• AT&T, BellSouth to Merge

  AT&T Inc. and BellSouth Corp. have announced an agreement to merge the two companies, a combination that will create a more effective and efficient provider in the wireless, broadband, video, voice, and data markets. The merger will streamline the ownership and operations of Cingular Wireless, which is jointly owned by AT&T and BellSouth. The new company will be more innovative, nimble and efficient, providing benefits to customers by combining the Cingular, BellSouth and AT&T networks into a single, fully integrated wireless and wireline Internet Protocol network offering a full range of advanced solutions. As a result, the combined company will be better able to speed the convergence of new and improved services for consumers and businesses, and embrace the industry’s shift to Internet Protocol network-based technologies.

  For the full story, visit http://att.sbc.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=22140

• Sonic Foundry, Blackboard Integrate Mediasite With Leading Course Management System

  Sonic Foundry Inc. has announced its new Mediasite Building Block for Blackboard which will integrate the award-winning Mediasite Web communications system with the Blackboard Learning System, a widely adopted course management system used by higher education, K-12, and corporate and government institutions. With the Mediasite Building Block for Blackboard, any Mediasite-recorded lecture, presentation, or meeting on campus, whether live or archived, can be published as learning content to the Blackboard Learning System. Students now have convenient, anytime access to their instructors’ rich media presentations directly from their Blackboard-managed courses, including fully synchronized audio, video, and presentation materials from PowerPoint and electronic whiteboards to document cameras or other presentation devices.

  For the full story, visit http://www.sonicfoundry.com/main.aspx?dir=company&subpage=press_release&id=718

• Online Teacher Continuing Education Makes the Grade in Illinois

  The Illinois State Board of Education recently approved Professional Learning Board as an authorized provider of continuing education services to Illinois teachers and education employees. Professional Learning Board delivers research-based online professional development courses created by recognized experts and master teachers for teachers.

  For the full story, visit http://www.professionallearningboard.com/lms/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=13

• SolidWorks Offers New Technology Software Grants for Teachers

  SolidWorks Corp. announced it would grant SolidWorks Student Edition CAD software to as many as 1,000 individual U.S. educators in a new initiative aimed at improving students’ math skills and their interest in technology-related careers. The SolidWorks-STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Educators grant includes training and lesson plans to help teachers and faculty from middle school through college integrate the four separate disciplines for more effective education. With backing by the National Science Foundation, STEM is an emerging movement in American education, which is increasingly realizing that global competitiveness requires students to be technologically literate.

  For the full story, visit http://www.solidworks.com/pages/news/viewrelease.html?prid=328
  

• PLATO, ALAS Announce 2006 Inspired Education Award

  PLATO Learning and the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents are sponsoring the Fourth Annual Inspired Education Award. The purpose of the award is to increase student achievement and technology literacy at a high-need school consistent with PLATO Learning’s mission: “Inspired solutions for teaching and learning.” The award program will grant one school a complete educational technology program, including hardware, software, and support required to help the school realize the academic improvement possible through use of educational technology. To be eligible, schools must meet certain selection criteria, including: they must operate in a district with a student population between 10,000-500,000, serve students in grades 9-12, have 70 percent or more of their school population eligible for free and reduced lunches, and serve a city with a population of 200,000 or greater in a state west of the Mississippi River. The deadline for applications and required materials is March 31, 2006.

  For full details and forms, visit http://www.plato.com/community/inspired_ed_award.asp
  

InfoCase Inc. (http://infocase.com) is offering two protective laptop cases that are ideal for students and educators who are always on the go. The patent-pending Endo series offers ultimate crush protection in a 14 oz. sleek, pressure-resistant sleeve design. The versatile, foam-constructed solution can be used as a carry-alone case or can be stashed in another bag or backpack. Each Endo case is also equipped with d-rings to accommodate accessories such as removable handles, a shoulder strap, and a removable accessory pouch. The patented Exo series of rugged carrying cases combines style with function to provide students with laptop protection wherever learning is taking place. This is because with the Exo, students can use the full functionality of their laptop while it's still inside the case, and simply zip up and go when class is over. The Exo comes in single, double, or no pocket models, and includes a shoulder strap. Academic pricing for the Endo series starts at $29.95, while pricing for the Exo series starts at $59.95.

inRESONANCE Inc. (http://www.inresonance.com) has recently announced a major upgrade of its full-featured admission and enrollment management solution. Portal 3.0, which features built-in HTML e-mail broadcast, manages the entire admission cycle from inquiry to decision, as well as enrollment and re-enrollment. It also tracks and reports on inquiries, applications, recommendations and transcripts, file reading, decisions, interviews, tours, visits, sources, and feeder schools. The optional Portal Web Services provide integrated Web capabilities, including online inquiries, applications, and decision notification. A key feature in Portal 3.0 is that e-mails, letters, labels, and reports are all merged and generated directly without needing to export to Excel, Word, or Crystal Reports. In addition, Portal 3.0 is an open solution, so reports and views can be customized, plus users don't have to know SQL. Pricing varies.

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