The Educators' Guide to Electronic Tools and Resources for K-12
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CATEGORY: Tools and Cross-Curricular Resources
With its new features, including charting, "on the fly" reporting, a new Quick Find capability, and productivity tools for easier database creation, FileMaker Pro 11 makes using databases easier and quicker than ever, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 09 Mar 2010
The new feature of Blackboard's communication platform lets teachers communicate easily with students' families - in their preferred language - helping to improve parent involvement and student engagement in the classroom, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 03 Mar 2010
Every now and then, Mary Ann is seized by an idea or topic that really takes hold of her, piques her interest, and engenders new enthusiasm for learning and exploring. This year's big idea has been data visualization. She has discovered that she had been a fan of various presentations of data visualization without being aware of the term. Read and "see" what she's got to say about it in this month's Belltones.
Column/Belltones - Posted 01 Mar 2010 - Mar/Apr 2010 Issue By
An online learning community is a place designed to help users achieve learning goals of some sort through collaborative partnerships, including varying degrees of social networking and internet-based and computer-mediated communication. Charlie Doe takes a look this month at some of the more formal versions of online learning communities—often called learning management systems (LMSs)—which are usually developed by professors or teachers to achieve academic goals via web-based services.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Mar 2010 - Mar/Apr 2010 Issue By
In this age of easy access to Google, standardized testing, and AP curriculums, why should we teach research skills? Don't students "know everything" about research and the web? Hardly! Carolyn Foote has a lot to say about this, and even more about why teaching research skills counts for even more today than in the past. What we're striving for, she says, is student empowerment.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Mar 2010 - Mar/Apr 2010 Issue By
The advent of the internet and Web 2.0 has significantly changed our relationship to information and personal learning opportunities outside of formal education, notes author Steve Hargadon. The technology that took this amazing change and multiplied it tenfold is an underlying theme of Hargadon's article, which ranges across social networking, Web 2.0, the emergence of educational networking, and what he sees as the first real area of significant adoption for educational networking: professional development for educators.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Mar 2010 - Mar/Apr 2010 Issue By
The new program is designed to improve students' performance on the reading and math sections of the PSAT, ACT, and SAT exams.
News/Breaking News - Posted 10 Feb 2010
The announcement was made late last week, and Information Today, Inc.'s news editor, Paula Hane, spoke with execs and Gale and Questia, plus with analysts and others, to quickly put together a NewsLink Spotlight story on the subject.
News/ITI Cross Links - Posted 01 Feb 2010
For February 1, 2010: Want to create a list of high-quality children's literature or find out if a book has won an award? Search librarian Lisa Bartle's Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Feb 2010 By
This newest version of the online standards mastery program offers enhanced assessment, instruction, communication and collaboration tools to help schools maximize their return on investment.
News/Breaking News - Posted 25 Jan 2010
With Time To Know, the teacher guides the class using an engaging curriculum that is integrated with tools for classroom management, planning, assessment, and collaboration.
News/Breaking News - Posted 22 Jan 2010
Under the agreement, FLVS will move all of its more than 100 courses to a fully hosted Blackboard Learn platform by the beginning of 2011.
News/Breaking News - Posted 21 Jan 2010
From the mechanics of writing and grammar to style and research, the Writer's Reference Center online covers the fundamentals of quality writing and provides vocabulary-building reference dictionaries.
News/Breaking News - Posted 20 Jan 2010
The new features are intended to help schools eliminate paper waste and conserve energy while saving money by offering parents more choices.
News/Breaking News - Posted 13 Jan 2010
With its new features, Learning Plans on Demand is a more powerful assessment tool that ties directly into hundreds of embedded tutorials for individualized learning, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 08 Jan 2010
The newest version of Inspiration's flagship software is designed to build 21st century communication and thinking skills, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Jan 2010
People say it all the time: If you want to keep up in today's fast-moving world of technology, keep a kid around. In other words, just ask a Digital Native—someone who has grown up with computers and the internet. Well, Mary Ann believes that we can absolutely learn from our students, children, and even grandchildren. At the same time, though, she believes that adults need to be careful not to attribute more expertise and understanding to youngsters than is justified.
Column/Belltones - Posted 01 Jan 2010 - Jan/Feb 2010 Issue By
In a year's time, Charlie Doe's district has placed interactive whiteboards in about 30% of their elementary classrooms and, in doing so, has made interactive whiteboard technology the envy of the district. That sparked his interest, so for this roundup, he takes a brief look at several products that offer a variety of approaches, from full whiteboards to equipment that makes a standard dry-erase whiteboard become interactive.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Jan 2010 - Jan/Feb 2010 Issue By
Podcasting, a morph of the words "iPod" and "broadcast," was first coined by U.K. journalist Ben Hammersley. (In fact, it was declared to be 2005's Word of the Year by The New Oxford American Dictionary, edging out both "Sudoku" and "trans fat" for the philological nod.) The digital medium quickly found its way into the classroom, and why not? After all, it's free, easy, and accessible, and it has the ability to power up education for students from kindergarten to college.
Column/The Tech Effect - Posted 01 Jan 2010 - Jan/Feb 2010 Issue By
According to the SIIA's Vision K-20 survey, the lowest level for its Five Measures of Progress is in the use of technology-based assessment tools, with an average score of just 46%. Clearly, there's room for improvement! And since knowing more about these tools is a good first step to using them to your advantage, Victor Rivero brings you a sampling of some of the more recent excellent products and services you may find useful when it comes to gaining much-needed assistance with assessment.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Jan 2010 - Jan/Feb 2010 Issue By
Susan Hixson takes a look at it's learning, an online learning platform for collaboration, planning, authoring, and the delivery of course materials and courses.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Jan 2010 - Jan/Feb 2010 Issue By
Charles Doe reviews the Read:OutLoud6 text reader from Don Johnston, Inc.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Jan 2010 - Jan/Feb 2010 Issue By
There is an economical way to introduce videoconferencing that involves inexpensive laptop computers and programs such as iChat, Skype, and ooVoo. A technology integration plan shared by a few pioneering districts in the author's area proves this point. Through it, schools have been able to make a serious commitment to the "new wave" of interactive technology at a minimal cost.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Jan 2010 - Jan/Feb 2010 Issue By
Ginger now works with Internet Explorer, enabling students to write with confidence online. In addition, Ginger features customizable settings, and progress reporting to track mistakes and illustrate student progress.
News/Breaking News - Posted 16 Dec 2009
Schools can now download updates to Netop School6 and Netop Vision6 classroom management software at www.netop.com/download.
News/Breaking News - Posted 16 Dec 2009
For December 15, 2009: Build a thematic unit by searching the Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University, a great tool for elementary teachers who want to create reading lists to complement the curriculum.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Dec 2009 By
From Gary Price's ResourceShelf: An entry noting additions to the Association for Library Services to Children's list of recommended sites, Great Web Sites for Kids.
News/Free Resources - Posted 10 Dec 2009
Curriculum Correlations is a search tool designed to help educators and librarians select resources to meet state and national standards. Librarians can search it by state, subject, and grade to locate titles that align to state and federal standards in the areas of language arts, science, social studies, health, and physical education.
News/Breaking News - Posted 09 Dec 2009
World Book’s new approach to reader’s theater provides educators a new tool for building reading fluency and content comprehension.
News/Breaking News - Posted 19 Nov 2009
Insight enables instructors to teach, monitor, and communicate with an entire class from one central computer. This latest version extends Insight's platform compatibilities, allowing teachers to run the console within the Mac OS X operating system.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Nov 2009
Joule features next-generation functionality, dedicated service, a growing partner program, and the open-source LMS Moodle at its core.
News/Breaking News - Posted 11 Nov 2009
MyVision Basic provides four essential tools for teaching with computers, so any teacher can supervise student computer work, share engaging on-screen demonstrations, instantly capture the attention of the class and control student internet access.
News/Breaking News - Posted 03 Nov 2009
Alice Kurtz reviews The September 11th Education Program: A National Interdisciplinary Curriculum, a seven-unit multimedia curriculum focused on the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Nov 2009 - Nov/Dec 2009 Issue By
The new Adobe Digital School Collection for K–12 students and educators provides a software bundle that includes Adobe Photoshop Elements 8, Adobe Premiere Elements 8, Adobe Contribute CS4, Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro, and Adobe Soundbooth CS4.
Department/In the Spotlight - Posted 01 Nov 2009 - Nov/Dec 2009 Issue By
The new “clicker” device provides students with additional feedback during interactive polling via a small LCD screen.
News/Breaking News - Posted 23 Oct 2009
A provider of an enterprise learning management platform with open-source Moodle at its core, Moodlerooms plans to take all feedback it receives into consideration when planning for future developments.
News/Breaking News - Posted 19 Oct 2009
A recent story in the St. Petersburg Times focuses on how a local elementary school has embraced the "kids' technology" and is pressing iPods into service for teaching and learning in multiple ways.
News/Cool Links - Posted 15 Oct 2009
The virtual workspace is designed to give districts greater control of social media and allow educators to create and manage collaborative groups across classrooms, schools, districts, and around the globe
News/Breaking News - Posted 15 Oct 2009
SchoolRooms gives students access from a single interface to library resources, online databases, and approved web content alongside new and past curriculum specifically created for SchoolRooms users. Version 3.0 features new administration tools that allow teachers and librarians to customize and adapt the product to meet the needs of students and parents.
News/Breaking News - Posted 01 Oct 2009
For October 1, 2009: Zoomify Express is a slick tool for webmasters who want to magnify content ... ideal for enhancing primary sources such as maps, documents, and photographs.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Oct 2009 By
The collection includes Photoshop Elements 8 and Premiere Elements 8 to help educators enhance teaching and learning of digital literacy skills, and now offers netbook compatibility support for Photoshop Elements 8 (Windows) and Adobe Photoshop Elements for the Mac platform.
News/Breaking News - Posted 28 Sep 2009
The comprehensive K-12+ program aligns academic skills for students with moderate to severe intellectual and developmental disabilities, to help special education and other teachers focus on standards-based learning for this group.
