EdTech Show Daily

UBM Studios Unicruit's Diversity Virtual Career Fair Assists College Students in Finding Employment in a Challenging Economy

UBM Studios Unicruit's inaugural Diversity Virtual Career Fair was held on March 3, 2011 and brought nearly 25 employers together with over 3,500 college students from more than 30 schools across the United States.  On average, the college students visited 11 booths with an average dwell time of 77 minutes.  The virtual career fair is on demand through March 9, 2011.

According to a UBM Studios Unicruit survey, virtual career fairs win with job seekers.  These results validate that virtual career fairs are an efficient, cost effective and eco-friendly way for recruiters to recruit and job seekers to secure employment.

• 88 percent of attendees found the event easy to use
• 92 percent of attendees asked to be invited to future events
• 84 percent would recommend the virtual career fair to others

The Diversity Virtual Career Fair is open to college students and alumni across the country and showcase dozens of industry leading employers committed to helping college students find suitable employment.  The virtual career fair allows employers and job seekers to meet and interact as if in person, but in a more efficient, effective and environmentally friendly atmosphere. Employers have the opportunity to recruit students from all over the country in just one day, without having to leave the office.

For additional information on the Diversity Virtual Career Fair, visit http://www.diversitycf.com/. 

Yahoo! to Support Safer Internet Day on February 8, 2011

Yahoo! Inc. today announced that it is launching Yahoo! Safely worldwide, demonstrating its longtime commitment to fostering safer online experiences. Through Yahoo! Safely (http://safely.yahoo.com), users across 26 countries and 14 languages can now access information and advice on making smart choices online. This global resource aims to inform parents, educators and young people in their own languages about important topics, such as managing digital reputations, avoiding cyber-bullying and learning how to minimize risks on mobile devices.

In support of Safer Internet Day on February 8 (www.saferinternet.org) Yahoo! is joining forces with Insafe, the network co-funded by the European Commission, and offering these five tips for online gaming and social networking:

• Think before you post. How you represent yourself online—the way you play games, the photos and texts you share, the design of your avatar, and what you have on your profile—all add up to who you are. Invest in your online image.

• Be a good sport. Virtual games can be fun, but remember to treat other players with respect. If you wouldn’t do it on the field, don’t do it online either.

• Take action and report bullying. If you stand by and watch, laugh or do nothing when you see bullying happen, you become part of the problem. Take the opportunity to create positive change.

• Spread smiles with your phone. Texting is core to staying connected with your friends, and half of you send more than 1,500 texts a month. What you text is a reflection of you, so be thoughtful about what you say so you can be confident that your texts portray you the right way.

• Unplug and connect with your world. We live in a 24/7 digital world, but don’t forget to unplug sometimes. Get out and connect with your friends in the real world.

 

CSI Technology Outfitters Showcases Newest Education Cloud Tecnology at TCEA

CSI Technology Outfitters recently announced their inclusion of Hosted VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Services into the existing CSI@K12 Education Cloud. The inclusion of VoIP technology into this already existing hosted suite of products adds to the cost-effective technology currently being offered for K-12 and higher education institutions. CSI Technology Outfitters is reaching out to school systems across the country by educating K-12 institutions about cloud computing technology and showing the efficiency, flexibility and cost-effectiveness of next-generation computing during the TCEA 2011 show.  

The CSI@K12 Education Cloud provides the education community with enterprise class-hosted voice, hosted e-mail and hosted Web—available individually, but provides a triple advantage when combined together. You get a solution that is inexpensive to operate and provides a complete unified communication and collaboration environment.

With the CSI@K12 Education Cloud, tools that help communities connect and share resources are hosted and supported by CSI. As a result, educational institutions do not have to purchase software and hardware that have limited use, invest in technologies that are quickly outdated, or invest time in supporting these solutions. Because of this, these services become highly scalable and reduce the time and complexity of deploying these services within the current technology environment. Additionally, these tools become available from anywhere through a Web browser or a rich client, allowing people to exchange information and work together from anywhere in the world.

