For the sixth year, Tech & Learning presents its awards program that honors nominated products at the annual ISTE conference. The products below were selected by an anonymous panel of educator judges, who scoured the exhibit hall floor during the conference in Philadelphia. The judges rated their impressions of individual products on a sliding scale, evaluating areas such as quality and effectiveness, ease of use, cost, and creative use of technology. They then met in person to decide which technologies deserved to be named Best of Show.
“Our stalwart judges tromped through the Pennsylvania Convention Center evaluating 125 different edtech products and services over two days at this year’s ISTE,” says Kevin Hogan, Managing Director, Content. “Those companies whose technologies were identified as extraordinary should know that this recognition is not a badge of participation, but a true endorsement by one of the most innovative educators in the country.” Please join us in congratulating the following winners!
To learn more about Tech & Learning's Awards of Excellence as well as Best of Show at ISTE and Best of Show at TCEA awards programs, please visit Tech & Learning Awards Programs.
ACER AMERICA PREDATOR HELIOS 300 GAMING NOTEBOOK
(WWW.ACER.COM/AC/EN/US/CONTENT/PREDATOR-SERIES/PREDATORHELIOS300)
Acer’s redesigned Predator Helios 300 gaming notebook is ideal for schools teaching eSports and/or graphic design skills. Features include 15.6-inch or 17.3-inch 144Hz FHD IPS displays, overclockable NVIDIA GTX or RTX GPUs and 8th or 9th Gen Intel Core processors, fast networking and WiFi, speedy PCIe NVMe SSDs and an advanced thermal design to maximize cooling. Judges favored the Notebook for having great power with an equally favorable price point.
ACER CHROMEBOOK SPIN 512 (R851TN)
(WWW.ACER.COM/AC/EN/US/CONTENT/PROFESSIONAL-SERIES/ACERCHROMEBOOKSPIN512)
The Acer Chromebook Spin 512 (R851TN) is ideal for K-12 students. It has a 12-inch display in a 3:2 aspect ratio, giving students more room to view visuals on maps, web pages and schoolwork, a display made of Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass, a U.S. MIL-STD 810G-compliant design that survives 122cm drops, and a water-routing keyboard. These features, along with its cameras, notation, and dockable stylus additions, had judges deem this a “quality Chromebook.”
ALIVE STUDIOS CLASSROOMS ALIVE!
(ALIVESTUDIOSCO.COM)
With Classrooms alive!, a multi-sensory, supplemental reading and math curriculum for pre-K and kindergarten, teachers can create magical learning experiences powered by zoo-themed software, mobile apps, and manipulatives for hands-on interaction and collaboration. Features include a Learning alive Plus kit, an Alphabet Classroom Rug with a free, STEM-based mobile app, and reading and math journals with accompanying free mobile app for personalizing learning. Judges favored it for being a “simple, yet innovative solution.”
AUTODESK INSTRUCTABLES
(WWW.AUTODESK.COM)
Instructables is committed to helping teachers inspire, engage, and prepare students through hands-on projects to make in the classroom. Judges liked the platform, pointing out its amazing community of Autodesk users who share great, practical lessons on an easy to use platform. Students can also share projects they produced as well, another point that won the judges over.
AUTODESK TINKERCAD
(WWW.TINKERCAD.COM)
Tinkercad is a free, easy-to-use online app for learning 3D design, electronics, and coding. It supports design thinking and maker education. Judges selected Tinkercad for its ability to help students demonstrate their understanding of any subject area, and felt it was a great tool for anyone wanting to add STEM and Design- Thinking into their curriculum. They also deemed it a “wonderful platform” for creation and learning from failure.
AVER INFORMATION, INC. AVER M15W
(WWW.AVERUSA.COM/EDUCATION/PRODUCTS/DOCUMENT-CAMERA/M15W)
The AVer M15W mechanical arm document camera has an ultra-compact and lightweight form factor and folds down to 11(L) x 3 (W) x 1.6 (H). It also features 4K output on HDMI and 13 megapixels with 22x digital zoom. With wireless connectivity, an on-board battery, and a weight of approximately 3 pounds, the M15W is perfect for sharing around the classroom. Judges loved its compact size and ease of traveling features.
