Assistive Technology in Education


Carolina Biological Launching Certified OpenSciEd Middle School Units and CTE

Carolina Biological, a supplier of instructional materials for science classes, on Tuesday unveiled new “certified” print and digital versions of OpenSciEd science instructional units for grades 6–8, including complete lab kits and flexible purchase options for schools, the company said in a news release.

Two Senators Unveil Bipartisan Bill to Open SAMHSA Mental Health Funds to K–12 School Districts

Two U.S. senators have announced proposed legislation that would allow K–12 school districts to seek direct federal funding for comprehensive student mental health and suicide prevent programs from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

SXSW EDU 2022 Gears Up To Reimagine Education: From Practical to Profound

Since COVID-19 turned the U.S. education system upside down, the movement to "reimagine education" seems to be having a moment, and SXSW EDU attendees can expect to hear a lot of discussion on remaking America’s public school norms when the event returns in-person March 7–10 in Austin with more than 350 in-person sessions, dozens of which will be streamed online as well for virtual attendees.

PresenceLearning To Add Several Hasbro Kids' Characters, Games To Its Online Therapy Platform

PresenceLearning, a provider of online counseling for schools and clinicians, on Tuesday announced a deal to to bring some of Hasbro’s children’s characters and classic games to the PresenceLearning therapy platform to help speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and behavioral and mental health professionals better engage with students during sessions.

Arizona ED Selects i-Ready as Universal Literacy and Dyslexia Screener for Students for 2022-23

The Arizona Department of Education has named Curriculum Associates’ i-Ready Assessment as an approved universal literacy and dyslexia screener for the 2022–2023 school year, allowing schools statewide to use the online diagnostic and offline literacy assessments to screen for risk factors associated with dyslexia.

Age of Learning Expands School Solutions with New My Reading Academy

Age of Learning, creator of the popular ABCmouse online learning program, has launched My Reading Academy, a game-based platform offering “an individualized, adaptive learning solution blending interactivity, adaptive challenges, and ongoing feedback to sustain engagement and motivation in young learners," the company said.

Nearpod Math Launches with Emphasis on Flexible Instruction Design, Standards-Aligned Content

Nearpod, the interactive instructional platform that lets teachers view students’ progress in real time, today is launching Nearpod Math as an additional curriculum channel for K–8 educators, the company told THE Journal, with 5,000 math lessons, activities, and tools — all searchable and aligned to standards and to many of the curriculum providers used by U.S. school districts.

Texthelp's New OrbitNote Adds Accessibility Functions to PDF Files

Texthelp, a provider of literacy and accessibility technology, has launched a new web app called OrbitNote that adds accessibility features to PDFs, including the ability to type, highlight, and leave voice memos on documents, the company said in a news release.

CodeSpark Academy Adds New Adventure Game Design Tools

CodeSpark Academy, a popular learn-to-code app for kids ages 5–10, announced today the launch of “Adventure Game,” a powerful new set of design tools that allows users to use code to create open-ended role-playing games, inspired by classic hit games like “The Legend of Zelda” and “Animal Crossing.”

Literacy and Accessibility Software Firm Texthelp Acquiring Don Johnston Inc. Edtech Division

Literacy and accessibility technology company Texthelp said this week it is acquiring the edtech division of Don Johnston Inc., adding DJI’s Snap&Read, Co:Writer, Word Bank, Quizbot, and uPAR tools to its suite of products, while the DJI products ReadTopia and First Author will be folded into the new spin-off company, to be called Building Wings.

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