Software & Online
ARISTOTLEINSIGHT::K12
(www.aristotlek12.com)
Sergeant Laboratories announced that its “Penalty Box” for educational filtering is now included with AristotleInsight::K12. The feature allows students to spend an allotted amount of time in a white listed penalty box, reducing the time consuming enforcement of Acceptable Use Policies. AristotleInsight::K12 now also features advanced location capabilities. The Google maps integration feature allows technology staff to easily see where a device was last used on a detailed map. By combining Chromebook and Geo-location tracking with AristotleInsight::K12’s advanced filtering, forensic auditing, and utilization reporting capabilities, the solution helps schools achieve complete CIPA compliance and teaching digital citizenship.
AV-IQ AV PRODUCT DATABASE
(http://av-iq.com)
AV-iQ teamed up with AVISPL to create a custom version of the AV-iQ database that was integrated into the newly launched AVISPL.com website. This collaboration has made it easier for AVI-SPL to maintain up-to-date information on the vast array of AV products they offer. AV-iQ, produced by NewBay, provides a robust database of product information in the Pro AV industry. Visitors to AV-iQ.com can select from nearly a half-million products from over 2,000 brands to research the latest product information the industry has to offer. With a deep, rich set of data, professional end users can find the products they need for their current AV projects and contact either the manufacturer directly or find a local provider to supply products and integration.
CASPER SUITE
(www.jamfsoftware.com/caspersuite)
JAMF Software announced a new release of Casper Suite, offering businesses and schools the ability to leverage all new iOS 9.3 features the moment they update their devices. The latest version of Casper Suite unlocks key functionality, such as Apple’s new Classroom app and Managed Lost Mode. When Lost Mode is activated, the iOS device receives a customized lock screen message, is disabled from use, and sends its location to IT. Additionally, businesses and schools can now deliver a simplified device experience with the ability to customize which apps appear on the home screen and where.
CLASSLINK AND SCOOTPAD
(www.classlink.com)
ClassLink announced a new single sign-on connection to ScootPad, an adaptive learning platform for grades K-8. The partnership provides users with secure, one-click access to ScootPad’s adaptive learning resources. ClassLink OneClick delivers single sign-on to Web resources, like ScootPad, and to files, whether they are stored in the cloud, on a device, or on the school network.
EDGENUITY COURSE CUSTOMIZATION TOOL
(www.edgenuity.com)
Edgenuity launched a new Course Customization tool, which enables educators to remove, add, and reorder their course content to give any student using Edgenuity for blended learning, credit recovery, or initial credit an individualized learning path.
EDTHENA VIDEO PORTFOLIO
(www.edthena.com)
The Edthena classroom observation and coaching platform now offers a video portfolio feature that lets teachers securely share up to three teaching videos with external parties. For example, teachers can create a portfolio for career advancement, awards submissions, or conference proposals. The portfolio creation tool guides teachers toward developing a targeted and focused presentation of their skills. Using the Edthena video commenting tools, teachers can leave remarks at specific moments in time to direct viewers’ attention or provide additional context about the classroom environment. Each moment can be tagged to the rows of a proficiency framework or set of standards.
EDULASTIC AND GOOGLE FOR EDUCATION
(www.edulastic.com)
Edulastic, the next-generation online assessment platform for K-12 teachers and administrators, recently became a Google for Education Partner. Now educators can use the technology-enhanced assessments and real-time data of Edulastic seamlessly with their Google Apps for Education. The Google for Education Partner Program will enhance the value of Google apps to Edulastic customers, and will offer a broad set of APIs that enable Edulastic to help teachers save time, keep classes organized, and improve communication with students.
FUNDS FOR LEARNING E-RATE MANAGER WEB PORTAL
(www.fundsforlearning.com)
Funds For Learning released version 16.1 of its E-rate Manager Web portal. Compatible with the Universal Service Administrative Company’s (USAC) online tools, including the new E-rate Productivity Center (EPC), the system helps applicants successfully manage and prepare their E-rate paperwork. To minimize data entry and lessen the strain on applicants, the portal now includes capabilities such as an easy upload feature, enhanced profile checking, and a tool that transfers applications to EPC.
GALE PRIMARY SOURCES
(www.cengage.com)
Gale recently announced the expansion and rebranding of its digital archive program. The new Gale Primary Sources program will increase both product volume and multicultural content to support new disciplines and research needs in the areas of digital humanities and text and data mining. The Gale Primary Sources program will publish 35 new products this year, covering over 500 years of history. Through its nearly 100 content partners, Gale is opening up 15 millions of pages of rare content from different parts of the world to researchers and digital humanists. New archive programs launching this spring include the Archives of Human Sexuality and Identity, Early Arabic Printed Books, and American Fiction, 1774-1920.
