T.H.E. SmartClassroom :: March 19, 2009 -- THE Journal

Spotlight

Mobile Devices: Facing Challenges and Opportunities for Learning
The issue of mobile devices two pronged: that of administrators charged with overall school safety of our children and that of the educators who desire some degree of academic freedom to wisely select whatever it takes to prepare every student in their charge with 21st century skills within a safe environment. Which side do we take? Can we make both sides happy? What are potential challenges and opportunities for learning via mobile devices? It's time to explore. More

Epson Debuts 4 Sub-$1,000 LCD projectors
Epson has introduced four new sub-$1,000 LCD multimedia projectors for education. The new models are designed to provide up to 6,000 hours of lamp life and include features for classroom use like microphone input, blackboard and whiteboard modes, and suport for computer-free PowerPoint presentations. More
Canon Launches LCD Education Projectors
Canon USA is expanding its line of projectors for education. The company this week introduced three new LCD-based classroom models, each designed for high light output with resolutions up to WXGA. More
Partnership Will Make More Books Accessible to Readers with Print Disabilities
Hachette Book Group has partnered with Bookshare to make more than 1,700 titles newly available in Braille, large type, and synthetic speech formats for readers with print disabilities. More
New Online Software Package Aims To Help Educate Students with Autism
With a rate of a new diagnosis every 21 minutes, autism is the fast growing developmental disorder in the United States. Virtual Expert Clinics has launched AutismPro, a customizable package of tools, content, and programming designed to help educators and administrators improve the learning experiences for students with autism through the effective use of technology. More

EduHound Directory is a highly specialized K-12 educational directory with categorized resource links.
EduHound Lesson Plans feature thousands of free lessons that meet state and national standards.
EduHound Site Sets are collections of topic-based online education resources.
Awesome Clipart for Educators offers educators FREE clipart, backgrounds, fonts, icons, worksheets and more.
EducatorTemplates.com is your FREE directory of customizable & printable education related templates.

Google Moving AI Agents into Mainstream Product Portfolio

At its recent I/O developer conference, Google positioned artificial intelligence agents not as a distant research project, but as a product strategy spanning Search, personal assistants, productivity software, developer tools, and smart glasses.
Survey: AI Is Moving Faster than Data Trust

AI agents are already in use or pilot at most organizations, but data visibility, governance and precision recovery capabilities have not kept pace, according to a new survey from Veeam Software.
Michigan's Flint Community Schools Adopts Human-Centered Approach to Fight Chronic Absenteeism

In an effort to boost enrollment and combat chronic absenteeism, Michigan's Flint Community Schools has partnered with Concentric Educational Solutions to help address the academic, social, emotional, and environmental factors that prevent students from enrolling, re-enrolling, or attending school.
13 School and District Teams to Participate in Rural AI Strategy Lab

K-12 education nonprofit FullScale, in partnership with nonprofit advocacy organization All4Ed, is bringing together 13 school and district teams to collaboratively investigate how AI can thoughtfully be integrated into teaching and learning.