AVER INFORMATION, INC. EP65
(WWW.AVERUSA.COM/BUSINESS/PRODUCTS/INTERACTIVE-FLAT-PANEL/EP65)
The EP65 is an all-in-one display designed to make collaboration more efficient and effective, including integration with Zoom software and easy connectivity to live video with one touch and share ideas face-to-face across multiple devices. The display also features a 4K built-in conference camera and a 65” screen. Judges liked the all-in-one display and considered the Zoom integration a “great partnership.” They also liked its device-agnostic design.
DELL LATITUDE 3300 EDUCATION
(WWW.DELL.COM)
With best-in-class durability and long battery life, the Latitude 3300 stands up to the school day, so that students can have the confidence to go wherever learning takes them. Dell up-leveled the durability, adding in a new micro-drop test to simulate small drops over time that can add up to critical damage over the years. This 13-inch laptop is built school-yard tough and student ready, a feature the judges appreciated along with its affordability.
DELL CHROMEBOOK 3100 2-IN-1
(WWW.DELL.COM)
This new Chromebook features the latest Intel Gemini Lake Celeron processors, and up to 13 hours, 25 minutes of battery life to help students get through the class-to-homework day. This includes a convertible (360 degrees) design with an 11.6” Gorilla Glass NBT Tough display, an optional world-facing camera to encourage student creativity and multiple usage modes such as tablet, tent, or laptop. Judges favored the Chromebook’s durability, front and rear cameras, and good hinges.
DELL CHROMEBOOK 3400
(WWW.DELL.COM)
The Chromebook 3400 is built to empower student-led learning. This accessible and durable 14-inch laptop is ideal for learning that requires advanced applications. Featuring rubberized edges, spil-and-tamper resistant keyboards, top-mounted design, and ports covered and secured with reinforced brackets, this Chromebook is built to keep up with the entire school day and then some. Judges loved the rugged durability and power this device brought to the table.
BLOOMZ
(WWW.BLOOMZ.NET)
Bloomz is the free mobile and web app connecting educators with parents in a secure, social, and private environment. Teachers can coordinate meetings and schedules with parents, all while sharing photos and videos each day to keep them connected with their child’s learning. By signing up, teachers can send out reminders, volunteer requests, and even reinforce positive behavior, such as teamwork or staying on task, with students. Judges deemed its notification system “excellent.”
CAPSTONE PEBBLEGO
(WWW.PEBBLEGO.COM)
PebbleGo is a curricular content hub specifically designed for K-2 students, featuring text appropriate for K-2 readers; engaging read-aloud audio; extended learning through video/audio clips; 508 & WCAG 2.0 compliant technology; simple navigation; easy at-home and on-the-go access with mobile-responsive design; administration tools and an online community for educators. Judges deemed the product “amazing” for introducing research skills to children at a very early age and for helping underserved Pre-K to 2nd grade students.
CASIO AMERICA, INC, CASIO SUPERIOR XJ-S400UN AND XJ-UT352WN LAMPFREE PROJECTORS
(WWW.CASIOPROJECTOR.COM/PRODUCTS/SUPERIOR/XJ-S400UN)
Casio’s The XJ-UT352WN Ultra Short Throw Projector can project brilliant shadow-free, crisp, images with its built-in 0.28:1 fixed lens. Casio’s unique cool running Laser & LED Hybrid Light Engine lasts up to 20,000 hours without ever needing to replace costly lamps or filters and requires minimal maintenance. The XJ-UT352WN includes Casio’s Educational Solutions connectivity package that facilitates easier use of projection in the modern classroom. Judges loved both projectors for their picture quality, engine longevity, affordability, and lack of need for bulbs.
Casio’s XJ-S400UN LampFree projector is one of the world’s smallest 4000 lumens projectors, making it ideal for classrooms and other limited learning spaces. It uses Casio’s R-Laser & LED light source to project brilliant colors and detailed images with no lamps or filters to replace and long-lasting performance of up to 20,000 hours. Additional features include WUXGA resolution, 1.7X zoom lens and an improved dust resistant design that efficiently cools and reduces noise. The XJ-S400UN is network ready with LAN Connectivity (RJ-45) and optional wireless capability.