CSI Technology Outfitters will be exhibiting at booth #2790.

Rugged Convertible Classmate PC Design Moves The Way Kids Do

Latest Intel-Powered Convertible Classmate PC Offers Durable Design for School Children Around the World

 

Supported by local computer manufacturers, Intel unveils the latest Intel-powered convertible classmate PC design.

The new convertible design is more rugged and flexible, providing school children around the world with custom-built technology to help advance education.

 

Intel Corporation today unveiled the most flexible and durable Intel-powered convertible classmate PC reference design yet. Supported by local computer manufacturers which are part of the Intel® Learning Series, this new addition combines aesthetics with ruggedness, full PC functionality with enhanced e-learning capabilities and improved performance with energy efficiency.

Building on the success of the clamshell and convertible classmate PC designs, Intel and the Learning Series’ members provide classrooms around the world with a custom-built solution for primary school education.

Featuring the Intel® Atom™ processor and a 10.1-inch LCD monitor, the new convertible classmate PC includes increased memory and storage to run education applications that help students excel in their studies and build skills for the future. The new design can change instantly from a clamshell to a tablet PC, allowing students to naturally switch form factors as they move between activities and locations in the classroom, an observation that Intel ethnographic researchers have termed “micro-mobility.”

"Our ethnographers have spent countless hours understanding how technology can help school age children here in the U.S. and around the world build the skills required for the future," said Kapil Wadhera, acting general manager of Intel’s Emerging Markets Platform Group, which developed the Intel-powered classmate PC reference design based on ethnographic research. “At Intel, we believe that education has the power to transform the lives of individuals, villages, cities and nations, and we understand that technology is one of our greatest tools to advance education around the world.”

Built to move the way kids do, the new Intel-powered convertible classmate PC features a touch-screen with a user interface optimized for eReading applications, water-resistant keyboard, touchpad and screen, improved ruggedness with drop test from desk height, bump and scratch resistance surfaces and structures, and an optional anti-microbial keyboard. In tablet mode, the “palm rejection” feature ignores the touch of hands resting on the screen, allowing students to write and draw intuitively.

In addition to being powered by the power-efficient Intel Atom processor, the new classmate PC features a rechargeable battery with up to 8.5 hours1 of battery life so students and teachers don’t have to worry about plugging in. It also includes integrated wireless connectivity with WiFi and provides the options of 3G, GPS and WiMAX for easy network and Internet connections.

More than 300 vendors – including hardware, operating system, software vendors and enterprise solutions providers – are developing applications, peripherals and services optimized for Intel-powered classmate PCs as a part of the Intel Learning Series offering. This cost-effective, end-to-end solution will be brought to students by an extensive network of local OEMs including CTL, Equus and M&A in the United States, MDG in Canada and local OEMs in Australia, Argentina, China, Germany, India, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom, in addition to Benelux region.

About Intel

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live.

For more information, visit Intel.

Datatel Adds IT Infrastructure Partners To Help Clients Build Strategic Academic Enterprises

VCOMP and Sirius to Provide Advanced Hardware with Design and Implementation Services

 

Datatel has partnered with Sirius Computer Solutions and VCOMP Solutions to provide Datatel clients with a secure source for advanced infrastructure design, hardware and software products, and professional services. Both companies bring extensive knowledge, experience and expertise to help build Strategic Academic Enterprises that support student success through optimized IT environments.

“VCOMP is deeply committed to the Datatel partnership, and we believe our solutions, skills, and expertise will be of great value to Datatel customers. VCOMP’s expertise with virtualization and the development of mission-critical solutions specifically built for Datatel environments will set us apart from other solution providers”

These new Datatel partners possess core competencies in sizing, configuration, implementation, and consulting services in a range of areas that includes systems security, networking, and data storage. Both companies are sponsors of the 2010 Datatel Users’ Group Conference and Expo (Twitter: #DUG2010) to take place March 28–31 at National Harbor, Md.

