from Technology & Learning
Get up to speed on the latest product releases in the education market.
Hardware
In partnership with HumanWare, Don Johnston Inc. has created the ClassMate Reader, a portable reading system to help students improve reading comprehension, increase reading speed, and develop strong vocabulary. A lightweight, handheld device with a large LCD screen, this tool is helpful for students who need to refer back to previously recorded notes, tests, or chapter summaries and who benefit from audio feedback. Software features include text-to-speech, highlighting, diction ary, text and voice notes, and audio book navigation.
Califone's CM1-USB Digital Microscope is a microscope that allows for real-time display on computer screens, enabling multiple students to view detail at the same time. When the microscope is connected to a classroom computer that is wired to a projector, the image can be shown to the entire class. Features include a manual focus that ranges from 50mm to infinite, varying image resolution settings, a 24-bit true color resolution, and video and snapshot capability.
Ergotron has introduced the Neo-Flex Mobile WorkSpace, a mobile computer cart designed to help K–12 educators transform any space into a productive computing environment. This mobile workstation configures for either notebooks or LCDS and features an integrated work surface/keyboard tray, scanner holder, mouse holder, and cable storage box. The height is adjustable, enabling comfortable data entry whether seated or standing.
Software
Hotmath, Inc. has added a new IM feature—Math Instant Messaging—that encourages students to study together in real time over the Internet. Students use a pointer and texting while viewing Hotmath's hint-step explanations for math textbook homework problems.
Adobe upgraded its consumer photo-and video-editing software with the release of Photoshop Elements 6 and Premiere Elements 4. Available separately or packaged together, this software gives users at all levels ways to organize, edit, share, and create digital photos and home movies.
PublicSchoolWORKS' new StudentWatch Suite is an automated Web-based system that allows school districts to manage the tracking and reporting of student safety, accidents, and behavior issues. StudentWatch's automated features reduce school liability, open lines of communication, and ease the workload for administrators and faculty.
Agilix has developed an innovative e-learning application, GoCourse, which is available through Epic Learning. The GoCourse Learning System is an integrated instructional management solution that enhances the power of one-toone computing initiatives.
Fluent Reading Trainer by MindPlay helps students ages six and up increase reading speed while improving fluency, enhancing visual memory, and building silent reading skills and comprehension. FLRT also provides teachers and administrators with easy management and tracking, and it contains an expandable library of 500 contentrich stories.
Rapid Resources is a new Web-based tool that allows teachers to create individualized learning plans for their students. Educators have immediate access to hundreds of teacher-created, standards-based activities in mathematics, language arts, reading, and science. Teachers also have quick access to a database of thousands of books, with look-up functions based on the child's interests and Lexile reading level. The teacher's personal Web page allows students and parents to access meaningful tutorials and practice activities aligned with the current classroom instruction.
Professional Development
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Inspiration Software has expanded its Teacher Scholarships for Visual Learning program (www.inspiration.com/scholarship). Twenty-five educators who are using visual learning techniques in their classrooms will receive $1,000 each to use for professional development or to purchase classroom technology.
Events & Contests
San Francisco will host the 2008 Technology, Reading & Learning Diversity Conference January 24–26. In its 26th year, the TRLD Conference, sponsored by Don Johnston Inc., will focus on current issues and emerging trends of integrating technology into classroom instruction. Presenters will share successful interventions, case studies, and strategies that help close the literacy gap among diverse learners.
Music
Hip-hop beats, DJ-style scratching, reggae grooves, and rock guitar flesh out the musical landscape of Alphabet Rockers, a new educational CD released by School Time Music. Targeted to preschool through first grade, each of the 13 songs—with titles such as "Countdown Boogie Down" and "Spelling Bee Battle"—comes with specialized curriculum materials and classroom tools.
