SMART Response™ interactive response systems continue to become more widely used in K-12 and higher education classrooms, interoperability with existing systems becomes increasingly important and offers significant benefits to educators and students alike. Educators around the world continue to adopt interactive technology products into their classrooms, lecture halls and meeting spaces. Interoperability with back-office systems, such as

School Information Systems (SIS) and Learning Management Systems (LMS), provides teachers and administrators greater flexibility to track, monitor and assess student learning. Seamless integration between products ensures that student learning results are quickly and easily consolidated into SIS and LMS, enabling teachers, administrators and parents to develop a longitudinal assessment of student learning. Collaborating with IMS GLC members, SMART will work toward the development and proliferation of global interoperability standards to benefit interactive whiteboard and interactive response system adopters around the world. “We are pleased to welcome SMART Technologies as a contributing member of IMS Global Learning Consortium,” said Dr. Rob Abel, Chief Executive Officer of IMS GLC. “As a market leader in interactive whiteboards, and with an extensive history researching and developing interactive technology products, SMART’s membership will surely prove beneficial—not only to IMS GLC members, but to adopters of interactive technology, wherever they might be.” “As classrooms are re-engineered to

ZOOMY & TWIST–INTERACTIVE DIGITAL MICROSCOPES SUPPORT THE NATIONAL S.T.E.M. INITIATIVE Early childhood and elementary classrooms need technology to meet their students’ learning needs in a 21st-century environment. However, high prices and complicated functions have often made it out of reach for most schools—until now. New from Learning Resources®, the global leader in providing hands-on educational products for the classroom, is the high quality and easy to use Zoomy™ and Twist™ lines of interactive digital

microscopes, designed specifically for creative use at an affordable price. The Zoomy Handheld Digital Microscope encourages hands-on investigation. This microscope displays digital images on a computer screen, captures photos and even records video. Students simply hold the child-sized, egg-shaped Zoomy over an object, turn the top to focus, and then press the single control button to take videos or still images at up to 43x

support technologyrich pedagogy, we continue to look to SMART as a leader in developing and refining interactive technology products,” said Tim Cliby, Executive Director of Instructional Technology, Division of Teaching and Learning, at Rochester City School District in Rochester, N.Y.. “With districts continuing to invest in technology products, training and infrastructure, interoperability between these complementary technology solutions is critical in extending investments and building the framework needed to create studentcentered, active-learning environments.” “As educators continue to adopt classroom technology products, they need to know that their purchases function with their existing information systems and learning management systems,” said Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s CEO. “We are pleased to join IMS Global Learning Consortium to advance global interoperability standards for the benefit of our customers and all users of interactive technology products around the world.”

About IMS Global Learning Consortium IMS Global Learning Consortium is a nonprofit member organization that strives to enable the growth and impact of learning technology in higher education,

magnification. At the low price of $59.99, Zoomy’s dual functionality allows students to view and record their observations by operating Zoomy with one hand, leaving the other hand free to investigate the object. When more magnification is required, the Twist Flexible Digital Microscope captures high quality images at up to 200x magnification. The Twist is a simple to use microscope that connects to any PC, and is for use by students individually or in groups. The Twist’s LED lighting and bendable gooseneck allow for easy viewing of even hard to see objects, plus the built-in camera and microphone allow students to record a snapshot and oral description as they investigate. At $119.99, the Twist packs a lot of

K-12, and corporate education worldwide. IMS GLC members are leading corporations, higher education institutions, school districts and government organizations worldwide that are enabling the future of education by collaborating on interoperability standards and major adoption projects for the digital support of education and learning. IMS GLC also sponsors Learning Impact, a global awards program and conference that recognizes the impact of innovative technology on education access, affordability and quality. For more information on IMS GLC, visit imsglobal.org. About SMART SMART Technologies is a leading provider of collaboration solutions that transform the way the world works and learns. We believe that collaboration and interaction should be easy. As the global leader in interactive whiteboards, we bring more than two decades of collaboration research and development to a broad range of easy to use, integrated solutions that free people from their desks and computer screens, so collaboration and learning with digital materials are more natural.

functionality into a great price point. Learning Resources’ new simple technology microscopes encourage students to reach beyond what they can see and explore the microscopic worlds of science around them. For more than 25 years, Learning Resources products have been designed by and for educators, incorporating features that align with state standards and meet the needs of every classroom. For more information, stop by the TCEA Learning Resources booth 435, visit them online at www.learningresources .com/TCEA or call 866-374-8124.

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FIVE ESSENTIALS YOU NEED TO LOOK FOR IN AN EARLY CHILDHOOD ASSESSMENT In today’s climate of increased accountability, it’s important for educators to have the right tools at their disposal to proactively ensure that all students are on the right track well before high stakes testing begins. But how can this be done in a way that is not disruptive or developmentally inappropriate in the early childhood classroom? For centuries, the only way to assess a group of students was a onesize-fits-all test, frustrating for low performers and boring for high achievers. Thanks to the possibilities afforded by technology, it doesn’t have to be this way anymore. Assessments are now available that can make the process easier on the teacher and the students, while immediately providing information to drive student growth.

With many products on the market, there are five essential qualities you should look for when evaluating assessments for your youngest learners (Pre-K–Grade 3):

1. Child-friendly & Developmentally Appropriate Content must adhere to the standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Material must be presented in an engaging way, with feedback that encourages children to display their true abilities. Unfamiliar to traditional testing, young students are often more comfortable with a fun, game-like format.

2. Diagnostic Each child learns at his or her own

THE BENCHMARK UNIVERSE— EXTEND LITERACY AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME WITH TALKING E-BOOKS Benchmark Education Company is leading a new age of innovation with technology resources for learning, teaching and assessment that will engage students in increasing their achievement. Through the Benchmark Universe™, Benchmark Education Company reaches the 21st Century Classroom with digital content through Interactive Whiteboard Resources, Talking E-Books, Audio Libraries, Online Assessment and On-Demand Professional Development. All of the products are Web-based and accessible by teachers and students at any time and location with an Internet connection. Talking E-Books through the Benchmark Universe extends literacy

instruction at school and at home. The e-books are compatible with PCs and MACs through all Web browsers with the free Adobe Flash plug-in. In addition, they are designed to work with all kinds of interactive whiteboard hardware including Smartboard™, Promethean™, RM™, Polyvision™, Mimio™ and more. In addition, every Talking E-Book includes built-in pen tools that turn any computer projection and flat surface or monitor into an interactive whiteboard. This flexibility allows teachers to use Benchmark’s software in every classroom. Benchmark Education Company’s language and literacy series of Talking E-Books offers more than 1,400

SETTING THE STANDARD IN EDUCATION How technology factors into the standards-based education equation.

While the Lone Star State boldly took itself out of the running for Race to the Top funding, Texas schools have nevertheless been at the forefront of standardsbased education. Even without government funding, school districts implementing standards-based programs need a comprehensive software solution that empowers administrators, teachers, parents and students with the tools and information they need to ensure every student is successfully performing against state and national standards. GlobalScholar’s instruction management software, the Pinnacle Suite, is the platform of choice for more than 1,000 school districts around the country using a data-driven approach to improve student performance. Pinnacle Suite is

much like enterprise resource planning (ERP) software used by major corporations, though it was developed specifically for the unique needs of school systems, which are rapidly moving toward more data-driven, standards-based teaching models. The Pinnacle Suite supports all aspects of managing education at K-12 schools through software modules that can stand alone, integrate with point solutions or be deployed as a complete end-to-end solution. The Pinnacle Suite includes: • Pinnacle SIS provides centralized enrollment, attendance, health, transportation and discipline information. It automates scheduling based on student performance, giving students and teachers a more flexible and productive classroom environment. It also allows for individualized, creative teaching strategies. • Pinnacle Instruction gives teachers a

EdTech Show Daily pace, so it is imperative to use assessments in a diagnostic way–to identify where students are and where they’re ready to go next. A good tool will identify individual strengths and weaknesses as well as appropriate next steps for instruction (i.e. activities to use in the classroom).

3. Quick & Easy Being mindful of the limited time available in the classroom, a tool should make it 1) easy to administer, 2) easy to receive results and 3) easy to use to drive instruction. The more timely the feedback, the more relevant it can be for driving instruction.

you can use and 3) help track progress throughout the year.

5. Alignment to State Standards A good tool will help educators get students on the right track from the very start by identifying which benchmarks students are meeting and where they’re behind individually and as a group. This allows educators to proactively plan instruction to ensure those misunderstandings are cleared up.

4. Practical Next Steps Data is useless if it does not lead to action. A good assessment should make it clear which next steps can help each student and the classroom as a whole. Specifically, look for a tool with reports that automatically 1) group students who need interventions or enrichment in each core concept, 2) provide interventions

The Children’s Progress Academic Assessment is a Pre-K–Grade 3 assessment and reporting tool (used by schools, districts and state agencies nationwide) that uses an adaptive structure and a patented scaffolding procedure to deliver rich information to guide instruction. It adheres to the five essential qualities listed above. To find out what this program can do for your early childhood classroom, and learn how you can pilot it at no cost, see the Measured Progress booth [116] or visit www.measuredprogress.org.

science, math, social studies and fiction titles designed for use in the classroom and at home by students and their parents for independent reading. Each title contains leveled reading texts and activities to support core content standards and motivate students. The interactive titles may be used in conjunction with the print books during wholegroup and small-group instruction— or as stand-alone instructional tools to strengthen literacy. Learners at every reading level are engaged by being able to see, hear, speak and touch words. Through the Benchmark Universe website, teachers may differentiate instruction by creating groups of students and assign Talking E-Books selected by content area, reading level and theme. Students then have their own group login to the site where they may access their library of assigned books. Teachers also have online access to instructional

resources, including the teacher’s guide and comprehension questions for each title. Every Talking E-Book title includes a professionally recorded, dramatic audio track with synchronized highlighting, providing modeling and practicing to build fluency and comprehension. Students build listening and speaking skills with additional reading practice. The on-screen tools built into the software include pen tools to write, draw or highlight words. Zoom tools allow teachers to highlight or magnify areas to focus on. Additional features of each interactive title include on-screen comprehension activities. Individual classroom and schoolwide subscriptions are available to the Benchmark Universe. Attendees at TCEA may visit the Benchmark Education exhibit booth 2150 to receive a FREE trial subscription to the Benchmark Universe. Visit the site at www.benchmarkuniverse.com.

central platform for accessing, storing and creating curriculum and assessments. It supports all levels, types and styles of curriculum mapping and standards alignment, making it easy for teachers to measure progress against standards and identify best practices. • Pinnacle Grade gives educators, administrators, parents and students a comprehensive view of student progress. It reduces data entry requirements and administration hours for teachers and enables real time alerts for attendance, grades or disciplinary actions. • Pinnacle Insight gives schools analysis and reporting tools that help make sense of the wealth of data in the education environment and facilitate data driven instructional strategies. • Pinnacle PD delivers timely and contextually relevant professional development that facilitates improved teacher effectiveness. • Pinnacle PAL is a collaborative online learning solution that lets students and teachers conduct interactive sessions in a secure environment.

GlobalScholar works closely with Dr. Marzano, a leading assessment expert and internationally respected educational researcher, trainer and author. Through his research, Dr. Marzano strongly advocates for data-driven instruction, formative assessments and standards-based grading as key to pinpointing individual student strengths and weaknesses and improving overall student performance. Many of Dr. Marzano’s philosophies and methodologies are built into the functionality of Pinnacle Suite for schools that want to follow his approach. The Pinnacle Suite empowers educators with data and actionable insights into student performance, enabling teachers to quickly identify when and where individual students might be struggling or need additional help. It also provides development tools to help teachers improve their effectiveness, and automates many tasks and processes so that teachers can focus on what they do best—teach. For more information, call 800-4734572, visit www.globalscholar.com or stop by booth 2529.

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WEB LOCKERS BRING COST SAVINGS AND STORAGE SUCCESS TO TOP-PERFORMING CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DISTRICT From iMovie projects to podcasts and 3D document cameras, the Del Mar Union School District (DMUSD) advances 21st century learning skills across its eight elementary schools through use of all the latest technology tools. When this top-performing California school district recently needed to solve its file sharing and data storage challenges, DMUSD once again turned to innovation, choosing School Web Lockers a Web-based service offering students and teachers safe and convenient access to digital projects from any Internet location. “All the podcasting and moviemaking is great, but if students and teachers don’t have an easy way to access and share their work beyond the

school day, our technology investments lose some of their value,” said Michael Casey, Director of Technology for DMUSD. Combining online storage, backup, collaboration and file sharing in a single system, School Web Lockers allows students to create work on one computer, and then stash files in their personal, password-protected Web locker for completion later—either on the same computer, or on another one at home or elsewhere. Until recently, accessing digital projects from home was not possible for DMUSD students due to security constraints built into the existing computer servers. At the same time, as Casey considered replacing these

BRAINCHILD’S KINEO SCHOOL TABLET DEBUTS Meet Jeff Cameron, President of Brainchild, at TCEA booth 1835, the creator of Kineo, the only Android tablet created and developed just for education.

ESD: Tell us about Brainchild.

JC: In 1992 we developed the first handheld device for schools, with a black and white screen and limited memory. Ten years later, we introduced the Study Buddy, with a color screen and multimedia, offering self-paced study with feedback. When the online assessment became popular, we created Achiever!, an online assessment and instruction program built on specific state standards. For years, teachers have asked us to combine offline handheld use with online reporting. The answer is KINEO, which syncs student achievement data from the handhelds with their progress on computers using our online assessment. ESD: What is KINEO?