CLASSLINK ANALYTICS
(WWW.CLASSLINK.COM/ANALYTICS)
ClassLink Analytics gives decision makers real-time utilization data of all their instructional, productivity and systems software tools. Available reports include unique logins by period, total logins per period, top apps by launches, most active groups, schools, and users. The ability to see peak hour, day and month give additional insight for school administrators. Product updates include: Track application license costs, showing the number of users, subscription start and end dates, and funding source(s). Judges liked its ability to give schools insight into its use of apps along with its assistance with budgeting and PD.
CLASSLINK LAUNCHPAD
(LAUNCHPAD.CLASSLINK.COM)
ClassLink LaunchPad is a single sign-on (SSO) experience designed for education. It provides instant access to all your web, Windows, and Google applications, and includes over 6,000 SSO connectors. Accessible from any device, LaunchPad is ideal for 1-to-1 and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives. Judges favored its huge list of apps to choose from, its multiple sign in options that make it easier to login to use SSO apps, and intuitive interface.
CLASSLINK ONESYNC
(WWW.CLASSLINK.COM/ONESYNC)
ClassLink OneSync is a comprehensive account provisioning platform designed to streamline the synchronization between data systems, faculty, and student directories. OneSync connects any number of data sources, including student information, finance, HR, and OneRoster databases, to one or multiple directories, including Microsoft Active Directory, Azure/O365, and Google. Judges liked its syncing and user account creation abilities as well as its ability to reconcile account information that may not match.
CLEARDIGITAL EVOLITE
(WWW.GETCLEARDIGITAL.COM/PRODUCTS/EVO-LITE)
Clear Digital’s digital signage solution, the Evo Lite features an on-board battery delivers up to 14+ hours of charge at a time and displays that offer both digital capabilities and ease of use. Users simply need to load their multimedia content via USB to get started. The display also has a sturdy steel frame and features an ergonomic folding design and large puncture-resistant wheels. Judges loved the product, calling it a “portable and versatile solution.”
CLEAR TOUCH 6000K INTERACTIVE FLAT PANEL
(WWW.GETCLEARTOUCH.COM)
The Clear Touch 6000K panel is the innovative, sleek, and powerful solution to engage the classroom or board room. Featuring a fast processor for interactive panels allows for blazing speeds at the touch of a finger. It is capable of streaming multiple devices - including Chromebooks- at a pace that can keep up with today’s connected classrooms. Judges liked the product for its flexible and versatile design.
CLEAR TOUCH 7000X INTERACTIVE FLAT PANEL WITH CONVERTIBLE MOBILE STAND
(WWW.GETCLEARTOUCH.COM)
The Clear Touch 7000X panel features a smooth, capacitive touch screen. When paired with the Clear Touch convertible stand it provides a truly interactive and collaborative experience. The convertible stand allows the panel to move from presentative to table with just the press of a button, giving versatility for presentation and collaboration and allowing multiple students to interact together. Judges favored the mobile stand’s features and felt the product overall had great qualities.
CURRICULUM ASSOCIATES I-READY
(WWW.CURRICULUMASSOCIATES.COM)
The research-based i-Ready online program combines powerful assessments and rich insights with effective and engaging instruction in reading and mathematics to address students’ individual needs. The adaptive diagnostic provides teachers with actionable insight into student needs and offers a complete picture of student performance and growth, eliminating the need for multiple, redundant tests. Judges liked that it provided teachers with a great diagnostic that identifies gaps in learning along with instructional pieces and teacher support.
DREMEL DIGILAB LASER CUTTER
(DIGILAB.DREMEL.COM)
The Dremel DigiLab Laser Cutter lets students assemble their visions into tangible items at a fraction of the speed and cost. Simply draw on paper or create digitally, then export the file onto the software in order to bring the project to life. Offering a vast material library, the Laser Cutter allows students to cut, score, or engrave without worrying about compatibility. Judges loved its ease-of-use and its capacity for unlocking student creativity.
