November 2, 2005

  • 11/02/05
T.H.E. Newsletter: November 2, 2005
November 2, 2005
WEEKLY SECTIONS

  • Schools, Libraries Eligible for E-Rate Funding for TippingPoint IPS

    TippingPoint, a division of 3Com and a leader in intrusion prevention, has announced that K-12 schools and libraries can now purchase TippingPoint Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) at a discount between 20-90 percent using federal E-Rate funds. The Tipping Point IPS provides preemptive protection against network threats, as well as allows schools to set policies to manage traffic so they get the most out of their resources.

    Libraries and schools interested in using E-Rate funds to purchase TippingPoint IPS can begin the process by filling out the E-Rate application for funding at: http://www.sl.universalservice.org/form/default.asp#applicants.

    For the full story, visit http://www.tippingpoint.com/pdf/press/2005/E-Rate_103105.pdf

  • NSBA Survey Reveals Tech Funding, Integration Still Biggest Challenges

    Funding for technology and integrating technology into the classroom rank among the biggest challenges that school districts face in the area of technology, according to a survey issued last week by the National School Boards Association (NSBA) at the organization's annual T+L² Conference in Denver, CO. While 63 percent of the respondents judged that their school district's curriculum was excellent or good in preparing students for the 21st century, 85 percent noted that their new teachers were only somewhat prepared or not prepared in effectively integrating technology into the classroom.

    For the full story, and to detailed survey results, visit
    http://www.nsba.org/site/doc.asp?TRACKID=&VID=2&CID=1591&DID=37031

  • SETDA Honors Two Pennsylvania Ed Tech Leaders

    The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA; http://www.setda.org) recently honored the leadership and progressive thinking of two Pennsylvania leaders: Deputy Secretary of Education L. Michael Golden and US Senator Arlen Specter. Golden received SETDA's Leader of the Year (SLY) Award and Sen. Specter received the SETDA Federal Policy Maker's Award. SETDA established the SLY peer-recognition award for the SETDA member who exhibits outstanding leadership in national and state education initiatives that help to further the effective integration of technology to improve student achievement. The Federal Policy Maker's Award was established to recognize policymakers who strongly support the effective integration of educational technology into 21st Century teaching and learning.

    For the full story, visit http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/051028/099458.html

  • Follett Software Celebrates 20th Anniversary With Free Poster

    Follett Software is celebrating 20 years of leadership in library and instructional asset management by offering 1,000 free motivational posters featuring Follett Software's new company branding image. The 19 inch x 25 inch poster features a remarkably detailed paper sculpture of the Golden Gate Bridge done for Follett by internationally famed paper artist Jeff Nishinaka. The poster includes the words “Education is the bridge between experience and wisdom.” Follett Software will send one free poster to the first 1,000 people who request it at the company's Web site, http://www.fsc.follett.com. “In our own way, Follett Software Co. has been a bridge for schools and districts as they have moved from card catalogs and checkout slips to integrated databases, laser scanners, and the Internet,” says Follett Software President Tom Schenck. “We want to continue to provide a bridge to even newer technologies that help districts cut costs while improving student achievement.”

  • RedRock Reports LLC to Acquire Assets of School Funding Services

    RedRock Reports LLC, the recently formed information service company for the K-12 education market, has announced an agreement to acquire the assets of School Funding Services (SFS), an online federal grant information service that was part of New American Schools, a leading provider of professional services and investment in K-12 education. According to Jennifer House, president of RedRock Reports, the company sees the acquisition as an opportunity to enhance its service offerings. “Adding SFS data and features will make RedRock Reports the premier source for information about federal, state, and foundation-based funding and funding trends.” The transaction is expected to be consummated within 30 days. RedRock Reports will announce availability of its subscription service by December 2005. For more information, contact Kate Mullen at 866-787-7625.

    For the full story, visit
    http://www.quote.com/qc/news/story.aspx?symbols=BWIRE:100&story=200510261100_BWR__BW5283

Alienware (http://www.alienware.com) has expanded its notebook line with two new mobile systems featuring Intel Centrino mobile technology: the 17-inch Area-51 m5700 and the 15.4-inch Area-51 m5500 . With this launch, Alienware is making its first major push into the commercial notebook space, targeting business, education, and government professionals. The m5700 (priced starting at $1,049) features NVIDIAR GeForceT Go 6800 graphics, dual SATA hard drives in RAID configurations, and the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition. The m5500 (priced starting at $1,049) balances the capabilities of high-performance mobile graphics, Intel Centrino mobile technology, and DDR2 Alienware-qualified memory with a highly mobile design that weighs 6 lbs.


Quantum Simulations Inc. (http://www.quantumsimulations.com), a developer of artificial intelligence (AI) tutoring and assessment software, has completed a six-month, $100,000 research project funded by the National Eye Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health, to produce the first and only tutoring software based on AI for students who are blind or visually impaired. Because the tutors are Internet-based and equipped with a unique dialog-driven tool that converses with students, the software is well-suited for use with synthesized speech screen access technologies utilized by individuals who are blind or visually impaired to navigate Web sites and access e-mail. Just like working with a human tutor, Quantum's tutoring software also allows students to work on any problems they choose, ask questions, and receive personal guidance, hints, and feedback based on their own work and subject knowledge.

 



http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorations/
Scholastic and the American Museum of Natural History have launched this Science Explorations site to help promote science literacy among students in grades 3-10. The site offers an exciting, new way for young scientists to visit animals in their natural habitat, learn about recent discoveries, interact with real scientists from the museum, uncover clues in online investigations and activities, and keep records of their discoveries in their own field journals. In addition, science teachers are provided with an interactive way to supplement lessons that support students' development of key science and cross-curricular skills. The site's first exploration, Animals, Adaptation, and the Galapagos, will give students and teachers a one-way ticket to the enchanted Galapagos Islands, as well as an up-close look at the animals, plants and terrain that Charles Darwin confronted when he visited the island.


http://www.safersurfers.org
Safersurfers.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Internet safety through education and awareness, is now offering free materials such as Internet safety quizzes and lesson plans. The free lesson plans are broken down into four categories — grade school, middle school, high school, and parents — and each lesson plan includes age-appropriate materials, interactive discussion topics, and quizzes. Also, all of the lesson plans were designed using ISTE's National Educational Technology Standards for Students.


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!!!
Please take a second to look at some of the topics we'll be covering in our fall 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 good story that is related to any of the above topics, please e-mail an abstract to [email protected]

T.H.E. Offers Educators Individual netTrekker Subscriptions
T.H.E. Journal has announced an exclusive partnership with Thinkronize, developers of netTrekker, the trusted search engine for schools, which allows educators worldwide to purchase individual (single-user) subscriptions to netTrekker, which previously was available only on a site license basis to schools and districts. With this initiative, T.H.E. and Thinkronize have combined to better serve their customer's needs by personalizing the way educators use the Internet. Educators can purchase individual subscriptions for netTrekker through the T.H.E. Journal's Web site at http://www.thejournal.com/netTrekker. The suggested list price for a one-year subscription is $49.95.

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


Whitepapers