EdTech Show Daily

Local School District Works With K-12 Solutions To Improve Education Through Technology

Ed Tech Show Daily Senior Associate Publisher Steve Cox Spoke with Bruno Sestito on the floor of the National Education Computing Conference (NECC).  Sestito, who serves as Director of Technology for Louisa County Public Schools (LCPS) in Virginia, was able to speak about the various technologies his school district is able to utilize in order to further better the educational experience.  

Sestito specifically speaks about the relationship between K-12 Solutions and LCPS in bringing the latest computing solutions and technologies to the local school district level.  

Ed Tech Show Daily was also able to speak to Steve Byrne, Vice President, Business Development & Marketing for K12-Solutions, who spoke about K-12 and their close relationships they foster at the local school district level, which is just another way K-12 shows their passion for the education sector.

VP Explains K-12 Solutions' Passion For Education

Steve Byrne, Vice President, Business Development & Marketing for K12-Solutions, a full service IT solutions provider, speaks from the floor of the National Educational Computing Conference about K12-Solutions and their passion for the education sector.

K12 Solutions Passionate As Ever About Education

As the nation faces the most challenging economic situation of our generation, savvy educational administrators have turned to organizations like K12 Solutions to maximize their IT budgets.   

More than just a provider of tier 1 products and professional services, K-12 Solutions is focused on solving the technology challenges in the education market, be it budgetary or functional.  With diminishing funds allocated, and the requirement of students’ technical aptitude as they enter the workforce increasing, the challenge faced is a formidable one. 

Enter K12 Solutions:  a full service IT solutions provider, focused on working with the education sector to ensure our students have current and reliable tools necessary to meet today’s technology challenges without sacrificing standards or quality.  We promote a blended solution approach to technology, taking into account the other demands on district resources.

K12 Solutions address:

Time and Money: Limited resources of a technology dept.

Project implementation mobile labs, admin requirements, modernization)

Legislative Requirements Meeting state level requirements for network management & security

 

Contact us to see how we’ve worked with other districts:

• Mobile labs that draw 60% less energy retain a charge for 24 hours and cost 30% less than new with triple the manufacturers warranty.  (California District)
• Providing Technology directors with a dashboard view into network status, allowing patches to be deployed remotely while scheduling “power – down”, paying for itself in 2.3 years and billed on monthly basis. (Pennsylvania District)
• Blended a hardware solution saving the district over $75,000.00 , imaged machines for a unpack and deploy result saving 2 weeks of personnel time. (Ohio District)

Our passion for our role in the education sector is unmatched, many of customers sit on our advisory board that guide the direction we take as regards to product portfolio and key deliverables. As educational administrators you now have a resource experienced in solving these dilemmas, call K12 Solutions and we’ll prove your return on IT investment.  My name is Steve Byrne, contact me personally for more information at 1 888 512 7658 ext 7890 or email me sbyrne@k12-solutions.com 

For more information please visit K-12 Solutions.

Learning Tree Adds New Courses To Cirriculum

Windows Terminal Services, Hyper-V Virtualization and System Center Operations Manager Are Addressed in New Courses from Learning Tree

Learning Tree International today announced the addition of three new courses to its Microsoft Windows Systems curriculum. They are: System Center Operations Manager 2007: Hands-On, Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V Virtualization: Hands-On and Terminal Services for Windows Server 2008: Hands-On. All three courses feature an expert instructor who leads the participants in exercises and scenario-based activities designed to provide practical experience in applying and administering the technologies.

Learning Tree will begin presenting System Center Operations Manager 2007: Hands-On in the U.S in September 2009 and in Canada and London, England in November 2009. Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V Virtualization: Hands-On will begin being presented in the U.S. in August 2009, in London, England in September 2009 and in Canada in October 2009. Terminal Services for Windows Server 2008: Hands-On will begin being presented in North America in September 2009 and in London, England in December 2009.

Over four days, attendees of System Center Operations Manager 2007: Hands-On will learn to:

• Deploy, configure and manage System Center Operations Manager 2007 in their enterprise
  
• Install, create and tune Management packs to observe the health of distributed systems
  
• Monitor Microsoft operating systems, Active Directory and Application Servers
  

Over four days, attendees of Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V Virtualization: Hands-On will learn to:

• Implement Hyper-V to consolidate servers for optimized resource utilization and availability
  
• Effectively plan and deploy virtual machines and virtual networks
  
• Roll out highly available services and applications through clustering and quick migrations
  

Over three days, attendees of Terminal Services for Windows Server 2008: Hands-On will learn to:

• Implement and administer Terminal Services in their Windows Server 2008 enterprise
  
• Install and manage Terminal Servers and Remote Desktop clients
  
• Enhance Terminal Services with TS Gateway, TS RemoteApp and TS Web Access
  

“These new courses will provide IT professionals the opportunity to acquire skills that will enable them to reap the benefits of these Windows Systems technologies in support of their organizations,” said Jennifer Urick, Vice President of Product Development for Learning Tree International.

