EdTech Show Daily

Kickstarter Launch for MiiPC - The First Family Friendly Android Computer

MiiPC, a new Kickstarter project, has been launched today by Young Song, the founder of eMachines. Young is looking to upset the traditional PC market again by launching the first family computer on Android, starting from $89 on a Kickstarter early bird discount. MiiPC allows parents to give their young children access to the Internet under their supervision from a companion mobile app.

http://www.miipc.com/kickstarter

MiiPC offers parents the chance to let their children surf the web, play games, watch media and do their homework, safe in the knowledge that they can make sure their children are not exposed to disturbing videos, unsuitable apps and inappropriate websites. The device comes with a HDMI connection, so it can be hooked up to computer monitors and most modern TVs, and with two USB ports the whole experience is optimized to provide a true keyboard and mouse experience.

Read more here.

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Interphase Debuts clouDevice Cloud Client Portfolio

PLANO, Texas and ISTE, Philadelphia, Pa. - June 27, 2011 Interphase Corporation (NASDAQ: INPH) announces the launch of clouDevice™, a comprehensive cloud computing/desktop virtualization product line, offering schools, business entities, and government agencies a smart choice for IT departments implementing private cloud-based desktop virtualization. Supporting all major virtual desktop host environments and end-user types, the debut of clouDevice marks the company’s entry into the cloud computing market. The clouDevice product line includes multi-seat clients that support Microsoft® Windows MultiPoint Server®, enterprise thin clients, and high-performance PCoIP zero clients, reaching a wide range of market segments: education, enterprise, SMB, and government. The clouDevice portfolio distinguishes itself with optimized features, and these devices are priced very attractively.

“Our company’s track record of providing high-quality and innovative products is carried through with pride as we launch clouDevice,” says Greg Kalush, Chairman, President, and CEO of Interphase Corporation. “Our product portfolio brings a strong value proposition to schools, enterprises, SMBs, and government agencies. In schools where IT budgets are tight, our tailored solutions allow the IT department to expand computer resources to students, deploy virtual desktops with utmost flexibility, and manage them cost-effectively; Our clouDevice portfolio also includes an extensive line of feature-rich and cost-effective thin/zero clients for business entities and government institutions.”

“According to analyst forecasts and industry trends, desktop virtualization is on the verge of rapid growth,” says HJ Li, Interphase Senior Director of Product Management who manages the clouDevice business. “We are entering the market with a comprehensive portfolio that supports both established and newly emerged desktop virtualization host environments. Our focus is to offer industry-leading product functionality and cost-saving benefits to end customers.”

In a time when technology plays an integral role in the classroom, clouDevice offers schools affordable, innovative technology to make computer resources accessible to more faculty and students while at the same time minimizing IT departments’ end-point support burden. Multi-seat clients within the clouDevice portfolio are designed to support Windows MultiPoint Server and can help schools reduce CAPEX by 62%, save annual OPEX by 67%, and slash energy consumption by 78%. Overall, the key benefits of the entire clouDevice product line to end customers include lower total cost of ownership (TCO), enhanced security, simplified end-point management, and green computing.

ClouDevice addresses one of the biggest challenges for school IT departments – managing network configurations effectively. USB-based cloud clients available in the market today have a distance limitation of up to 16 feet between the client and a host computer running Windows MultiPoint Server. clouDevice multi-seat clients overcome such distance limitations and provide the most flexible network configuration and management options to school IT departments by providing both wired Ethernet and built-in Wi-Fi support.

A demonstration of clouDevice clients for virtual desktops in schools will be presented during ISTE June 26 – 29th at M & A Technology’s booth, #1542.

Sales and Partnership Inquiries

clouDevice is currently available for sale through M & A Technology (Carrollton, Texas). For more information, please contact Donna Shepard at +1 800-225-1452. For channel partnerships, please contact Jennifer Skinner-Gray at +1 214-425-6525.