“Our partnerships with Sirius and VCOMP are excellent news for our clients,” said Christopher W. Sheppard, director of partner and external relations, Datatel. “These professionals have the expertise and experience in supporting academic institutions to build stable, scalable IT infrastructures that bring out the absolute best performance of Datatel’s array of products. We look forward to working closely with both companies for the benefit of our clients.”

Sirius counts more than 6,500 client installations in the United States, including more than 400 at educational institutions. Sirius partners with IBM, HP, Dell, Cisco, F5, Microsoft, Oracle, and VMware, and maintains over 3,100 technical certifications in its national team of technical and sales professionals.

“Sirius has a dedicated higher education team that will work closely with Datatel to provide optimized, integrated technical solutions to the Datatel community,” said Tom Neville, senior vice president of sales, Sirius Computer Solutions. “With over thirty years of demonstrated success in a broad array of vertical markets, we offer a breadth of experience unparalleled by our peers.”

VCOMP partners with HP, IBM, Dell, Oracle-Sun, and VMware, among others, and its employees have implemented nearly 200 Datatel installations.

“VCOMP is deeply committed to the Datatel partnership, and we believe our solutions, skills, and expertise will be of great value to Datatel customers. VCOMP’s expertise with virtualization and the development of mission-critical solutions specifically built for Datatel environments will set us apart from other solution providers,” said Bob Panos, managing director, VCOMP Solutions.

About Datatel, Inc.

Datatel is a provider of innovative technology products, services, and insight to higher education. Colleges, universities, and technical schools across North America partner with Datatel to build Strategic Academic Enterprises dedicated to achieving student success. The company has focused on higher education since 1979.

About Sirius Computer Solutions

Backed by 30 years of IT experience, Sirius is a nationally recognized solution provider with a certified team of sales and technical professionals who have the skills, product knowledge, and commitment to help clients develop and implement the right technology solutions to solve their business needs. To help organizations solve complex business challenges and meet business objectives, Sirius has built a nationwide consulting, sales, and services organization that provides best-of-breed technologies from across the full spectrum of information technology, including hardware, software, storage, networking, security, and voice.

About VCOMP Solutions

VCOMP Solutions is a national IT solutions provider focused on the higher education marketplace. Its team of technical professionals has implemented close to 200 Datatel infrastructure projects on practically every platform and database that Datatel supports, in both virtualized and non-virtualized environments. With services such as its Higher Education Recovery solution, VCOMP can keep academic enterprises running in the event of a disaster. Its team of sales and technical professionals has over 250 years of combined IT experience. 

For more information, visit Datatel, Sirius Computer Solutions or VCOMP Solutions.

CDI & Numonics Form Strategic Alliance To Power Interactive Learning In Education

CDI, North America's largest supplier of recertified, brand name computers to the educational market, and Numonics, the internationally recognized pioneer of the world's first pen-centric interactive whiteboard have formed a strategic alliance and preferred partnership to bring Interactive Learning to classrooms across the nation.

“This partnership enhances both CDI and Numonics’ offerings by allowing us to leverage our products to provide more cost-effective and flexible solutions for our customers”

As a result of the partnership, CDI’s recertified computers and Numonics’ Interactive Whiteboard – Digital Presentation Appliance DPA will be offered together giving classrooms specialized access to the best technology:

• CDI’s most cost effective recertified technology and computers 
• Numonics' high tech DPA Interactive Whiteboards

“More than ever, districts understand the need to implement a cost effective, holistic strategy to tackle the technology challenges they face. We provided 250,000 units to schools in North America last year and many of our customers asked us for help in getting cost effective interactive whiteboards and projectors into their classrooms,” said Saar Pikar, General Manager, CDI. “We looked at a number of interactive whiteboards and realized that while many solutions existed in the market few of them covered all the needs of our educators and came in at a reasonable price point. Numonics boards are sold at the best price point in the business, are sturdy, made in the US, and come with the industry’s best warranty and no questions asked customer support. All of these things convinced me that Numonics is the company we wanted to partner with.”