JC: KINEO is the first Android tablet

specifically designed for education. It offers all the benefits of mobile technology, but with the strongest security measures that schools require. In the past couple of years, school districts have found that mobile technology can cause problems as well as benefits. ESD: What do you mean by ‘the strongest security measures’?

JC: Serious legal issues have been caused by mobile device usage in schools. Some features, such as messaging, picture taking, and video recording have caused problems. Messaging has enabled cheating on state tests in Mississippi. The state employs a company to monitor the situation, and has reduced cheating by 70 percent. But this is an unnecessary expense. Cameras in mobile devices have led to incidents causing great harm to students that require involvement of law enforcement agencies. In other cases, students have added or deleted applications, ruining the experience in cases where devices are

TECHTABLE PROVIDES LOW COST ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTION NOVA Solutions, with 20 years experience at integrating technology with functional furniture, is pleased to introduce the all-in-one technology table. The TechTable, which features NOVA's patented Trolley™ H-Class monitor lift, provides an all-in-one technology solution for computer users, and is available at special low dealer pricing for a limited time. The Tech Table features solid metal C-leg construction with anti-tip supports, plus a durable laminate work surface available in all of NOVA’s

laminate colors at standard lead times—or in three select colors (Wild Cherry, Hard Rock Maple and Grey Nebula) as a Quick Ship item. The unit features an attractive laminate modesty, plus additional optional accessories such as a CPU holder, power strip, wire management channel, and keyboard tray. The included Trolley H-Class monitor lift allows users to raise or lower their own flat panel display on demand. Simply pull the lever and the computer screen rises. Repeat the

EdTech Show Daily aging servers at a cost of nearly $32,000 under the district’s distributed computing model, he came across School Web Lockers, which represented a significantly more cost-effective alternative. Projected to deliver an annual cost savings of $5,000 to DMUSD, School Web Lockers is not only priced affordably (at $1.00 per student per year), but it also offers unlimited data storage, giving students the ability to maintain a vast online portfolio of video projects, presentations and everyday assignments. All of this data is stored off-site in a secure data center that is managed and monitored by School Web Lockers, requiring no maintenance or upkeep on the district’s part. Although a number of free Webbased storage services are beginning to emerge, Casey selected School Web Lockers because of its exclusive focus on K-12 education and its highly secure approach to maintaining student and teacher personal data. “The fly-by-night free services can

potentially harvest and sell your information,” Casey said. “We don’t know how safe they are. With School Web Lockers, you get a secure, passwordprotected website that is free of ads and other distractions. It was our top priority to protect our students, and that’s another reason why School Web Lockers was an easy choice.” A completely paperless homework system, School Web Lockers works with any type of computer platform, including Apple. To use the system, teachers simply upload a document and post it in all student lockers, instead of making multiple handout copies. In turn, students can complete an assignment on the computer and upload the document into the “homework due” folder, from which it is then sent directly to the teacher as an electronic file. For more information about School Web Lockers visit them during the show at booth 1143, call 866499-6527 or go to their website, www.schoolweblockers.com.

shared among students. KINEO has a restricted ‘Student Mode’ and an ‘Administrator Mode.’ Schools can decide what students can or cannot do.

KINEO also has a Flash player so it can run multimedia applications. Finally, we have physical controls that provide easy usage and make it an assistive learning device. There are ABCD buttons for answering multiple choice questions like the ones found on state tests. There is a back button to go to the previous screen and physical volume control. No instructions are needed for people to use KINEO.

ESD: How do students learn using KINEO?

JC: Along with access to eBooks, learning applications, and controlled Web browsing, administrators will have the ability to connect to our award-winning Achiever! program. Students then have the ability to master their state standards with the help of multimedia instruction and assessment. In addition, Kineo provides self-paced learning and differentiated instruction for students needing extra attention.

ESD: How is this technology different from other tablets? JC: First, we spent money where it counts. The battery has more than twice the power of most tablet devices. Second, our touchscreen is rated for 20 times the impressions of other devices at 500,000 impressions. Third, the processor is powerful, so applications run properly.

process to submerge the screen into its self-contained housing. This feature is ideal for moving the monitor out of the way when not in use, adds security to prevent accidental damage to the flat panel display, and reduces monitor theft. Ideal for the classroom, training room, study areas, dorms, home office, and more, the TechTable ships with easy to follow assembly instructions and includes a limited warranty. Dimensions: 26" D x 36" W x 30" H About NOVA Solutions, Inc. NOVA Solutions, Inc. has been manufacturing a variety of laminate furniture for the learning and working environments since 1988. NOVA’s patented

ESD: How will Kineo help teachers in the classroom?

JC: KINEO provides students with unlimited extra instruction tailored to their individual needs. Because scores and usage can sync to our online assessment programs, everyone has Internet access to student, classroom, and school-wide progress reports. Finally, KINEO can be connected to whiteboards or LCD projectors. It has an HDMI video and audio output. Teachers can play our standards-based software on large screens for group instruction, or play high definition movies.

For a hands-on demonstration of Kineo visit us at TCEA booth 1835. You may also visit our website at www .brainchild.com, e-mail questions@brain child.com, or call 800-811-2724.

Visual Display Options, including The Trolley and The Downview solutions, provide for easy integration of technology into high quality desks, workstations, lecterns, tables, and more. NOVA’s world headquarters, corporate offices and primary manufacturing facility are located in Effingham, Illinois, with a metal fabrication plant in Greencastle, Indiana. NOVA Solutions, Inc. employs approximately 70 employees, with some 75 independent sales representatives and more than a thousand independent dealers located around the globe. For more information call 800-7306682, visit www.novadesk.com or stop by booth 2658.

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EdTech Show Daily

CREATIVE CURRICULUM ENHANCES TEACHER EXPERIENCE Kimosha Seastrunk, Technology and Business Information Management (BIM) instructor at Dickinson High School in Beaumont, Texas, struggled with finding relevant content to use in her subject areas. “Texas currently does not have a textbook for the subjects I teach, especially because most of my classes are new CTE courses,” Seastrunk said. Seastrunk was excited to learn of CEV’s Business Computer Technologies Pathway, which engages students while enhancing learning and retention of

Microsoft® Office® skills through the use of real-world business applications. “The lessons apply to real-world activities and allow students the chance to see beyond the high school classroom,” Seastrunk said. The Business Computer Technologies Pathway includes the 2003, 2007, and will soon include the 2010 version of all Microsoft Office programs. It is designed to correlate directly to the TEKS for BIM I and II and the Achieve Texas education initiative. This multimedia-based approach to

CONCEPTUA MATH PROVIDES FREE ONLINE TOOLS FOR FRACTIONS INSTRUCTION In classrooms nationwide, leading-edge tools by Conceptua Math are helping to solve the difficult task of teaching fractions to students. These free online tools are gaining popularity with teachers who are seeing a better fundamental understanding when complex concepts, such as fractions, are demonstrated with visual models. The Conceptua Fractions free tools are being used for teacher-facilitated,

whole class instruction where teachers can model concepts and procedures while switching between fraction bars, circles, number lines and more. Incorporating multiple models promotes flexible thinking and a deeper understanding. The colorful models, simple screen design and accessible features make the fractions tools ideal for use on interactive whiteboards, such as the new ēno one by PolyVision.

WAKE UP YOUR LESSONS WITH ESPRESSO ELEMENTARY! Espresso Elementary is a Pre-K to fifth grade interactive teaching and learning site with a wide range of interactive multimedia resources that inspire children to learn—and it’s new to the U.S.! Espresso comes to us from the UK, where it is loved by teachers and students in more than 10,000 elementary schools—that’s 60 percent of all its schools! Espresso is built around ‘learning modules,’ a unique collection of fullscreen video clips, interactives, games, photos, printable worksheets, multimedia fact files and fun lively characters—all working towards the achievement of common core and state curriculum standards. Recognizing that students have different learning styles and abilities, many

schools implement strategies to differentiate instruction. Espresso is ready to support you in these strategies.

Route Creator The ‘Route Creator’ enables you to create learning paths for individual students through Espresso. With the ability to ‘pull together’ any combination of resources and then add objectives, notes and/or instructions, this tool is perfect for creating a differentiated path that your students can work through at their own pace, either independently or in groups. Personalize the Espresso experience for students and address different subjects, learning styles and abilities. This is also a great tool to use as an extension activity for gifted and

HITACHI DISPLAYS CPX9 PORTABLE SERIES LCD PROJECTOR AT BOOTH 635 Hitachi is showcasing its CPX9 Portable Series LCD projector, ideal for use in classrooms or anywhere a lightweight, high-quality, high-value projector is needed. Weighing less than five pounds and measuring just 12 x 8.7 x 3 inches, the CPX9 can project images up to 300 inches (diagonal measurement) with XGA resolution, 3,200 lumens brightness and 16.7 million colors. To reduce glare and eye strain, it features an exclusive

Whiteboard Mode that adjusts the projector’s brightness when used with a whiteboard. Another feature unique to Hitachi projectors is the Template function, which displays lines, circles or a world map, making it easier to write on an interactive whiteboard. The CPX9 provides HDMI, SVideo and composite video inputs, an RGB computer video input and monitor output, two RCA audio inputs, and an audio output. It includes a built-in

learning includes in-depth lessons, and is enhanced through the use of Atomsville. Atomsville is an online tool comprised of a broad spectrum of businesses which encompass the 16 career clusters. Students can choose the business which best fits their career interests and can shape their Microsoft Office projects to fit the needs of their company. Atomsville is Seastrunk’s favorite part about the Business Computer Technologies Pathway because she said it adds a creative edge to her current lessons and brings real-world scenarios into the classroom. “I love the step-by-step instructions for the lessons,” Seastrunk said. “I also love how the businesses are made to seem so real with CEOs, owners and contact

information. In some cases, they have their own products, prices and menus!” Seastrunk began using the Business Computer Technologies Pathway in 2010, and said it has brought a unique, interactive and engaging way for her students to learn. She said at the end of the day, she knows at least one student has learned something new and can apply it to their lives, which Seastrunk feels is the most rewarding. Visit www.cevmultimedia.com/ atomsville to learn more about CEV and all the resources needed to integrate Atomsville with the Business Computer Technologies Pathway. For a hands-on demonstration of Atomsville and the newest CEV products, stop by booth 217.

Teachers can use the tools to introduce topics, reinforce lessons or solidify concepts when closing lessons. Each fractions tool is supported by an instructional video, standards alignment, key vocabulary and sample IEP goals. Several tools include sample lesson plans to help teachers make the most of this free resource. Interest in the use of free tools in classrooms has been growing rapidly. Although the free fractions tools are seeing visitors from more than 70 countries, Texas currently ranks as the second largest visitor to the Conceptua Fractions site. Conceptua Fractions doesn’t stop with the free tools. A premium subscription gives students access to their

own fractions tools, as well as a collection of more than 400 scaffolded practice activities. Each activity uses multiple concept models to introduce fractions topics gradually and build towards solving problems using procedures. The software never gives away the answer; instead, it provides strategic feedback to help students identify their errors and think through solutions. For students who need extra language support, the instructions and feedback can be read aloud and highlighted. Visit booth 310 and enter to WIN a PolyVision interactive whiteboard. Learn more online at www.conceptua math.com.

talented students or as a reinforcement activity as part of an “RTI” plan for students requiring additional support. The routes are so easy to follow that schools can also get parents involved. Students can show parents at home what they’ve been doing in school and encourage them to play an active, supporting role in their learning experience.

area. Play a small group learning activity for reinforcement of key concepts. There are hundreds of resources on Espresso that will instantly make your whiteboard come to life!

Interactive Whiteboards Espresso will help your school get 100 times more use out of your whiteboards. The full screen video combined with engaging interactive activities provides a visual, ‘hands on’ experience that your students will instantly respond to. Show a video full screen to introduce a lesson or topic

speaker and an audio pass-through function that enables the audio to play through the projector’s audio output even in standby (lamp off) mode when only sound is required. The CPX9 has an RS-232C port that enables it to be controlled as part of an integrated A/V system. The Hitachi CPX9 offers total user convenience. A soft case is included as a standard accessory for use as a mobile projector. Its exclusive Input Source Naming feature lets the user customize the names of input sources

Accessibility Settings Espresso’s aim is that the site should be both accessible and easy to use for everyone, at any level. Espresso can be customized to further support special education. For example, pages can be simplified to help students focus on the important information on the screen or the color scheme can be changed for those who require high visibility contrast. Espresso can even be programmed to use with a switch. Visit Espresso Education at booth 115 to see these tools for yourself and find out how you can wake up your lessons with Espresso, or go online to www.espressoeducation.com.

instead of using the factory default settings. The projector’s remote offers MyMemory, MyText, MySource and MyScreen buttons for fast access to frequently used functions and sources. Additional features include a Kensington Lock and transition detector that disables the projector if it is moved without authorization, a power saving mode (less than 0.5W in Eco Mode) and closed captioning capability. The CPX9 is designed for easy maintenance, with a hybrid air/fan filter that allows less frequent cleaning (default 5000 hours free maintenance), and an easy access lamp compartment.

