New research released today by the Pew Internet Project found that technology has made significant inroads among Advanced Placement and National Writing Project teachers. But it also revealed significant disparities in technology access between upper and lower income schools.
Tanque Verde Unified School District in Tucson, AZ, is going green on all four of its campuses with solar power installations expected to generate 2 million kilowatt-hours each year.
To help produce live coverage of its varsity athletics from its new competition gymnasium, Webster City High School in Webster City, Iowa, has installed a new video control center, as part of an HD overhaul the school has made to its student-run broadcast journalism program.
- By Stephen Noonoo
- 02/27/13
ShareStream recently unveiled a new version of its video extension for teaching and learning that integrates with Desire2Learn's learning management system, Learning Environment.
Two companies that specialize in security have teamed up to provide a school-specific offering that combines on-site in-person security with video surveillance.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/27/13
Quib.ly, a service designed to help parents understand technology and the ways it affects their children is launching in the United States today.
Schools need to move away from the current factory model based on seat-time credit requirements and toward a new competency-based learning model that supports mastery-based, student-centered, personalized learning environments, according to CompetencyWorks and the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL).
K-12 and post-secondary educators in the United States are invited to enter a contest to win a document camera for their classroom.
- By Sharleen Nelson
- 02/27/13
Devolutions has launched version 2.0 of Remote Desktop Manager Online, the cloud-based repository for Remote Desktop Manager.
An education technology company with a student information system (SIS) used by 1,500 districts globally has said it intends to integrate a "student reward system" into its software to promote student engagement.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/26/13
A Toronto company that develops mobile security products to help with public safety has introduced a new indoor positioning system that transmits the precise location within a building that an emergency call is coming from.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/26/13
ForeScout Technologies will integrate its ForeScout CounterACT network access control solution with Citrix XenMobile MDM Edition.
LearnSprout, provider of the first universal application programming interface (API) for K-12, has launched a strategic partnership with technology service provider inBloom.
A company that sells a software development platform for non-coders--including students--is turning to project funding source KickStarter to generate the funds it needs to convert its code to open source
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/26/13
Visual collaboration solution provider AVer will launch TabCam and TabSync, two products designed to "maximize the iPad’s potential in the classroom," according to information released by the company.
Memphis City Schools has signed an agreement with a Web-based service that provides math- and science-based games.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/25/13
A national online competition challenges students in grades 4-8 to build the fastest, best designed, and most visually stunning solar vehicle they can imagine.
- By Sharleen Nelson
- 02/28/13
Since launching in 2011, Eduplanet21 has leveraged user feedback to inform continued improvements to their social learning platform. According to a recent announcement, the company has rolled out new features and user interface changes intended to improve user engagement and collaboration.
A national organization of state education technology directors has published the results of a comparison of tools that schools can use to assess their broadband capabilities in preparation for coming online Common Core assessments and the use of other digital resources.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/28/13
Blackboard Collaborate has added support for Learning Tools Interoperability specifications. The move makes the online collaboration platform available from any LTI-compliant learning management system.
Lovejoy Independent School District , located north of Dallas, TX, will implement a new fiber-optic wide area network, which will provide a minimum of one Gigabit of communications bandwidth to each site in the district.
Canvas users will be able to share Google Docs with groups of individuals more quickly following Instructure's update of its learning platform as the result of an update to the system.
Rochester City School District has gone public with its move away from Oracle and to Rimini Street for annual maintenance of its PeopleSoft applications.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/25/13
tablets for schools, mobile computing for schools, Hayt Elementary, West Aurora School District 129, iStartSmart Mobile, education information technology, school technology, campus technology, educational technology.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/20/13
WizIQ has released an update to its virtual classroom plugin for the open source learning management system Moodle 2.4.
School districts that use college and career readiness platform Naviance Family Connection by Hobsons also now have integrated access to Roadtrip Nation's archive of video interviews with more than 300 local, national, and international leaders.