HMH MARKETPLACE
(www.hmhco.com)
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) announced the Beta launch of HMH Marketplace, a new online resource that offers teachers, edtech developers, and technology companies a place to share resources and solutions for the classroom with a broad educator audience. The HMH Marketplace features over 3,000 resources from teachers, companies such as Education.com, Muzzy Lane, and Microsoft, and the children’s magazine Highlights. Customers can browse and navigate through a single gateway to easily locate and purchase education applications, digital learning tools, games, resources for classroom management, and original content made by teachers for teachers.
INFOBASE SCIENCE ONLINE DATABASE
(www.infobasepublishing.com)
Infobase announced the complete revision and upgrade of its Science Online database. The relaunch offers a fresh new homepage with quick and easy access to the core areas of the database, with key content handpicked by Infobase’s editors. Editorially curated Topic Centers provide virtual study guides and comprehensive coverage of the most studied science disciplines. Interactive experiments replicate the inclass laboratory experience in a safe and user-friendly environment. Additionally, the database now includes the full, updated content from Infobase’s science eLearning Modules, including Instructor Support materials.
ITSLEARNING “GOING DIGITAL” EBOOK AND UDL PRINCIPLES
(www.itslearning.net)
itslearning released “Going Digital: A Curriculum Management Playbook,” a guide to creating a fully integrated curriculum management system using the cloud-based platform. The eBook provides educators with strategies, case studies, and insights for connecting courses, resources, and assessments with common standards and learning objects. Additionally, to support the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), new updates to the itslearning personalized learning management platform help educators apply universal design for learning (UDL) principles to curriculum design. UDL is a set of curriculum development principles that uses scientific insights to give all students equal opportunity to learn.
KICKBOARD RTI SYSTEM
(www.kickboardforschools.com)
With Kickboard’s new behavior Response to Intervention (RTI) System, K-12 educators can now easily create, implement, and monitor individual behavior intervention plans across all RTI tiers. Within each intervention plan, teachers can assign one or more behavior interventions from Kickboard’s configurable Intervention Library, as well as designate specific positive behaviors to replace negative behaviors. As the interventions are implemented and teachers enter behavior data into Kickboard as part of their daily routines, the data is automatically populated into each student’s plan. This seamless integration saves time and allows teachers to easily monitor student progress, based on quantitative data, in every class throughout the school day.
KIDS DISCOVER ONLINE
(www.kidsdiscover.com/kidsdiscoveronline)
Kids Discover announced the addition of a “Search by Standards” widget to Kids Discover Online, its interactive, digital library of science and social studies content. Educators can now search for Kids Discover Online units by grade level; subject matter; and state, Common Core, or Next Generation Science standards. The widget is free for all users, and features drop-down menus. Once an educator has selected a standard, grade level, and subject to search for, the system generates a list of lessons and units that support student mastery of that specific topic or skill.
KNOVATION CONTENT COLLECTION
(www.knovationlearning.com/solutions/content-collection)
Knovation recently announced the integration of its content collection with Google Classroom and Canvas. The integration streamlines access to quality digital resources from widely-adopted solutions, simplifying the design and delivery of lessons in digital learning environments. Embedded within the Canvas learning management system, teachers and students can easily access the professionally-evaluated, standards-aligned online resources from the Knovation Content Collection. Districts that have access to the content collection through netTrekker or icurio can also easily integrate online resources into Google Classroom, a blended learning platform that simplifies creating, distributing, and grading assignments in a paperless way.
LANGUAGE CREATES STORIES WORTH SHARING
(http://k12.rosettastone.com/LanguageCreates)
Based on the concept that “Language Creates Stories Worth Sharing,” Rosetta Stone’s Web-based program was developed to engage World Language, ELL, and special subject teachers in a new online community created especially for them, and support them in sharing their experiences and resources with their fellow educators. Featuring a wealth of resources for implementing technology into K-12 language learning classrooms, the online platform includes pre-recorded webinars; a Teacher Ambassador Program, where teachers can share student success stories; a Teacher Tuesday blog, showcasing posts from educators nationwide; and Tips for Teachers, highlighting proven methods and resources on integrating digital language learning programs into a blended classroom.