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BRITANNICA SITE HELPS READING-CHALLENGED STUDENTS High school students who read below grade level, have specific learning problems, or are at risk of falling behind now have an online learning resource geared to their needs with 21st Century Explorer from Britannica Digital Learning. The user-friendly site from the editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica contains the resources students need for school assignments, including encyclopedias, an atlas, historic timelines, a dictionary, news and other learning tools. 21st Century Explorer is also ideal for reluctant readers, English Language Learners (ELL), English as a

Second Language (ESL) students and adult-literacy students. Organized around the principles of differentiated learning—allowing students to progress in a manner and at a pace that best suits their needs—21st Century Explorer is divided into two levels. Level 1 provides easy-to-read encyclopedia articles on school subjects. Students progress to Level 2 as they build their vocabularies, improve their reading abilities and develop research skills. Both levels have Britannica’s “Read Aloud” text-to-speech feature, in which students can select passages from

MORE EFFECTIVE LEARNING WITH FARONICS INSIGHT 7.5: THERE IS AN APP FOR THIS Faronics is pleased to announce the release of Faronics Insight 7.5, a popular classroom management software for instructors in the lab. This latest version offers 35 new feature additions and enhancements to help instructors monitor students more easily and strengthen instructor control over the classroom while improving lesson quality and increasing teaching effectiveness. Student monitoring is improved with keystroke alerts for banned words and dual monitoring for both the instructor and the student side. Instructors can

now limit Web browsing on all Windows browsers, such as the popular Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. To get students’ attention more effectively at the beginning of class, instructors can immediately shut-down all applications appearing on selected students’ desktops with a Clear Desktop feature. Meanwhile, lesson quality and student experience are enhanced by the ability to broadcast both audio and video. The latest release features an expanded Mac feature set matching the comprehensive Windows set, and also supports Apple

CHANGING THE WAY TEACHERS INTEGRATE CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY: DOCERI FROM SP CONTROLS MAKES IT SIMPLE AND AFFORDABLE At this year’s TCEA show, SP Controls (booth 614) will be demonstrating the new Doceri™ System–an application that gives the instructor the mobility to teach and interact with all their classroom technology tools from one simple to use interface—the Apple iPad. They can 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, such as play the DVD player or document camera, from anywhere in the room. The interface starts with an iPad application called Doceri Remote, which allows teachers to see and control a computer via their iPad from anywhere in the room. Anything that can be done on the computer can be done wirelessly via the iPad: run a presentation, select applications, bring up a Web

ADAPTIVE CURRICULUM RESPONDS TO THE NATIONAL STEM CHALLENGE Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education will determine if the United States will remain a leader in addressing such global challenges as health, energy, education, national security and environmental protection. It will help develop the flexible and capable workforce needed to compete in a global economy. STEM education will provide

engaging opportunities for young people to become the scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians who will create the new products and new companies of the future. Adaptive Curriculum has responded to this challenge by creating an awardwinning instructional solution that builds middle and high school math and science mastery through dynamic, interactive

EdTech Show Daily articles to hear them read aloud. The site also helps students build confidence with learning games and activities that promote skills in language arts, math, science and social studies. Interactive games allow students to practice and test themselves on what they’ve learned in the classroom.

The site also includes: • Engaging videos that teach school subjects and introduce students to new people, places and ideas. • Headlines from Student News Net, Britannica’s award-winning current events site, which presents the issues and events of the day in a stimulating format that students enjoy.

• Teacher resources, including training materials, learning materials and newsletters correlated to curriculum standards. “The site serves an important need for schools,” said Michael Ross, a Senior Vice President at Encyclopaedia Britannica and General Manager of Britannica Digital Learning. “It helps students with a variety of special needs learn to find and explore information in ways that they’ll be comfortable with and enjoy. As a cross-curricular product, 21st Century Explorer gives students the confidence and tools they need to succeed in all subjects.” Schools or districts interested in 21st Century Explorer or any other Britannica product can call 800-621-3900 or go to info.eb.com. Visit them at booth 2334.

browser. Doceri will also allow the teacher to do free-form annotation over any presentation or image, and will allow teachers to draw, circle, graph and write on the iPad screen using a “what you see is what you get” interface, with the results going out in realtime over the classroom projector. Doceri automatically saves your annotated images, which can be edited and replayed at any time. To round out the application, Doceri provides AV control functionality. A tap of the screen brings up a control panel for selection of media, with buttons for playing, pausing, etc., along with volume controls. “Doceri gives you an amazing amount of freedom while keeping your class engaged,” said Gary Arcudi, SP Controls’ Director of Marketing. “Teachers love the technologies that are available to enhance the learning

experience, but they’ve been frustrated by the actual use of those technologies. Interactive whiteboards tether the teacher to the front of the room, frequently with their back to the class as they make notes or annotate content. The teacher usually has to move back and forth to activate devices or launch a software application. With Doceri, the teacher can access all digital resources in the classroom, annotate the content that students are viewing, and always remain in control of the technology in the room.” SP Controls’ mission is to make classroom technology simple and intuitive. Said Arcudi, “Doceri takes the use of technology to the next level. We’re extremely excited about this product and what it represents for seamless classroom flow.” For more information, stop by booth 614.

learning. Adaptive Curriculum’s realworld active learning approach motivates learners to explore, make hypotheses, manipulate items and see the impact of their decisions. Adaptive Curriculum’s more than 450 Activity Objects, or lessons, are standards aligned, complementing existing curriculums. Its easy and flexible delivery allows it to be used for whole or small group or individual instruction. With Adaptive Curriculum, students acquire core mastery through active participation in an immersive, differentiated and exciting learning environment that provides real-time feedback

and assessment.

iPod, iPhone and iPad. Faronics Insight empowers instructors to educate, monitor and communicate with an entire class from one central computer, or a portable device, such as Apple iPod, iPhone, or iPad. Instructors can share their screen with students, control student access to applications and websites, and monitor classroom screens to ensure students are on task. Students can interact with the instructor directly through Insight’s chat, voting, and remote assistance capabilities. Instructors no longer need to deal with classroom distractions—such as games, instant messaging and Web surfing—when teaching a class. Insight students are kept on task and engaged in an environment where technology accelerates their learning.

“This version offers increased flexibility for instructors, making it easier than ever to monitor students’ activities, remove distractions for more effective learning, and strengthen control over the classroom,” said Graham Vair, Product Manager for Faronics Insight. “Instructors can fully benefit from computers as educational tools minus all the student distraction of messaging, browsing and playing.” Classroom specific solutions are the most effective means to achieve complete collaboration within educational environments. To see how Faronics Insight can help you gain classroom control and help you achieve your mandate of a stronger learning environment, visit them at booth 2145. Attendees can also download a free, fully functional 30-day evaluation version at www.faronics.com.

What Is STEM? STEM education can be called a metadiscipline, because it is the blending of four disciplines into one cohesive learning and teaching paradigm. It provides students an opportunity to make sense of the entire world around them, rather than just its parts. Applying a rigorous academic interdisciplinary approach, STEM education focuses on real-world lessons where students apply science, technology, Continued on Page 43

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FUNDING IS NOW AVAILABLE! ‘Get connected’ to the Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN), the state virtual school! Public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools have access to state virtual school allotment funds to pay for rigorous, 100 percent TEKS-aligned courses. These courses also meet the iNACOL National Standards of Quality for Online Courses, as well as the revised Blooms Taxonomy. Each online course is led by a certified Texas teacher in the course subject matter who has also been trained in online instruction. These courses provide a high level of student-to-student and teacherto-student interaction.

TxVSN offers foundation and elective courses, as well as dual credit courses. These courses can be taken to meet the requirements of the 4 X 4 graduation requirements, solve schedule conflicts, provide courses not normally offered in a

school, and to provide flexibility for students. Advanced Placement and dual credit courses are also available to students, expanding the academic opportunities and leveling the playing field for students across the state.

ESD: How can a district or open-enrollment charter school participate in TxVSN?

A: The TxVSN provides courses to districts and open-enrollment charter schools. Schools interested in receiving courses through TxVSN must complete the TxVSN registration process. This process includes seven steps:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Completing the TxVSN agreement. Activation of campus(es). Uploading student data. Registering a Site Coordinator. Completion of a district or

3-D VIRTUAL PRODUCT TOURS NOW AVAILABLE Interior Concepts uses the latest technology to manufacture their educational furniture, and is now able to offer 3-D Virtual Product Tours of their products. This past year, Interior Concepts was recognized as the Progressive Manufacturer of the Year for a Small Company. The award, which recognizes outstanding innovation, is organized by Managing Automation Media, a Thomas Publishing Company, LLC publication.

How It Works Interior Concepts works with trusted distributors to introduce their furniture products to school districts and colleges. Via Web conference, Interior Concepts can modify workstations live in real time with the school to customize their furniture solutions.

What It Means For You Using this new technology, Interior Concepts can show you how your

GROW WITH ĒNO The power of ēno interactive solutions help schools grow, engage and sustain. From physics to physical fitness, ēno is the only interactive whiteboard on the market that meets the ever-changing needs of todays digital learners and busy teachers while increasing district purchasing power and respecting the earth. It’s the first three-in-one interactive whiteboard technology incorporating dry erase marker, magnetic and multimedia in one. Districts, students and teachers around the world are experiencing firsthand what it means to grow with ēno. Grow Empowered Students Every student learns differently. Kinetic students touch, feel and manip-

ulate lessons with ēno, while other learners rely on auditory cues to understand lesson content. Ēno puts the learning ball in motion for students of all learning styles with multi-touch, multi-user, multimedia collaboration that makes learning interactive. Semeen Issa, a sixth grade teacher at First Avenue Middle School in Arcadia, Calif., said, “Since implementing çno, I’ve witnessed firsthand how 21st century technology can transform the learning environment. My students are captivated by the interactive lessons. Students are eager to get out of their seats and manipulate interactive lessons on ēno.” Grow Effective Instruction

ASSESSTRAX: EDCO’S NEW COMPLETE ASSESSMENT SOLUTION EDCO offers a NEW Technology Solution that links a Student Response System (SRS) to a District Wide Teacher/Student Assessment Database, eliminating the need for traditional bubble sheets and scanners. Tests can be delivered and analyzed by grade level from the classroom or by the

District Curriculum Department. EDCO (Education Consultant Specialists) has partnered with EduTrax and iRespond to offer a real-time integrated management solution for assessing and measuring student/teacher performance electronically at the classroom level.

EdTech Show Daily

open-enrollment charter school Needs Assessment. 6. Utilization of SmarterMEASURE account. 7. Designating a district or campus Financial Approver. ESD: Describe the content in TxVSN courses.

A: Several courses follow an accelerated format (nine weeks in length), and others mirror the traditional school year semester schedule. A few of the providers have all students begin and end their courses on set dates, while other providers allow students to join the course after it has already begun. This type of information about TxVSN courses can be found in the TxVSN course catalog in the View Details section of each course.

ESD: Online learning myth: Online courses are much easier than face-toface courses. furniture will look in your educational environment before the furniture is purchased. The layout can also be converted into a movie for placement on the school website to showcase new plans and designs to the community.

Maximize Space With Interior Concepts’ ability to customize furniture products in a timely and economical fashion, product can be designed to maximize all square footage in your educational environment. When asked about their technology, Russ Nagel, Executive Vice President for Interior Concepts, said, “Our customers know that they do not have to settle on standard when

A: In fact, students have reported that their online learning experiences have generally been a little more difficult and have taken a little bit longer to complete when compared to face-to-face courses. There are quite a few myths about online learning that have been shared by the student population. If a student is interested in taking an online course, they should visit with their Counselor or TxVSN Site Coordinator prior to enrolling in the course. This is an excellent way to get a more realistic perspective about online learning and to make sure that online learning is the appropriate educational setting for a student. For more information about online learning myths, follow this link: www.inacol .org/research/docs/Ten%20Myths%20Abo ut%20Virtual%20Schools.pdf. TxVSN Central Operations staff are available in booth 2361 to answer your questions and to assist your district in getting connected with the Texas Virtual School Network! they have the ability to get exactly what they need to enhance their business.”

Warranty And Sustainability Interior Concepts furniture is backed by a lifetime warranty and is MAS Certified Green.

Visit Interior Concepts in booth 404 in the TCEA exhibit hall to learn more about their furniture solutions, call 800-678-5550, or visit www.interiorconcepts.com. Interior Concepts manufactures green educational furniture that benefit students, teachers, and administration alike. Interior Concepts furniture can be purchased easily through the TX Buyboard purchasing contract.

Rather than requiring specific software or a special driver to operate, ēno utilizes plug and play technology to support a full range of educational software and online resources. From RM Easiteach to PowerPoint, ēnos open architecture platform enables teachers to prepare and deliver dynamic lessons quickly with the tools they already feel most comfortable using. Phil Hintz, Director of Technology for Gurnee School District in Illinois, explained, “When we researched interactive whiteboards, we realized that PolyVision is unique from the competition because they focus on creating quality, long-lasting solutions that allow for open source architecture. The difference is that ēno empowers educators to teach the way they want, resulting in more efficient learning environments.”

Grow Your Purchasing Power With the lowest TCO and highest ROI, purchasing ēno is simple math that makes perfect sense. The purchase price covers almost everything. Their next generation interactive whiteboard with Bluetooth technology eliminates cords, cables and costly installation. Ēno’s three-in-one surface enables teachers to use one board for magnets, markers and multimedia, eliminating the need to buy an additional static whiteboard for traditional classroom needs. PolyVision’s Forever Warranty™ on the surface guarantees it will last a lifetime, meaning ēno will never need to be replaced or sent away for costly repairs. With the money you save, you can utilize your green in other areas.