EDGENUITY UPSMART
(WWW.EDGENUITY.COM)
UpSmart’s powerful adaptive engine extends classroom instruction with automatic differentiation. Based on each student action, UpSmart triggers the right level of support for the student via video tutorials, feedback or additional practice. Teachers and administrators can easily track mastery of standards and topics for each student, for a class, or for the whole school. Judges liked it diagnostic capabilities and its ability to help close a student’s learning gaps at their own level.
EDMENTUM EXACT PATH
(WWW.EDMENTUM.COM/PRODUCTS/EXACT-PATH)
Whether running stations in 3rd grade for individualized support or steering 10th graders through closing achievement gaps, Exact Path can help set students on a path toward success. Features include digital assessments that target unique learner needs, data visualizations and reports, a competency-based curriculum, and a diagnostic valid adaptive assessment system. Judges deemed the platform “engaging” and favored its personalized aspects as well as its longtime partnership with the NWEA MAP testing platform.
ELMO USA CORP PENTACLASS G2 CLASSROOM AUDIO SYSTEM
(WWW.ELMOUSA.COM)
The PentaClass G2 is an All-In-One Voice Enhancement and Audio Solution. PentaClass G2 uses a 40W, 360° Omnidirectional Soundfield for a rich sound whenever and wherever a user is seated in the room. The PentaClass G2 also has an Auto Power Off feature for automatic energy saving. Judges praised its ability to have 2 audio sources simultaneously, thinking it would be of interest to teachers who want to talk over other AV sources.
EPSON BRIGHTLINK 1485FI
(EPSON.COM)
The Epson BrightLink 1485Fi interactive laser display provides one-step calibration of touch and interactive pens to turn any flat surface into an instant interactive digital whiteboard. The display offers 5,000 lumens of color and white brightness with an 100-inch 16:9 or ultra-wide 120-inch 16:6 display, bringing better readability and increased engagement in K-12 classrooms. Judges liked it for its image quality and size, low maintenance, PC free mode and split screen capability.
FOLLETT MYDESTINY
(WWW.FOLLETTMYDESTINY.COM)
MyDestiny combines an expansive library of ebooks and OERs with built-in artificial intelligence to help teachers find quality, standards-aligned resources and to guide students on their learning path from discovery to mastery. MyDestiny leverages machine-learning capabilities to allow users to easily locate recommended content, all aligned to national and individual state standards. Its access to over 40,000 ebooks and 750,000 digital resources impressed judges, having them deem it one of its standout features.
GALE IN CONTEXT: FOR EDUCATORS
(WWW.GALE.COM/DATABASES/IN-CONTEXT)
Gale In Context: For Educators is designed for classroom teachers, with additional content and tools to make it easier to find curriculum aligned content, curate it for the classroom and educate students. Educators can work independently or collaborate to build classroom resources. It also includes lesson plans, activities and tools to bring it all together in a classroom environment, engaging students and getting them one step closer to academic success.
GOGUARDIAN DNS
(WWW.GOGUARDIAN.COM/DNS.HTML)
GoGuardian DNS is a unified and scalable cross-platform cloud filtering solution designed to provide K-12 schools the ability to confidently filter all student, staff and guest devices regardless of platform. Through this product, schools can efficiently manage and help protect all devices on a school network through a single, agile platform. Judges favored its nice student privacy features, that no software is needed, and that it works on all devices.
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT AMIRA, READ 180, & MATH 180
(WWW.HMHCO.COM)
Amira Assessment is the classroom assistant that assesses oral reading fluency (ORF) and screens for Dyslexia. Amira listens while a student reads, recognizing the subtleties of various dialects, speech deficits, and accents, and delivers bias-free results in fewer than five minutes. Judges liked its AI system and its capacity for providing intervention based on the reports it generates. HMH’s classics READ 180 and MATH 180 were also selected as winners. Both intervention programs have helped schools improve test scores and reduce dropout rates.