News/Breaking News - Posted 23 Sep 2009
For September 15, 2009: Want to make a rubric, but don't have time or need some assistance? At the Rubistar website, you can choose from a variety of templates and work through a ten-step process.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Sep 2009 By
Looking at the world around us, it seems clear that digital photography and video are here to stay—and they should be used in K–12 education. Equipment prices have dropped significantly; cameras and other digital devices can be placed in students’ hands without concern. In this article, Charlie Doe takes a look at some of the possibilities for the classroom and media center.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Sep 2009 - Sep/Oct 2009 Issue By
Susan Hixson reviews Maps101.com, a subscription-based online resource that provides access to thousands of interactive maps, videos, animated timelines, educational games, and educator resources for teaching earth science, geography, history, and social studies.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Sep 2009 - Sep/Oct 2009 Issue By
RenderMan, the software used by Pixar Animation Studios to create Academy Award-winning animated films and visual effects, is now available in a variety of education editions with special pricing options.
Department/In the Spotlight - Posted 01 Sep 2009 - Sep/Oct 2009 Issue By
Collaboration is one of the defining characteristics of the 21st century, but many educators are still searching for ways to embrace this idea in their schools. Some technologies facilitate the creation of a collaborative learning environment better than others, but there are a number of technology tools that can lead to collaborative student and teacher engagement while also addressing budgetary and infrastructure issues. This article offers suggestions for overcoming barriers using simple tools that foster complex thinking.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Sep 2009 - Sep/Oct 2009 Issue By
Two versions are planned: MyVision Free, which enables teachers to supervise student computer use and will be available for free download, and MyVision Basic, which features tools for guiding student learning on computers.
News/Breaking News - Posted 24 Aug 2009
Now offering 35 languages in total, the updated language translation tool allows more than 1,000 language pairs to be made between educators and students worldwide. The expansion encourages teachers and students from all parts of the world to connect and collaborate without language barriers.
News/Breaking News - Posted 19 Aug 2009
Pricing is based on school enrollment at the time of purchase, eliminating the expense and hassle of ordering more licenses when more computers are purchased.
News/Breaking News - Posted 17 Aug 2009
The collaboration is intended to promote the use of podcasting for both teaching and learning.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Aug 2009
Alice Kurtz reviews Discovery Education streaming Plus, a web-based subscription servce that offers digital content and a media resource library service.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Jul 2009 - Jul/Aug 2009 Issue By
The JourneyEd Academic eStore Network (AEN) provides access to more than 15,000 online stores offering thousands of top-tier software and technology products—including programs published by Microsoft and Adobe—at discounts of up to 85% of retail prices to verified education buyers.
Department/In the Spotlight - Posted 01 Jul 2009 - Jul/Aug 2009 Issue By
Bergen, N.J., High School students win the Best-of-the-Best overall submission.
News/Breaking News - Posted 30 Jun 2009
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.
News/Breaking News - Posted 30 Jun 2009
Pinnacle Accelerated Learning offers districts a secure virtual learning environment.
News/Breaking News - Posted 26 Jun 2009
StudyX is study-aid software that can be customized to tackle a range of subjects such as foreign languages, vocabulary words, science, history, medical and more.
News/Breaking News - Posted 25 Jun 2009
TurningTalk is a new social learning community for response technology users to provide an open forum for the discussion and sharing of ideas and teaching strategies.
News/Breaking News - Posted 24 Jun 2009
The list of educational websites can help kids avoid the "Summer Slide."
News/Free Resources - Posted 28 May 2009
The resources—websites offering a wide variety of content for all subjects in grades K-12—are presented by the nonprofit organization as it celebrates its eleventh anniversary.
News/Free Resources - Posted 01 May 2009
Alice Kurtz reviews eLibrary, a web-based collection of periodicals, images, learning resources, and teacher tools.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 May 2009 - May/Jun 2009 Issue
Charles Doe reviews PebbleGo, a program designed to introduce database skills and research concepts to students in grades K-2.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 May 2009 - May/Jun 2009 Issue
Saywire offers a combination of safe social technology and secure permission-based controls designed to provide “walled garden” social learning networks for K–12 education.
Department/In the Spotlight - Posted 01 May 2009 - May/Jun 2009 Issue
Tween's program is designed specifically for the sixth through eighth grade. Included are such skills as binder organization, using a planner, organizing a homework space, using a rubric, self-advocacy for middle school, remembering daily responsibilities, correcting poor homework habits, long term project management, and understanding grade averaging.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Apr 2009
The new version includes a Create Custom Resource tool, teacher and student communication tools, and enhanced batch enroll features.
News/Breaking News - Posted 11 Mar 2009
Alice Kurtz reviews World Book Student, the redesigned and upgraded version of the World Book Online Reference Center.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Mar 2009 - Mar/Apr 2009 Issue By
Susan Hixson reviews Learning Plans on Demand, an online program that provides teaching tools for differentiating instruction, constructs response assessments, and offers tutorials and practice activities.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Mar 2009 - Mar/Apr 2009 Issue By
The Learn360 video streaming service for K–12 education now offers a My Learn360 homepage designed to individualize the user experience for educators.
Department/In the Spotlight - Posted 01 Mar 2009 - Mar/Apr 2009 Issue
It’s a celebration of creative learning through technology. It’s a day filled with minds-on, hands-on, collaborative learning experiences. It’s a mini-Oscar event, complete with red carpet, lights, and paparazzi. It’s the 34th annual International Student Media Festival. Read all about it in Johanna Riddle's report.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Mar 2009 - Mar/Apr 2009 Issue By
Online “global classrooms” empower educators to leverage the power of social networking to create curriculum that is more interdisciplinary, more effective, and more relevant to students’ lives. The global classroom represents the future of learning—and the future is now! This article offers a nuts-and-bolts guide for developing a global classroom, using TakingITGlobal’s “virtual classroom” platform as a model. It begins by describing TakingITGlobal for Educators, or TIGed, and how it works; it then offers a step-by-step guide for educators who want to establish or modify their own online global classrooms.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Mar 2009 - Mar/Apr 2009 Issue By
We live in a Web 2.0 world where everyone is capable of creating content and sharing it, not just accessing what someone else has created and shared. Tools to create content are now readily and freely (or somewhat inexpensively) available to the general population. Content creation tools can aid in instruction and teaching, providing another avenue for students to access and learn material. Want some ideas and products to play/teach with? Read on as Karen Klapperstuck and Robert Lackie provide you with a great rundown and roundup.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Mar 2009 - Mar/Apr 2009 Issue By
Direct Instruction eSuite is a set of online tools designed to integrate technology into instruction to save daily planning time for teachers and increase student engagement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 19 Feb 2009
Saywire offers a combination of safe social technology and secure permission-based controls designed to provide “walled garden” social learning networks for K-12 schools.
News/Breaking News - Posted 18 Feb 2009
Study Island rolls out integration with Turning Technologies Response Technology to provide instant assessment of student learning.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Feb 2009
Through new partnership with The School Improvement Network, PBS TeacherLine Peer Connection will soon feature content from PD 360 and The Video Journal of Education.
News/Breaking News - Posted 05 Feb 2009
The student response provider rolls out comprehensive consulting services and expanded professional development programs.
News/Breaking News - Posted 04 Feb 2009
For February 1, 2009: Through Government Information Online (GIO) you can ask questons of government information librarians who are experts at finding information from government agencies of all levels on almost any subject.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Feb 2009 By
The print-on-demand library of thousands of activities across the PreK–6+ school curriculum marks its third year by offering school-site subscriptions that provide educators with the resources they need to support the varied needs of today’s students.
News/Breaking News - Posted 29 Jan 2009
Paul Riismandel has written about Adobe’s new eLearning Suite over on Information Today, Inc.’s Streamingmedia.com web site. Good insights. Useful tools. Follow the links. (From Information Today, Inc.’s Streamingmedia.com)
News/ITI Cross Links - Posted 23 Jan 2009
“My Portfolio” allows educators to collaborate and share digital resources at school and district levels.
News/Breaking News - Posted 23 Jan 2009
The new Adobe K-12 Student Licensing Program offers students, teachers and staff at K-12 institutions in the U.S. and Canada the opportunity to purchase Adobe creative software at up to 80 percent off the original software price.
News/Breaking News - Posted 23 Jan 2009
PBS Teachers Activity Packs enable educators to find and use multimedia instructional resources and activities in the classroom and save to their web sites and social network pages.
News/Breaking News - Posted 22 Jan 2009
The proprietary software will provide a superior ebook experience more responsive to the needs of library customers and their increasing use of ebooks, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 21 Jan 2009
kidthing and the National Education Association (NEA) extended the submission deadline for the “Dear Mr. President” project to Jan. 27, 2009.
News/Breaking News - Posted 18 Jan 2009
For January 15, 2009: Gadgets and widgets are small applications that can be pasted on individual Web pages or a computer desktop. Visit Widgetbox to find hundreds of widgets already created and ready to go.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Jan 2009 By
With the theme "The World is Your Stage," students can submit entries using Adobe applications in three categories: Web Design and Development, Film and Video, and Graphic and Print Design.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Jan 2009
Chancery SMS 6.7 includes several key enhancements to five major functional areas including permanent records; health immunizations; elementary school attendance; security; and its customization framework.
News/Breaking News - Posted 08 Jan 2009
With the launch of PowerTeacher 1.5, the software is now available for integrated use with Chancery SMS - Pearson's SIS solution designed specifically to meet the needs of larger K-12 districts - in addition to use with PowerSchool Premier.
News/Breaking News - Posted 05 Jan 2009
Most likely, your students discovered YouTube a couple of years ago. You and your teacher colleagues probably have too by now—hence those silly video emails saved in your inbox. Did you know that you can use video in schools and libraries to enhance teaching and learning? This article provides an overview of the web video phenomenon: what it is; why it’s great for teachers, librarians, and students; what tools you need; and a bit of how-to as well.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Jan 2009 - Jan/Feb 2009 Issue By
Charles Doe takes a look at Teachscape XL, a Web-based digital database with a search engine and tools to create learning materials.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Jan 2009 - Jan/Feb 2009 Issue
Susan Hixson reviews Type to Learn 4, a keyboarding program designed for K-12 students at a variety of skill levels.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Jan 2009 - Jan/Feb 2009 Issue
Greenovation, a sustainable lighting system upgrade with a companion curriculum, turns the classroom itself into a teaching tool.
