Blog Archives - The EdTech Roundup

Los Angeles Unified School District Approves Curriculum Associates to Support English Learners and Students in Need of Intervention

2/27/2019

i-Ready® and Ready Mathematics® for Grades 6–8 chosen as instructional materials for ELs and
i-Ready for Grades K–8 chosen as an evidence-based intervention for state-identified schools

(Los Angeles, CA) February 21, 2019--The Los Angeles Unified School District has issued two separate approvals of Curriculum Associates’ i-Ready and Ready programs. On Tuesday, the Board of Education approved i-Ready and Ready Mathematics for Grades 6–8 for Instructional Mathematics Materials for English Learners (ELs).

In November, the Board approved i-Ready Diagnostic and i-Ready Instruction for reading and mathematics for Grades K–8 for its Evidence-Based Interventions for State-Identified Schools. Through these two approvals, schools within the nation’s second-largest district can use these programs to guide teacher instruction and support student growth.

In response to an RFP for instructional mathematics materials addressing the needs of ELs in Grades 6–8, Curriculum Associates worked with Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) and its member districts to redesign its programs. Aligning program updates to the unique needs of ELs informed the newly updated Ready Mathematics for Grades 6–8, which will be available for Back to School 2019. The program includes powerful language-based activities that help students access, create, and express their mathematics understanding. It also includes strategic scaffolds to help ELs access rigorous grade-level mathematics instruction and achieve proficiency and growth. i-Ready, in conjunction with Ready Mathematics, was also approved by Los Angeles Unified to support ELs.

Vernier Software & Technology Wins Two Tech & Learning TCEA 2019 Best of Show Awards

2/21/2019

‘Coding with mBot: Life Hacks’ and ‘Exploring Motion and Force with Go Direct Sensor Cart’ selected by panel of tech-savvy educators

Beaverton, OR (February 21, 2019) -- Vernier Software & Technology recently won Tech & LearningTCEA 2019 Best of Show Awards for both its Coding with mBot: Life Hacks and Exploring Motion and Force with Go Direct Sensor Cart downloadable activity modules. The awards are chosen by a panel of tech-savvy educators during the TCEA Convention & Exposition.

They each recognize exemplary products and services that show the greatest promise in today’s classrooms.

“Our new downloadable modules provide engaging, hands-on experiments and activities that teach students important STEM concepts,” said John Wheeler, CEO of Vernier Software & Technology. “Having both of these resources win TCEA 2019 Best of Show Awards is a great honor. Supporting students in meaningful scientific discovery and in developing their knowledge of coding using experiments and activities such as these is at the heart of what we do.”

Matific Announces National K–6 Math Competition

2/21/2019

Schools, classes, and individuals who participate in the weeklong Matific Math Games Challenge are eligible to win more than $20,000 in prizes

New York, NY (February 21, 2019) ––Award-winning education technology company Matific launched its second-annual Matific Math Games Challenge. This is a free, online math competition aimed at improving American students’ math skills and confidence in the classroom.

“This competition will give schools the opportunity to pilot a resource proven to help improve student test scores by 34%,” said Lawrence Korchnak, vice president of Matific. “Our goal at Matific is to make immersive math learning apps available to children around the world, so that every child can have an appreciation of the beauty in math and its relevance to everyday life.”

Idaho State Department of Education ApprovesIXL English Language Arts for Statewide Adoption

2/21/2019

San Mateo, CA (February 20, 2019) -- IXL Learning, the K-12 personalized learning platform used by 7 million students, today announced that the Idaho State Department of Education has approved IXL Language Arts for use in K-5 classrooms statewide. This adoption makes it easier for Idaho schools to implement IXL’s research-backed platform to help learners at all levels make strides in literacy.

IXL is already being used by thousands of students across Idaho. Coeur d’Alene Public Schools has experienced the positive impacts of IXL, particularly in their intervention program. “Our most fragile students have come to rely on IXL to support their growth to grade level,” said Dr. Michael Nelson, the district’s director of curriculum and assessments. “IXL is engaging, adaptive, and correlates well with our educators’ individual work with these students to help them grow.”

Students challenged to engineer new solutions in a food-themed coding contest from Texas Instruments

2/21/2019

In honor of National Engineers Week, TI asks students to show how hungry they are to win the “TI Codes Contest”

(Dallas, TX) February 19, 2018– In celebration of National Engineers Week® (February 17-23, 2019), Texas Instruments (TI) is asking students to use TI technology to imagine and create a solution that improves a food process– from how it is created or transported, to how it is consumed. Maybe it’s an automated potato peeler, a revolutionary food storage product, or a smart nutrition solution.

If it’s related to food, it’s eligible to win the second annual TI Codes Contest. "At TI, we are hungry for future engineers, so we’re always looking for unique ways to increase students’ understanding of and interest in engineering and technology,” said Peter Balyta, president of TI Education Technology. "After seeing the remarkable entries last year, we can’t wait to see what students create this this year as they get creative and compete against other teams around the country.”