LIGHTSAIL
(www.lightsailed.com)
LightSail recently added The Washington Post to its content offerings. The addition will enable LightSail to deliver articles to students across the country through the company’s personalized reading experience. Moreover, students using LightSail will have access to KidsPost content, The Post’s regular news section written for students in grades 3-8.
LISTEN TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
(www.listentech.com)
Listen Technologies Corporation, a provider of assistive listening products, is now shipping its new line of ListenWiFi products. ListenWiFi lets venues with multiscreen deployments offer a personal listening experience by streaming audio content from multiple TV or audio sources directly to their customers’ or visitors’ smartphones via the Personal Listening Wi-Fi network. Software for the server and accompanying app is updated automatically with no monthly fees, so venues know they can always connect to the widest variety of mobile devices and have the latest features. The flexible system can be configured with anywhere from four to 24 channels without having to replace the server.
LITTLEBITS STEAM STUDENT SET
(www.littlebits.cc)
With the littleBits STEAM Student Set and companion littleBits STEAM PD offering that can be paired with the Student Set, educators can bring STEAM into their classrooms, libraries, and makerspaces. The littleBits STEAM Student Set engages a student’s natural love of play and curiosity through invention-based learning. Easy to scaffold, the toolbox supports learners in grades 3-8 with 19 Bits—littleBits’ electronic building blocks—and 38 accessories to bring buzzing, blinking, and creative inventions to life. A littleBits Teacher’s Guide provides hours of detailed companion lessons, curricular connections, implementation strategies, and helpful tips, while a mobile app provides thousands more ideas for the classroom.
MICROSOFT SYSTEM CENTER CONFIGURATION MANAGER
(www.absolute.com/sccm)
Absolute introduced new security functionality that automatically repairs the Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) client installed on an endpoint, should it require attention. Microsoft SCCM enables IT administrators to manage the deployment and the security of endpoints, including the ability to patch software applications, a fundamental requirement to protect an organization from malware exploits. If the SCCM client requires attention on an endpoint, Absolute will trigger an automatic repair function to ensure IT can continue managing the device.
MOBYMAX COGNITIVE SKILL SOCIAL STUDIES
(www.mobymax.com)
MobyMax added Cognitive Skill Social Studies to its complete K-8 curriculum. In the new module, students think and touch their way to mastery utilizing cognitive skill manipulatives. Interactive lessons are organized into four major domains: history, geography, government, and economics. Lessons include quick checks for understanding to recap main ideas, periodic reviews of relevant vocabulary, and short quizzes for each topic. Each lesson finishes with a comprehensive test to show mastery of concepts. The adaptive curriculum covers almost all state standards as well as the National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies published by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS).
MUSSAR: PRACTICAL ETHICS FOR LIVING A MEANINGFUL LIFE
(www.thevirtualhighschool.org)
The Virtual High School’s Online Judaic Studies Consortium (OJSC) is offering a new course, Mussar: Practical Ethics for Living a Meaningful Life. Developed by Rabbi David Jaffe, the course focuses on Mussar, the Jewish wisdom tradition that teaches individuals how to make the choices most aligned with their best selves. The course begins by introducing Mussar history and theory and explaining how it compares to other theories of human psychology and development. Students then learn about free will and choice as a major factor in all aspects of their lives and explore specific character traits and how these traits influence us and the world around us. The course concludes with a unit that demonstrates how aligning our behaviors with core values is a way of living a holy, spiritual life.
OVERDRIVE K-5 QUICKSTART
(www.overdrive.com)
OverDrive’s K-5 QuickStart offers young readers a collection of 200 eBooks, including Read-Alongs such as the Summer Camp Science Mystery Series, The Mallory Series, Noisy Bug Sing-Along, and picture books. The eBooks are instantly available with simultaneous access for every K-5 student in and out of the classroom, both online and offline. K-5 QuickStart is based on OverDrive Read, the browser-based reader used by 34,000 libraries and schools worldwide.
PERMISSION CLICK
(www.permissionclick.com)
The Permission Click digital platform helps schools and parents better coordinate permission slips, forms, and payments required for student participation in school activities and events. A cloud-based platform, Permission Click allows schools to easily create registration forms and permission slips for field trips, fundraising programs, yearbook sales, and other school events. Forms are electronically sent to parents who can respond on any device in seconds, to approve attendance, fill out forms, and pay any associated fees online, with no apps to install.