Department/In the Spotlight - Posted 01 Jan 2009 - Jan/Feb 2009 Issue
Today’s students are truly digital learners. Outside of school they are texting, using cell phones, creating social networks on the internet, and playing interactive games online; they often do all of these things at the same time—multitasking. They expect to use some of these tools when they are in school. Teachers can create new learning opportunities for students and turn classrooms into the 21st-century global classroom when they integrate technology into the learning environment. Read on to learn from Sheila Gersh just how teachers can begin to create such environments.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Jan 2009 - Jan/Feb 2009 Issue By
H.W. Wilson announced the electronic and print publication of the “Tenth Book of Junior Authors & Illustrators,” the newest volume in the series designed to acquaint readers with the creators of outstanding young adult and children’s books.
News/Breaking News - Posted 29 Dec 2008
Kurzweil Educational Systems released Kurwzeil 3000 Version 11 USB, a new edition designed to provide portable access to Kurzweil 3000.
News/Breaking News - Posted 18 Dec 2008
Professional development content from Just ASK Publications & Professional Development will be incorporated into PBS TeacherLine Peer Connection.
News/Breaking News - Posted 16 Dec 2008
danah boyd, an internationally recognized authority on online social networking sites, will open the American Association of School Librarians 14th annual national conference and exhibition with a keynote presentation on Nov. 5, 2009 in Charlotte, NC.
News/Breaking News - Posted 08 Dec 2008
Canvastic.NET is the first online version of the company’s publishing solution for students and teachers.
News/Breaking News - Posted 03 Dec 2008
The new title Sunburst’s series individualizes keyboarding instruction for students in grades K to 12 and increases practice time with access from the home.
News/Breaking News - Posted 18 Nov 2008
The TriCaster DUO is designed to enable elementary and middle schools to produce network-style live television newscasts.
News/Breaking News - Posted 07 Nov 2008
Google Apps Education Edition offers a variety of email, calendar, and collaboration tools directly from a computer browser.
Department/In the Spotlight - Posted 01 Nov 2008 - Nov/Dec 2008 Issue
Alice Kurtz reviews Timeliner XE, a software program designed to organize data into visual multimedia diagrams such as timelines, sequences, and cycles.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Nov 2008 - Nov/Dec 2008 Issue
Charles Doe reviews School Loop Standard, a Web-based software program for Web site creation and management.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Nov 2008 - Nov/Dec 2008 Issue
Resources or tools that facilitate elementary classroom processes but aren’t major curriculum or textbook components can take at least three forms: tools that help teachers with their daily work; materials (software or electronics) that can be used for learning centers with individual students or small groups of learners; and online or electronic materials and software that support the curriculum or help teaching in some other way. This article takes a look at a few examples of new technology-based possibilities for elementary education. Several of the items mentioned here can be used across grades K–12, but they are well-worth considering in an elementary resources context.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Nov 2008 - Nov/Dec 2008 Issue By
With Web 2.0, the number and functionality of fee-based and free interactive electronic resources available for K–12 classrooms have grown and changed tremendously in the last 5 years. In this article, the sixth in Robert Congleton's series of reviews, he looks at four websites he found particularly notable for the interactive programs they offer. These are programs that can be integrated into K–12 classrooms either as part of the curriculum or as learning supplements. One is a fee-based database while the others are free to use but require user registration.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Nov 2008 - Nov/Dec 2008 Issue By
Galeschools.com is hosting Monster Vote 2008, an exercise designed to help students understand the election process and a contest offering one lucky class a chance to win a set of Monsters books from KidHaven Press.
News/Cool Links - Posted 24 Oct 2008
For October 15, 2008: Money and financial planning. Too boring for kids, right? NOT! Have them blast off to Planet Orange to explore the world of money.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Oct 2008 By
Discovery Education recently launched New Teacher Survival Central, a new Web site and partnership with Walden University, mimio, Adobe Systems, Inc., Elmer’s Products, Inc., and CDW-G.
News/Free Resources - Posted 13 Oct 2008
SAM Learning, publisher of Web-based curriculum for high school exit exam prep, now offers science content in biology, chemistry, and physics for SAM Learning.
News/Breaking News - Posted 29 Sep 2008
Welcome to Banned Books Week—Sept. 27 to Oct. 4, 2008.
News/Breaking News - Posted 29 Sep 2008
The American Association of School Librarians and the Children’s Book Council released the names of the contributors selected for the AASL Knowledge Quest journal’s “Meet the Author/Illustrator” column during the 2008-2009 school year.
News/Breaking News - Posted 26 Sep 2008
The new curriculum and licensing programs will enhance access to Adobe’s design and development software, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 24 Sep 2008
The company’s books for teaching with InspireData feature lesson plans on compelling topics, mapped to standards, the announcement states.
News/Breaking News - Posted 22 Sep 2008
The new Kidspiration lesson plan book aims to help teachers use visual learning to build young learners’ writing skills.
News/Breaking News - Posted 17 Sep 2008
Educational publisher ETA/Cuisenaire is honoring International Literacy Day (Sept. 8) with month-long access to free resources from its new WorldScapes Global Issues book series.
News/Free Resources - Posted 15 Sep 2008
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) presents an “Introduction to Geocaching” Webinar on Sept. 24.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Sep 2008
Greg Notess, internet columnist for Information Today, Inc.’s ONLINE magazine, is on top of the launch—beta launch, that is—of Google’s Chrome. What, why, what’s it like … ? Here's how to get to his report. (From Information Today, Inc.'s NewsBreaks)
News/ITI Cross Links - Posted 11 Sep 2008
Inspiration Software offers a free Web cast on Oct. 16 at noon Pacific time (3 p.m. Eastern time) titled “Analyzing Close Presidential Races with InspireData: How Might a Different Winner Have Changed History?”
News/Free Resources - Posted 11 Sep 2008
Teachers' Domain is a digital library of free media online resources for teachers, and online professional development courses created by public television station WGBH.
News/Free Resources - Posted 05 Sep 2008
Champion of IDEAS Blue Level, the second part of Ballard & Tighe’s Champion of IDEAS program, is now available for intermediate English language instruction in middle and high schools.
News/Breaking News - Posted 02 Sep 2008
In the July/August issue of MMIS, Kelly Czarnecki started her "tour of the possibilities" of using virtual environments in K-12 education with a look at two projects based on/in Teen Second Life—Science in Second Life, and Suffern Middle School in Second Life. Here's the rest of the tour, visting Whyville, the River City Project, Quest Atlantis, and McClarin's Adventures.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Sep 2008 - Sep/Oct 2008 Issue By
From using Twitter to encourage short story writing to utilizing Delicious to organize professional development tips and favorite articles, the number of social networking tools and websites is increasing exponentially. We know educators use these 21st-century tools with students in all grade levels. The question remains, how­ever, whether and how these tools might be used to positively affect student understanding and achievement. "Yes," says ePals' Tim DiScipio, "these tools, when chosen thoughtfully, implemented appropriately, and combined with innovative pedagogy through internet-connected communities, can teach students the skills necessary to thrive in the 21st century and expand their ability to communicate and collaborate in a global marketplace." Read on, learn more!
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Sep 2008 - Sep/Oct 2008 Issue By
Sally Finley reviews the NXT Sensor Adapter, a device that enables a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robotics system to use sensor-based controls.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Sep 2008 - Sep/Oct 2008 Issue
Charles Doe reviews the Bamboo Fun Pen Tablet, a computer input device.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Sep 2008 - Sep/Oct 2008 Issue
Charles Doe reviews Animation-ish, a computer program designed to help students create animations.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Sep 2008 - Sep/Oct 2008 Issue
Susan Hixson reviews an online test prep program for the SAT.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Sep 2008 - Sep/Oct 2008 Issue
ABC-CLIO offers a new free online History & the Headlines resource, “Presidential Elections: In History & Today.”
News/Free Resources - Posted 29 Aug 2008
To mark the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, youth leaders for Global Kids, Inc. have created an online community and game in conjunction with Game Pill, Inc., AMD, and Microsoft Corp.’s Partners in Learning where young people can engage in and experience the ongoing relief efforts in New Orleans.
News/Free Resources - Posted 27 Aug 2008
Version 3.5 continues and expands on the concept that software tools our students use to publish should be flexible. Teachers can customize their students' work environments even further than before.
News/Breaking News - Posted 15 Aug 2008
NoodleTools has announced that through a partnership with Pearson Education, its NoodleBib citation and notetaking program has been seamlessly integrated into the new version Pearson’s MyCompLab writing instruction environment.
News/Breaking News - Posted 08 Aug 2008
The H.W. Wilson Company is launching Essay and General Literature Index Retrospective: 1900-1984, a new resource that cites tens of thousands of essays from anthologies and other sources.
News/Breaking News - Posted 07 Aug 2008
The MyLibraryPlus component enables schools and districts to manage, upload, organize and deliver a growing library of digital assets.
News/Breaking News - Posted 25 Jul 2008
Pearson’s SuccessMaker combines research-based lessons with engaging animations to meet all students’ needs.
News/Breaking News - Posted 24 Jul 2008
LEGO Education WeDo encourages teachers to issue curriculum-based challenges for students to solve. Working in teams, children invent their own solution by building a LEGO model and programming it to perform a certain task.
News/Breaking News - Posted 24 Jul 2008
The credit recovery program provides schools with affordable, flexible options while enabling students to make up credits and progress toward graduation, the announcement states.
News/Breaking News - Posted 23 Jul 2008
The new version of LanSchool classroom management software improves teacher control through USB limiting and keystroke monitoring.
News/Breaking News - Posted 23 Jul 2008
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) releases the second edition of National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS*T) this month.
News/Breaking News - Posted 19 Jul 2008
Tool Factory now includes its newest book, Adventures in Podcasting: Incredible Lesson Plans for Your Classroom, to the Tool Factory Podcasting Kit.