HOVERCAM PILOT X
(WWW.HOVERCAM.COM/PILOTX)
With the HoverCam Pilot X wireless digital teaching station, teachers are no longer tethered to a desk or lectern. Teachers can work from the station or undock the 13-inch 10-point-touch tablet for even greater mobility. The system features Windows 10 OS, 13MP document camera, and wireless 4K image mirroring function that allows for the touchscreen to appear on displays around the room. Judges liked the detachable Windows 10 tablet and its other improvements.
HOVERCAM ULTRA 10
(WWW.HOVERCAM.COM/ULTRA-10)
HoverCam’s Ultra 10 features a 7.1-inch capacitive touch screen, integrated true 4K wireless-to-display output as well as wired HDMI output, 16 MP sensor, and a powerful Android computer. The built-in, 7.1 inch, multitouch viewing monitor allows educators to see exactly what their students see without having to turn their backs on the room. Judges liked its big LCD screen and that it is a self-powered Chrome device.
HUE HD PRO CAMERA AND HUE CAMERA VIEWER
(HUEHD.COM/PRO)
The HUE HD Pro classroom camera can view a full A4 or US letter sheet and project it onto the whiteboard via your PC and projector. HUE Intuition software included and the new addition to the HUE family is HUE Camera Viewer for Chromebooks. HUE Camera Viewer allows for recording and stop-motion animation capabilities on Chromebooks through a web-based Chrome app. Judges liked its included software, its easy-to-embed format for captured content, and Skype connectivity.
KINDERLAB ROBOTICS, INC. KIBO
(KINDERLABROBOTICS.COM)
KIBO is a STEAM robotic kit where young students can build, program, decorate, and create their own robot without any screen-time. Students transform KIBO into imagined animals, vehicles, storybook characters, and more. Students plan a coding sequence using wooden programming blocks, scan their sequence with the built-in barcode scanner, press its button and KIBO comes alive! Judges liked its approachability and its capacity for impressive block combinations that’d keep students engaged.
LEXIA CORE5 READING
(WWW.LEXIALEARNING.COM/PRODUCTS/CORE5/STUDENT-DRIVEN-LEARNING)
Lexia Core5 Reading is a literacy program that accelerates the development of fundamental through advanced literacy skills for students of all abilities in grades pre-K-5. Core5 underwent a large update, adding support for students in upper elementary grades, including three new levels and over 200 new online units each with added practice and explicit instruction when students need it. Judges liked its ability to remediate students’ reading difficulties and for making reading fun for kids.
LEXIA POWERUP LITERACY
(WWW.LEXIALEARNING.COM/PRODUCTS/POWERUP)
Lexia PowerUp Literacy is designed to enhance core English language arts instruction for struggling readers in grades six and above. PowerUp addresses the instructional needs of a wide range of students, from struggling to nearly proficient readers, by identifying skill gaps and providing personalized, systematic instruction in Word Study, Grammar, and Comprehension. Judges liked the product’s focus on helping older readers improve their skills and its badge system that encourages students as they complete modules.
LIGHTSPEED SYSTEMS ANALYTICS POWERED BY RELAY
(WWW.LIGHTSPEEDSYSTEMS.COM/ANALYTICSEA)
Analytics powered by Relay pulls together usage information for devices, apps, applications, and online resources into a single, actionable dashboard. The program uses Smart Agent to view and report on all traffic from the root level of the school device and does so without disrupting or delaying activity. Judges praised its excellent features, such as its ability to send links to principals and guidance counselors to determine best ways to support struggling students.
MACKINVIA
(WWW.MACKINVIA.COM)
MackinVIA is a free digital content management system created to provide schools with easy access to their eBooks, audiobooks, read-alongs, databases, websites, and videos. With a single login, users can view, utilize, and manage all of the school’s digital resources on all major mobile and desktop devices through free apps available for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android devices, and more. Judges liked its yearly additional features and praised its endorsements from librarians.
MANGO CLASSROOM BY MANGO LANGUAGES
(MANGOLANGUAGES.COM/HIGHER-ED)
Mango Classroom by Mango Languages is a language-learning resource crafted exclusively for student engagement and instructor support. In-depth critical thinking and retention are developed with an authentic native-speaker audio backdrop in over 70 world languages and over 20 ESL/ELL courses. Its other features can help organize classes, activities and assessments, as well as provide family learning profiles. Judges favored its comprehensive function and its ability to be used with existing materials.