“This partnership enhances both CDI and Numonics’ offerings by allowing us to leverage our products to provide more cost-effective and flexible solutions for our customers,” said Mr. Alfred N. Basilicato, Chairman & CEO Numonics. “It was a simple choice to partner with CDI on this initiative, given the company’s collaboration leadership, excellent reputation and their desire to increase their value to their customers.”

CDI offers districts a solution to increase the availability of computers for students while dramatically reducing technology spending through their cost effective recertified technology solutions. CDI provides schools with current, reliable technology that is far less expensive than new equipment. This approach has revolutionized technology purchases and allowed many districts to dramatically improve their computer to student ratios.

Numonics offers students, educators, trainers and presenters around the world patented award winning Interactive Whiteboard technology that allows them to share their ideas easily without spending hours learning the product. They pioneered instructor-led web based training over five years ago and still offer it at no charge.

About CDI

CDI is the largest distributor of recertified computer equipment to the Education market in North America and our mission is to increase the availability of computers for students while dramatically reducing technology spending. Over 9,000 U.S. schools have already taken advantage of our industry leading service, longer-than-new warranty, brand name selection and customized financing. CDI's 100% focus on education can help you exceed your technology goals. For more information go to: 

CDI - North America's largest supplier of recertified computers to the educational market

About Numonics

Numonics Corporation is an ISO 9001 certified company with 30 plus years of design, development and manufacturing experience and is considered a technology innovator for interactive presentation products for education. Numonics introduced the first pen-centric interactive whiteboard in 1994 and led the way in alternatives to touch board technology, winning industry awards for product innovation, design engineering and computer productivity. Numonics’ products are available through an international network of systems integrators, OEMs, and resellers throughout the world.

For more information, visit CDI or Numonics.

Texas Instruments from the FETC Show!

From the FETC Show, Texas Instruments talks about some of their new issued products available at the show!

For more information, visit Texas Instruments.

Pioneering One-to-One Laptop District Selects Carnegie Learning Math Curricula For Core Classroom Instruction

Greene County, NC Purchases Research-Based Math Textbooks and Software for All Middle School and High School Students

The full suite of Carnegie Learning® Math Curricula Solutions has been adopted by Greene County North Carolina Schools for the District’s middle school and two high schools beginning in August. The 1800-student implementation includes Carnegie Learning® Blended Math Curricula Solutions which integrate interactive software, textbooks, and collaborative classroom activity supported by ongoing formative assessments and professional development services.

Located in rural Snow Hill in eastern North Carolina, Greene County Schools is an innovative leader in integrating technology in the classroom. In 2003, the District instituted iTECH, an initiative giving every middle school and high school student a laptop as part of the District’s mission to offer students challenging curricula to prepare them for the 21st century. iTECH has impacted End Of Course scores which rose from 67%-78% during the first year of implementation, and the college-going rate among Greene Central High School students has increased to 94% in the most recent school year, from 26% when the program was introduced.

“Technology is much more than equipment,” said Dr. Pat MacNeill, Assistant Superintendent of Greene County Schools. “We are committed to using our laptops and infrastructure to deliver engaging, effective curriculum that is rigorous and relevant to all students. Carnegie Learning® Math Curricula Solutions met these objectives, and we look forward to delivering individualized, self-paced programs that get our students excited about math.”

Students in Greene County will be using Cognitive Tutor® Bridge to Algebra, Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II programs. The Cognitive Tutor® Software is based upon an artificial intelligence model that incorporates ongoing formative and summative assessments that individualize and differentiate instruction based upon students’ prior knowledge and needs. Carnegie Learning® Textbooks engage students in solving problems that encourage collaboration that strengthens both declarative and procedural knowledge of mathematics. Carnegie Learning® Textbooks will replace McGraw-Hill’s Glencoe math textbooks in the middle school and Pearson’s Prentice Hall math textbooks in the high schools.

Professional development services include implementation training and in-classroom support and coaching, as well as a leadership seminar for district administrators and principals providing an overview of data tools and strategies to support mathematics teachers using Carnegie Learning® instructional materials.