News/Breaking News - Posted 18 Jul 2008
At a time when the K–12 market is undergoing rapid growth in the adoption and utilization of digital learning systems like online textbooks, ThinkCentral offers middle and high schools a powerful LMS previously unavailable to secondary schools, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 11 Jul 2008
Elluminate Plan! enables educators to pre-package teaching content and interactive activities for use during teacher-led instruction in real time on the internet.
Department/In the Spotlight - Posted 01 Jul 2008 - Jul/Aug 2008 Issue
Alice Kurtz takes a look at two new web sites from the Library of Congress.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Jul 2008 - Jul/Aug 2008 Issue
The 2007 edition of the Horizon Report by the New Media Consortium and the Educause Learning Initiative predicted that in 2 to 3 years, virtual worlds will greatly impact teaching, learning, and creative expression. These scalable and highly creative environments are being used by educators all over the country in a variety of settings and in a variety of ways. This article offers a look at projects using virtual worlds that are currently “happening” in K–12 schools, what we’re learning from them, and what we can continue to learn by charging full steam ahead with these fascinating educational tools.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Jul 2008 - Jul/Aug 2008 Issue By
Years ago, CyberBee began scouting the internet for content that was informative, engaging, and aligned with national standards, in 1996 becoming a column for MultiMedia & Internet@Schools magazine and a website for teachers. CyberBee thought it would be fitting to revisit some of the great websites that you may have missed over the past few years. There should be plenty of ideas to help you plan your lessons for the new school year.
Column/CyberBee - Posted 01 Jul 2008 - Jul/Aug 2008 Issue By
If there’s a refrain Stephen Abram hears too often, it’s that many of us feel it’s impossible to keep up and learn all this new stuff in technology and learning. So he has devoted this month’s column to a few sites that he finds useful to quickly orient himself to some of the Web 2.0 technologies. Even when he has already played with or experienced some of these tools, he says, he always learns something new from these sites.
Column/The Pipeline - Posted 01 Jul 2008 - Jul/Aug 2008 Issue By
Storyboarding--the graphic organization of a story’s arc using pictures or illustrations--is one of the great skills to learn. In a storyboard, the pictures are displayed visually in order to present the line of the story or the events you want to present. It’s a powerful way to visualize and understand the ultimate experience of your story, whether it ends up in print, comic, game, or film format. And it is just made for learners of any age, as well as being a great skill for the marketplace. Want to learn more? Read Stephen Abram’s Pipeline this month!
Column/The Pipeline - Posted 01 May 2008 - May/Jun 2008 Issue By
Susan Hixson reviews Kidspiration 3, the latest version of the cross-curricular visual learning program for grades K-5.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 May 2008 - May/Jun 2008 Issue By
Imagine if textbooks were alive … living, changing, evolving, and improving … never out-of-date! … a textbook that would give students images, videos, and interactive tutorials about a subject, a vocabulary word, or a topic … a digital textbook that would be student-driven, a model for differentiated learning, and geared toward helping all students learn through visualization, interaction, and simulation. In the age of Web 2.0, all this and much more is possible. And it’s all at our students’ fingertips with just a click of a button. Welcome to the “Age of the Wikitext!”
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 May 2008 - May/Jun 2008 Issue By
Teachers have been looking for alternatives to standard written book reports and other student reports for years, often combining them with art projects for more visual presentations. Some exciting new possibilities have been created as a result of more powerful computers, increased internet use, the development of inexpensive digital and video cameras, new software, and other technologies. Read Charles Doe’s latest “Look At … ” report to learn more.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 May 2008 - May/Jun 2008 Issue By
Bookshare.org and Don Johnston, Inc. are participating in a partnership to provide qualified print disabled students with a free text reader to access electronic books from the Bookshare.org library, beginning in September 2008.
News/Free Resources - Posted 13 Mar 2008
ISTE releases new books on RSS and PowerPoint with an educator perspective.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Mar 2008
Sally Finley reviews LabQuest, a handheld data collection tool that can be used as a stand-alone device or a computer interface.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Mar 2008 - Mar/Apr 2008 Issue
The new Teacher One Stop offers documents, tools, and multimedia files with search capabilities, technologies, and resources designed to streamline and simplify educators’ planning activities.
Department/In the Spotlight - Posted 01 Mar 2008 - Mar/Apr 2008 Issue
Geocaching, using GPS technology, is loads of fun, and it offers lots of educational opportunities as well. Yes, even in the media center. Media specialists are good at making curricular connections, and, says Mary Alice Anderson, the curriculum connections with geocaching are easy to see. Don't believe it?? Read and learn.
Column/The Media Center - Posted 01 Mar 2008 - Mar/Apr 2008 Issue By
In this article, Aline Soules discusses some current options for media specialists who want to adopt elearning tools and makes some suggestions about how to keep up … because, as she notes, "the pointers that will help you today will be old hat tomorrow and obsolete the day after."
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Mar 2008 - Mar/Apr 2008 Issue By
Students can easily overlook websites that aren’t filled with often changing content. Do you think you’re too busy to devote time and effort to attract users to the great resources available on your library website? If you can simply copy and paste, think again! With no coding skills you can set up your websites to continually display fresh content. Read how in Aaron Schmidt's article.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Mar 2008 - Mar/Apr 2008 Issue By
Adobe Systems Incorporated is seeking entries for the Adobe School Innovation Awards recognizing the creative and innovative work of high school students.
News/Breaking News - Posted 27 Feb 2008
Three new topics will be added this spring to ABC-CLIO’s History and the Headlines collection of free online resources.
News/Free Resources - Posted 26 Feb 2008
The updated Print-Limit Pro 8.0 facilitates management of printing costs through its enhanced monitoring and management tools. In addition, it provides users with a personal environmental impact statement, designed to help them think before they hit “print.”
News/Breaking News - Posted 20 Feb 2008
The company's new EasyTech lessons and activities support middle school students to learn critical skills in blogs, podcasts, online communicating and more.
News/Breaking News - Posted 07 Feb 2008
The upgrade of Kidspiration features new visual math tools and enhanced capabilities for building literacy skills.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Feb 2008
SMART Technologies announced the addition of 100 SMART-created lesson activities to the Curriki global education and learning community, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing free education materials.
News/Breaking News - Posted 29 Jan 2008
The solution is highlighted by new partnerships with key educational technology companies, including Futurekids, Inc., 8e6 Technologies, Promethean, and RM Educational Software, that broaden CDW-G’s offerings.
News/Breaking News - Posted 28 Jan 2008
John Drag, Jr., a reviewer for MultiMedia & Internet @Schools magazine, will be working near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq for the next 12 months.
News/Breaking News - Posted 27 Jan 2008
The new collaborative web-authoring tool enables students to create sophisticated web projects.
News/Breaking News - Posted 25 Jan 2008
The new Teacher One Stop, containing documents, tools, and multimedia, comes on a DVD. It builds on the One Stop Planner’s strengths and adds numerous technologies, search capabilities, and new resources.
News/Breaking News - Posted 24 Jan 2008
Vernier Software & Technology offers free hands-on workshops designed to help educators learn ways to integrate computer and handheld data collection technology into any science or math curriculum.
News/Free Resources - Posted 23 Jan 2008
ProQuest is adding streaming video and slideshows to CultureGrams Online.
News/Breaking News - Posted 19 Jan 2008
The Princeton Review holds free SAT Strategy Session events in the virtual world of Second Life on Jan. 19 and Jan. 31.
News/Free Resources - Posted 18 Jan 2008
Digication Inc., a provider of e-Portfolios, announced that it has partnered with Davis Publications, a provider of art education textbooks, to combine e-Portfolios and Web 2.0 technologies with the content found in traditional textbooks. (From Information Today, Inc.’s EContentmag.com)
News/ITI Cross Links - Posted 11 Jan 2008
As you can tell, this article in Slate online has little good to say about Yahoo's answer service. It's a good read!
News/Cool Links - Posted 07 Jan 2008
The VideoSpin application is for all consumers and will especially attract users who don't want to spend much time creating movies, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 07 Jan 2008
Educational video publisher School Specialty Media offers its new online Learn360 video streaming service for K-12.
News/Breaking News - Posted 05 Jan 2008
Finding just the right book that will grab a student's interest is like looking for Waldo. Tracking down books that correlate with specific curriculum areas and topics for study can be daunting. What is a library media specialist to do? Use every tool in your arsenal as well as lessons and booklists that have already been prepared and are just waiting to be uncovered by the savvy searcher. This collection of websites will serve as a starting point in your quest to recommend the best books to meet the needs of students and teachers.
Column/CyberBee - Posted 01 Jan 2008 - Jan/Feb 2008 Issue By
RSS allows you to keep up with just about anything that you want to on the web. If you want to stay focused on the latest blog posts on the effect of global warming, RSS can help. If you just want to be updated whenever The New York Times publishes its latest book review, RSS can help. And, if you want to know when the next Dave Barry column appears, RSS can help. The greatest part of RSS is that it can do all of this in one place, without your needing to parade all over the web looking for the new content. RSS is a continuously updated customized online newspaper, and it can not only help you in locating new information (in fact, the content comes to you, not vice versa), but it can help you do it in a quarter of the time.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Jan 2008 - Jan/Feb 2008 Issue By
Remember folder games and puzzles? Teachers have always used instructional aids of one kind or another to supplement instruction, such as calculators in Math class, games, puzzles, math aids, and other devices for small group or individual work. In recent years, computers and computer-related electronics such as MP3 players, hand-held devices, keyboards, projectors, whiteboards, and a diverse collection of additional electronic instructional aids have become available. Charlie Doe's Look At ... roundup this month sorts these supplemental electronics into categories and describes an array of them for your information.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Jan 2008 - Jan/Feb 2008 Issue By
Rhonda Clevenson reviews GeoSafari Quiz Bowl, an interactive electronic educational game that simulates a television game show in the classroom.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Jan 2008 - Jan/Feb 2008 Issue By
Susan Hixson reviews Knowledge Adventure Activity Builder, an online teacher tool.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Jan 2008 - Jan/Feb 2008 Issue By
Sally Ride, America’s first woman in space, founded Sally Ride Science in 2001 to create programs and products designed to educate, entertain, engage, and inspire.