Useful Links

Interphase website : www.iphase.com

clouDevice website: www.myclouDevice.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/clouDevice

Global Virtual Classroom 2010/2011 Award Winning Websites Announced

The Give Something Back International Foundation (GSBI) has announced the winners of the 2010/2011 Global Virtual Classroom Contest (GVC) -- a free online collaborative learning project that fosters creativity, cross cultural understanding, helping others and teaches IT and website design skills amongst students working together from around the world.

Sponsored by GSBI, the GVC program provides an opportunity for primary and secondary school students from different countries to work with and learn from students in other countries, as they collaboratively design a website on a topic of their choosing. Teams are comprised of either three primary or three secondary schools from different countries. A panel of international judges evaluates the final work and determines the winners.

In September 2010, AT&T announced a $25,000 contribution to support the Global Virtual Classroom project.

With subjects that range from combating world hunger to bridging the digital divide, and from helping victims of natural disasters to exploring the creative world of music, sites from participating teams show the kind of creativity that can come from putting approximately 2100 students from 23 different countries together in a collaborative endeavor.

Their efforts were judged for content, presentation, collaboration, and a helping focus. The helping focus encourages students to also demonstrate achievement of a helpful objective such as personal, social and/or environmental responsibility or support for a worthy cause.

This year's Grand Prize winner for the primary school category is the "Lacing up the Digital Divide" website created and built by students from Horace Mann School in Oak Park, Illinois, USA and the International Community School of Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. The website highlights the importance of bridging the digital divide with innovative approaches as to how to make a positive impact.  The team also shares their efforts to support the Bingerville Orphanage in Cote d'Ivoire providing computers, Internet access, books and French website resources to enhance student learning in a very challenging environment.

The secondary school category's Grand Prize winner is the "Food for All and All for Food" website presented by students at Philippine Science High School in Quezon City, Philippines; Ranji School in Bangkok, Thailand; and Denmark Empowerment Charter School in Denmark, Wisconsin, USA. The website highlights ways to combat world hunger as well as highlights foods from their respective cultures and the influences on cuisine from around the world.

Certificates of participation are awarded to all students. Plaques and cash awards are presented to the schools of the winning teams. The Grand Prize award is $3,000 for the winning primary school team and $3,000 for the secondary school team. The second place award is $1,500 for each winning team and the third place award is $750 to each team.  Special Merit awards are also presented for exceptional academic merit, for significant helping focus accomplishments, for creativity, and for the innovative use of multimedia. Merit award winners receive software from Tech4Learning.com.

To view the winning websites visit www.VirtualClassroom.org. Online applications for the 2011/12 program are also available on the site.

Epson PowerLite Pilot Delivers Simplified Multimedia Management for Short Throw Classroom Projectors

Epson, the number-one selling projector brand worldwide, today announced the PowerLite Pilot Connection and Control Box, a simple, easy-to-use solution that offers extensive control of multimedia sources connected to Epson's wall-mounted short throw and ultra-short throw classroom projectors. The PowerLite Pilot gives teachers one convenient place to connect and manage audio and video sources such as computers, DVD players, iPods and more, simplifying projector operation and cable management.

In addition, Epson is offering two optional accessories – a wireless pendant microphone and powerful external speakers – designed to deliver attention grabbing sound and help provide a completely integrated classroom control and sound enhancement solution. The accessories provide added value by helping to amplify sound and ensure all students in the class can hear the lessons.

The PowerLite Pilot is a sleek, wall-mountable box with large buttons for easy operation and a cable cover that creates a clean, organized look to help avoid cable chaos. The control box is designed to mount on the wall next to the image, making it easily accessible to educators and enabling them to change sources or adjust volume with the press of a button, thus eliminating the need for a projector remote control. The various input/output connections available include: HDMI, two VGA (computer 1 and 2) connectors with corresponding Audio (inputs/outputs), S-Video with Audio (inputs/outputs), AUX Audio (for use with devices such as an iPod), USB Type A, USB Type B, and Record Out. The PowerLite Pilot also allows the selection of audio mute and volume adjustment for the optional speakers/microphone.

Full press release here.