AssessTrax, a module of EduTrax, is a Web-based, test management solution used to monitor student performance on standards-based benchmark and unit assessments. Student data is gathered via iRespond (SRS) clickers at the classroom level and can be delivered electronically to the AssessTrax database for analysis from both the school and the district curriculum department. This approach provides students’ tests results instantly and available to

respective classroom teachers and administrative staff, thereby allowing for immediate student performance evaluation. This real-time analysis offers the ability to develop intervention and remedial strategies addressing student’s weaknesses of the delivered subject matter. The teacher’s ability to assess students’ understanding and retention of delivered subject material at any time provides the teacher a snapshot

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EdTech Show Daily

BUILDING A 21ST CENTURY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT The Proliferation of the Portable Mobile computing is one of the most visible changes to today’s campuses. From netbooks and notebooks to smartphones and tablets, portable computers have earned their place in the classroom. Today’s generation of students is well-versed in portable computing and they need to be in order to prepare for a workforce that increasingly relies on portable tools to conduct business. These power-packed PCs add a new dimension to learning, creating a foundation for exciting possibilities inside and outside the classroom.

Learning Online and On Budget While already extremely popular in higher education, Web-based learning is quickly gaining momentum in K-12 environments. It’s an excellent way to provide students with greater access to resources, personalized instruction and self-guided learning. Online interaction has become an everyday part of students’ lives, and providing them with an online forum for discussion and research is both a constructive and cost-effective way to enhance learning.

The Sky Is the Limit Cloud technologies are yet another driver

DEER CREEK’S SUCCESSFUL SOLUTION FOR K–12 CURRICULUM, RTI AND CREDIT RECOVERY Deer Creek Public Schools, located near Edmonton, Okla., wanted to expand response to intervention (RtI) efforts, improve its credit recovery program and implement a robust curriculum solution to meet the instructional needs of all K–12 students. “We needed to decide how best to allocate our limited resources to help each of those students in need of everything from benchmark remediation to intensive intervention, and from supplemental tutoring to credit recovery,” said Dr. Toni Jones, Chief Academic Officer at Deer Creek Public Schools. Deer Creek’s disjointed collection of hardware, software, databases and testing systems had been ineffective at moving academic achievement forward. Managing diverse intervention and credit recovery

needs using its previous resources was time-intensive and expensive—and delivered inconsistent academic results. In 2008, the district evaluated solutions from several companies and chose CompassLearning Odyssey® because of its full K–12 curriculum, single management platform and flexibility. The district also appreciated Odyssey’s simple and straightforward implementation, as well as its ability to pinpoint skill deficiencies and adjust instruction automatically. Deer Creek implemented the solution district-wide in late 2008. The district, in collaboration with CompassLearning professional development personnel, customized Odyssey to maximize its RtI efforts. Built-in intervention folders to correspond with the

SUPER START: WR CONNECT WINS MULTIPLE AWARDS IN FIRST YEAR Weekly Reader Connect, an online reading comprehension program for grades K-6 was launched in January 2010, and has already won multiple awards for its outstanding content and seamless integration of technology into the classroom. In December, District Administration magazine named Weekly Reader Connect one of their Readers Choice Top 100 products of 2010. The 2010 winners were selected from hundreds of nominations. “Weekly Reader provides economical yet informative and entertaining reading to my district’s English language learners,” Lynne Ewing, ESOL Program Director in

the Queen Anne’s County (MD) Public Schools, told the magazine. Weekly Reader Connect’s digital editions also won a prestigious award from the Massachusetts Innovation Technology Exchange. That organization which describes itself as a growing community of thought leaders, collaborators and individuals in search of insight, education and opportunity proclaimed Weekly Reader Connects digital editions one of the most innovative, effective, and compelling achievements in the development and implementation of interactive technologies.”

PLATO LEARNING INTRODUCES GLOBAL LANGUAGES COURSES PLATO Learning, a leading provider of online learning solutions for elementary through adult learners, has announced a new portfolio of Global Languages courses for high school students. PLATO has partnered with the premier provider of online foreign language solutions,

Middlebury Interactive, to provide a robust, engaging and comprehensive curriculum that will prepare learners for a 21st century world. PLATO Global Languages powered by Middlebury Interactive meets all national standards established by the American Council on

of progress, introducing powerful new capabilities into education without carrying a hefty price tag. Districts making the jump to cloud computing have discovered the benefits of seamless sharing, increased collaboration, and greater access to tools and resources. Being able to store and share data in the cloud reduces the burden on IT staff and budgets while making resources available to everyone.

even more integrated into the learning process, with real-time feedback from clickers and other input devices, individualized monitoring reports for students, and more powerful software tools. Incorporating online programs into traditional classes will provide the best of both worlds, with personalized attention and targeted instruction in areas where students need more focus. GovConnection is here to help you integrate technology into the learning process quickly, effortlessly and cost effectively. They can provide the products, services and expertise to support your IT initiatives and promote learning. Come to booth 223 to discover solutions designed to give your district the tools and resources to succeed in this exciting new world.

three tiers of RtI, so teachers do not need to recreate RtI programs for individual students. Said Dr. Jones, “When students need intervention, the teacher can go in and assign the materials in specific folders instead of having to build everything from scratch. Students are directed to those folders and can jump to exactly what they need.” When Deer Creek students require credit recovery—whether they perform poorly, or are unable to take a required course in sequence—they are able work independently, at their own pace, in individualized learning paths. If they score below the minimum acceptable percentage, they have the opportunity to re-learn concepts and complete additional practice activities. “A school must embrace the conviction that every learner has distinct educational needs,” said Dr. Jones. “With CompassLearning, we are able to encourage and assist students and help them find the learning and output pace that seem to work best for them.” According to Dr. Jones, learning is

no longer happening solely in classrooms. “Kids love it. The transition for students was amazing. They feel totally comfortable. In fact, we have some students who, after school, log on and continue to learn from home. Some of these students were completely disengaged from school, but now they have reconnected and have found success in subjects where learning was extremely difficult and failure seemed inevitable.”

Technology + Education = Success With all of the recent advancements in computing, networking and storage, one fact has never been more evident technology and education are a powerful combination. In coming years, the integration of these two entities will undoubtedly continue to amaze and surprise us. Technology will become

Results For Deer Creek educators, one of the most satisfying aspects of the implementation has been to watch students who hadn’t passed a course enjoy some success. After Odyssey’s implementation, state assessment score growth across the district has been extremely strong. “In the end, we can only base our success on what we know … our students are happier, more successful and are engaged learners,” said Jones. “This says it all.” Visit CompassLearning at booth 717 and at www.compasslearning.com.

The honors for Weekly Reader Connect were matched by enthusiasm from users. “Every teacher [in my school] … has been super excited to try out Weekly Reader Connect on our new whiteboards,” wrote Karen Small, SI Title 1 Reading Coordinator at the Crittenton Community School in Columbus, Ohio. Some comments have been, “Wow, I’m just going to use this instead of trying to make all my own flipcharts for everything” and “This has all the content areas covered, plus the short cycle assessment? Too cool!” Weekly Reader Connect requires no additional software or tech expertise. Developed by Weekly Reader—the innovative, 108-year-old educational publishing company that virtually invented current events coverage in the classroom—

Weekly Reader Connect brings the following elements to all subscribing schools: • Dozens of exclusive interactive Weekly Reader digital editions, presenting timely, high-interest, 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, 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

the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), an organization dedicated to the improvement and expansion of language instruction and learning. The Global Languages curriculum includes Spanish, French, German, Latin and Mandarin Chinese. In addition, the languages portfolio also includes Advanced Placement Spanish and French courses. “In order for students in the United States to compete in a global environment and become college and career

ready, learning a foreign language is key. With PLATO Global Languages, students become proficient in the language of their choice, preparing them for professional and personal success in the real world,” said Vin Riera, Chief Executive Officer for PLATO Learning. “We have a great deal of respect for PLATO’s proven track record of success and service to the K-12 market,” said

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GETTING THE (COMPUTER) CART IN FRONT OF THE HORSE: PLANNING FOR 1:1 COMPUTING Many schools are investing in 1:1 computing initiatives and, as EdTech Show Daily readers know, there are many pitfalls that educators need to be aware of so that the initiative achieves all of its goals while maintaining the sanity and budget of the school administrators. Meru Networks “came of age” as 1:1 computing initiatives were introduced into schools, and of all the lessons we have learned (along with our customers), the most important is to have the right order in place when it comes to implementing new technology. Let’s start by understanding what it means to have things deployed in the wrong order. At ISTE 2010, one visitor at the Meru booth lamented that after a year of getting the COWs (computers-onwheels, or laptop carts) in place, they still

were not using them for instruction. The reason why was that it was taking too long for the students to log-in, because only five students could log in simultaneously. In other words, their school’s investment was being wasted not because of the laptops, lesson plans, or desire—it was because their wireless network was failing them. In another case, the school had implemented a 1:1 computing initiative and had a great deployment of it with their existing wireless network. The first year everything was great, and the use of 1:1 computing was a source of pride for all involved. The next school year came along with almost endless network reliability and connectivity issues, making the use of the laptop carts virtually impossible. What changed? The school did not

TIME TO KNOW INTRODUCES NEW DIGITAL TEACHING PLATFORM The Web-based Digital Teaching Platform 5.0 delivers new tools for data management, assessment, progress monitoring, reporting and instruction to improve teacher and student performance

Time To Know, creator of the first complete digital teaching platform, announces the release of the Time To Know Digital Teaching Platform (DTP) 5.0. The latest version of the interactive curriculum system designed specifically for one-to-one computing classrooms, DTP 5.0 features new and expanded tools for data management, assessment, progress monitoring, reporting and classroom instruction. With these tools, which are based on feedback from teachers currently implementing Time To Know, educators can better inform decision-making and differentiate instruction to improve each student’s performance. “The Digital Teaching Platform is a breakthrough solution that transforms teaching and learning in classrooms by helping schools realize the potential of one-to-one computing. It provides teachers and students with the 21st century tools and skills they need to excel and succeed in the global marketplace,” said Joshua Behar, Senior Vice President and U.S. General Manager for Time To Know. “Indeed, Texas students who used the Time To Know digital teaching platform last year achieved significantly

higher gains on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) than students in comparable schools using traditional teaching methods and curriculum.”

Data Management and Scalability The Web-based DTP 5.0 is deployed as a server cloud with a new infrastructure that enables easier scalability and service for districts and schools. It also provides expanded data management capabilities from the central office to the classroom, with a new Administration Console that allows educators to create and modify data at the district, school, class, teacher, and student levels.

Assessment, Progress Monitoring and Reporting For teachers, DTP 5.0 offers several new tools to provide added flexibility and efficiency in assessment, progress monitoring, and reporting. A new Activity Review Center expands upon Time To Know’s existing Assessment Review Center, which allows teachers to easily assess and provide feedback to students online. In addition to automatically grading closed items such as multiple-choice questions, the Activity Review Center enables teachers to view and customize the grading of each item. The system also clearly marks open-response questions and provides simplified rubrics for grading open items. With DTP 5.0, teachers now have the

NEW ONLINE SOLUTION FOR LEARNING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM How do you accommodate students who don’t finish their work during lab time? How do they complete makeup work when they miss class? How do you deal

with overbooked language labs when you want your students to practice for their AP tests? Do you need a solution that affords

EdTech Show Daily plan ahead for the onslaught of Wi-Fi enabled devices coming onto campus. Whether it was the iPhone, PSP (portable gaming device), personal laptops, Wi-Fi connected digital cameras, or some other device is not the issue; the issue is that between one school year and the next, more students came to campus with more devices, and the existing wireless network could not handle the density of devices. The common thread here is that school administrators and IT departments need to plan ahead and stage their deployments properly with respect to the wireless network to make 1:1 computing a success, both today and in the future. It starts by making sure the WLAN can handle an entire classroom logging on simultaneously and providing “airtime fairness” to each user. Airtime fairness is an important consideration, because the last student to log onto the network needs the same access to educational materials as the first student.