Department/In the Spotlight - Posted 01 Jan 2008 - Jan/Feb 2008 Issue
The American Library Association (ALA) will provide a free live Webcast of its national announcement of the top books, video, and audiobooks for children and young adults—including the Caldecott, King, Newbery, and Printz awards—on Jan. 14 at 7:45 a.m., eastern time.
News/Breaking News - Posted 24 Dec 2007
ABC-CLIO expands its free online resources with “History and Headlines: Chronicling Despair and Hope in Darfur.”
News/Free Resources - Posted 04 Dec 2007
Three winners will receive an Interwrite Makeover and prizes valued at more than $15,000.
News/Breaking News - Posted 03 Dec 2007
For December 1, 2007: Since 1996, B. J. Pinchbeck and his dad have maintained and regularly updated his Homework Helper website for students.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Dec 2007 By
The data analysis and decision support tool, paired with a student information system, gives districts a powerful solution for using data to improve student achievement, the announcement states.
News/Breaking News - Posted 28 Nov 2007
MediaWorks 6.2 updates the budget multimedia authoring package previously known as MovieWorks Deluxe with Intel Mac and Windows Vista compatibility.
News/Breaking News - Posted 20 Nov 2007
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association, invites librarians to showcase their creativity and their library’s technology resources in a “Create Your Own Avatar” contest.
News/Breaking News - Posted 09 Nov 2007
Tool Factory will choose four winners for the Tool Factory Podcasting Grants program on December 30, 2007. Each will receive a free site license to Tool Factory Podcasting and all of the digital media accessories needed to start a school podcasting program.
News/Free Resources - Posted 06 Nov 2007
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) launched its first Digital Institute, “Minding Your Students’ Future,” as part of the AASL e-Academy online offerings.
News/Breaking News - Posted 05 Nov 2007
Sally Finley reviews Tool Factory Podcasting, a Windows-based program that provides the tools needed to create and publish podcasts.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Nov 2007 - Nov/Dec 2007 Issue
Charles Doe reviews a DVD-based program designed to illustrate editing techniques and principles.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Nov 2007 - Nov/Dec 2007 Issue
Susan Hixson reviews Rapid Resources, an online teacher's tool for differentiating instruction.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Nov 2007 - Nov/Dec 2007 Issue
Charles Doe reviews the tool package that includes Encarta Premium, Encarta Kids, Microsoft Math, Learning Essentials and more.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Nov 2007 - Nov/Dec 2007 Issue By
The Radiosophy HD100 is an HD radio receiver and digital AM/FM clock radio developed and distributed by a team of former Gateway Computer employees.
Department/In the Spotlight - Posted 01 Nov 2007 - Nov/Dec 2007 Issue By
The ClassMate Reader enables students to listen to an audio version of textbooks and study materials while following the highlighted text on screen.
News/Breaking News - Posted 19 Oct 2007
IntelliPath's technology allows districts to create individual learning paths aligned to state standards, research-driven strategies, and existing resources, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 03 Oct 2007
Literature Criticism Online provides access to hundreds of volumes from 10 Gale literary series.
News/Breaking News - Posted 27 Sep 2007
The new lesson collection for grades 4-12 is designed to help teachers use InspireData in science, mathematics, and social studies.
News/Breaking News - Posted 26 Sep 2007
The photo and video software feature new levels of integration and creativity.
News/Breaking News - Posted 24 Sep 2007
ABC-CLIO expands its free “History and the Headlines” online resources with “Double Victory—Minorities and Women During World War II,” material designed to support the Ken Burns and Lynn Novick PBS/WETA documentary, “The War.”
News/Free Resources - Posted 22 Sep 2007
FileMaker Pro Basics provides a comprehensive downloadable set of free training materials designed to help K-12 educators learn the essentials of creating FileMaker Pro databases.
News/Free Resources - Posted 21 Sep 2007
Resourceshelf's Senior Editor Shirl Kennedy compiled and annotated an awesome collection of education resources largely from government Web sites in the September 20, 2007 version of the Resource of the Week article she does.
News/Cool Links - Posted 20 Sep 2007
HippoCampus, supported by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, is an Open Education Resource (OER), part of a worldwide collaborative effort of academic institutions and educators to make quality education available for everyone.
News/Breaking News - Posted 13 Sep 2007
InspireData 1.5 is the first update to Inspiration Software’s InspireData program designed to help students in grades 4-12 explore and understand data.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Sep 2007
Three winners will receive an Interwrite Makeover by creating a music video of the song of their choice, plus prizes valued at more than $15,000
News/Breaking News - Posted 11 Sep 2007
The Sally Ride Science blog features a series of science-themed entries designed to help elementary and middle school teachers illustrate real-world applications of science concepts and spark classroom discussions.
News/Free Resources - Posted 08 Sep 2007
For September 1, 2007: The MY HERO project encourages families, schools, and organizations to publicly honor heroes that have made a difference through words, images, and short films.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Sep 2007 By
Charles Doe reviews TeacherFilebox.com, an online collection of instructional resources for PreK-6 educators.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Sep 2007 - Sep/Oct 2007 Issue
Susan Hixson reviews World Book Advanced, designed for use in high school and beyond. This database also has been used successfully in middle schools.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Sep 2007 - Sep/Oct 2007 Issue
ProQuest’s African Writers Series offers a digital collection of key texts in 20th century African literature.
Department/In the Spotlight - Posted 01 Sep 2007 - Sep/Oct 2007 Issue
While our students might be able to click through Web sites with ease and change the layouts of their MySpace profiles in the blink of an eye, there are still many things we can teach them about the read/write Web. There are also many ways we can teach our students using the read/write Web. Underlying these opportunities is the possibility to use the read/write Web to discuss the issues of authorship, authenticity, and the production of information—all topics for rich discussions of information literacy. This article provides a review of some of the best online tools you can use to excite teachers and to prepare students to be active agents in today’s participatory culture.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Sep 2007 - Sep/Oct 2007 Issue By
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) e-Academy will offer five continuing education programs starting on October 1.
News/Breaking News - Posted 30 Aug 2007
The new content integrations further advance the means in which school administrators, teachers, students and parents stay connected.
News/Breaking News - Posted 24 Aug 2007
The teacher Web site offers free printable lesson plans and quizzes by grade, plus new Harry Potter activities.
News/Breaking News - Posted 22 Aug 2007
Print-Limit Pro 7.3 updates the print management software package with a personal environmental impact statement designed to help users think before they hit the Print button.
News/Breaking News - Posted 20 Aug 2007
H.W. Wilson launched Applied Science & Technology Index Retrospective: 1913 – 1983, a database of historical content from the H.W. Wilson references Applied Science & Technology Index and Industrial Arts Index.
News/Breaking News - Posted 16 Aug 2007
For August 15, 2007: At Personal Educational Press, create free educational worksheets such as flashcards, game boards, and quizzes to print directly from your browser.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Aug 2007 By
Don Johnston, Inc. and the Center for Implementing Technology in Education (CITEd) are co-sponsors of the “Moving Forward with Technology” free Webinar series covering a variety of technology-related topics.
News/Free Resources - Posted 06 Aug 2007
Elsevier is the newest publishing partner on Gale Virtual Reference Library and the 38th publisher with content housed on Gale’s enhanced platform for delivering electronic reference materials as eBooks.
News/Breaking News - Posted 05 Aug 2007
PracticePlanet offers an online test practice system that models standardized tests, giving students practice opportunities designed to develop confidence for annual testing.
News/Breaking News - Posted 19 Jul 2007
For July 15, 2007: Personal Educational Press lets you create free educational worksheets such as flashcards, game boards, and quizzes to print directly from your browser.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Jul 2007 By
Adobe's new video software lets students and educators create TV-quality broadcasts.
News/Breaking News - Posted 11 Jul 2007
The National Air and Space Museum offers a variety of classroom resources, including online activities and teaching materials, designed for use in learning across the curriculum.
News/Free Resources - Posted 08 Jul 2007
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History offers a free online slide show titled “Wilberforce, Lincoln, and the Abolition of Slavery” and other online resources for teachers and students.
News/Free Resources - Posted 07 Jul 2007
Cables, adapters, and memory cards disappear; batteries run low at inopportune times; and busy teachers quickly borrow a camera from another classroom “just for a second” to take advantage of a photo opp. Digital photographers excited about creating photo-filled classroom Web pages come to work sessions with a camera incompatible with the computer’s software or without the necessary connecting cable. It seems that no technology has caused more management hassles than digital cameras. Well, if you've got such problems—and who doesn't?—Mary Alice Anderson's got answers!
Column/The Media Center - Posted 01 Jul 2007 - Jul/Aug 2007 Issue By
Blogs, wikis, social software, Web 2.0—it’s not really about the technologies but about the method of collaboration between users that presents some of the more interesting advantages. The goal of authors Robert Lackie and Robert Terrio in this article is to continue the discussions of practical Web 2.0 tools and social networking sites that have been brought up in this magazine and at recent school librarian conferences and to highlight other collaborative tools and exciting developments in free Web 2.0 social software, items they categorize as “Useful Collaborative Tools” and “Practical Mashups”—both very exciting and practical for today’s teacher-librarian!
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Jul 2007 - Jul/Aug 2007 Issue By
Charles Doe reviews the Radius Audio Learning System, a hardware product that plays CD-ROMs and reads digital activity cards to process information and student responses.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Jul 2007 - Jul/Aug 2007 Issue
Alice Kurtz reviews a mutidisciplinary program containing the award-winning documentary "When the Levees Broke" and a companion curriculum guide.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Jul 2007 - Jul/Aug 2007 Issue
Educational videoconferencing has come a long way over the years. It started out very slowly, and, in recent years, there has been a burst of interest on the part of museums and zoos in providing their educational programs via this medium. As schools find it more difficult and more expensive to take their students on physical field trips, students are missing out on the phenomenal resources that these cultural institutions have to offer. When gas prices began to rise, local museums found that even schools in the neighborhood were unwilling to spend their precious fuel budgets bussing students off-site. Those in the museum community chose to take this as a sign that they should begin to promote their distance learning efforts.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Jul 2007 - Jul/Aug 2007 Issue By
Improvements to the wireless classroom pad include new design and software.
