May 24, 2006

  • 05/24/06
T.H.E. Newsletter: May 24, 2006
May 24, 2006
WEEKLY SECTIONS

  • Intel, Microsoft Bring Pay-as-You-Go PCs to Millions of New Users

    Intel Corp. and Microsoft Corp. will collaborate to engineer and deliver flexible pay-as-you-go PC purchasing models for consumers in emerging markets. Intel’s support of Microsoft FlexGo technology is a key part of Intel’s broad World Ahead program to help speed access to uncompromised technology and education for people in developing regions around the world. The collaboration between Microsoft and Intel to implement FlexGo technology is another example of the successful joint activities the two companies have taken on in emerging markets. The pay-as-you-go model enabled by FlexGo makes PCs more accessible by reducing the initial cost and enabling customers to pay for computers through subscriptions or as they use them, through the purchase of prepaid activation cards or tokens. Intel provides support for the FlexGo capability initially on Intel’s Discover the PC platforms tailored for people in developing regions, such as the recently introduced Intel-powered Community PC in India. Intel's World Ahead Program, which extends the company's existing initiatives for developing regions, integrates Intel's efforts to enhance lives by driving progress in technology accessibility, connectivity, and education. The five-year objectives of the World Ahead Program are to extend broadband PC access to the world's next billion users while training 10 million more teachers on the use of technology in education and with the possibility of reaching another 1 billion students.

    For the full story, visit
    http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/may06/05-21IntelFlexPR.mspx

  • Excelsior Software Takes Top Honors at 2006 Codie Awards

    Excelsior Software has earned top honors in the prestigious Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) 21st Annual Codie Awards. Excelsior’s Pinnacle Plus solution was named the winner in the Best Student Information System or Gradebook category. Additionally, the company's District Data Analyzer (DDA) was a finalist in the Best Solution for Education Enterprise category. These honors mark the second consecutive year that Excelsior Software has been recognized for its achievements by SIIA. In 2005, Pinnacle Plus earned the rare distinction of being named a finalist in two categories of the 20th Annual Codie Awards: Best Classroom Instructional Management Solution and Best Gradebook or Student Information System for K-12 or Postsecondary.

    For the full story, visit http://www.excelsiorsoftware.com/company/news.aspx#codie2006

    For a list of all 2006 Codie Award winners, visit http://www.siia.net/codies/2006/winners.asp

  • PLATO, ALAS Announce 2006 Inspired Education Award Winners

    PLATO Learning and the Association of Latino Administrators & Superintendents (ALAS) have announced that L.E.A.D.S. Academy in the San Diego Unified School District (CA) and Nimitz Ninth Grade School in the Aldine Independent School District (TX) are the recipients of the 2006 Inspired Education Award. The award, now in its fourth year, seeks to enhance student achievement and technology literacy in high-need schools. Awardees receive a complete instructional technology program, including 20 laptop computers and a three-year subscription to PLATO courses covering core high school subjects with pre-assessments, instructional content, unit tests, final exams, and correlations to state standards. Awardees also receive comprehensive professional development, a school-based evaluation program, and technical assistance. The award’s technology program will be implemented at each school in time for start of the 2006–07 school year.

    For the full story, visit
    http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=96398&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=858669&highlight

  • Florida School Districist Continue to Invest in Energy Conservation Technology

    A third major Florida school district is installing the VendingMiser energy management solution from USA Technologies (USAT) on all of its campus vending machines to save on energy costs. Energy Reapers Inc., a USA Technologies distributor, began delivering 267 VendingMiser devices to the Manatee School District last week valued in excess of $38,000. The Manatee districtwide order follows the successful implementation of 1,025 VendingMiser devices at Orange County Public Schools in Orlando and 800 VendingMiser devices at the Pinellas County School District. Energy Reapers Inc has also indicated that it is in negotiations to install additional VendingMisers at several other facilities in Florida, including several more school districts, public and private universities, private schools, and a number of theme parks. The purchase of energy technology was also being influenced by a Florida State sales tax moratorium on the purchase of products for hurricane preparedness, covering everything from gas-powered generators to flashlights. According to USAT, the VendingMiser devices will save the Manatee School District more than $40,000 annually, the Orange County schools more than $180,000 annually, and the Pinellas County School District more than $120,000 annually.

    For the full story, visit
    http://www.usatech.com/company_info/news/usa_2006_05_18.php

  • Blachford Named Superintendent for Keyport Schools

    The Keyport Board of Education (NJ) (http://www.keyportschools.org) has approved C. Dan Blachford as its new district superintendent, replacing John Dumford, who is retiring on June 30. Blachford has more than 35 years of experience in education, most recently serving as the superintendent of the Mine Hill School District in New Jersey. In an interview with The Courier, board member Steven Reed, who chairs the district’s technology committee, said he was excited about Blachford’s arrival because he has a strong background in using technology in education, including developing a series of computer programs with the Mine Hill School District that helped motivate challenged students. Improving test scores and preparing students for high school will be among Blachford's top priorities when he takes over as superintendent.