Another aspect of proper planning is to make sure that scalability is designed into the network from the beginning. Older microcell networks have trouble handling a high density of clients connecting to the network, creating a situation where things are fine one year then fall apart the next. Schools should consider virtualized WLAN architectures because high client density can be accommodated easily, and scaling the network with more access points is much easier than microcell because there is minimal RF site planning needed to deploy them. By implementing a WLAN that is easily scalable and capable of handling high client density, many “downstream” problems can be avoided in implementing a 1:1 computing initiative. To find out more on this topic please visit merunetworks.com to find educational videos and case studies of schools that found success with Meru in implementing their computing initiatives.

option of grading each test by student or by question. When grading by question, teachers can scroll through all students’ answers to a particular question and then grade each answer accordingly. Teachers can also provide students with specific feedback on each question as well as overall feedback on the test, and automatically release the results to students as soon as the grading is complete. To further inform instructional decision making, DTP 5.0 provides teachers with three new standards-focused, interactive reports that can be exported as PDFs or printed to communicate results to key stakeholders. The Class Progress by Standards report details the percentage of students who have met each standard, allowing the teacher to easily see which standards will require more intensive instruction. Drilling down one level, teachers can access a Class Distribution by Levels per Standard report to quickly gauge which students are performing at, above, or below grade level. Going further, teachers can review a Student Progress by Standard report to measure each student’s progress over time.

instructional time to help a student struggling with a new concept.

your students more flexibility and access to materials? If so, ReLANpro.NET may be just what you are looking for. ReLANpro.NET is a Web-based language lab recorder that allows students 24/7 access to online language lessons, tests and teacher-selected multimedia materials. It can be used to disseminate videos, text, audio files and other coursework. These files are stored on the content server provided by ASC. Students

can complete take-home quizzes, homework assignments, create audio recordings and practice their listening comprehension. Language lab recorders allow students to listen to their teacher’s exercise or model and then record their response to it. They can then compare their recording to the teacher’s

Teacher Folder Providing additional flexibility, a new Teacher Folder available in DTP 5.0 gives teachers a central place to store materials they have collected over the years and come to rely upon, including primary source articles, worksheets, visuals, study guides and links to websites. Using this folder, teachers can instantly access their personal resources at any time while planning the next day’s lesson from home, or during

About the Digital Teaching Platform The digital teaching platform is a new educational product category in K-12 education. The Web-based platform functions as the primary instructional environment in a one-to-one computing classroom, where every student and teacher has access to a personal portable computer in a wireless environment. The digital teaching platform includes a comprehensive digital curriculum and tools that empower the teacher to manage instruction, learning and assessment. Unlike supplemental software, the digital teaching platform operates in a teacherled classroom as the primary carrier of core curriculum content. Using this platform, teachers can seamlessly blend digital and traditional instructional activities to deeply engage 21st century learners, address diverse teaching and learning styles, and improve student performance. About Time To Know Introduced in Israel in 2007 and launched in the United States in 2009, Time To Know is a complete, interactive curriculum system designed specifically for today’s one-to-one computing classrooms. By creating a new educational product category, the Digital Teaching Platform, Time To Know is helping school districts improve the quality of teaching and learning, while fully realizing the vision of one-to-one computing. For more information, please visit www.timetoknow.com or call 888-559-6560.

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SELECTIVE REVIEW! This is a phrase that can make school districts shudder. This “process” that the ERate schools and library division can sometimes request can be a school’s worst nightmare. The E-Rate selective review, if not done correctly, can cause districts that have received previous ERate funding to pay back funds that have

been previously dispersed, as well as delay and even forfeit the possibility for future funding. Needless to say, not only is the selective review process labor intensive for the district, but it has to be expedited within the timeframe the SLD requires. This, of course, never happens at a convenient time. This is only one of

EINSTRUCTION INTRODUCES MOBI VIEW eInstruction, an educational technology pioneer, is meeting market demand for interactivity and mobility with the release of Mobi View™, the industry’s first mobile interactive whiteboard with an interactive touchscreen display. At $449, Mobi View delivers the same functionality as a fixed interactive whiteboard while providing a number of additional teaching and learning benefits through its interactive touchscreen display and mobile platform. An independent survey conducted by Creative Research Services, Inc. shows that 9 out of 10 educators prefer to move around the classroom while they teach, something they can’t do with a fixed interactive whiteboard. Mobi View’s enhanced Panda Security (Con’t. from p. 1)

RC: Panda Security is one of the worlds largest security companies and has established itself as an innovator in cloud-based security. Using proprietary technology, Pandas unique security model enables real-time detection, analysis and remediation of malware that can wreak havoc on computer systems. ESD: What would you say makes your company unique?

RC: Panda prides itself on being one of the first companies in the security industry to standardize on cloud-based security across its product line, and set a new precedent for creating technology to stay one step ahead of todays increasingly sophisticated malware landscape.

ESD: What was the most significant event or series of events affecting your company in the past year?

RC: In early 2010, Panda set an aggressive goal to continue its thought leadership in cloud security and focus on increased adoption of its cloud products by organizations of all sizes. Evaluating the companys success at the end of the year demonstrated that not only did the Adaptive Curriculum (Con’t. from p. 32)

engineering and mathematics in contexts that connect school, community and work to STEM literacy and with it the ability to compete in the global economy. Dr. Helen Padgett, President of ISTE and a consultant for Adaptive Curriculum, believes more can be done

features allow teachers to be 100 percent mobile without accessing a fixed whiteboard or computer for the duration of their lessons. This mobility enables seamless, efficient and engaging lessons, creating more teachable moments and more interactivity with students. According to a research analysis by Interactive Educational Systems Design, Inc., fixed interactive whiteboards have been, in some cases, associated with teacher-centered instructional methods that reduce student involvement in instruction. Mobi View affords the same benefits as fixed interactive whiteboards, while removing the tendency of the fixed board to result in lecture-style teaching. Mobi View is the only interactive company meet its goals, but far surpassed them. Major accomplishments revolved around growing our partner base and increasing global awareness of how much more effective cloud security is in addressing today’s type of malware.

many reasons why a district be should extremely knowledgeable with the E-Rate process and maintain organized documentation. VST consulting and management is not only well- versed in all aspects of the E-Rate process: they give clients the peace of mind every aspect will be handled correctly, so a

selective review will be one less thing a client needs to worry about. Please stop by booth 117. Meet the VST team—President Russell Neal, V.P. Of Operations Tracy Neal and V.P. Marketing of Sales Maryann Staab. They look forward to meeting you, and will be glad to answer any questions you might have. You can also call them at 817-430-5842 or go to their website, www.vstservices.com.

whiteboard technology that focuses more on facilitating student-centered learning and direct student interaction with the technology. Pairing Mobi View with the Mobi Student-Centered Learning Pack™ transforms classrooms into studentcentered collaborative environments where students can project their work simultaneously, or one at a time, to learn from one another. The combined technologies also enable teachers to actively collaborate with multiple students. “We are continuing to innovate based on feedback we receive from educators. In the year since we launched the original Mobi™, we have heard time and time again that mobility and collaboration are changing the classroom experience for both students and teachers,” said Steve Kaye, CEO of eInstruction. “Now we want to do more for teachers by enabling them to move around, to involve their students, and to quickly and easily access the content they need.”

Mobi View introduces students and teachers to improved teaching and learning experiences through the following benefits: • The same functionality of a fixed interactive whiteboard at a fraction of the cost. With Mobi View, content can be projected to any surface. • The ability to move freely around the room and between classrooms. Onetouch access to annotation tools, favorite files, folders, applications, websites, and a touchscreen keyboard help teachers run smooth and efficient lessons from anywhere in the classroom. “Using the Mobi has allowed teachers to come out from behind the desk and move freely through the classroom, truly creating a student-centered learning environment,” said Andy Kuhl, Director of Secondary Curriculum and Instruction in Wilkes-Barre Area School District. “We are observing that students are more engaged in the learning process.”

additional IT infrastructure and staff to manage the surge in threats, not to mention increases strain on individual PCs.

distributed networks. It is important that those responsible for monitoring the networks of school districts and educational institutions as a whole have a robust solution that not only protects in real-time, but is also easy to manage and control.

By bringing malware detection and remediation processes into the cloud, partners can provide security at a lower total cost of ownership since no hardware infrastructure is required. Its a proven approach; Panda continuously scores among the highest in the industry for malware detection rates.

One of the highlights for us was the increased revenue we realized from Panda Cloud Protectionour anti-malware managed services product line for endpoints, e-mail and Web protection. Unbelievably, we increased profits by 65 percent over the previous year, and Panda Cloud Protection now represents 15 percent of the companys total worldwide revenues. We expect this number to exceed 20 percent by the end of 2011. In addition, overall U.S. sales increased by 25 percent from 2009, further validating our leadership position as the cloud security company.

The remote management component of our products also means it only takes one person to manage thousands of seats at a time, and they spend less time making office visits since client security can be managed remotely. In short, cloud security services address the economies of scale issue in IT security that many providers are currently struggling with.

RC: Panda Security research proves that a third of all malware ever recorded was created in the first 10 months of 2010, and over 50 percent of malware is active for only 24 hours. The traditional clientserver protection model simply cannot scale with this situation: It requires

RC: Panda Securitys goal is to keep computers and, in turn, their users completely protected. In the face of today’s pervasive and relentless malware environment, schools are especially vulnerable to malware attacks, given their

with digital tools to ensure that students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in our increasingly technological world. “President Obama and Secretary Duncan have both set forth aggressive goals for STEM,” stated Dr. Padgett, emphasizing the need to leverage investments in instructional technology tools like interactive whiteboards. “One of the

consistent messages received from ISTE members is the need for strong math and science middle school and high school solutions that would allow teachers a point of instruction tool for use on their interactive boards.” Adaptive Curriculum provides such content. Adaptive Curriculum’s dynamic and interactive learning environment promotes the needed engagement

ESD: What distinguishes your products from the competition?

ESD: Why is Panda Security a good choice for educational institutions and school districts?

Panda Securitys cloud-based solutions like Panda Cloud Protection, which protects endpoint, Internet and e-mail, is recognized as a perfect choice for school systems for its ability to be controlled remotely: a boon to any school network manager who is responsible for monitoring the security of several different distributed networks. In addition, as budgets continue to decrease, our no extra hardware needed approach to protection is bringing more and more schools on board because it eliminates the costs affiliated with maintaining servers. Using cloud-based security like ours, network administrators can remain confident that they are protecting their PCs with fast automated detection and remediation at a lower cost than traditional client-server solutions.

For more information on Panda Security products, please visit www.pandasecurity .com/usa or stop by booth 2392.

for students to explore concepts, create and test hypotheses, manipulate items, and see the impact of their decisions. This guided discovery approach builds deep concept mastery and lasting understanding for a solid STEM literacy foundation. Visit Adaptive Curriculum at booth 317, go online to www.adaptive curriculum.com, or call 888-999-9319.

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EdTech Show Daily

your-own-paper” methods of yesterday. The interactive system engages students because it provides instant feedback on their individual learning. The shared work also gives teachers an instant view of each student’s progress. The students become even more engaged in the rhythm of inquiry, building their respective confidence levels and their familiarity with technology in general. Sean Bird, a mathematics and science teacher at Covenant Christian High School in Indianapolis, Ind., incorporates TI-Nspire technology—the TI-Nspire™ CAS graphing handheld, TI-Nspire Navigator Classroom Learning System, TI-Nspire Teacher Software and TINspire Student Software in his curricula. The handheld displays the mathematics in multiple formats, giving students a sense of how the representations and mathematical concepts are related. The classroom network provides a collaborative environment, which serves as a forum to discuss the reasoning behind the many alternative right (and wrong)

steps, rather than simply arriving at a correct or incorrect answer to the problem. “My students enjoy using the handhelds to manipulate math equations, which gives them a deeper understanding of the concepts and helps them learn faster and retain more,” Bird said. He credits the combination with increased involvement of the students in their own learning processes. “Without having student engagement, without having them actively involved in learning and asking questions themselves, they don’t learn,” he said. “If you don’t ask good questions, if you’re not engaged, then your mind is just wandering off, and you’re not learning. And so, when students can work through the problems themselves and have me on the side ensuring that they’re making progress, then that’s when learning really happens.” For more information on how you can create more interactive learning in your math or science classroom, please visit education.ti.com/us/nspiredlearning.

beneath a benchmark assessment and is designed to provide educators a more frequent and detailed view into student performance. Because our solution handles not only traditional multiple choice type assessments but also enables constructed response and rubrics-based assessments, the flexibility of assessment strategies and types opens up numerous assessments that haven’t been available to educators previously. Since our solution is data-driven, principals are empowered to drive assessment and instruction armed with much more meaningful and fresh data than that is obtained via benchmark assessments.

DW: For teachers, we provide them the ability to score student tests using an iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad, and a cloudbased interface using a Web browser. Additionally, we enable teachers to use a camera-enabled iPod Touch or iPad to scan in student results. From a student perspective, we support clickers from eInstruction, Promethean, Smart and Turning Technologies.

ESD: Does your system integrate with any content?

levels. The success of the district and superintendent pivots on the community connection.

need to gain efficiencies to save time and money.

INTERACTIVITY THAT FUELS LEARNING Math Learning Technology Engages Students, Fosters Achievement

Imagine students actually enjoying math class. It happens every school day in classrooms where teachers employ interactive lessons that engage students in learning techniques based on realworld challenges and networked learning technology. According to a research overview by Jeremy Roschelle, Director of the Center for Technology and Learning at SRI International Inc., attainment in coursework based on interactive, exploratory learning for conceptual understanding far exceeds achievement through coursework that emphasizes rote memorization of mathematical procedures. Students learn more when involved with their classmates in well-structured, shared

ALL In Learning (Con’t. from p. 1)

DW: ALL In Learning is a cloud-based assessment company. We have created a robust assessment evaluation system, which provides teachers, principals and district administrators with a rich set of reports on student, class, campus and district performance. The results can be aggregated across one or more assessments and/or standards. ESD: Where does ALL In Learning fit into the assessment cycle? DW: Our solution supports all aspects of assessment, common, formative, summative, collaborative and homework. The common assessment piece solution sits Schoolwires (Con’t. from p. 1)

EM: Our priority is the success of K-12 districts. Schoolwires provides one of the leading website and community management platforms to more than 1,200 districts. We make technology easy to use, increasing the usage and value of the tools. Administrators and staff easily add content to their district websites. Teachers interact with students and parents, extending classroom content online to engage students and drive parental involvement. Our platform makes it easy to connect various Web-based technologies for easier access and seamless workability.