News/Breaking News - Posted 27 Jun 2007
Thomson Gale announced that Literature Resource Center has been significantly enhanced by the first major update made since the program’s launch 10 years ago.
News/Breaking News - Posted 11 Jun 2007
“Blue Vinyl: The World’s First Toxic Comedy,” a documentary directed by Judith Helfand and Daniel B. Gold, takes a charming look at a chilling situation with worldwide implications.
News/Cool Links - Posted 26 May 2007
The program addresses digital video editing for students at all levels of editing expertise from grades 6-12.
News/Breaking News - Posted 17 May 2007
This enhanced version of the email newsletter service delivers a more intuitive user experience while also offering a more extensive array of customization options to library administrators, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 09 May 2007
Used in concert with an Interwrite Board, Pad, Panel, or student response system, Workspace provides teachers the means to interact with any form of digital content, while engaging their students in novel new ways, the announcement states.
News/Breaking News - Posted 03 May 2007
Through the free two-month pilot program, schools can install Canvastic on every computer they own and test it with every student for up to 60 days.
News/Breaking News - Posted 02 May 2007
Sally Finley reviews InspireData, database software focused on the concepts of visual learning and data literacy.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 May 2007 - May/Jun 2007 Issue
Charles Doe's Look At ... this month surveys software that includes student management systems featuring record keeping, scheduling, and other similar tasks; teacher evaluations; online learning environments; communications (usually email); grades and grade books; reporting; and more.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 May 2007 - May/Jun 2007 Issue By
Traditionally, we have defined literacy as the ability to read and write. However, 21st-century literacy has moved beyond that into the realm of possessing the critical-thinking skills necessary to delve into information or data and figure out what it really means. Students need the ability to synthesize and evaluate data and to create new information and knowledge after they have determined its quality. To prepare our students to be informed, successful citizens, we must teach them to see beyond numbers and simple functions. They must have the skills to evaluate and analyze the data put before them. In other words, they must also be data-literate. Dr. Glenda Gunter offers strategies for building data literacy and a great deal more in her article.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 May 2007 - May/Jun 2007 Issue By
Technology is playing a key role in various types of communication within the classroom today, changing the way communication takes place in a way that is having a real impact on learning. A different breed of technology, leveraging the power of simplistic Web 2.0 design principles, is proving to finally break through with a real impact on students and teachers. Technology such as online learning communities is proving to offer a more dynamic learning experience, with direct benefit to students and teachers. It’s a refreshing change for educators who have struggled with the complexity, cost, and practicality of the last generation of technology tools.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 May 2007 - May/Jun 2007 Issue By
The new Critical Thinking module of Thomson Gale’s Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center offers activities, assessments, and tools that encourage students to interact with, argue about, and analyze issues and concepts.
News/Breaking News - Posted 28 Apr 2007
TeacherFileBox.com, a subscription-based print-on-demand library, provides 7,000 supplemental learning activities across the elementary school curriculum, from Pre-K through grade 6.
News/Breaking News - Posted 27 Apr 2007
The new licensing, certification, and curriculum programs for primary and secondary schools will make it easier for schools to deploy Adobe’s new offering of integrated design and development tools into the curriculum.
News/Breaking News - Posted 24 Apr 2007
A grant from the Rockefeller Foundation will make Spike Lee’s HBO Hurricane Katrina documentary and a companion curriculum available at no cost for use by high school, college and community educators.
News/Free Resources - Posted 14 Apr 2007
This month, ngm.com examines the global fishing crisis from a number of perspectives.
News/Free Resources - Posted 01 Apr 2007
Made up of six new software configurations, the new Creative Suite 3 includes Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium and Design Standard editions; Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Premium and Web Standard editions; and Adobe Creative Suite 3 Production Premium.
News/Breaking News - Posted 28 Mar 2007
The integration is scheduled for May 2007 with the release of the DyKnow Vision and Monitor software versions 5.0.
News/Breaking News - Posted 26 Mar 2007
The podcasting software combines a scripting tool, sound recorder, easy uploading, and built-in broadcasting, all into one interface.
News/Breaking News - Posted 21 Mar 2007
The new version of the integrated writing, graphics and publishing tool for students in grades K-8 includes dozens of new features and refinements.
News/Breaking News - Posted 07 Mar 2007
AutoSkill International now offers an optional SpanishTutor module for its Academy of MATH intervention software.
News/Breaking News - Posted 02 Mar 2007
PBS Teachers offers thousands of free lesson plans, local and national educator resources, teacher professional development, videos, blogs, and more.
News/Breaking News - Posted 01 Mar 2007
Susan Hixson reviews WebLesssons, an online multimedia resource that replaces the typical browser window with a student learning path.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Mar 2007 - Mar/Apr 2007 Issue By
Three new GenevaLogic Vision Kits provide individual classrooms and entire schools with classroom management tools for effective computer teaching.
Department/In the Spotlight - Posted 01 Mar 2007 - Mar/Apr 2007 Issue
Moving right along, Charlie switches from last issue's Look At ... Elementary-Level Software and Webware to secondary-level materials this time ... "everything from exciting new software for video-editing tasks that weren’t really possible in high schools 20 years ago to extraordinary subscription databases," plus "Web-based courseware that is becoming larger and larger in scope, more sophisticated assessment tools, and some programs with intriguing electronic delivery methods."
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Mar 2007 - Mar/Apr 2007 Issue By
In the world of education, writes Stephen Abram in this month’s Pipeline, “the best path is to start by asking ourselves a simple question: ‘What will [our students’] world look like?’” Walling tools and components of the Internet—which will be a part of their world—out of our schools doesn’t sound to Stephen like following the best path. So, being an affirmative fellow, he offer a turnaround policy!
Column/The Pipeline - Posted 01 Mar 2007 - Mar/Apr 2007 Issue By
HP and Scholastic offer a new curriculum titled “Get in the Technology Loop,” designed to teach students in grades 4-6 about environmental responsibility.
News/Free Resources - Posted 27 Jan 2007
Mac teachers can instantly asses their students’ knowledge with the integration of InterWrite PRS
News/Breaking News - Posted 11 Jan 2007
By Kids For Kids Co. (BKFK) and Mattel are partnering for the third annual “Invent-A-Toy” World Games competition for youngsters ages 5-19.
News/Breaking News - Posted 07 Jan 2007
CoffeeCup Software, Inc., a Web authoring Internet software company, has announced the availability of their Educational Software Package, a free suite of five top-selling Windows applications that helps educators teach their students how to make Websites.
News/Breaking News - Posted 05 Jan 2007
The National Geographic Web site, Ngm.com/, explores a variety of subjects--and many corners of the world--in the month of January.
News/Free Resources - Posted 05 Jan 2007
The teacher resource book provides over 50 curriculum-aligned lessons to accompany the activity files included in the software programs Scholastic Keys and MaxData.
News/Breaking News - Posted 03 Jan 2007
Sally Finley takes a look at the Super Size Me: Educationally Enhanced DVD, a combination of the award-winning documentary and interactive learning features for students in grades 6-12.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Jan 2007 - Jan/Feb 2007 Issue
Charles Doe reviews WriteBrain, a Web-based multimedia writing program.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Jan 2007 - Jan/Feb 2007 Issue
An online product designed for younger users, English-language learners, and reluctant readers, World Book Kid offers simple navigation, easy to read content, bright colors, and bold graphics.
Department/In the Spotlight - Posted 01 Jan 2007 - Jan/Feb 2007 Issue
Mindful of the safety and security issues surrounding social networking, Stephen Abram nontheless has plenty of good to say about the popular phenomenon. In this month's Pipeline, he talks about, and guides readers to resources about, positiveeducational uses of social networking.
Column/The Pipeline - Posted 01 Jan 2007 - Jan/Feb 2007 Issue By
Podcasting is emerging as one of those technological diamonds in the rough that has the potential to reshape the way we look at the Internet, mass media, and ourselves. With a multimedia computer, easy-to-use recording software, and some storage space on the Internet, everyone can build a podcasting production center of their very own. Podcasting is headed for a classroom near you, so read Dan Schmit's feature to be ready for it!
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Jan 2007 - Jan/Feb 2007 Issue By
Thomson Gale is supporting National Poetry Month (April) with Poet’s Corner, a free Web site.
News/Free Resources - Posted 30 Dec 2006
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association, announced the launch of a new open discussion list, YA-MUSIC.
News/Breaking News - Posted 17 Dec 2006
H. W. Wilson has added approximately 62,000 images to its Art Museum Image Gallery database, an art image reference source on the WilsonWeb database service.
News/Breaking News - Posted 04 Dec 2006
EBSCO Publishing introduced a new way for users to learn about EBSCOhost interface enhancements.
News/Breaking News - Posted 02 Dec 2006
For December 1, 2006: Fact Monster, a great, free research, homework help, and just plain fun site from Information Please, provides loads of features targeted to students.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Dec 2006 By
Califone International, Inc. launched the USB Jackbox, the first jackbox with microphone inputs.
News/Breaking News - Posted 20 Nov 2006
An online version of the American Film Institute’s (AFI) K-12 screen education program, “LIGHTS, CAMERA, EDUCATION!,” is now available on Discovery’s unitedstreaming service.
News/Breaking News - Posted 19 Nov 2006
The online Sagebrush Education bookstore at www.sagebrushbooks.com/ now offers titles aligned to state curriculum standards in all 50 states for the core subject areas of Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science.
News/Breaking News - Posted 14 Nov 2006
Don Johnston, the founder and leader of the multimedia company that bears his name, has written an autobiography designed to inspire struggling students to become self-learning advocates and to take charge of their own learning process.
News/Breaking News - Posted 03 Nov 2006
Reviewer Sally Finley takes a look at Blue Zones: Quest for the True Fountain of Youth, the latest online exploration from Questmaster Dan Buettner.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Nov 2006 - Nov/Dec 2006 Issue By
Stephen Abram offers more tricks to build information fluency in the second of his columns on the subject, this time offering teaching/learning ideas based on MySpace, Second Life, Teen Second Life, Activeworlds, OPAC or Web treasure hunts, and game show Web sites.