    * Please share your faculty and staff transitions with us by e-mailing [email protected]


Versa Products Inc. recently released the Enclosed Downview Desk, which is designed to allow schools to mount LCD monitors below the desktop. This design provides the user with a more workable writing surface (30 inches for the single user and 72 inches for the multi-user desk) and helps reduce the clutter of having a monitor sitting on your desk. Once mounted, the monitor can be easily adjusted for height, tilt, and angle with a single touch. The desk’s design also makes it easier for students to glance up at what’s happening in front of them without having to strain their necks to see around a monitor. The Enclosed Downview Desk is available in maple wood grain, gray, or black surface colors; can be fitted with wheels to provide mobility; and comes with Vera’s lifetime warranty. Pricing starts at $299 for the 30-inch desk and $499 for the 72-inch desk.


The goal of David Thornburg’s latest book, When the Best is Free: An Educator's Perspective on Open Source Software, is to increase educational computer use by children through the promotion of free software that is at least as good as the expensive commercial titles it replaces. The book focuses on a small, but important, segment of the free software movement—those programs that run equally well on just about any current operating system found in schools today. It also recommends hand-picked titles that work the same under Windows, Linux, and the Macintosh operating systems, with powerful examples ranging from simple document creation to the design and implementation of online courseware, with many other applications in-between. When the Best is Free is available in paperback for $24.95 directly from the Thornburg Center by e-mailing [email protected]



http://www.va.gov/Kids/
In preparation for Memorial Day, this site from the US Department of Veterans Affairs offers kid-friendly resources for K-12 students and teachers, including scholarship information, classroom activities, and volunteer opportunities.


http://www.doggonesafe.com
In honor of Dog Bite Prevention Week, the nonprofit organization Doggone Safe’s Web site provides free information to help promote safety messages, including a special program for school-age children that teaches them to understand the signs dogs send with their body language.

For a complete listing of up-to-date conference information, visit T.H.E. Conference Calendar, T.H.E. Journal 's comprehensive conference database, at: http://www.theconferencecalendar.com

Call for Papers!!!

THE Journal is currently looking for the following types of articles as we prepare for our 2006 issues:

  • School Perspectives —discuss a specific topic, trend, or concern about education technology.

  • Wishlist/Shortlist —a simple list of the technology (e.g., wireless, laptops, etc.) you're looking at to solve a challenge in your school/district, and an accompanying “shortlist” of vendors you're looking at to solve those challenges.

If you have a potential article, or questions about the above topics, please e-mail [email protected]

THE Institute and AOL @ SCHOOL Offer New Online Course for Educators
“Internet Literacy – Making the Most of the Web,” is a new online course for educators interested in using the World Wide Web in teaching and learning. Designed for elementary and secondary school teachers, the course provides tools for educators to integrate technology into their curricula to improve student achievement and meet NCLB requirements. The cost is $79 per person; course moderation and graduate credit are additional options. “Internet Literacy – Making the Most of the Web," is designed to be useful both for educators new to using technology in teaching and learning and for tech-savvy veterans.
For complete course details and to register, go to http://www.thejournal.com/institute/course510.cfm.

Four Integrating Technology Courses from T.H.E. Institute
 T.H.E. Institute is offering four online professional development courses to help educators comply with NCLB requirements and use technology more successfully in the classroom. The cost is $149 per course, which includes a $10 per person per course administration fee for documentation of clock hours and a certificate of completion. Course moderation and graduate credit are additional options; volume discounts are available. Anyone who enrolls in a course will receive individual access to the netTrekker site, as well as free individual access to United Learning's unitedstreaming site. In addition, special pricing is available for educators in districts that have purchased Glencoe/McGraw-Hill's TechCONNECT.

Integrating Technology in the Classroom Courses: Social Studies — Available Now; Science — Available Now; English/Language Arts— Available Now; Mathematics — Available Now

For more information, log on to http://www.thejournal.com/institute/IntegratingTech.cfm.

Awesome Clipart for Educators offers educators FREE clipart, coloring pages, backgrounds, banners, fonts, icons, worksheets, wallpaper, and more. Choose from categories such as animals, creatures, education, holidays, just to name a few. We have thousands of graphics organized in a simple, easy to use format - categorized by type and keyword. Next time you need clipart - come to Awesome Clipart for Educators and see how easy finding clipart can be!
http://www.AwesomeClipartForEducators.com


THE Newsletter is a bulletin comprised of recent announcements that affect the education community. Our goal is to keep our readers well informed with the most up to date news. In addition, we hope our audience will share with us their opinions regarding educational technology issues so we may be certain we are covering the topics that are of most interest to them. Please direct any questions or comments about THE Newsletter to [email protected]

Sign up now to receive a free subscription to T.H.E. Journal - a resource for administrative, technical, and tech-savvy educators in K-12 education: http://subscribe.101com.com/THE/magazine/NewsLrt

Copyright 2006 101communications LLC., 9121 Oakdale Ave., Suite 101, Chatsworth, CA 91311. THE Newsletter may only be redistributed in its unedited form. Written permission from the editor must be obtained to reprint the information contained within this newsletter. Contact [email protected]

Whitepapers