MAXCASES EDGEPROTECT
(WWW.MAXCASES.COM/CATEGORY-LANDING-PAGE/EDGEPROTECT)
The cost-effective EdgeProtect case offers a thinner, lighter alternative for device protection where it’s needed the most in the event of a drop. The slim profile provides charging cart compatibility; the lightweight design reduces student backpack weight. It delivers access to ports/openings while in use, and unobstructed access for asset tags and installations. Judges favored the product for its slim and durable device protection.
MAXCASES EDGEPROTECT PLUS
(WWW.MAXCASES.COM/EDGEPROTECTEDGEPROTECTPLUS-PAGE)
The EdgeProtect Plus features MAXCases new FrameGuard bottom, which evenly distributes the vibrations across a wider area of the device, offering greater drop protection. The impact-resistant top features protective corners that overlap the sides of the device. EdgeProtect Plus complements the latest engineering developments from Chromebook/laptop manufacturers, including Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc. Judges liked that it’s a product that offers overall good protection in a low profile.
MERGE EDU
(MERGEVR.COM/EDU-PLATFORM)
MERGE EDU is a subscription-based AR/VR platform for STEM designed to work with the MERGE Cube. The platform includes the Explorer app, a premium version of the Object Viewer app, lesson activities, and a teacher dashboard. Students can interact with complex 3D models, perform a simulated frog dissection, experience scientific phenomenon and place virtual objects in the real world. Judges deemed the product an “educational game changer” for its augmented reality capabilities.
MIMIOCLARITY & MYBOT EDUCATIONAL ROBOTICS SYSTEM
(MIMIO.BOXLIGHT.COM)
MimioClarity works by having teachers use wearable, wireless microphones, and a multichannel 60-watt amplifier to distribute their voices and multimedia audio throughout the classroom via two or four speakers that are placed above students’ heads on classroom walls. Judges deemed MimioClarity an excellent student microphone and liked it for its approachable cost. The Mimio MyBot Educational Robotics System enables students from preschool to high school develop STEM skills and a passion for programming and robotics. Through innovative robots and a comprehensive software platform, educators receive an out-of-the-box solution, complete with a robust curriculum, STEM lessons, tutorials and videos. Judges favored it for offering a good middle level robot that could appeal to both younger and older students.
NEARPOD VR
(NEARPOD.COM)
Nearpod VR allows students to tour the world from their own classrooms. It works on any device, from iPads and Chromebooks to Macs and PCs. Educators can choose from 450+ VR lessons from VR Explorations and VR College Tours, allowing students to study subjects such as history through VR and tour places like Harvard and MIT from their devices. Judges loved the VR lessons and felt the entire product empowered teachers in a major way.
OZOBOT EVO CLASSROOM KIT (18 BOTS) / OZOBOT CLASSROOM
(OZOBOT.COM)
The Ozobot Evo Classroom Kit comes with the eponymous bot itself, allowing students to practice either Color Code blocking or Ozoblocky visual programming. The kit also features Educator Bot Camp, an Edu App for Evo updates, and 150+ lessons for both STEM and non-STEM subjects. The product will also be supported by Ozobot Classroom, a management system that tracks student progress on-and-offline in real time. Judges liked Evo’s student-friendly accessibility and Classroom’s progress-tracking feature.
PIPER COMPUTER KIT
(WWW.PLAYPIPER.COM/PRODUCTS/PIPER-COMPUTER-KIT-2)
The Piper Computer Kit allows students to build a working computer, connect electronics, and learn to code on the computer they built. Students make connections physically and mentally as they assemble their Piper Computer Kit. Once built, the Piper Computer Kit’s immersive software teaches students complex engineering concepts and shows learners how to bridge electronics with code. Judges liked its self-paced concept and especially favored its Minecraft-inspired lessons.