Column/The Pipeline - Posted 01 Nov 2006 - Nov/Dec 2006 Issue By
A mystifying or vague buzzword to many, Web 2.0 was made fashionable in late 2004 by O'Reilly Media, the foremost publisher of computer technology books and a leader in cutting edge online technology conferences. This article will provide an introduction to Web 2.0 for libraries and will also attempt to bring to light a few notable, free Web-based interactive communication tools that can help librarians and other educators seamlessly access, create, organize, and disseminate information for their library, themselves, colleagues, and friends. The resources mentioned and the re­ferences and recommended readings provided should bring librarians up-to-speed on little-known and newer techniques, tools, and thinking on this crucial topic.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Nov 2006 - Nov/Dec 2006 Issue By
SIFA has also released its first version of the SIF Web Service Reporting Specification, version 1.0.
News/Breaking News - Posted 31 Oct 2006
Washington Post staff writer Yuki Noguchi takes a look at MySpace and other online teen social sites in this article in the Sunday, October 29, edition of the newspaper.
News/Cool Links - Posted 30 Oct 2006
The latest version of InterWrite PRS software now supports over 14 global languages; is compatible with Windows, MAC OS X, Intel MAC, and Linux; and showcases a new user interface making it easier for educators to use PRS “clickers” and software to receive student feedback and assess comprehension of a subject matter.
News/Breaking News - Posted 16 Oct 2006
On October 11, Google very quietly launched Google for Educators, a site that pulls together access to and, in a sense, annotates a whole bunch of Google features, tools, and resources in a way that will make them easier for educators to find, understand, and use for teaching purposes. Read all about it!
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Oct 2006
MaxData is designed to teach students all aspects of data handling, from the first steps of simple representation of data, to learning database concepts such as fields, field types, records, tables, and filters.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Oct 2006
The collection brings together four software applications: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0, Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0, Adobe Contribute 4, and Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional software, and curriculum and training materials for teachers.
News/Breaking News - Posted 05 Oct 2006
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) unveiled a new Web-based science toolbox, the Coral Ecosystem SciGuide for grades 9-12.
News/Breaking News - Posted 02 Oct 2006
The free classroom program allows teachers, kids, and parents to explore blogging, messaging, and private social networking while having fun and connecting safely online, according to the announcement.
News/Free Resources - Posted 19 Sep 2006
New this fall will be expanded textbook-aligned content, enhanced reference resources, and more videos, including Discovery Channel’s MythBusters.
News/Breaking News - Posted 18 Sep 2006
The free online resource enables educators to understand student concerns and areas for administrative growth, according to the Zoomerang announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 18 Sep 2006
The upgraded edition of TechKnowledge, the online interactive technology literacy program for students in PreK-6th grade, offers a variety of new features.
News/Breaking News - Posted 15 Sep 2006
The SchoolRooms online portal and a simplified library management system interface are among the offerings for school libraries.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Sep 2006
The Incite! Learning Series for grades 4–8 offers a set of original short films in an integrated media package that provides anchored instruction for social studies classrooms.
Department/In the Spotlight - Posted 01 Sep 2006 - Sep/Oct 2006 Issue
As Stephen Abram writes, "The Internet has given us many new ways to provide learners with an environment that allows them to learn through discovery, play, collaboration, and just plain having fun." He elaborates, and give loads of examples, featuring YouTube, Flickr, Picasa, Blogger, podcasting, del.icio.us, and more in this month's Pipeline.
Column/The Pipeline - Posted 01 Sep 2006 - Sep/Oct 2006 Issue By
Through the acquisition, Follett Digital Resources will be better positioned to meet the growing digital delivery needs of educational publishers and schools, the announcement states.
News/Breaking News - Posted 17 Aug 2006
It's been almost 2 years since Google dramatically expanded its book digitization program--originally known as Google Print but now called Google Book Search--from only having publisher partners to including five major research libraries. Now, another major research institution has joined the Google book Search library program. Barbara Quint has the story. (From Information Today, Inc.’s NewsBreaks)
News/ITI Cross Links - Posted 14 Aug 2006
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) released the second edition of the popular book, “Spreadsheet Magic” by Pamela Lewis.
News/Breaking News - Posted 13 Aug 2006
UltraKey 5.0 now includes new features that enable Spanish-speaking students to hear instructional support in their first language while learning to keyboard in English.
News/Breaking News - Posted 11 Aug 2006
For August 1, 2006: At DigiTales, multiple media and storytelling really come alive! The Web site presents seven steps to creating a 3-5 minute digital movie, with specific directions for each step.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Aug 2006 By
The book, “Touch the Earth,” demonstrates how a paper-based Braille book with tactile images can be connected to supplemental digital content stored on a computer through the touch of a page.
News/Breaking News - Posted 31 Jul 2006
WilsonWeb's new Spell Checker is one of many new WilsonWeb enhancements recently introduced in response to customer requests.
News/Breaking News - Posted 29 Jul 2006
The Intel Corporation, the Intel Foundation, the National Science Foundation and others are underwriting “Design Squad,” a live-action PBS series for 9-12 year-olds designed to get them excited about engineering.
News/Breaking News - Posted 28 Jul 2006
The five winning grants were selected based on effective use of digital cameras and technology in the curriculum, high degree of student involvement, and creativity and fun. Olympus and Tool Factory are continuing to support the Classroom Grants Program, with new entry deadlines in 2007.
News/Breaking News - Posted 26 Jul 2006
The new Web-based educational suite is intended to leverage the popularity of Pokémon to engage students.
News/Breaking News - Posted 19 Jul 2006
The new service is a user-friendly interactive application that downloads news directly onto any computer, helping students stay connected to the news of the day.
News/Free Resources - Posted 14 Jul 2006
The new product provides quick access to online digital media from one integrated access point, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Jul 2006
Inspiration’s new tool was developed by TERC and is designed to help students to dynamically visualize, investigate, and understand data.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Jul 2006
Designed to be a comprehensive online source for educators, Promethean Planet provides searchable information to help educators maximize the use of interactive technology in the classroom.
News/Free Resources - Posted 05 Jul 2006
The software now includes built-in lesson plans with activity files to further help teachers integrate technology into their language arts, math, science, and social studies curricula.
News/Breaking News - Posted 05 Jul 2006
Susan Hixson takes a look at Cosmeo, the Web-based homework help resource from Discovery Education.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Jul 2006 - July/Aug 2006 Issue By
Charles Doe reviews Type to Learn Jr. New Keys for Kids, a keyboarding program for students in grades K-2.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Jul 2006 - July/Aug 2006 Issue By
In this issue, Linda Joseph's Cyberbee guides you and students to sites with ideas and tools, plus loads of examples, for leaving "a legacy of cultural history for future generations through digital storytelling."
Column/CyberBee - Posted 01 Jul 2006 - July/Aug 2006 Issue By
GO Solve Word Problems, Science Court, Reading for Meaning, and Decisions, Decisions 5.0 are among many of the company’s titles now supported by online guides to help educators use them with interactive whiteboards and projectors.
News/Breaking News - Posted 28 Jun 2006
InterWrite PRS 4.0 supports InterWrite PRS-RF, the newest addition to the company’s line of student response systems, as well as existing InterWrite PRS infrared systems.
News/Breaking News - Posted 25 May 2006
The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) is participating in a new initiative designed to educate American teens about online safety.
News/Breaking News - Posted 08 May 2006
The Education Desktop is a customized Internet portal for teachers and students that provides access to education-appropriate applications and tools.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 May 2006 - May/June 2006 Issue By
KnowledgeBox 4.0 is the newest release of the K–6 learning system that provides digital standards-based multimedia resources for reading/language arts, math, science, and social studies.
Department/In the Spotlight - Posted 01 May 2006 - May/June 2006 Issue
Moodle is a free, open source course management system software package that is designed to help educators create quality online content and a collaborative, interactive environment to support their classroom courses. It's been in use at the author's school, the National Cathedral School (NCS) in Washington, D.C., for 3 years and there has been tremendous growth in its use over those years. Athena Maikish describes the software and the many ways they're pressing it into service, from creating interactive physics homework quizzes to promoting a paperless classroom and applying technology to increase productivity.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 May 2006 - May/June 2006 Issue By
Stephen Abram has been following the Duke University experiment of providing iPods to all students ... and a lot more that's been going on with iPods in education. iPods represent, he asserts, a bellwether technology. In this column he discusses why and lays out a host of educational activities the technology lends itself to.
Column/The Pipeline - Posted 01 May 2006 - May/June 2006 Issue By
Instead of students thinking through adventure plots for their game avatar, says Patrick Greene, educators are interested in having students learn to think through real-life adventure plots that will help them acquire the skills, knowledge, and dispositions that will help them to become successful in life. Invoking the work of the likes of Roger Schank, Chris Dede, and Bernie Dodge, Greene discusses the evolution of online gaming/simulations to where it meets these educators' aspirations.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 May 2006 - May/June 2006 Issue By
Twenty new science movies and a Spanish version of BrainPOP are currently launching.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Apr 2006
The new version of the integrated writing, graphics, and publishing tool for students in grades K-8 features dozens of refinements.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Apr 2006
The newly-launched Clip Art Station (http://www.clipartstation.com/) offers a library of more than 2,000 categorized photographs designed to meet the needs of K-12 educators.
News/Breaking News - Posted 05 Apr 2006
The newest phase of the Tool Factory/Olympus Student and Teacher Contests is currently underway; the deadline for entries is June 2, 2006.
News/Breaking News - Posted 27 Mar 2006
Browsealoud adds speech to Web sites and PDF files: When a user holds the cursor over the content, each word is highlighted as it is spoken in either English or multiple other languages including Spanish, French, or German.
News/Breaking News - Posted 22 Mar 2006
The standards engine provides up-to-date standards for all 50 states in the U.S. and aligns the lowest level benchmark for each state to every activity and resource in QuickMind.net. New resources include math, biology, chemistry, science, wiriting, literature, and geography.