Website to Trade Nintendo Wiis for Homework Questions

StudentOfFortune.com, a Los Angeles-based homework help website, will initiate their Wii-A-Day Giveaway promotion starting on April 1st, according to the company.

The promotion will involve giving away a Nintendo Wii each day of the month of April to members of Student of Fortune. Non-members will be able to sign up for an account on the website.

To enter the contest, members will need to post a "homework related" question on the site, including anything from a question about math to help with physics homework. Each day, the Student of Fortune staff will hand select a posted question and award that member with a new Nintendo Wii.

The company is also using Twitter as a means to spread the news about the contest and attract prospective members.

Members can also use Twitter as a way to enter the contest. By posting a predetermined tweet, users will earn another entry into the Wii giveaway, thereby doubling their chances to win each day.

With about 30 Wiis to give out, the company hopes the magnitude of the promotion will attract a lot of attention. Sean McCleese, the founder and CEO of the company, claims this promotion will be one of the biggest contests launched by Student of Fortune thus far.

"We have yet to launch a promotion of this size," said McCleese. "If this contest goes according to plan, we will certainly consider hosting many more promotions in the future. But for now, we're just crossing our fingers."

Student of Fortune certainly aims to make the promotion a big success, but either way, there will be a lot of happy Student of Fortune members come April.

Crestron onCue Presentation Controller Makes Classroom Technology Possible For The Tightest School Budgets

Crestron announced today that onCue, the latest addition to its affordable line of easy-to-use AV presentation control systems for classrooms and small meeting rooms, is now shipping. The onCue BPC-8 Basic Presentation Controller provides teachers with an intuitive 8-button keypad controller for simple one-touch control of classroom presentation systems. Each button provides a recognizable pictured icon for power, volume, projector, screen, computer, and DVD control. Ideal for K-12 classrooms, onCue enables educators to install simple classroom technology that makes teaching easier and improves the learning experience despite tightening school budgets.

"onCue is priced right so all schools can get simple one-touch control in every room," says Vincent Bruno, Crestron Director of Marketing. "Now, teachers can control the AV as easy as turning on the lights, and spend more time teaching and less time dealing with the technology."

Mounted discreetly on a wall or in a lectern, onCue is always ready to start a presentation with a single button press. Teachers can simultaneously select a media source such as a DVD player, turn on the projector, and lower the projection screen with just one button press, instantly providing everything needed to begin a lesson, and maximizing class time. One button press also powers down all connected devices at the end of class.

Requiring no control system or programming, installation of a standalone onCue keypad is fast and easy so classrooms can be up and running without delay. For consistent, uniform and intuitive AV control in every classroom, the optional onCue IR Learner enables custom button settings to be loaded to multiple onCue controllers with a press of a button.

Teachscape Classroom Walkthrough Technology Now Available on Android Devices

Teachscape, the leader in delivering web-based professional learning content, innovative technologies, and expert services to improve teaching practice, has added the Android line of devices to the list of mobile operating systems and devices compatible with the Classroom Walkthrough (CWT) technology. Using these devices, principals and other instructional leaders can easily gather observational data about classroom practices and upload this data to Teachscape’s secure server for reporting and analysis.

After classroom data is entered into a handheld device, the results of the walkthrough are uploaded via a wireless or cellular connection to the Teachscape website. Users then log onto the Teachscape website to view the uploaded entries and generate powerful reports on the aggregated data to assist in identifying trends and patterns in teaching and learning.

The CWT data collection application is typically implemented as part of the Classroom Walkthrough process which uses the walkthrough data to engage instructional leaders and teachers in reflective learning communities focused on adjusting instruction to meet student needs.

In addition to supporting the Android line of devices, Teachscape CWT technology is also compatible with BlackBerry, iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Palm, and Windows Mobile devices.

CWT was recently named a recipient of the 2010 Tech & Learning Awards of Excellence. For more information on Classroom Walkthrough and Teachscape’s complete collection of professional development offerings, visit www.teachscape.com.