PROMETHEAN ACTIVPANEL ELEMENTS SERIES
(WWW.PROMETHEANWORLD.COM)
The new ActivPanel Elements Series was designed by teachers for teachers. The ActivPanel Elements series is based on user research to deliver innovation and ease-of-use that matters to teachers and students, as well as the security and manageability trusted by IT professionals and administrators. The ActivPanel Elements series comes preloaded with a variety of teaching tools like a new unified menu; the ability to draw, highlight, and annotate over any content from any source; lesson delivery software with no annual subscription, and more.
RENAISSANCE STAR 360 & MYON READER
(WWW.RENAISSANCE.COM/PRODUCTS/ASSESSMENT/STAR-360) & (WWW.RENAISSANCE.COM/PRODUCTS/MYON-READER)
Star 360 delivers the valid, reliable screening, progress monitoring, and student growth data educators need to make informed decisions. Educators see precisely what students have mastered, the goals they need to reach, and optimal paths to proficiency.Judges liked its assessment capabilities and its ability to facilitate student growth through actionable data. myON Reader is a student-centered, personalized literacy program that gives students access to more than 6,000 enhanced digital books. Students can read at school or at home on any internet-enabled device. Combined with a suite of close reading tools and embedded supports, myON Reader fosters student engagement and achievement.
SCREENBEAM 1000 EDU
(WWW.SCREENBEAM.COM/PRODUCTS/SCREENBEAM-1000-EDU/)
ScreenBeam 1000 EDU transforms classrooms, empowering educators and students to collaborate on experiences. ScreenBeam natively works with Windows and macOS extended screen mode ensuring content privacy. Leveraging native Windows Inking across Microsoft Education 365 applications, educators provide real-time feedback on student devices without the need of dongles, cables or other restrictive models that limit agility and flexibility. Judges rated it well for its fast connectivity, responsiveness, easy set up and affordability.
24 BY SECURLY
(WWW.SECURLY.COM/PRODUCTS/24)
24 by Securly is a comprehensive cloud-based, AI school safety ecosystem. The service pairs AI with expert human analysts for real-time 24x7 monitoring that keeps students safe online, in class, and at home. Securly’s AI technology uses sentiment analysis to ensure student safety by flagging concerning searches, websites visited, and messages involving bullying or self-harm. Judges stated it was a good safety tool to make sure students that are in crisis are getting proper help.
TEXTHELP WRIQ
(WWW.TEXTHELP.COM)
WriQ is a Chrome extension for Google Docs that grades papers digitally - saving time for other classroom activities. It’s faster, more accurate and consistent than subjective, pen and paper manual assessment - giving clear visibility of progress over time. WriQ automatically reviews the documents for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors, in addition to helpful metrics like time on task, vocabulary maturity and more. Judges deemed it an innovative tool that gives consistency in evaluating students’ writing.
UL XPLORLABS PLATFORM
(ULXPLORLABS.ORG)
UL Xplorlabs is a free, online module-based educational platform developed by Underwriters Laboratories. Xplorlabs encourages middle-school students to solve through science and deepen their understanding of the world through hands-on experiences, created to involve them in the scientific process. With two interactive modules, Xplorlabs bridges the gap between classrooms and engineering challenges. Judges loved the concept of bringing real-world CSI into the classroom and its ability to engage students.
VERNIER SOFTWARE & TECHNOLOGY EXPLORING MOTION AND FORCE WITH GO DIRECT SENSOR CART
(WWW.VERNIER.COM/PRODUCTS/BOOKS/MSB-CART-E/)
The new Exploring Motion and Force with Go Direct Sensor Cart e-book engages students in hands-on learning as they investigate key STEM concepts. The investigations found in the module explore friction, motion, and simple machines like the pulley or lever. Judges deemed it a terrific resource for any STEM program or science classroom in middle school through high school, praising the cart’s experiments and the bluetooth sensors’ ability to easily collect data while performing experiments.