System Center Operations Manager 2007: Hands-On is valuable for anyone involved in using or evaluating SCOM as an enterprise monitoring solution, including network administrators, system administrators, desktop management specialists, help desk teams and security personnel.

Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V Virtualization: Hands-On is valuable for server and network administrators, infrastructure architects and anyone responsible for implementing or managing virtualization solutions based on Hyper-V. Terminal Services for Windows Server 2008: Hands-On is valuable for those who are responsible for managing a Windows Server 2008 TS environment, including IT professionals, system administrators and help desk team members.

System Center Operations Manager 2007: Hands-On augments existing Learning Tree courses, including Windows Server 2008 Group Policy Management: Hands-On, System Center Configuration Manager 2007: Hands-On, Windows Server 2008 Administration: Hands-On and Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Domain Services: Hands-On.

Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V Virtualization: Hands-On augments existing Learning Tree courses, including: Deploying Virtual Server and Workstation Technology: Hands-On, TCP/IP: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction, Disaster Recovery Planning: Ensuring Business Continuity and Windows Server 2008 Security Infrastructure: Hands-On.

Terminal Services for Windows Server 2008: Hands-On augments existing Learning Tree courses, including System Center Configuration Manager 2007: Hands-On, Internet Information Services 7 (IIS7) for Windows Server 2008: Hands-On, Windows PowerShell Hands-On: Automating Administrative Tasks and Windows Vista: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction.

For additional information visit Learning Tree.

TurningPoint AnyWhere 2.0 For PC & Mac®; Response Technology Users Communicate, Collaborate & Connect With TurningTalk

Turning Technologies LLC, a leader in the response industry, has announced the availability of several new products and services including the latest release of their popular TurningPoint AnyWhere software, TurningTalk – a social learning community for response technology users, as well as a redesigned corporate website.

To accommodate various presentation styles and technology integrations, TurningPoint AnyWhere combined with Turning’s ResponseCard® keypads or ResponseWare™, a web-based polling application, creates a wireless response and voting system allowing presenters to ask interactive questions within their preferred presentation application –PowerPoint® or Mac® Keynote® presentations, Word documents, Excel® spreadsheets, PDF content, web pages, multimedia, and more. 

Originally developed to accommodate users interested in a polling option that didn’t require PowerPoint, TurningPoint AnyWhere uses a floating toolbar to poll participants or students at anytime using any type of digital content. Results can be collected anonymously or tracked by individual with the use of a participant list. Educators also benefit from integration with popular LMS systems, including Blackboard and WebCT, that supports the ability to import class rosters and upload session results into a gradebook.

The 2.0 release of TurningPoint AnyWhere provides increased functionality and improved interface design to both PC and Mac users including:

• Question Lists – Presenters can create and store interactive questions in advance.
  
• Dynamic Charts – Real-time results during polling.
  
• Screen Shot Report – Automatic screen shots capture question content in other digital applications and correlate results on a question-by-question basis.
  
• Enhanced ResponseWare Support – Participants can respond to interactive polling questions using their web-enabled devices including iPod touch®, iPhone™, BlackBerry® smartphones, laptops, or desktop computers.
  

"TurningPoint AnyWhere 2.0 provides any presenter with extraordinary ease-of-use. Using any presentation application, presenters can engage participants, track results, and improve outcomes for any meeting or classroom environment with little to no learning curve," said Turning's CEO Mike Broderick. "TurningPoint AnyWhere is one of the simplest polling solutions in the response industry. I believe response technology users will be impressed with both its flexibility and powerful functionality."

Turning Technologies also launched TurningTalk, a new social learning community to provide its users with an open forum for the discussion and sharing of ideas and teaching strategies. To help customers improve the quality and effectiveness of learning as well as successfully integrate response technology, registered users can participate in forums, build their own blog, and download valuable content. TurningTalk can be found at www.Turning-Talk.com.

Dr. Eric Mazur, Harvard professor and the author of Peer Instruction: A User's Manual (Prentice Hall, 1997), a book that explains how to teach large lecture classes interactively, is a featured TurningTalk contributor. As Chairman of Turning Technologies' Instructional Strategy Advisory Group, Dr. Mazur will be posting a series of articles related to his Peer Instruction technique and its effectiveness in the classroom.