ESD: What are the biggest issues facing education that are addressed by your solutions? EM: Five key themes keep rising to the top …

First, districts need to be better connected at the school, district and community Weekly Reader (Con’t. from p. 39)

reading skills and scores while improving students’ understanding of texts. Weekly Reader Connect is built on the Concepts of Comprehension, a researchbased framework of 21 inferential

learning processes. Exploratory learning in today’s math classroom is best done through an interactive system of networked teaching and learning tools, such as the TI-Nspire™ family of products that include TINspire™ handhelds, the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Classroom Learning System which wirelessly connects the handhelds to the teacher’s computer, and TINspire™ Teacher Software and TINspire™ Student Software. Together, they create a collaborative workspace to support real-time give-and-take among students and the teacher. For example, the teacher can assign an algebra problem for the day’s class work. Students then share ideas and suggestions for working through the problem as the teacher monitors progress. It’s the antithesis of the “keep-your-eyes-on-

ESD: How are results collected into your solution?

Second, districts struggle with multiple technologies that operate in silos and are costly to maintain. The greater cost is that these discrete technologies make access difficult. Districts want to provide users with easy, seamless access to the information and services to succeed.

Third, districts want to effectively measure and drive engagement. The availability of data helps districts adjust their tactics to increase engagement.

Fourth, as Project Tomorrows 2009 national research study showed, students apply knowledge when learning occurs in a collaborative and interactive environment. Many districts are unable to provide the technology platform to support 21st century learning.

ESD: Where are the results accessed?

DW: Our cloud-based PLUS software is where we host assessment results for schools and districts. Schools can easily construct an assessment key, which matches their assessment instruments, in our PLUS software.

Schoolwires software and services enables districts to create a 21st century teaching and learning environment; engages teachers, students, parents and other constituents; and seamlessly unifies technologies over a multitude of devices to activate communities. By implementing the Centricity2 platform, districts gain efficiencies, saving time and money. ESD: What are some of the most significant achievements of the company in the past year? EM: Our primary accomplishment is delivering our Centricity2 solution to districts to address their key issues even better.

DW: Absolutely. This is a very exciting part of our solution. We are mapping the assessments used in the leading textbooks into our PLUS software. Think of the pre- and post-tests in the chapter of a textbook. We have mapped these in PLUS so that teachers using mapped textbooks can easily administer common assessments and gauge student performance across those assessments.

Come and see us at booth 1235! You can also visit us on the Web at www.allinlearning.com or call us at 877-637-5353.

consecutive year and remain in the top 20 fastest growing companies in the private education sector. We achieved this growth in a flat economy because our products and people deliver solid results and remarkable satisfaction. Our exceptionally high client retention rate has averaged 98 percent since our founding.

ESD: Do you have any customers in Texas?

EM: Yes, Denton ISD became our first client in Texas. Today over 130 Texas districts of all sizes from Callisburg ISD to Dallas ISD depend on Centricity as their website and community management platform, and enjoy increased efficiency and cost savings as a result. Additionally, we have a long-standing relationship with Education Service Center (ESC) Region XI for certified hosting of our solutions to Texas districts.

Lastly, given the economy, districts

We reached a milestone when more than 10 percent of the 200 largest districts chose Schoolwires. We ranked on Inc. Magazines Top 500|5000 for the fourth

To learn more, visit booth 2429 or go to or www.schoolwires.com.

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. Subscribing schools simply log on to

www.wrconnect.com for full access to the program. Teachers can project the content 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 off-premises 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 booth 1822.

Friday, Februar y 11, 2011

EdTech Show Daily

WRITING RULES! WITH CALVIN COOL ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF STUDENT WRITERS IN GRADES 3-12 Writing Rules! is an engaging, interactive approach to helping students master essential writing skills. Students who are struggling with basic skills need a strong foundation from which to further develop their writing in order to communicate effectively. Adhering to the methodology of The Six Traits of Good Writing, Writing Rules! offers learning experiences across a spectrum of writing skills. The Writing Rules! program offers instruction and practice in sentence structure, paragraph building and essay writing. To address the needs of beginning writers, the building blocks of sentence structure such as nouns, verb tenses,

subjects, predicates, sentence combining and capitalization are taught. Teach and guided practice exercises help students comprehend each skill. Students are then provided independent practice opportunities to synthesize the material and create their own work using each acquired concept. For writers who are ready to organize and elaborate their ideas, Writing Rules! moves forward with paragraph building. Each of The Six Traits of Good Writing–Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency and Convention–is addressed during its own writing session. Students learn each trait through a teaching and modeling segment. Students practice their

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

ONE-CLICK AUDIO HAS A WIDE RANGE OF DOWNLOADABLE AUDIOBOOKS FOR LIBRARIES One-Click Audio from Recorded Books K-12 offers school libraries access to a wide selection of downloadable audiobooks. Users can download audiobooks to a computer and then import the files to an mp3 player like an iPod, which allows users to listen on the go. The newest version features several upgrades, including a new download manager, an improved “holds” system and faster search and download capabilities. Accessible by

patrons inside or outside of a subscribing school or library, One-Click Audio serves as a digital alternative to cassette and CD audiobooks. “Today’s students are used to downloading their favorite songs, so it only makes sense to give them the option to download their favorite books,” explained Scott Williams, CEO of Recorded Books. “They desire content immediately at their fingertips and are

knowledge of each trait through a variety of guided practice exercises. Students then synthesize their comprehension and writing skills by writing their own paragraph using each trait. Students are able to assess their own writing on an electronic checklist before it is evaluated by teachers. After completing instruction in paragraph building, students work on writing essays in the narrative, expository and persuasive genres. While continuing to employ The Six Traits of Good Writing, Writing Rules! teaches each essay genre by incorporating its specific characteristics, as well as paragraph formatting and transitions. Narrative essays feature concepts such as characterization, setting, plotline, conflict and resolution, autobiography and analytically reflective writing. Expository essays feature elements such as compare and contrast, cause and effect, third-person formal voice and writing for specific audiences.

Persuasive essays feature components such as writing for or against an issue, writing strong arguments and persuasive language. All essays are written using a fivestep writing process which assists students with guided organizers to prewrite, opportunities to revise with their six-trait checklist, and to assess their own work with their student rubric. Teachers access student writing electronically and score on electronic rubrics. All assessments are evaluated trait by trait, so teachers and students see exactly where strengths and weaknesses lie within the writing. Students’ work is saved, so they are able to access it and see the progress of their writing as they gain skills and proficiency. Printable teacher-directed lessons are provided for students who are in need of more targeted, small group instruction. For more information, visit www.istation.com or stop by booth 1327.

forward student tests to the College Board for grading.

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.

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 Nbased access point at speeds six times that skilled at multitasking. With One-Click Audio, students can search and download books directly to their media player or computer. Audio support is an important element of fluency strategies for struggling readers, and now students have that extra support at their expediency.” The One-Click Audio Academic Collection offers more than 800 downloadable titles, including 320 that are iPod-compatible. Each month seven new titles are added to the collection, as well as an additional 130 titles available for individual purchase. This extensive listing includes contemporary works by authors such as Anthony Horowitz, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Megan McDonald and Walter Dean

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 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 or e-mail carlakay@ascd.us.

Myers and classics from Mark Twain, William Shakespeare, Jack London and much more. Several titles are available for multiple users and supplement required reading for classroom curriculum. One-Click Audio is available through yearly subscription plans. Its Media Center features an easy-to-use interface with streamlined navigation. Fast downloads, automatic software updates and support for a wide range of portable devices provide and unique user experience. For more information about OneClick Audio, call 800-638-1304 or visit Recorded Books K-12 online at www.recordedbooks.com/school.

Friday, Februar y 11, 2011

EDCO (Con’t. from p. 38)

of a student’s level of understanding of the subject matter with the option to redirect curriculum delivery. This approach eliminates the need to administer bubble sheets which takes time to be scanned and the results to be analyzed over a prolonged period of time. This new process of using technology allows for immediate response of the student’s understanding to determine a student’s instructional needs toward improving student achievement. AssessTrax is available to any school district which utilizes benchmark 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. In addition, iRespond offers numerous reports used at the PLATO Learning (Con’t. from p.39)

Dave Benoit, Chief Executive Officer of Middlebury Interactive Languages. “We are excited to be adding our world language courses to PLATO’s offerings to increase student access to critical world language skills that not only help improve academic achievement, but deliver a necessary life skill for today’s global marketplace.” The new Global Languages curriculum employs a rigorous and relevant approach to help high school students learn a foreign language quickly and comprehensively. The courses feature a natural language learning model, which helps students learn a new language in the same manner they learned their native language. This results in faster and more effective proficiency, as well as a cycle of success and positive motivation. In addition, the Global Languages courses are highly interactive and technology-driven with culturally relevant activities and games designed to engage students as they learn. The Global Languages curriculum is based upon five key foreign language skills: speaking, reading, writing, listening and culture. Further, the curriculum offers comprehensive assessment tools including both written and oral tests, which allow teachers to listen and review each individual student’s speech and vocabulary. This collaborative approach facilitates new and highly effective ways for teachers and students to interact. In addition, the new Global Languages courseware from PLATO Learning is customizable, ReLANpro.NET (Con’t. from p. 42)

example and correct their pronunciation, inflection or content at their own pace. Once completed, the recorded files are uploaded back to the ASC content server for teacher review. Students can access ReLANpro .NET from any computer that connects to the Internet. Students and teachers alike can work in comfort from home, school, the library, the café … anywhere! ReLANpro.NET offers an

classroom level for performance analysis and remedial recommendations by student. Utilizing AssessTrax in conjunction with iRespond’s (SRS) handheld units 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-tests). EDCO’s efforts focus on partnering with school systems to plan and implement solutions that will improve student achievement. Whether implementing a comprehensive districtwide assessment plan, managing district benchmark testing, or providing a wide range of data analysis programs of student/teacher performs, EDCO is committed to helping school systems improve student achievement. Please visit EDCO at www. edcousa.biz to learn more. allowing schools to easily introduce the curriculum for either group or independent learning. Courses can be taken from home, in a classroom or in a computer lab. The flexibility of the Global Languages portfolio gives school districts a multitude of options to maximize resources and offers a breadth of foreign languages they otherwise may not be able to offer their students. The PLATO Global Languages courses are currently available as a comprehensive library on a subscription basis.

About PLATO Learning, Inc. PLATO Learning is a leading provider of online curriculum solutions for elementary through adult learners, offering curricula in reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and life and job skills. For more information, visit www.plato.com.

About Middlebury Interactive Languages Middlebury Interactive Languages is poised to become the premier academic leader in world language instruction for K-12 students as part of 21st century readiness. All working within rigorous academic teaching methods and ACTFL standards, MIL’s product suite includes Powerspeak, accredited world language online courses for grades 3-12; MiddWorld Online, a new virtual academy for high school students offering the most immersive product in the market today; Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy, a full-immersion residency program on college campuses, Avant STAMP assessment and Professional Development. intuitive interface that is simple to use for both educators and learners. Educators can access completed student files, review and grade with the click of a button. ReLANpro.NET is available for any school, even if you do not presently have a language lab. Leasing the ReLANpro.NET is affordable for any school or school district. Contact Carla at 800-613-9554 or carlakay@ascd.us for information on leasing prices.

EdTech Show Daily

BRITANNICA SMARTMATH PERSONALIZES LEARNING For schools and districts looking to help students improve their math skills, Britannica Digital Learning offers SmartMath, an online math practice and formative assessment tool. Britannica SmartMath encourages math practice by making it fun, adapting to each student’s performance for truly individualized instruction. Dealing with differences in student skills has always been a challenge, particularly in math. But SmartMath’s adaptive platform builds differentiation into every question by adjusting difficulty based on each student’s performance. In this way, teachers reach all students, from those who are falling behind to those who are well ahead. The result is that students achieve success in math and move through each topic at their own pace until the material is mastered. A highly interactive program, Britannica SmartMath uses amusing cartoon characters and an award system to create a fun, game-like environment that engages students. Students have fun practicing math, meaning more time-ontask and a greater mastery of the subject. SmartMath is designed around NCTM focal points and correlated to the Florida Sunshine State Standards and the Common Core standards. Formative assessment is also an

integral part of SmartMath. Teachers and administrators have access to reports to inform instruction according to an individual student’s needs or the progress of entire classes and grades. These assessments drive differentiation without putting an extra burden on teachers. There is less grading to be done and more time for teachers to respond to student results. “This is the future of math instruction,” said Michael Ross, a Senior Vice President and General Manager of Britannica Digital Learning. “It’s fun and engaging for students and a powerful, easy-to-use formative assessment tool for teachers. It’s on the cutting edge of incorporating feedback into the learning process. Educators, parents and students now have real-time measurable results of student performance and a better way to track student progress.” SmartMath joins the company’s mathematics-instruction portfolio alongside the Mathematics in Context middle school core mathematics curriculum. Ross said that the two initiatives exemplify Britannica’s expanding product line that focuses on the needs of 21st century classrooms. Schools interested in Britannica SmartMath or any of Britannica’s products can go to http://info.eb.com/smart math or call 800-621-3900.

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 McGraw-Hill’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 Mid-Atlantic Region states and that had met 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. McGrawHill’s Everyday Mathematics was the only one of all of these programs with materials that were widely adopted and evaluated to be effective. 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 www.mheducation.com.