POWERSCHOOL
(www.powerschool.com)
PowerSchool announced a 75% increase in year over year new customer bookings. Since PowerSchool became a stand-alone company, its growth has reflected the company’s renewed focus on providing best-in-class technology solutions that streamline administrative processes and improve instructional outcomes for K-12 educators. The acquisitions of InfoSnap and Interactive Achievement expand PowerSchool’s reach to include key functional needs of enrollment and assessment in K-12 education. The company offers intuitive solutions that simplify district administration and data collection, improve compliance outcomes while fostering individualized classroom instruction, and increase student and parent engagement with instant access to student data.
RANDALL MUNROE AND HMH
(www.hmhco.com)
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) announced a new collaboration with Randall Munroe, a former NASA roboticist and the New York Times bestselling author of What If ? and Thing Explainer, whose work will be featured in the latest editions of HMH’s high school science programs. The newly-revised digital and print editions of HMH Chemistry 2017, HMH Biology 2017 and HMH Physics 2017 will include content from Thing Explainer that are aligned to the curriculum and, in the book’s words, explain “complicated stuff in simple words.”
RIGHTSKILL
(www.careerbuilder.com)
CareerBuilder and Capella Education Company partnered to launch program called RightSkill, designed to fill talent gaps for employers and help job seekers advance their careers. Capella Learning Solutions, a subsidiary of Capella Education Company, will leverage CareerBuilder’s labor market intelligence to design online learning experiences in high-demand fields such as Web development and information security that are matched with the specific competencies that employers want.
SKYWARD
(www.skyward.com)
Skyward, a K-12 administrative software company, has partnered with K-12 and higher education institutions to provide students of all ages an early start on discovering the careers of the future within the information technology sector. By working with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP), Mid-State Technical College (MSTC), and area K-12 school districts, Skyward has helped educate local students about career paths and job opportunities available in this rapidly growing profession. Skyward’s executive leadership collaborated with UWSP and MSTC to shape computer science curricula and promote the field to ensure more students graduate with computer science, information technology, or comparable degrees. Skyward also works with these institutions to promote its current internship and job openings to college students nearing graduation.
TURNITIN REVISION ASSISTANT
(www.turnitin.com)
Students taking AP World History or AP English Language and Composition can now prepare and practice for those courses’ exams with Turnitin Revision Assistant, a new formative writing product from Turnitin that offers instant feedback to students as they write. The exam prompts that have been added to Revision Assistant are previously released questions that appeared on the 2013 AP World History and AP English Language and Composition exams. While writing with Revision Assistant, students receive immediate feedback in four areas: clarity and focus, use of evidence, organization and development, and language and style. The feedback is easy to understand, applies to the exact section it highlights, and specifies where the essay could be improved.
Apps
MATH CLIMBER HD
(www.edven.com)
EdVenture Software released Math Climber HD, an app that lets students test their math skills as they climb up a 70 foot indoor wall or race against another climber. The app is available in English and Spanish, and tests knowledge in 18 topics. Players receive coins for answering problems correctly, and can then use those coins to customize their climber, end up in the Wall of Fame, and even get help on answers through a 50/50 option. Players can also email and print out a progress report which keeps a record of the number of problems answered correctly, as well as specific problems that were missed for a given topic and level.
READING ASSISTANT FOR THE IPAD
(www.readingassistant.com)
Scientific Learning Corp. announced the availability of the Reading Assistant program on the iPad. The software uses advanced speech recognition technology to correct and support students as they read aloud, helping them improve their reading grade level up to 50 percent more than students receiving classroom instruction alone, in the same time period. With the iPad app, students can log in and work on Reading Assistant at school, at home, or anywhere with an Internet connection.
TYLER TECHNOLOGIES PARENT-STUDENT APP
(www.tylertech.com)
Tyler Technologies introduced its Student 360 parent-student portal, which works with Tyler SIS (student information system) to provide parents, students, and school staff enhanced mobile access to student data. The touch-enabled Student 360 app works with tablets and smart phones so that student data can be accessed from virtually anywhere via Internet-connected devices. The new Student 360 portal complements Tyler SIS, a comprehensive suite of solutions offering core school district functions, including attendance, grade book, scheduling, enrollment, transcripts, GPAs, discipline and more.
Hardware
Dremel (www.3dprinter.dremel.com) released its second-generation Dremel Idea Builder 3D40 printer to support 3D printing in STEM instruction. The printer features multiple access points for simple and complete classroom implementation. Advancements include USB-and Wi-Fi-enabled printing, active filament monitoring, a maintenance-free extruder, and assisted leveling. A larger building platform enables greater flexibility in designing and scaling 3D models. The printer is also compatible with the new Dremel 3D iOS and Android apps launching in May. Additionally, it can be used with Print Studio software, enabling students to optimize object design and make modifications based upon functionality.
