Blog Archives - The EdTech Roundup

KidWind Names Inaugural National KidWind Challenge Champions

4/29/2014

A total of 33 student teams traveled to Washington DC to compete in the National KidWind Challenge during the USA Science & Engineering Festival

(Washington DC and Saint Paul, MN) April 29, 2014 – KidWind, the international leader of clean energy education, announces the champions of its first-ever National KidWind Challenge which was held on Saturday, April 26, 2014. The event took place during Washington DC’s USA Science & Engineering Festival

The challenge brought together 138 students from across the nation who have a passion for renewable energy and engineering to compete for the championship title in either the middle school or high school divisions and a $1,000 cash grand prize for each division team.

SPARK Classroom Curriculum Adds Video Content for Physically Active Instruction Breaks

4/29/2014

New Fast Break videos add more physical activity opportunities to the school day

San Diego, CA, April 29, 2014 — Active Living Research found that participating in physical activity during lesson breaks can help improve students’ on-task behavior and some measures of health, yet educators are sometimes at a loss on how to seamlessly incorporate physical activity into their lessons.

SPARK™, provider of the world’s most-researched physical education (PE) program, has added five-minute Fast Break Videos to its Classroom Activity & Recess program, SPARKabc’s. The Fast Break Videos provide educators with a quick and visual tool for getting students active in-between lessons, allowing them to expel excess energy and refocus for the coming task.

Vernier Names Winners of Its 2014 Engineering Contest

4/29/2014

STEM educators awarded cash and technology prizes valued at $5,500 each
for their creative use of sensors to teach engineering concepts

BEAVERTON, Oregon, April 29, 2014 – Vernier Software & Technology named Deborah Munro of the University of Portland in Portland, Oregon; Gary Garber of Boston University Academy in Boston, Massachusetts; and, Julianne King of the Regina Caeli Academy in Spring, Texas as the winners of the 2014 Vernier Engineering Contest. Each of these college, high school and middle school instructors, respectively, creatively used Vernier sensors to introduce engineering concepts or practices in the classroom.

New Minnesota Based Edu-Tech Company Launches Introductory Product, Standard Sightline

4/29/2014

Standard Sightline is a SaaS that eases schools transition to
Standards-Based Education and enhances parental involvement.

St. Paul, MN – After 11 months in product development, Yemyo Inc., a new Minnesota based Edu-Tech company announces the launch of its introductory product, Standard Sightline. Standard Sightline is to the implementation of standards based education as Turbo Tax is to tax prep. Built on a robust database, it is a SaaS used to document curriculum, track instructional progress and communicate between home and school.

For less cost, and in 2-3 months, schools reach a level of sophistication that would otherwise take over a year. At $190 per month, per building, Standard Sightline is highly affordable.

Can Tech Build Soft Skills?

4/29/2014

Author: Catelyn Cantrell

Tech-savvy individuals are more well-connected to information, but they are rarely portrayed as being in-touch with other members of society in today’s media. These types of people are often characterized as lacking in the softer skills—as if to suggest that skills in the hard sciences preclude one from being socially adept. With this trend in mind, I would like to pose a question: Can technology actually help build a student’s “soft skill” set?

12 Effective Education Technology Tools For Students With Special Needs

4/28/2014

Author: Ross Smythe

In the United States alone, nearly 5% of all students suffer from various types of learning disabilities. There is a subtle difference between sympathizing with these ‘unfortunate’ kids, and being compassionate enough to treat them as our equals - and making sure that their development is, in no way, stunted due to their physical challenges. The latter is what’s required, and the evolution of a wide range of customized ed-tech tools and aides have helped considerably in this regard.

In this post, we highlight some useful learning tools for children with special needs, which have already become popular in several parts of the world:

Guest Post: Tablet Teaching - How Custom Mobile Solutions are Helping Special Needs Children

4/28/2014

Author: Matt Smith

Tablets continue to grow in popularity and some even believe they will replace laptops in the near future. While their viability to replace laptop computers is questionable, their value is undeniable. And perhaps more valuable than a device for the general public, is in their unique ability to empower special needs children.

Vernier’s Connected Science System® and Graphical Analysis™ for iPad® Named 2014 SIIA CODiE Awards Finalists

4/24/2014

Vernier’s science and STEM-based technologies recognized by
industry-leading award for their software excellence

BEAVERTON, Oregon, April 24, 2014 – Vernier Software & Technology was recognized as a finalist in the 2014 SIIA CODiE Awards for both its Connected Science System® and Graphical Analysis™ for iPad® app. The industry-leading awards program recognized the technologies for their software excellence in the Best Science/Heath Instructional Solution and Best Educational App for a Mobile Device category, respectively.

Teachscape Effectiveness Platform Named a Winner of ComputEd Gazette’s 2014 BESSIE Awards

4/24/2014

Platform recognized in Teacher Tools category under District-wide PD Website

SAN FRANCISCO, April 24, 2014 – The Teachscape Effectiveness Platform was named a winner of ComputED Gazette’s 2014 Best Educational Software Awards (BESSIE Awards), whichtargets innovative and content-rich programs and websites that provide parents and teachers with the technology to foster educational excellence.

The platform was recognized in the Teacher Tools category under District-wide Professional Development Website.

Teachscape Introduces New Online ELA & Literacy Courses to Help Educators Navigate the Common Core State Standards

4/24/2014

Courses include video exemplars, expert commentary, standards-aligned teaching cases & more

SAN FRANCISCO, April 23, 2014—Teachscape has expanded its award-winning Teachscape Learn Professional Learning Suite. In addition to its online courses about the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Mathematics, The Common Core Series in Teachscape Learn now boasts new video-based, self-paced courses on the CCSS for English Language Arts (ELA) & Literacy.

This interactive series, which was developed specifically to help educators understand and effectively implement the new standards, includes case studies, extensive expert commentary and more than 24 hours of course content.