T.H.E. News Update :: February 4, 2009 -- THE Journal

Spotlight

Top 10 Web 2.0 Tools for Young Learners
Gail Lovely is adamant about the nature and potential of Web-based learning tools. "Web 2.0 is about trust," she said at a recent talk. "It's about sharing and collaborating." And, she insisted, it's about putting the power to learn and create in the hands of the students. More
Good News for Ed Tech in the Economic Stimulus Bills
The House has passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the economic stimulus plan, and a bill has been introduced into the Senate. Congress intends to pass the bill by the middle of February, and Speaker Pelosi has said the House members will not have their Presidents' Day recess until they pass a bill. More

Google Earth 5 Goes Underwater, Travels to Mars
Google has released the Google Earth 5 beta, a major update to its geographical exploration software. The new release adds features for exploring below the oceans and also incorporates features for exploring the surface of Mars. More
Texas District Deploys SIF Integration Tools
Frisco Independent School District in northeast Texas has chosen Mizuni SIF Integration Tools for its growing technology and data processing needs. The district, which enrolls about 31,000 K-12 students, has experienced annual growth of between 12 percent and 30 percent over the last decade, and its demands for more efficient and reliable data management have subsequently skyrocketed. More
Chicago Parochial School Deploys WLAN To Support Classroom Technologies
Frances Xavier Warde School in Chicago has deployed Aruba Networks' 802.11n Access Points WiFi network at its Holy Name Cathedral and Old St. Patrick campuses. More
Pennsylvania Ed Tech Initiative Shifts Students to Project-based Learning
Pennsylvania's three-year Classroom for the Future (CFF) initiative has borne fruit, according to a recent study conducted jointly by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and education IT provider CDW Government. More

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Avantis Education Launches New Headsets for ClassVR Solution

Avantis Education recently introduced two new headsets for its flagship educational VR/AR solution, ClassVR. According to a news release, the Xcelerate and Xplorer headsets expand the company’s offerings into higher education while continuing to meet the evolving needs of K–12 users.
Edthena Launches AI-Powered Classroom Observation Tool

Professional learning platform Edthena has introduced Observation Copilot, an AI tool for principals designed to streamline the process of writing up framework-aligned teacher feedback from classroom observation notes.
ParentSquare Launches New Attendance Module

Family engagement platform ParentSquare has introduced ParentSquare Attendance Plus, a new solution designed to help reduce chronic absenteeism with timely communication.
AI Surpasses Cybersecurity in State Education Leader Priority List

For the first time, artificial intelligence has moved to the top of the priority list for state education leaders — knocking cybersecurity from the number one spot, according to the 2025 State EdTech Trends report from SETDA.