Owing to a partnership between an educational assessment company and an automated library system provider, some New York State school libraries will receive access to Lexile measures to help select books and other resources for students based on reading ability.
CompetencyWorks and the International Association for K-12 Online Learning have released a new report, Re-Engineering Information Technology: Design Considerations for Competency Education, which identifies the technological requirements for a competency-based education model.
Texas Instruments has released two new apps for iPad that bring the functionality of its TI-Nspire graphing calculators to iOS.
A company that offers free and low-cost versions of bibliography and citation generation software has launched a Web-based service for teaching students how to research and write research papers.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/19/13
The Association of Educational Publishers are seeking input from education publishers on the Learning Resource Metadata Initiative, a project that aims to improve the way educators, students and publishers interact with learning resources through a common metadata framework.
California students in grades 6-12 will get a chance this year to program their own robot and compete in Robotic Idol, a robotic dance competition.
- By Sharleen Nelson
- 02/19/13
A new line of iBook math textbooks from YourTeacher is intended to give math teachers a turnkey way to flip their classrooms, using technology to leverage learning in the classroom so a teacher can spend more time interacting with students instead of lecturing.
The Android operating system saw triple-digit growth in the number of mobile phones shipped in the last year, while iOS--which runs on Apple's iPhone--also experienced significant increases in shipments. Nearly half a billion Android smart phones shipped in 2012, as iOS devices hit about 136 million.
The Wauwatosa School District in Wisconsin will launch a tuition-free statewide virtual learning program open to all Wisconsin students in grades 6-12 for the 2013-2014 school year.
Within one year, cloud computing in K-12 schools is expected to consume a quarter of the entire IT budget; four years from now, that figure will grow to 35 percent. What's driving that growth?
Online training company lynda.com has expanded its line-up of videos in other languages with the purchase of video2brain, a European company with a team in the United States that provides online video training in German, French, Spanish, and English.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/19/13
Six hundred rural schools in Venezuela are gaining access to the Internet through a new Wi-Fi deployment designed to give teachers and students access to academic and teaching materials from around the world.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/21/13
Online learning provider Edgenuity (formerly E2020) will boost its summer school program by adding 185 courses to its roster of Common Core and state standards-aligned curricula.
- By Sharleen Nelson
- 02/21/13
Online learning platform ScootPad has partnered with text-to-speech specialist ReadSpeaker to enhance its service with a "click and listen" feature.
Following a site analysis and evaluation of user feedback, Adobe has re-launched Education Exchange, its free online community for educators with new features, including social media capabilities, and a new design. is available now, after the company evaluated user feedback and conducted a site analysis.
Wrightstown, NJ-based New Hanover Township School will receive a $48,000 technology grant from a partnership among the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, Lowe's, and Samsung Hope for Children.
Samsung has launched two new cloud display lines, the TC-series thin client cloud displays and the NC-series zero-client cloud displays.
In preparation for the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act on January 1, 2014, Frontline Technologies has added some new features to Aesop, its automated substitute placement and absence management system.
Sunnyside Unified School District, a self-proclaimed "tech-savvy school district" in Tucson, AZ, has completed the introduction of a 1-to-1 program for the 2012-2013 school year for students in grades 4 through 9.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/13/13
In an effort to help prepare students for college and future careers, McGraw-Hill Education will make its adaptive study tool, LearnSmart, available to high school students.
- By Sharleen Nelson
- 02/13/13
Trivantis has released a new version of its e-learning software, which includes a new interface, wizards, and tools.
DreamBox Learning and edWeb.net have partnered to launch a new online professional learning community (PLC), Blended Learning, which is intended to support educators who are exploring and implementing blended learning models for elementary math.
A grant funded by Cisco Systems is supporting implementation of a pilot that uses math games in Virginia to help raise math proficiency in that state.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/14/13
The Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies has launched Smithsonian Quests, a digital badge program designed to foster project-based learning and inspire students to explore their own ideas and interests.