Friday, Februar y 11, 2011

EdTech Show Daily

HITACHI INTRODUCES CPWX8 3LCD MULTIMEDIA PROJECTOR Hitachi has expanded its Portable Series projector lineup with its CPWX8 3LCD multimedia projector. The CPWX8 combines high-definition picture quality with compact size and flexible features, making it ideal for a wide variety of portable projector applications. The easy-to-carry CPWX8 weighs less than 5 pounds and measures just 12"

wide x 8.7" deep by 3" high. It provides native WXGA (1,280 x 800) resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio, along with 16.7 million colors and 2,600 ANSI Lumens brightness for clear, vivid widescreen images. The CPWX8 is designed for ease of use and flexible operation. It includes HDMI, S-Video and composite video inputs, RGB computer video inputs and

BAMBOO BY WACOM MAKES DIGITAL LEARNING FUN With the ultimate goal of creating harmony between humans and technology, Wacom Technology Services Bamboo™ tablet line provides affordable and intuitive input to K-12 computer users. By combining multi-touch with its renowned pen technology, Bamboo provides students and teachers with a computer input approach that is extremely flexible, friendly, fresh and fun. Whether using it to draw in an art class or writing equations as part of an online math mentoring

program, Bamboo is the ideal tool for learning and discovery. Compatible with Windows or Mac operating systems, Bamboo is easy for kids to use and introduces a way of computing that is about as natural as one can get. Bamboo includes a family of four distinct tablets: pen-only and three versions of the pen and touch combination. Bamboo offers choices to today’s classroom, giving staff and student the freedom to work with their

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?

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 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.

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

QUALITY AND AFFORDABILITY = PROMETHEAN’S ACTIVBOARD MOUNT SYSTEM As a global education company, Promethean is committed to supporting teaching and learning and when the market demands a different set of solutions, they listen. One of the newest additions to the Promethean ActivClassroom family is the ActivBoard Mount System, a lowcost answer to current needs: affordability with quality.

Backed by Promethean’s superior hardware, award–winning software, trusted product warranty and support, the ActivBoard Mount System teachers and students will enjoy all the benefits of a more collaborative, immersive and inclusive digital learning experience. The AB Mount System has been designed to the highest standards used for all Promethean products. The system

outputs, two audio inputs and an audio output. In addition, an RS-232C port enables the projector to be controlled as part of an integrated A/V system. The CPWX8 also features a built-in speaker and security bar, in addition to a Kensington Lock. The CPWX8 offers a host of convenience features such as MyScreen, MyMemory, MyButton, MyText and

MySource buttons for fast remote control access to frequently used functions; a customizable blank button located on the top of the projector for instant control; a blackboard/whiteboard mode that projects lines for easier writing when using a whiteboard or blackboard; a daytime mode for easier viewing in daylight; PIN lock security; and an Eco Mode that conserves energy and extends lamp life.

computer the way they want. Wacoms patented, pressuresensitive, battery-free and cordless pen is still central to the Bamboo experience. While multi-touch gives students a fresh new way to interact and navigate with their computer, pen input delivers the precise input control and a true pen-on-paper feel. Whether writing or drawing, the pen is the best tool to use when working with software applications, especially creative applications that support pressure sensitivity. The strength of Bamboo extends beyond art, as the pen is still the best instrument for math, science and certain language classes. When combined

with multi-touch, the Bamboo pen becomes a natural extension to the whole input process, providing students and teachers alike with an enjoyable, effective computer input solution. The Bamboo family is comprised of two core products: Bamboo Pen ($69 USD) and Bamboo Pen and Touch ($99 USD). Two additional tablets, Bamboo Craft ($129 USD), and Bamboo Fun ($199 USD) form the rest of the lineup, each having its own features and benefits to satisfy different class demands and needs. Please visit the Wacom booth 1938 at TCEA 2011 to discover more about Bamboo.

the classroom to simple Internet connections, wiring, cabling—all the way to communications and safety structure. This includes bells, clocks and intercom sound systems.

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.

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 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 longterm relationships, and strengthen the bonds of trust with our educators. ESD: Are there any trends that we should be aware of?

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-theminute, 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.

RM: One of the intriguing emerging

Contact AVI-SPL by calling 866-5598197 or visiting www.avispl.com.

comes with an ActivBoard 100 (164 or 178), a short-throw projector (choice of PRM-30 LCD or PRM-35 DLP), a projector mount and ActivInspire Personal Edition. Numerous optional accessories and upgrades are available, including ActivArena upgrade pack and wireless capability. “Interactive technologies bring lessons alive and make learning fun. In these tough economic times, it is imperative that we help teachers use technology to more effectively address the needs of students. When schools invest in these technologies, they give teachers tools that have been proven to keep students engaged and boost student achievement by 16

percentile points,” said Mark Elliott, President of Promethean, North America. Promethean’s integrated suite of solutions, the ActivClassroom, empowers educators to choose the most appropriate features that best support their classroom’s unique needs. The core elements of the ActivClassroom include an interactive whiteboard (ActivBoard with projector), software (ActivInspire), learner response devices (ActivExpression, ActiVote, ActivEngage), and professional development. With the ActivBoard Mount System, schools with trim budgets can now turn any classroom into an ActivClassroom. For more information, visit TCEA booth 831.

Friday, Februar y 11, 2011

EdTech Show Daily Plasq (Con’t. from p. 1)

RG: It’s a desktop publishing program focused on creating comic bookstyle publications.

ESD: Was it created for the education market?

RG: Actually, no. It was originally aimed at the consumer market as a way to let people do more with their digital photos. Digital cameras had become cheap enough that they were starting to be used by kids. We thought theyd have fun taking photos and turning them into comic book stories.

ESD: How did Comic Life enter the education world?

RG: Not through any marketing magic on our side! It was actually a bottom up Education 2000 (Con’t. from p. 4)

MimioClassroom products to help teachers make the transition. “We offer free training to ensure that schools and teachers can integrate the interactive technology they purchase into everyday lessons and activities with the QOMO HiteVision (Con’t. from p. 1)

learning experience possible. The QView Document Camera series, Interactive Whiteboards, RF Interactive Wireless tablets and QClick Audience Response Systems combine to create a powerful technology-enabled classroom environment. To accomplish this, QOMO engineers have designed the document camera to serve as your one-stop media center for connectivity and control. With a complete multimedia switching system, video scaler and projector control, you can connect two Mac or PC computers and video sources, such as a DVD player directly to your document camera. You only need one VGA cable to connect to your projector, saving hundreds of dollars in installation costs. QOMO’s new QD 8000 document camera with HDMI Walden University (Con’t. from p. 1)

School in Dallas, Texas, and raising seven children ages three years to 18. I was also pregnant with our eighth child while I got the degree.

When I Studied When my kids were asleep—either late at night or early in the morning. If my teaching work was caught up, I’d work on research during my planning period. On Saturdays my husband would take the little ones with him so I’d have two or three uninterrupted hours.

Where I Studied In the bedroom; I have a desk with a computer there. I also locked myself in the bathroom to read.

Most Challenging Part Researching was hard, but time was the biggest challenge—finding the time to

thing. Teachers very quickly realized that the comic book style would get a positive reaction from todays students, both in reading and writing.

ESD: So it was a grass roots movement? RG: Definitely. Teachers started using Comic Life in the classrooms, and their success led them to promote it to other teachers within their communities and in forums such as TCEA.

can be produced in comic form. But we also have teachers making worksheets and how-to guides and high school students producing graphic novels and storyboards.

ESD: The software has been available for a few years. What’s new for 2011?

In other news, we released Comic Life 2 for Mac OS X at the end of 2010, and will be releasing the Windows version later this year. The main new feature is full template support; this allows educators to create comic templates that give the student a well-structured starting point for their project. Another big request was for shapes, such as arrows, when working on science and history projects. We’ve also added freehand shapes to let students get really creative.

RG: It turns out that the program can be applied to a wide variety of material: English (naturally), foreign languages, history, science, etc. We see most uses in the 3rd through 8th grade range, as these students generally love comic books and the projects are small enough that they

RG: We’re on the cusp of releasing Comic Life for iPad. iPad has been taking off around the world and we’ve had many inquiries about when we would have a version of Comic Life for iPad. However, we didnt want to just slap something together. Instead we looked at how it would be used in the classroom and made sure that it would have a well-rounded set of features. For example: making sure comics could be presented through a projector and shared between iPads. It’s Comic Life and a whole lot more!

students,” Pennekamp said. “We want teachers to feel confident and comfortable with the technology so that they won’t get frustrated. The MimioClassroom system, and the MimioTeach are relatively easy to learn. Teachers who are eager to use the technology learn how to use it

relatively quickly.” Education 2000 has several sales representatives spread throughout Texas to offer a free demonstration of the products and to help if there is ever any problem operating the MimioClassroom products. “Stop by our booth to talk to one of

our representatives about our products,” Pennekamp said. “Make sure to stop by and get a free cap too.” For more information, visit www.edu2000plus.com, call 866-2904646 or contact mimio@earthlink.net. Visit Education 2000, an authorized Mimio reseller, in booth 730.

1080p output, onboard color monitor and touch controls delivers a new standard of quality in document cameras. The QPC30 offers brilliant color in a versatile portable form factor, making intricate viewing angles possible. The Interactive Whiteboard series is created with you in mind. By using infrared technology, users can annotate and draw simply using the touch of a finger—no special pens or pointers required! The board’s hard surface is virtually indestructible, and the writing speed makes it superior to the competition. QOMO’s electromagnetic whiteboards are very cost effective and feature dual pen technology, allowing for team collaboration. The new analogue resistive board is a low cost alternative to IR touch technology—perfect for cost conscious users that require touch technology.

Many teachers and presenters complain of being rooted to the front of the room, instructing a group while stuck to the blackboard. QOMO’s Interactive Wireless Tablet frees the presenter to navigate around the room, interacting with their audience while still having all the power and control of being at the front of the room. The RF technology communicates wirelessly via a USB dongle; simply plug the dongle into your PC or Mac and you are ready to go! QOMO’s QClick Audience Response System is simple, affordable and extremely effective. With varying model levels equipped with RF and IR technologies, QOMO ensures that your specific needs are being met. Newly introduced QRF700 features an all new student remote design with a backlit LCD display for all the information a student needs. In addition to commonly used

exam modes, homework and session modes allow exams to be done without relying on a computer. The software is easy to use with a large collection of reporting features. To tie together the product line, QOMO HiteVision offers Flow!Works software. It allows the user to annotate over various documents, including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, as well as video. This results in unique interactivity with the audience, allowing your files to be saved with annotations included! QOMO HiteVision strives to be competitive on price point, while offering the best quality technology on the market today. Their product line speaks for itself, and the staff is known for their passion and creativity. End users are sure to be pleased! For more information stop by booth 423.

study amongst all my cooking and other household duties and lesson plans and grading papers, and spending time with my husband and church activities. When I completed my last assignment, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. I finally knew I had what it takes to earn a master’s degree.

left to post my assignment. At that point, I thought about giving up, but my husband encouraged me to continue.

ESD: What kinds of things can they do with Comic Life?

Best Thing My Family Did To Help Me My husband created what he called a “Walden schedule.” It organized my time so I could go to work, come home, have some me time, cooking time, cleaning time, family time, study time, look at the news, and still get to bed at a reasonable hour. He helped me get organized so I wasn’t just studying whenever I could fit it in.

What Kept Me Motivated I’ve never liked the thought of not finishing something. When the low times would come, I’d just push through, because I needed to finish. Once, my Internet went down with exactly one hour

Highest Point Handing in my last paper and seeing the end!

Biggest Change In My Life Since Getting A Degree I am now the head of the math department—that was directly a result of my degree. And I get more respect from the administration. Many of them seek my opinion now.

My Next Big Challenge I’m a student in the Ed.D. program—it’s actually the reason I went back to school in the first place. With my Ed.D, I plan on being able to reach a lot more students by impacting their teachers. I want to help implement educational policies that are positive for all involved parties.

ESD: Sounds great—so what’s next?

RG: Of course I can’t say, but we’d definitely like to invite your readers to come and see us at booth 2621 during the show and test drive Comic Life for iPad. Visit Plasq at TCEA booth 2621 and online at www.plasq.com.

PolyVision (Con’t. from p. 38)

Grow A Green Planet Made from recyclable materials, ēno is as friendly to the environment as it is to teachers and students. While most other interactive whiteboards lose steam after a few years, ēno by PolyVision lasts a lifetime with its Forever Warranty. Featuring the worlds only writing surface to receive Cradle to Cradle SM Silver certificationa global eco-effective designation ēno is a cordless, wireless wonder that provides a safer, less cluttered classroom where students and teachers can take pride in reducing their carbon footprint. Ēno also qualifies for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits. Learn more about how your district can grow by visiting www.polyvision.com or go to www.growwitheno.com.

Friday, Februar y 11, 2011

Fortres Grand (Con’t. from p. 1)

security audit?

WR: Our district hired a company to do an audit of all our technology. Our security software, Fortres 101, Clean Slate® and Central Control, rated as excellent. After seeing how secure our computers are, the auditing company started recommending Fortres Grand software to other schools. ESD: What is the benefit of Fortres 101 and Central Control?

WR: To deny access to the C drive, Fortres 101 locks down the desktop to limit student access. Once we installed Fortres 101, our support calls went down. ESD: Why did you add Clean Slate? Tyler Technologies (Con’t. from p. 1)

JMJ: Tyler is the only substantial, vertical company in the public sector market space. With more than 2,000 employees and 9,000 public sector clients, all of Tyler’s energies and all of our products are targeted exclusively to the public sector.