Brad Gant, Vice President of Turning’s Education Division commented, “TurningTalk is a community that helps educators create active learning environments using our interactive tools. Through sharing best practices and lesson plans, members help each other create significant gains in learning outcomes for their students.”

With the continued expansion of their product line and customer resources, Turning has also released a redesign of their corporate website, www.TurningTechnologies.com, for an improved customer experience. The user-centric design and content allow both new and experienced customers to quickly gather the relevant information and expands Turning’s support for their international customers.

For more information visit Turning Technologies.

StudyX: First General Purpose Study Software With Games

Generate Games, Practice Tests and Flashcards With the Click of a Button

Remember how much time you spend studying in school? Would you be surprised to find out that there is computer software that can cut your studying time and make studying more fun at the same time? A company called Jeff Computers, started by a Webster University student, has developed study software that makes creating digital or paper flash cards as easy as clicking your mouse. Best of all, it does not require a brand new computer. StudyX will work on virtually any Windows machine.

A typical user of the software can range from an elementary child to a graduate student. It is simple to install the software and then enter the study materials in a question and answer format. Once the notes are entered, you click on a game and start playing. While playing the game, questions will pop up. When you have mastered all of the questions, a message will congratulate you on your accomplishment.

In addition to games, the software allows you to create tests that you can share with your classmates. Creating these files is just as easy as creating the game, and they work directly in Internet Explorer. If you decide that your prefer paper, this is an option as well. StudyX allows you to print study sheets, note cards, fill in the blank tests, multiple choice, and even matching tests.

StudyX changes studying from a tedious and time consuming task, into something all together different. 

For more information visit StudyX.

PBS Developing PBS Digital Learning Library To Support Education Services To Schools

Repository of PBS digital education assets will enable PBS member stations to create offerings tailored to the needs of their local communities

PBS today announced the launch of the PBS Digital Learning Library, a PBS system-wide online repository of digital education assets from public broadcasting programs and services nationwide. The PBS Digital Learning Library will be a comprehensive source of “learning objects,” including video, audio, images, games, and interactive simulations designed specifically for classroom use, delivered to teachers exclusively through local PBS stations. Services to deliver these resources to teachers and learners will be available in fall 2009. 

As part of an ongoing, multi-year research initiative to identify and provide effective digital media in the classroom, PBS is aggregating its educational content to make it more accessible and practical for classroom use. With the support of content development grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the PBS Digital Learning Library will contain high-quality multimedia resources from PBS member stations and award-winning PBS broadcast programs, all aligned to national and local education standards and tagged for easy searching. The video resources will be provided in short segments that are more classroom-friendly than 30- and 60-minute television programs, and adapted to meet the needs of teachers and students in a 21st-century teaching and learning environment.

“PBS local stations and producers across the country have been developing high-quality digital media for the classroom for many years,” said Kimberly Smith, vice president of education for PBS. “Until now, there has been no way to share these rich resources across the system. For the last two years, we have been working in partnership with our local stations on the planning and implementation of a repository focused on cataloging purpose-built, teacher-tested digital content. The PBS Digital Learning Library will aggregate a growing set of learning objects that teachers and students will be able to interact with, assemble, share, and modify to create truly engaging and transformative educational experiences. And the best part, access to these rich resources will be offered through customized digital services provided by local PBS stations.” 

As the main point of service to teachers, PBS member stations will adapt the resources in the Digital Learning Library to meet the needs of educators in their community and to offer new educational services and content. Today, a number of PBS stations offer digital education services, including Maryland Public Television’s Thinkport (www.thinkport.org) and WGBH’s Teacher’s Domain (www.teachersdomain.org). 

Over 20 member stations have been participating in a PBS Digital Learning Library pilot as content contributors and a number of the pilot stations are planning on launching digital education services. Stations participating in the pilot include: KAET, KET, KLRN, KNME, KQED, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Maryland Public Television, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, SCETV, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, ThinkTV (Ohio Digital Classroom), Utah Education Network, Vegas PBS, WGBH, WHRO, WOUB, WNEO, WNET, WPSU, WVIZ, WXXI, Wyoming PBS and NewsHour. 

With the launch of the PBS Digital Learning Library, many more stations will have access to this wide range of digital content, beginning with the 2009-10 school year. 

For more information or updates visit PBS Digital Learning Library.

Office Depot Is Helping Teachers Go Back To School Smarter

Office Depot Is Helping Teachers Go Back To School Smarter with New Teacher Store Set at Retail Locations Nationwide

Office Depot®, a leading global provider of office products and services, today announced a new assortment of teaching products available at Office Depot retail store locations nationwide and online at www.officedepot.com.