CDI Technologies Wins Tech & Learning TCEA Best of Show Award

2/12/2019

The feature-rich SC33 Smart Charge Cart supports 1:1 initiatives

(Chicago IL) Feb. 12, 2019 – CDI Technologies (formerly CDI Computer Dealers) has won the Tech & Learning TCEA Best of Show Award for its SC33 Smart Charge Cart. The winners were announced during the February 2019 TCEA conference in San Antonio.

“Congratulations to all of our winners,” said Content Director Christine Weiser. “Each of our winning products was evaluated by some of the country’s most innovative educators. Being selected as a winner is a true stamp of approval that these products are making an impact in the way schools teach and learn.”

CDI Technologies provides schools with high-quality products and services to support classroom-ready tech initiatives and 1:1 programs. The SC33 Smart Charge Cart can hold up to 33 14-inch or smaller devices, including Chromebooks and Notebooks, and includes slide-out shelves for easily and safely placing and removing devices and 90-degree mounted power outlets to accommodate various adapters. Its 2nd generation smart charge technology protects devices and ensures they receive the maximum available charge without overloading the classroom circuits.

Insight ADVANCE Launches Live Video Tools for Instructional Coaching at NCE 2019

2/12/2019

The newest updates to the award-winning ADVANCE Suite empower instructional coaches to provide feedback or host group meetings in real time

(Encino, CA) February 12, 2019 – Insight ADVANCE, creator of groundbreaking tools for teachers’ professional growth, today announced a collection of updates to its award-winning observation and instructional coaching software. The company’s video-based suite of products is designed to improve educators’ professional growth.

This is seen through through self-reflection, peer collaboration, and frequent feedback. With the latest update, the award-winning product ADVANCEfeedback® will offer robust live video features and functionality. ADVANCElive, the new synchronous video feature, allows users to schedule, launch, record, and archive live coaching events. The new feature is designed for several use cases: post-observation one-on-one coaching for teachers, specialized professional development or instructional coaching for small groups, and conducting meetings and trainings for professional learning communities.

Nevada Cyber Robotics Coding Competition Marks End of Multi-State Competition Season, Beginning of CS Learning for Many Across the States

2/12/2019

Derry, NH Feb. 4, 2019– The Nevada Cyber Robotics Coding Competition,scheduled to take place February 1 at the Texas Station Convention Center in Las Vegas, marks the end of the 2018/19 season of the Cyber Robotics Coding Competitions (CRCCs), a series of first-of-its-kind, free-to-participate online coding and robotics tournaments for students in grades five through nine.

A total of 581 schools with 37,212 students in 26 states participated in the 2018-19 competitions and Nevada is the 10thface to face finals event. More than a third of the students (38 percent) were from schools without a computer science course, a third of all participating schools were in rural areas and 240 schools were Title I.

Organized by the Intelitek STEM and CTE Education Foundation (ISCEF), the CRCCs engage students in STEM learning by using game-based competitions that are both safe and fun. Two hundred educators who were surveyed unanimously agreed that the competition platform, Intelitek’s award-winning CoderZ Cyber Robotics Learning Environment, which features a graphical simulation of LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robots, engaged their students. For example, Brenda Tharp, the teacher-mentor of the North Hampton School team in New Hampshire, stated, “I can’t say enough about your program. It engages students in STEM and is FUN!!”

ISTE and Discovery Education Launch New Partnership Offering Members Innovative and Engaging Digital Resources that Bring STEM to Life in the Classroom

2/12/2019

ISTE Members are Now Eligible to Receive Access to STEM Connect, Discovery Education’s Newest Digital Service

Silver Spring, MD (February 6, 2019) – The International Society for Technology and Education (ISTE) a global education organization with a bold vision that technology can transform teaching and learning, accelerate innovation, and solve tough problems in education, today announced a new partnership with Discovery Education.

Through this collaboration, Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital curriculum resources, digital content, and professional development for K-12 classrooms, is offering all ISTE members access to its newest service, STEM Connect, at no cost through July 31, 2019. ISTE members interested in accessing STEM Connect today can visit this website for details and information on how to enroll in this exclusive member benefit.

Independent Study Finds Waterford UPSTART Most Impactful School Readiness Program

2/3/2019

According to the HQSR-E report, the kindergarten readiness program was the only option that had a statistically significant positive effect on early literacy development

(Salt Lake City, UT) January 31, 2019 — Waterford Institute, the nonprofit provider of the Waterford UPSTART kindergarten readiness program, announced that a study of the Utah High-Quality School Readiness Expansion (HQSR-E) Program has found Waterford UPSTART so effective that it recommends the program be made available to children in high-quality public and private PreK schools.

To access the full report, click here.

The study was conducted by the Evaluation and Training Institute (ETI). A key finding was that Waterford UPSTART was especially effective among at-risk children, closing performance gaps at a 67% rate. That’s 17 percentage points higher than children only attending public PreK schools and 21 points higher than those attending only private PreK schools.