News/Breaking News - Posted 22 Mar 2006
The new version is designed to enhance administrative and end-user settings for the Personal, School, Family, and Enterprise editions of TurboTools.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Mar 2006
Learning Essentials for Microsoft Office, a software tool that provides education-specific scaffolding for students and teachers using Microsoft Office applications, is reviewed by Charles Doe.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Mar 2006 - Mar/Apr 2006 Issue By
Inspiration 8 updates the visual learning program launched nearly 10 years ago for grades 6–12 with new and improved capabilities designed to help students visualize, think, organize, and learn.
Department/In the Spotlight - Posted 01 Mar 2006 - Mar/Apr 2006 Issue
New MMIS columnist Mary Ann Bell introduces herself in her inaugural Belltones column and discusses some of her interests and plans for upcoming columns, including information ethics, technology use in schools, the principles of AASL's Infomation Power, information access, and more.
Column/Belltones - Posted 01 Mar 2006 - Mar/Apr 2006 Issue By
A media specialist's instinct is often that teachers of core subjects—language arts, social studies, and science—are the logical and easiest clientele to work with. That isn't always the case. Some media specialists say they have more success collaborating with noncore areas than with the "traditional academics." Mary Alice Anderson looks in this month's Media Center column at some of these kinds of collaboration.
Column/The Media Center - Posted 01 Mar 2006 - Mar/Apr 2006 Issue By
Stephen Abram writes in this month's Pipeline, "While we may be seeing some learner resistance to traditional writing and creation activities, maybe we can increase their engagement in learning good writing, editing, and information literacy competencies by aligning some of the projects with a Web-based option." Among the options he discusses are social networking, blogs, wikis, and photo sharing.
Column/The Pipeline - Posted 01 Mar 2006 - Mar/Apr 2006 Issue By
Many students experience "library anxiety" when making the switch from high school to college. While school librarians do an excellent job teaching information literacy skills to their students, they may find themselves asking, "What other skills are important for my students to learn before they leave high school, and what resources are available for them?" Having worked for years as a librarian and with librarians in school and academic settings, the authors offer solid advice and ideas for school librarians to help students bridge the gap between the high school library and academic libraries.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Mar 2006 - Mar/Apr 2006 Issue By
Brainy Kids, from the Dana Foundation, is a comprehensive Web site offering children, parents, and teachers selected science-related links to games, labs, science fair ideas, educational resources, and lesson plans.
News/Free Resources - Posted 17 Feb 2006
Students or audience members can use the system’s credit card sized input devices for polling, testing, or anonymous response.
News/Breaking News - Posted 15 Feb 2006
This month, the National Geographic Web site examines the Winter Olympics in a variety of online feature articles.
News/Free Resources - Posted 12 Feb 2006
Thinkronize’s netTrekker d.i. search engine will now feature links to Promethean lesson plans and resources for educators to use with their ACTIVclassroom solutions including the ACTIVboard, Promethean’s interactive whiteboard.
News/Breaking News - Posted 10 Feb 2006
IDMS Version 6.1 also introduces the ability to create lesson plans that teachers can align to the pacing guides and share with other educators.
News/Breaking News - Posted 08 Feb 2006
The new version of Inspiration offers expanded visual capabilities, increased support for writing, and new resources for curriculum integration.
News/Breaking News - Posted 02 Feb 2006
Read&Write 8.0 GOLD enables students in grades 3 and up who struggle to read and write to use mainstream classroom software alongside their peers, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 31 Jan 2006
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) has launched an Emmy Awards program for high school students.
News/Breaking News - Posted 25 Jan 2006
Sunburst’s new program focuses on student improvement in grades K-12 using technology developed for targeted intervention.
News/Breaking News - Posted 23 Jan 2006
The site targets museums, libraries, and public broadcasting stations, aiming to help them “work together to address local needs, increase civic engagement, and improve the quality of life” in their communities.
News/Cool Links - Posted 23 Jan 2006
In January, the online edition of National Geographic presents writer Frank Viviano’s examination of the conflict in Iraq. Viviano’s article focuses on the Kurds, possibly the only group powerful enough to keep Iraq from tearing itself apart.
News/Free Resources - Posted 03 Jan 2006
In the last installment of the two-year run of Learning Unleashed!, Trevor Shaw looks back and takes stock of what they have accomplished over the past 2-and-a-half years of their technology infusion and integration program at his school.
Column/Learning Unleashed! - Posted 01 Jan 2006 - Jan/Feb 2006 Issue By
The latest release of the software provides enhanced tools and student assessment features, plus new content. The InterWrite PRS student assessment system is now integrated into InterWrite 6.0.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Dec 2005
The link between NWEA’s assessment products and CompassLearning’s instructional resources will enhance educators’ ability to tie assessments to instructional content.
News/Breaking News - Posted 29 Nov 2005
The new Teachers’ Guide provides tutorials, tips, online and print resources, and specific curriculum-based projects in which U.S. teachers can participate to establish school-to-school global interaction on the Internet.
News/Free Resources - Posted 15 Nov 2005
Reviewer Susan Hixson takes a look at ULtraKey 5.0 keyboarding software.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Nov 2005 - Nov/Dec 2005 Issue
Reviewer Alice Kurtz takes a look at MyTeacherAssistant.com.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Nov 2005 - Nov/Dec 2005 Issue By
Over 40 new features and refinements are included in this release of the integrated writing, graphics, and publishing tool for students in grades K-8.
News/Breaking News - Posted 01 Nov 2005
The tablet computer rollout--culmination of the Learning Unleashed! program--went off smoothly this fall for Trevor Shaw's school. In this column, he discusses how and why it worked out so well.
Column/Learning Unleashed! - Posted 01 Nov 2005 - Nov/Dec 2005 Issue By
Charlie Doe looks at everything from computers, projectors, and printers to curriculum, tool, and security software in his latest Look At ... roundup.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Nov 2005 - Nov/Dec 2005 Issue By
Always peering ahead, Stephen Abram discusses e-paper and e-ink technology this month, including a "here and now" form of e-paper from Sony, in his Pipeline column.
Column/The Pipeline - Posted 01 Nov 2005 - Nov/Dec 2005 Issue By
Will Richardson, supervisor of instructional technology at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Fleming, N.J., and now a well-known speaker on cutting-edge educational uses of the Web, has written a book to be published by Corwin Press in February 2006 entitled An Educator's Guide to Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Cool New Tools That Are Transforming the Classroom. This article is adapted from a chapter of that book, with permission from the publisher.
Editorial/Features - Posted 01 Nov 2005 - Nov/Dec 2005 Issue By
Column/Editor’s Notes - Posted 01 Nov 2005 - Nov/Dec 2005 Issue By
Following up on her earlier Media Center column "Data Gathering--Why You Need the Numbers ... And What You Can Do with Them," Mary Alice Anderson tells how to build and use an Excel spreadsheet that will hold the kind of qualitative and quantitative data you want.
Column/The Media Center - Posted 01 Nov 2005 - Nov/Dec 2005 Issue By
The upgrades to Adobe’s tools provide innovative and intuitive ways to edit and share digital photos and home/student-created video, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 14 Oct 2005
The standards-based activities are organized by state, subject area, grade level, and keyword for searching on SMART’s new Web site for educators.
News/Breaking News - Posted 14 Oct 2005
BookSource: Nonfiction now features more than 3,100 nonfiction books, including 1,300 that are part of the Accelerated Reader (AR) program used by many schools.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Oct 2005
The Web-enabled resource delivers timely content to K-12 classroom, is aligned to state standards, correlated to adopted textbooks, and extends the life of those textbooks, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 07 Oct 2005
ETS has repositioned all of its flagship K-12 products and services under the System 5 brand.
News/Breaking News - Posted 22 Sep 2005
PALS Classroom Exchange and PubSub will provide monitored, filtered blogging for 4.6 million educators and students in 191 countries.
News/Breaking News - Posted 16 Sep 2005
For September 15, 2005: Audacity is a solid audio recording and editing program for the budget minded teacher, and here's where you can get it.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Sep 2005 By
Industrial Audio Software’s ePodcast Producer offers an integrated podcasting solution of real benefit to teachers, the announcement states.
News/Breaking News - Posted 07 Sep 2005
Macromedia’s new K-12 site license offers educators a combination of digital communication tools and resources to enhance teaching, learning, and communication, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 01 Sep 2005
Charles Doe reviews Read & Write 7.1E Gold, a floating toolbar designed for use withWindows-based software programs.
Editorial/Product Reviews - Posted 01 Sep 2005 - Sep/Oct 2005 Issue By
Trevor Shaw documents their plans in anticipation of "deployment," as the the first day of the 2005–06 school year and the initial rollout of their student tablet PC program approach.
Column/Learning Unleashed! - Posted 01 Sep 2005 - Sep/Oct 2005 Issue By
Information Today, Inc. News Bureau Chief Paula Hane has written about a new anti-plagiarism tool from LexisNexis and iParadigm, CopyGuard. (From Information Today, Inc.’s NewsBreaks)
News/ITI Cross Links - Posted 31 Aug 2005
The new Web site was specifically designed for tweens, to engage, entertain, and educate them about the features of the new FLY pentop computer.
News/Breaking News - Posted 28 Jul 2005
TurboTools is the foundation of a Big6 information literacy program for your school and provides an effective way to implement and teach information and technology literacy, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 28 Jul 2005
These days, students are creating reports, portfolios, presentations, or other works that need to incorporate—legally, but without enormous hassles—multiple media “objects” such as music, voice, video, images, and more. Laura Gordon-Murnane’s Searcher article explains how “librarians now have a useful tool they can use to help identify content that patrons might want to use in a podcast, a mash-up, a collage, a video contribution to a blog, a document, a presentation, or whatever.” (From Information Today, Inc.’s Searcher magazine)
News/ITI Cross Links - Posted 25 Jul 2005
Version 4.1 includes major enhancements to the software packages, which foster interactive classroom instruction and control and monitor student desktops.
News/Breaking News - Posted 20 Jul 2005
The FLY pentop computer offers a range of innovative applications for tweens (grades 3-8) to learn, communicate, and game.