For additional information visit Carnegie Learning, Inc. 

INNEX SHARES SUCCESS WITH KIDS IN NEED

Videogame Distributor Donates Percentage to Kids in Need Foundation Helping Provide Free School Supplies to Impoverished Children

Innex, a major distributor of videogame peripherals and accessories, announced that it has signed a cause marketing license agreement with the KIDS IN NEED FOUNDATION. Marathon Projects Ltd, the licensing agency for the Kids In Need Foundation negotiated the transaction. This will be the latest partnership agreement under the Kids In Need Foundation cause licensing program.

Believing that the meaning of success is the ability to help others, Innex, Inc. has announced that it will donate a percentage of its sales revenue to the KIDS IN NEED FOUNDATION, a charity that provides free school supplies to impoverished children. Moving forward, Innex will allocate a portion of all revenue, including sales of its exclusive brands (Komodo, Retro-Bit, Exo-Flex) to KIDS IN NEED.

Innex was established by Titi and Joey Ngoy, brothers whose family fled to a Thai Refugee Camp from Cambodia in 1979 while the country was suffering from violent revolution and extreme poverty inflicted by Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. Titi and Joey’s parents arrived in America with nothing, but managed, through hard work, to provide their children with the education necessary to prosper.

“Through our own family experience, we are very aware of the importance of an education and the difficulties faced by impoverished children,” stated Titi Ngoy, President of Innex. “Teaming up with KIDS IN NEED offers us the opportunity to make a contribution to a charity that is near to our heart and will hopefully make a difference in the lives of kids who need an extra hand getting ahead.”

David Smith, Executive Director of the KIDS IN NEED FOUNDATION stated, “KIDS IN NEED is very excited to partner with Innex since videogames are an important part of our youth’s culture. To be able to integrate Innex’s videogame peripheral and accessory program with KIDS IN NEED has fundamental appeal for both companies and helps strengthen KIDS IN NEED’S mission to provide school supplies for more children who need them.

Craig Kalter, President of Marathon Projects added, “As the momentum of the KIDS IN NEED FOUNDATION cause marketing licensing  program continues, we hope that more potential licensees will realize the multiple benefits that working together in such a program can provide.  It really can be a win-win situation for all.”

Research shows that when children are provided with basic school supplies their grades go up, their confidence increases and their attitude toward learning improves. KIDS IN NEED is the number 1 charity focused on America’s under-funded educational system. KIDS IN NEED provides free school supplies to impoverished children as well as curriculum grants to under-funded teachers.

For more information visit The Kids In Need Foundation or Innex.

NASBE Applauds Education Department’s Release Of “Race To The Top” & “What Works” Applications

The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) applauds the hard-work and efforts of the U.S. Department of Education to release for comment the draft applications and rules for the $4.35 billion Race to the Top Fund and the $650 million Invest in What Works and Innovation Fund today. These funds represent an unprecedented level of investment to drive education innovation and reform in the states.

NASBE supports the Obama Administration’s commitment to help states continue to increase the educational achievement levels of their students. NASBE members look forward to providing comments on the proposed rules and address any concerns with the Department going forward.

“These resources provide states with the means and opportunity to drive innovation in education and deliver the programs that will best serve all of our nation’s K-12 students,” said NASBE Executive Director Brenda Welburn. “We need to get this right.”

Also, NASBE members look forward to providing comments on the reporting metrics for the second round of State Fiscal Stabilization Fund grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). NASBE supports the Department’s intent to ensure transparency through the ARRA implementation process via the reporting metrics and to use quality information to advance education reform related to the four assurances.

State Boards of Education will play an integral role in ensuring their respective states meet or exceed the specific requirements under these grants as well as helping to ensure their respective states address the required assurances.

The National Association of State Boards of Education represents America's state and territorial boards of education. NASBE exists to strengthen State Boards as the preeminent educational policymaking bodies for citizens and students. 

For more visit NASBE.