Texas Instruments Introduces Interactive Tools for Science and Math Classrooms

With the introduction of its new high-resolution, backlit color-display TI-Nspire CX handhelds and TI-Nspire Lab Cradle, Texas Instruments makes it easier for science educators to bring the interactivity of TI's Nspired Learning to the science classroom.

TI brings together TI-Nspire CX handhelds and software, TI-Nspire Lab Cradle and the new Vernier DataQuest application for TI-Nspire to create the TI-Nspire Lab Station. Using the tools that make up the customizable TI-Nspire Lab Station, teachers can build dynamic and interactive inquiry-based labs and experiments.

With the TI-Nspire Lab Station, science educators can conduct dozens of labs for physics, chemistry, and biology classes using more than 55 Vernier sensors. The TI-Nspire Lab Cradle can receive input from up to five sensors simultaneously for multi-channel data collection. Math teachers can also use the Vernier DataQuest app to collect real-world data to model mathematical concepts such as rate of change.

"I use data collection weekly in my classroom," said Todd Morstein, a chemistry teacher at Glacier High School in Kalispell, Mont., and an instructor for TI's T3 - Teachers Teaching with Technology professional development organization. "My students go into the lab with TI-Nspire technology and Vernier tools to collect variables such as temperature and conductivity. When we return to the classroom, my students analyze that data graphically and numerically to make the real-world chemistry connections that I'm looking for."

The Vernier DataQuest app is a key feature of the TI-Nspire  CX handheld's version 3.0 operating system, as well as TI-Nspire  software version 3.0. Owners of previous generations of TI-Nspire technology, such as TI-Nspire handhelds with Touchpad and TI-Nspire handhelds with Clickpad, can get the Vernier DataQuest application free by downloading and updating to OS version 3.0.

CourseSmart Partners with University of Michigan to provide Integrated Access to Digital Course Materials

CourseSmart, the world's largest provider of eTextbooks and digital course materials, today announced that the University of Michigan will be testing eTextbooks as a means to improving student performance by integrating eTextbooks directly into the workspace that students use to take their course. The pilot program will integrate CourseSmart's eTextbooks with all other course materials within their existing campus Learning Management System, cTools, allowing faculty and students the ability to conveniently access everything they need for their course in one place.

Creating a single education work-flow, the Spring pilot program includes five courses/instructors and nearly 200 students who can now use cTools, the University's Sakai-based LMS, to access their eTextbooks as well as course assignments, homework, syllabus, class calendar and instructor/peer communications.

In addition to providing University of Michigan with eTextbooks and digital course materials, CourseSmart handled the technical integration and distribution of the program. Using an LTI standards-based integration, the university will enjoy a single sign-on process that integrates the prepopulated eTextbook bookshelf directly into the campus LMS.

For more information, visit www.coursesmart.com/instructors, and click the Institutions link.

Kids Learn Math in a Flash With New Kindle Educational Active Content From Digi Ronin Games

With the release this week of Flash Cards: Basic Math for Kids and Flash Cards: Fractions, the latest active content titles for Kindle, kids can brush up on their math skills anytime and anywhere. Developed by Digi Ronin Games, these children's educational titles, the first of their kind released for Kindle, bring fun and convenience to learning math for just $2.99 each and are available for purchase now through Amazon's Kindle Store at www.amazon.com/kindle or via www.digironingames.com.

An excellent companion for homework, everyday use, or even a long car trip, Flash Cards: Basic Math for Kids allows kids to practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Flash Cards: Fractions helps children learn fractions, percentages, and decimals. The Kindle active content titles provide increasing levels of difficulty and, while both are specifically designed for kids, the whole family may find themselves eager to hone their math skills.

Flash Cards: Basic Math for Kids and Flash Cards: Fractions offer three study modes. Kids can learn by using the flash cards as a study guide or refresher (flash card mode), select among multiple choice answers, or type in the correct answer. The educational titles for Kindle generate an unlimited number of cards with math questions, and feature a High Score section to track progress, as well as add a bit of extra competition among friends, classmates, and family.