Vernier Software & Technology (www.vernier.com) also released its new Investigating Solar Energy lab book to expose students in grades 4–6 to solar energy concepts while helping them develop solutions to real-world problems. The lab book, which contains nine experiments and two culminating engineering projects, teaches students about solar energy, energy transfer, series and parallel circuits, and variables that affect solar panel output. The lab book includes print and electronic experiment files, sample data and graphs, complete equipment lists, teacher resources such as equipment and teaching tips, related skills, standards correlations, and more.
D-Link today (www.dlink.com) released the next camera in its affordable professional grade Vigilance IP surveillance series, the Vigilance Full HD Outdoor Mini Dome Network Camera (DCS-4802E). The camera offers full HD 1920x1080 resolution, integrated infrared illumination for seeing up to 60 feet in darkness, and a rugged IP66 weatherproof housing that ensures continuous performance even in extreme climates. Other features include a unique 3-axis design allowing for precise positioning of the lens, 3D noise filtering for enhanced low light performance, and PoE (Power over Ethernet) for convenient single cable installation.
Acer (www.acer.com) announced a touchscreen Chromebase for meetings (CA24V), an all-in-one, dedicated video conference system designed for small spaces. The system features the largest screen of any Chrome OS device and includes four microphones and two speakers for optimum audio performance. Chromebase for meetings now supports 25-person Hangouts across a variety of devices such as laptops, tablets, or smartphones. Additionally, Acer released the TravelMate B117 notebooks, tailor-made for education. The notebooks have passed all MIL-STD 810G tests relevant to education, including high temperature, low temperature, rain, humidity, vibration, and mechanical shock (both transit drop packaged and transit drop unpackaged). The notebooks are powered by Windows 10 Pro and support Acer TeachSmart, which empowers teachers with tools and cloud-based services to distribute, collect, and monitor class materials and assignments digitally.
AVerMedia (www.avermedia.com) launched the AVerCaster HEVC RS9260, a professional video capture, encoding, and streaming solution for OTT and IPTV operators. The solution broadcasts live TV programs and 4K video to a large audience over LAN and WLAN, and provides optimal viewing quality for all commercial applications, thanks to its wide range of encoding, bit rate, and resolution options. Users can reach a wider audience on computers and most 3G/4G mobile devices—such as tablets and smartphones—with the system’s support for Flash, Apple HLS, and 3GPP.
BenQ America Corp. (www.benq.us) released a new Colorific projector, ideal for classroom applications. The ultra-short-throw MW883UST next-generation projector combines high brightness, WXGA resolution for crisp image quality, simple installation and setup, and interactive capabilities. The MW883UST features powerful optical engines, beaming out 3,300 ANSI lumens and a 10,000:1 contrast ratio. With the PointWrite interactive module option, the solution brings affordable collaboration capabilities to the classrooms of budget-conscious schools. PointWrite allows teachers and students to interact easily with and annotate course material to create a fun, engaging learning environment using pens or finger-touch technology.
Vernier Software & Technology’s (www.vernier.com/dynamics) new Dynamics Cart and Track System provides a durable system that can be customized using a range of accessories, including fan carts and friction pads, to help teachers and students conduct physics investigations in kinematics and dynamics. The system is perfect for hands-on experiments, such as ones that investigate Newton’s second law or conservation of momentum. The system includes an extruded aluminum dynamics track, two ultra-low friction carts, two adjustable foot levelers, an adjustable end-stop, and four 125g masses for changing cart mass. Brackets for photogates and a motion detector are also included, as are a low-friction pulley and bracket for attachment to the track. The system can be purchased by itself or with the Vernier Motion Encoder System, which allows for capturing accurate repeatable motion data without the noise and setup challenges of a traditional ultrasonic motion detector.
Epson America, Inc. (www.epson.com) announced the WorkForce Pro WF-M5694 multifunction and WorkForce Pro WF-M5194 single function monochrome printers. Both models provide the lowest-cost monochrome printing in their class. Equipped with a 10,000-page cartridge yield and up to 580 sheets maximum paper capacity, the printers require little user intervention. They also come equipped with IT admin tools, including security features and network configuration.
InFocus Corporation (www.infocus.com) announced the IN1116 and IN1118HD WXGA and full HD ultra-mobile projectors, designed to be compact and light for easy transport. Both models come with built-in 4GB memory and a USB port, so no laptop is required to give a presentation. The IN1116 and IN1118HD each weigh 3.5 pounds and feature a 2400-lumen output, built-in 4GB memory, and a USB port.