Since the 1990s, we’ve sought to develop a company that has the financial, technological and human resources, as well as the benefits of a large client base, to deliver products that empower public sector users. Today, we are the company that we set out to be. ESD: What about the K-12 market?

JMJ: With more than 3,000 school clients, Tyler is committed to being the K-12 software leader. We bring a Harris School Solutions (Con’t. from p. 1)

of Harris School Solutions?

BC: Harris School Solutions is unique in that we offer a complete line of software solutions for business operations of the K12 market. We have everything from child nutrition to transportation to full accounting systems. Because of this, we can leverage a great deal of experience and bring a deep pool of talent to bear when designing solutions for school districts.

ESD: What is your software development philosophy?

BC: Harris aims to solve real-world problems stemming from everyday user AWARD Publishing (Con’t. from p. 4)

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 successful

WR: Specifically to clear spyware and viruses. Clean Slate clears computer changes at log off and reboot. We have been using Fortres 101 since 2000. In 2004, Web-based spyware started to hit so we added Clean Slate, which eliminated the spyware issues. I remember there was a virus that was spreading like wildfire. We just rebooted the computers in the classrooms and the virus was completely gone. Even now, I will get support calls about a virus. I just tell them to log off and that always fixes the issue. ESD: What do you like best about Central Control?

WR: Central Control is a huge timesaver. I can sit at any computer in a classroom to make a change and, with Central Control the change gets pushed out to the entire district. The change is made and complete K-12 offering to clients. For instance, Fort Worth Independent School District in Texas, one of the largest school districts in the nation, recognized the value of investing with a single vendor and chose Tyler for its financial, school and transportation needs. They were also the first Tyler client to take advantage of the new integration of our Munis® ERP Solution with our VersaTrans field trip management application. This is just one example of how we continue to focus on enhancing our products to meet the changing needs of our school clients. ESD: What do you anticipate Tyler’s greatest challenge to be?

JMJ: One of the biggest challenges facing everyone is the continued economic uncertainty. When you have a company that has as big a presence as experiences. Our best ideas come from our customers. We strive to combine the very best technology with ease of use to solve the problems of school administrators and give them the tools they need to satisfy their stakeholders.

ESD: What is your current product emphasis?

BC: Web-based abilities—our focus is on making it easier to get our systems operational with minimal investment of hardware and time for our customers. We’re making it easier to exchange data within Harris products and with third-party systems. The eTrition school nutrition solution is a good example of this. The system is

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 is scaffolded to provide a gradual progression and the more than 700 interactive activities support and extend learning of the essential skills. The U.S. Department of Education

EdTech Show Daily pushed out to the entire district in minutes.

ESD: What do you like better about Clean Slate over reboot to restore products? WR: Making changes on the fly. We don’t have to shut down the computer to make a change. Everything is quick and easy. With other products, you have to reboot computers to make a security change. When Clean Slate and Central Control are used together, the change I make is instant for the entire district. I was helping another school who switched from a reboot to restore product to Clean Slate. They commented to me that they are happy they switched to Clean Slate and I was smart for going with Clean Slate from the beginning. I also like the ability to have different

we do in this kind of a vertical market, the challenge is to stay focused and take the opportunity to invest in our products and further extend our positional leadership. We’ll continue to invest in the products and the marketplace even in a difficult time and try to take advantage of the challenge and make that an opportunity.

ESD: Last year Tyler recently announced a new brand launch. What does this mean for school clients?

JMJ: I believe Tyler’s new logo and tagline—“Empowering people who serve the public”—truly represent who we are as a company and what we strive to do for our clients every day. It really is a promise to our clients to provide them with the industry’s most comprehensive technological solutions. As a stable company that values integrity, discipline and completely Web-based for many users. ESD: What is different about eTrition?

BC: It is the only system on the market with an evolutionary trail going back 40 years. It is the culmination of this experience tied to the very best technology available that makes it so exciting. eTrition is a centralized database, Web-based system that allows local serving workstations to operate completely independent of the network if needed. ESD: What does a typical eTrition customer look like?

BC: We take a lot of pride in the fact that

sparked a national discussion around digital learning with the release in 2010 of The National Education Technology 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,

security for different users based on the user login. ESD: Do you have anything you want to add?

WR: Support is great. When I call support, I talk to someone in Indiana. I can understand them and they are easy to talk to. If support can’t fix the problem while on the phone, they keep working with us until we get the issue resolved. Not to mention the support is included in the purchase price, so there is no yearly cost. In addition to the great products and reliable support, the fact that support is free is huge. Contact Fortres Grand Corporation Desktop Security Software at www.fortresgrand.com, 800-331-0372, or visit Fortres Grand at TCEA booth 514.

exceeding client expectations, we are committed to maintaining our position as a market leader. ESD: To what do you attribute Tyler’s success?

JMJ: It might sound like a cliché, but it’s our people. Tyler has hundreds of employees with 10, 15, 20 years experience who understand our clients, the marketplace, and product and service needs. I don’t think there are other companies that enjoy this depth of experience and expertise in this space. That is clearly one of the things that differentiates us from others and contributes to our success.

For more information visit www.tylertech .com, e-mail info@tylertech.com, call 800-772-2260 or visit them at booth 2259. many of our customers have been with us for 30 years or more. These customers value the relationship and the mutual trust, while always pushing for new and better software features. For more information contact Brian Copeland, Sales Manager for eTrition Division of Harris School Solutions, at 316-494-6331 or bcopeland@ harriscomputer.com.

Harris School Solutions is a leader in providing technology solutions for the business of K-12 school districts. For more information, visit Harris School Solutions at TCEA booth 2375, contact K12Solutions@harriscomputer.com or visit www.harrisschoolsolutions.com.

assessing and teaching. Teachers appreciate the program, too. “AWARD is balanced literacy with a twist of technology and ELL scaffolds all in one package. It is not a scripted program, but rather a treasure chest filled with authentic, engaging materials teachers can pull from in order to best educate the students,” said ELL teacher Kathryn Castellano. “It never feels like traditional, antiquated schooling but rather exploration and fun!” Learn more about AWARD Reading at TCEA booth 202.

Friday, Februar y 11, 2011

EdTech Show Daily Novell (Con’t. from p. 1)

Mr. Chevalier about Novell and its participation in TECA. ESD: Tell us a little about your company. What is your main line of business?

RC: We at Novell build the infrastructure software that helps people access the tools and resources they need to work wherever they are, using a variety of interfaces and with security, integrity and systems availability. We help customers leverage not only what we build, but also the technologies they already have.

ESD:What technologies will be hottest this year?

RC: As with other industries, schools have too much data and need a way to groom, prune and purge. We do this with WorkloadIQ™, which binds data to identities and roles to intelligently manage NetSupport (Con’t. from p. 1)

Management [NetSupport School], PC Remote Control [NetSupport Manager] and Asset Management [NetSupport DNA] solutions for the past 20 years to both the education and corporate space.

ESD: What is Classroom Management Software and how is it relevant to today’s classroom?

MK: With an increased investment in educational IT infrastructure, including a greater focus on one to one computing initiatives, there is a need to ensure that investment is used appropriately and effectively. Classroom Management software allows instructors to better monitor student activity, ensure they are working on task and offer protection from any adverse external influences [Internet]—all from a central intuitive console, all while enhancing the quality of instruction delivered. ESD: What distinguishes your product

Tools4ever (Con’t. from p. 1)

ESD: What is the User Management Resource Administrator?

JLB: The User Management Resource Administrator, or UMRA, is an enterprise level solution for Active Directory, local server account management and other Network Directory systems. UMRA completely eliminates the need to manage user accounts via scripting or manual data entry. As your network continues to grow, you will need to move to a more sophisticated solution for Identity Management, Task Delegation and Information Systems integration.

ESD: How exactly does UMRA make an impact?

JLB: UMRA saves time by letting you securely and rapidly make bulk changes to the Active Directory by referencing CSV files or integrating with your information systems. The benefit is that it

workloads. Virtualization and streaming also mark a major shift in the desktop space. One example of this is when a school district purchases desktops preinstalled with Windows 7. We package their important legacy Windows XP applications to behave like Windows XP, but to run in a protected space on Windows 7. And the applications can stream from a central repository. ESD: Why is the academic field important to Novell?

RC: Weve been doing business with academia for nearly 30 years. We know that what we build for students helps them make good decisions, and they then use our technology when they enter the workforce. Open source is also popular in academia worldwide. Open source is a good model, but it doesn’t have a history of support. We do. We look at support as something we plan and build for. So when you from the competition?

MK: We position our product as being a Classroom Management solution, but not just for the classroom. With the introduction of a range of new features, it’s now positioned as a centralized solution offering the feature set you’d expect for the classroom or instructional lab, with wider capabilities such as the Technician Console allowing support staff to remotely connect to classroom PCs and perform discreet diagnostics and deliver technical support. ESD: How do you see the next year in terms of economy, sales, technology and product evolution?

MK: First and foremost, I think we all expect to see the education space continue to face the fiscal challenges of the current economic climate. With that in mind, I think the market will be attempting to achieve the ‘holy grail’ of doing more with less. Gaining economies of scale while improving the levels of quality will be a primary removes the need to manage and maintain complicated or cumbersome scripts, allowing your administrator to focus on more critical tasks. The UMRA basically bridges the gap between the SIS or HRMS systems to Active Directory and other director services while creating accounts in downstream systems.

ESD: What do you mean by ‘downstream systems?’

JLB: Administrators are faced with having to enter data many times in several different formats for various other systems. For example, UMRA can be leveraged to create accounts in Google Apps or Live@edu to synchronize with Active Directory and the student information system. We have worked with many other systems like Blackboard, Moodle, Skyward and Destiny, and have out-ofthe-box connectors to many other systems. If you are curious about the connectors, please stop by booth 2516 and ask for me.

combine the open source model with our support, we create value that makes a huge amount of sense for the academic marketplace.

ESD: What products are you showing at TCEA?

RC: Were going to spend time on our file management suite, which includes Novell Storage Manager. We’ll talk about the Novell ZENworks Application Virtualization tool that makes it possible to deliver or stream applications to the desktop. We will also be showing how schools can leverage Novell Vibe™ On-Prem. We’ll show how schools can save money by avoiding expenditures on things that have only short-term value and by creating long-term value using technologies.

ESD: Why are these products of interest to academic customers? RC: The root causes of challenges in

objective. In terms of general technology trends, I see the market accelerating its adoption of desktop/client virtualization, hence our strategic relationships with NComputing, Wyse, HP and Microsoft [Multipoint Launch Partner].

ESD: What specific impact has the past 12 months made on your product development efforts?

MK: Following the theme of ‘doing more with less,’ we’ve expanded our classroom management solution [NetSupport School] to include additional functionality that was performed historically by multiple separate solutions. We now offer a solution that not only incorporates the traditional student monitoring and collaboration abilities, but also printer management, Internet and application controls, device/endpoint protection, language lab/audio monitoring and much more as part of its standard core feature set. ESD: What is your outlook in general for

ESD: You mentioned that UMRA creates and manages account within Active Directory; do you also work Novell?

JLB: Yes, we can indeed manage user accounts within e-Directory. I think that is where UMRA exhibits great flexibility by being able to work with many different platforms. We have several implementations that keep data synchronized between AD and e-Directory. UMRA can also manage GroupWise and Exchange in these mixed environments. ESD: What distinguishes your company from the competition?

JLB: We have a very solid niche with the educational market. Tools4ever has been called nimble, responsive and focused on the client’s needs and expectations. It is pretty simple really; we like to stand in the shoes of the people we are working with as we engage with them. We are very entrepreneurial in nature, which allows us

academia, business or industry are too many files, applications that are too hard to deploy and teams that can’t work together easily. Academia has a framework that creates the agility and flexibility that go hand in hand with the technologies and capabilities I spoke of earlier, so academic leaders have the opportunity to take education to new heights.

ESD: Whom should a person contact to get more information? RC: The Customer Response Center is the ideal contact point at 800-529-3400 or www.novell.com. Also visit us at booth 409.

Copyright 2011 Novell, Inc. All rights reserved. Novell, the Novell logo, the N logo, and ZENworks are registered trademarks, and Novell Vibe and WorkloadIQ are trademarks of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. this product line?

MK: Overall pretty positive, but with a few anticipated bumps in the road. While the education space has faced a pretty unique set of challenges, we’ve witnessed strong growth in terms of our installation base during the past 12 months, proving that investment continues to be made into technology. The key is to help educators justify that investment by evolving products to meet the unique needs of the education environment. Having a strong and established brand no longer offers any guarantees, so we intend to continue offering the richest feature set and an aggressive feature roadmap combined with unrivaled levels of customer care and technical support. To learn more, go to www.netsupportschool.com or visit booth 2027 and speak to one of our education specialists about how NetSupport can add value to your instructional efforts. You’ll also be entered into one of our drawings for a Kindle E-reader. to be incredibly responsive to our client’s technical needs. With this elevated level of customer service coupled with value-based price point, Tools4ever is considered the company of choice for school districts seeking a user management solution.

ESD: If a school district is interested in UMRA or a demonstration, how can you be contacted?

JLB: Please visit us at www.tools4ever.com, or feel free to call us at 888-770-4242.

User Management Resource Administrator solves identity management problems and lets your I.T. department focus on other tasks. A reliable, fully-automated solution, UMRA manages user accounts and resources in Active Directory [AD] and other directory services offering a complete user-lifecycle management solution. For more information, stop by booth 2516.