The new lineup features nearly 200 different products from Carson-Dellosa, Pacon, Paper Magic and Scholastic, all leading brands in their respective industries. Office Depot is showcasing these supplies in a new store set geared towards the specific needs of elementary school teachers, providing a simple and smart shopping experience for merchandise such as classroom wall decorations, flash cards, workbooks, stickers, and more.

“Ensuring that teachers have the classroom materials they need is critical to their success in the classroom, and ultimately the success of today’s youth,” said Wade Eveleth, Senior Director of Merchandising for Office Depot. “This expansive new store set will provide teachers with a vast selection of classroom products at an unbeatable value, as well as the convenience of being able to purchase these supplies at any one of our more than 1,100 stores throughout the country.”

Office Depot is also supporting teachers through the following efforts:

Office Depot Star Teacher Program

The Office Depot Star Teacher Program, launched in 2003, provides members with special promotions, discounts and offers to help teachers stretch their classroom budgets in these challenging economic times. Pre-K through 12th grade classroom teachers are eligible to be a member of the Office Depot Star Teacher program. Enrollment in the program is free and can be done at any Office Depot store. Ask a store associate for details or visit www.mystarteacher.com for more information.

Star Teacher Program benefits include 10% back on ink, toner and paper purchases, an instant 15% off Design, Print, & Ship Depot services, PLUS an additional 1% back on nearly everything else.*

Teacher Appreciation Breakfasts

Office Depot’s Annual Teacher Appreciation Week and Breakfast events are held at all Office Depot retail stores in the US and Canada during the weeks of July 26, August 2, August 9 and August 16 (events vary by school schedule in each market). For specific dates in your area, visit www.mystarteacher.com/tab.

Star Teachers save 10% instantly on qualifying in-store purchases during the event week. Take advantage of this exciting event to stock up on all the classroom materials you'll need in the fall.

For more information visit Office Depot.

LanSchool Announces Mac Teacher Console At NECC 2009

LanSchool Technologies LLC, a leading provider of classroom management software, announced at the 2009 NECC show in Washington D.C. the availability of a Mac teacher console for its popular classroom management software.

“Most schools have a combination of Macs, PCs and thin clients in their classrooms.” said Ben Cahoon, Vice President of LanSchool. “LanSchool is really the only choice for districts wanting to teach, monitor and assess students using Macs, PCs and thin clients. The addition of the LanSchool teacher console on the Mac extends our leadership position and allows schools to standardize on one classroom management solution instead of multiple solutions for each platform.”

The new LanSchool Mac teacher console runs on Mac OSX 10.5 and will be available for the new school year in September 2009. The console has the same basic layout and features of the Windows teacher console, but looks and feels like a Mac program. From the new console teachers can teach, monitor and assess students running on Macs, PC and thin clients.

The Mac console will also include support and enhancements for 1:1 schools that were recently added to the Windows teacher console.

Pricing and Availability

The new Mac console will be a free upgrade for existing LanSchool v7.3 users that are within their year of major upgrade protection. Educational pricing starts at $299 for classrooms with less than 10 computers and $599 for larger classrooms. Volume discounts, competitive upgrades, K-12 school and district site licenses are available.

For additional information visit LanSchool.

The Omni Group Ships OmniGraphSketcher 1.0

New Mac Software Turns Simple Sketches or Complicated Data Sets Into Elegant, Presentation-ready Graphs in Minutes

The Omni Group today shipped OmniGraphSketcher 1.0, a fast, simple tool for creating snazzy, presentation-ready graphs. OmniGraphSketcher is available immediately for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and priced at $29.95.

"I just tried OmniGraphSketcher. And wow. Seriously. I routinely use both Excel and Stata for charts, and ... wow," said Troy Payne, research associate, Division of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati.

OmniGraphSketcher combines the data plotting power of charting applications with the ease of a basic drawing program. Designed for reports, problem sets and presentations requiring production of accurate, sharp-looking graphs on the fly, OmniGraphSketcher provides familiar illustration tools to turn sketches into elegant graphs.

In addition, OmniGraphSketcher can plot data sets imported from spreadsheets or text files, or entered by hand, and quickly visualize the result. Once created from data or a sketch, the creator can add their own annotations and easily edit and manipulate just about any aspect of the graph. Once completed, graphics can export into PNG, JPEG and PDF formats.

"OmniGraphSketcher works intuitively, but don't let the simple interface fool you," advised Ken Case, founder and CEO, the Omni Group. "The algorithms behind the scenes do the heavy lifting and take care of details. OmniGraphSketcher finally makes it as easy to draw graphs on a computer as it is to draw them on a chalkboard or on paper, except that it's easier to edit the resulting graph and the output looks great."

For more information visit The Omni Group.