Schools and districts seeking grants to cover the cost of upgrades to their security infrastructure can get help from a global company that sells multiple security products.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/14/13
Google and CDW have launched a partnership that will see the former offer enterprise Chromebook solutions for education customers.
Education software company Kno has debuted Advance, a new platform that can convert PDFs and other flat document files into interactive electronic textbooks at no cost.
Continuing its mission to turn around Los Angeles' lowest performing schools, the non-profit organization Partnership for LA Schools will receive additional funding for its blended learning initiative, which supports science, technology, engineering, and math education in the Los Angeles Unified School District through online learning programs.
- By Sharleen Nelson
- 02/12/13
Broadcom today debuted a new mobile 4G LTE chip that sports an LTE category-4 modem, with speeds of up to 150 Mbps, and that takes up less space and consumes less power than current-generation modems used in smart phones.
ForeScout Technologies and MobileIron have launched a partnership to deliver a security system for enterprise bring-your-own-device environments.
Adaptive Curriculum has partnered with JP-Inspiring Knowledge (JP-IK) to create a new inclusive learning tool that combines computer hardware from JP-IK with math and science educational content from Adaptive Curriculum.
Brandman University and the Capistrano Unified School District have partnered to improve the online and virtual learning of California Preparatory Academy and Capistrano Virtual School students.
Bretford's new charging unit, which can charge up to 10 tablets and e-readers—of different brands—simultaneously, will begin shipping March 1.
Lucid Data has released a new Web-based teacher evaluation, observation, and self-assessment system for its PDExpress professional development management system.
CFY was selected from nearly 100 applicants to win a $350,000 Digital Learning Challenge grant from the Susan Crown Exchange to allow CFY to enhance PowerMyLearning.com.
New York's Dobbs Ferry School District has added anonymous alert functionality to its existing alerts services, allowing individuals to anonymously report information that they may otherwise be uncomfortable conveying.
M&A Technologies has introduced a compact, mobile workstation that integrates an array of audio-visual tools into an all-in-one unit
- By Sharleen Nelson
- 02/11/13
A new partnership between Everbridge, a provider of interactive communication and mass notification solutions, and Nixle, a provider of local community alert services, will allow Nixle to integrate key Everbridge voice and email capabilities into their community alerting platform.
Four schools in the greater Atlanta area are using software to track the behavior of challenging students and encourage good behavior through positive reinforcement.
SoftChalk has added iPad and Android compatibility and greater learning management system integration to the newest version of SoftChalk Cloud, its cross-platform learning object repository and content authoring platform.
In a district-wide initiative designed to promote and facilitate mobile learning in the K-12 classroom, McAllen Intermediate School District has distributed more than 22,000 mobile devices.
- By Sharleen Nelson
- 02/07/13
Can robots teach math? That's what RobotsLab is promoting with the release of its latest robotics product, the Box, a kit of hardware and curriculum intended to teach Algebra 1 and 2, physics, geometry, trigonometry, and pre-calculus for grades seven through 12.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/07/13
Skyward has released SkyCoder, a new tool that enables Skyward customers to customize their data management screens and fields without using in-house development staff.
Learning.com, which helps K-12 teachers and administrators improve student learning through its own curriculum solutions and assessments, has launched its platform's newest feature, the Custom Curriculum Publishing Tool.
The Shared Learning Collaborative (SLC) today launched inBloom, a nonprofit data integration and content search service for students and educators.
The State of Maryland has signed a statewide software license agreement to make geographic information system technology available for all K‑12 classrooms and formal after-school programs.
Bretford's new line, featuring movable furnishing with built-in power access, is designed to foster interaction and collaboration.
Science teachers must continue their own education to stay current. One professional organization that takes an integrated approach to learning, including making use of the cloud, is the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).