VERNIER SOFTWARE & TECHNOLOGY CODING WITH MBOT LIFE HACKS
(WWW.VERNIER.COM/PRODUCTS/LAB-EQUIPMENT/MBOT-KIT/)
The new Coding with mBot Life Hacks activity module from Vernier Software & Technology teaches middle and high school students about important 21st century coding concepts as they participate in hands-on learning. The seven activities featured in the downloadable module introduce problem solving strategies, nurture creativity, strengthen critical thinking skills, and build students’ confidence as they learn a coding language. Judges felt the product brought relevance and fun to coding and robot building.
VERNIER SOFTWARE & TECHNOLOGY WIND ENERGY EXPLORATIONS AND SOLAR ENERGY EXPLORATIONS
(WWW.VERNIER.COM/PRODUCTS/BOOKS/MSB-WIND-E/)
The Wind Energy Explorations and Solar Energy Explorations middle school e-books utilize Vernier data-collection technology and software to engage students in hands-on scientific discovery. By introducing alternative energy solutions to real-world problems, the experiments strengthen students’ critical thinking skills as they explore and analyze renewable energy and engineering concepts included in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Judges liked that the books were both reasonably priced and engaging.
VIEWSONIC VIEWBOARD IFP7550 INTERACTIVE FLAT PANEL DISPLAY
(WWW.VIEWSONIC.COM)
The ViewSonic ViewBoard IFP7550 interactive flat panel display is a 75-inch 4K UHD collaboration solution that features upgraded hardware and software, including an ultra fine 20-point touchscreen with enhanced latency reduction, built-in speakers with subwoofer and a SmartPort USB hub that allows devices to be plugged into any video source on the display while providing simultaneous access to the display’s front-facing USB ports. Judges liked its display the best and also liked its casting software.
VIEWSONIC CORP. XG350R-C GAMING MONITOR
(WWW.VIEWSONIC.COM/US/XG350R-C.HTML)
The ViewSonic ELITE XG350R-C is a 35-inch, ultra-wide, curved gaming monitor, ideal for school eSports clubs, teams, curriculum and in competitions. The XG350R-C offers HDR10 content support for a dynamic range of color and contrast; ClearMotion technology to produce clear visuals and reduce image blur; gamer-centric specifications such as AMD FreeSync technology; customizable RGB lighting technology, 100Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time. Judges praised its sound quality, curved display, and image quality.
VIEWSONIC CORP. CDE9800 4K COMMERCIAL DISPLAY
(WWW.VIEWSONIC.COM)
The ViewSonic CDE9800 is a 98-inch (97.5-inch viewable) 4K Ultra HD commercial display for high-impact messaging and communications. This commercial grade digital signage display can generate impressive and influential visual messaging in installations in a variety of campus environments. It delivers a powerful and reliable messaging tool, 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. Judges liked that the product’s flexible display options could make very large images easily.
WRITABLE
(WWW.WRITABLE.COM)
Writable is a guided writing program for grades 3-12 that helps teachers scaffold and motivate students to become purposeful, proficient writers, and helps schools assess and monitor writing growth. With 600+ assignments and prompts (or create your own), and district or state-level benchmark assessments, Writable helps teachers save time on prep and grading while focusing their writing instruction. Judges liked the product’s ability to create solid foundations for teachers to effectively teach writing.
WURRLYEDU
(WWW.WURRLYEDU.COM)
WURRLYedu offers culturally relevant content and interactive digital tools to make music education fun, effective and affordable, qualities that especially impressed the judges. WURRLYedu’s innovative approach increases student engagement, while also improving the development of musical, social and emotional skills. With WURRLYedu, students have all the resources necessary to discover, practice, and record music both inside and outside the classroom. WURRLYedu’s partnerships with several other education organizations is another strong aspect of this platform.
ZSPACE EXPERIENCES
(ZSPACE.COM/EDU/INFO/ZSPACE-EXPERIENCES)
zSpace provides all-in-one computers and laptops featuring 3D technology, head tracking glasses, and styli that allow students to interact with AR/VR content in an immersive environment. zSpace Experiences include simulations that are experiential in nature. Students observe cause and effect, collect live data, and change conditions in the environment through lessons based on Next Generation Science Standards. Judges liked its interactive 3D experience and that it allowed students to receive real world multimedia experiences.