Two network management companies have teamed up to create an approach that lets customers combine network access with mobile device management.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/05/13
One of the world’s largest cloud services providers is shooing children away from their computers and back to their drawing boards, crayons, markers, colored pencils, and other art supplies. The Doodle 4 Google contest launched on Jan. 15 with the announcement of the 2013 theme, "My Best Day Ever...”
Digital curriculum and test preparation company Shmoop has added Shmoop Analytics, a reporting tool that tracks and analyzes data for schools and districts.
- By Sharleen Nelson
- 02/05/13
Nearly all K-12 schools now use cloud technology in some form. But how many understand all the possibilities and pitfalls? That's the question posed by a new report to members of the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN).
A report produced by TwinStrata, a data storage company, offers the perspective of those using or exploring cloud storage options.
The benefits of technology for education aren't just hype according to some of the results that surfaced in a national survey of pre-K-12 teachers sponsored by PBS LearningMedia
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/05/13
Medina City School District in Ohio has deployed new wireless and wired network solutions across its 13 campuses to support bring-your-own-device policies and blended learning.
Compass Learning and GlobalScholar are partnering to integrate their digital curriculum and assessments and adaptive testing software.
Texas-based New Caney Independent School District has announced board approval to replace its current finance, human resources, and student information system with a centralized enterprise resource planning system designed to link all of its district operations.
- By Sharleen Nelson
- 02/06/13
More than 20,000 teachers and 4 million students from all 50 states and the District of Columbia will take part in the second annual Digital Learning Day, which takes place Feb. 6.
Omnilert has released an SMS Inbox feature for its e2campus and Amerilert emergency alert systems.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) and Samsung have partnered to make HMH interactive educational material available on Samsung's Android-powered mobile devices and to bring the HMH Fuse app to Android.
Belkin today unveiled a device, set to ship in March, that converts an iPad into a document camera for classroom presentations. A free companion iPad app, available now, provides whiteboard capabilities and wired and wireless video output for classroom presentations.
E2020 has changed its name to Edgenuity and is releasing a new platform for its online and blended-learning programs.
Pinellas County Schools, based in Lagos, FL, is partnering with a nonprofit organization to provide teachers with professional development in preparation for implementation of Common Core State Standards.
The Software and Information Industry Association has launched its sixth annual Vision K-20 Survey at its newly revamped Web site.
- By Sharleen Nelson
- 02/06/13
Lerner Digital has enhanced its line of Lerner Interactive Books products by adding a third, slower audio speed intended to assist struggling and beginning readers, along with English language learners, by modeling pronunciation and fluency at a more manageable pace.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation has received a grant from Google Giving to provide students in the United Kingdom with 15,000 Raspberry Pi Model B computer boards for learning to program.
Smart Technologies has unveiled a new interactive table, the Smart Table 442i collaborative learning center, which enables up to eight students from preK to grade three to work together on interactive multimedia learning activities.
Beginning Feb. 4, Chrystyna V. Mursky will fill the role of director of professional learning for the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium.
GoStrengths! has launched a new suite of online, research-based social and emotional learning (SEL) programs designed for students ages 8 to 16. GoStrengths demonstrated the programs at the recent FETC 2013 conference in Orlando, FL.
A new piece of malware discovered by Kapersky Lab uses smart phones to install malware onto Windows-based PCs.
Homer Community School, a small rural school district in Nebraska, has launched a new Web-based incident management and prevention system intended to help reduce crime and other concerning behaviors.
Voyager Learning, a provider of intervention materials, professional development, and school improvement services for pre-kindergarten through grade 12, is accepting online applications for a new grant program to help fund summer school programs.
This month Epson will roll out a new model in its BrightLink line of interactive projectors. The new LCD-based BrightLink 436Wi will be the first portable unit in the lineup, weighing less than 10 pounds.
Google further solidified the lead of its Android mobile operating system in the last quarter of 2012. Android's worldwide market share jumped nearly 20 points, while its chief rival, Apple's iOS, remained essentially flat. Both platforms saw significant increases in total units shipped.