Online & Software

BLOXX (WWW.BLOXX.COM)

Bloxx’s Tru-View Technology Web filtering appliance uses patented language analysis and intelligent identification techniques. The appliance automatically analyzes and categorizes requested URLs not included in the optimized Bloxx URL database, providing improved coverage of the Internet. Bloxx Tru-View Technology can automatically analyze and categorize up to six million URLs a day.
Price: Contact company for pricing.
Category: filtering

THE BRIGANCE EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM (WWW.BRIGANCE.COM)

This system provides quick and easy screening, including key assessments that have been standardized on representative samples of thousands of children nationwide. Also, ongoing assessments of student skills help determine each child’s specific needs, target instruction, and monitor progress.
Price: Starts at $469 for 20 children.
Category: assessment

CRITICAL MATH (WWW.KEYPRESS.COM)

Critical Math is an online library of inquiry-based lessons that supplement Algebra 1, Geometry, or Algebra 2 curricula. Aligned to state standards, the lessons rely on proven instructional strategies, including cooperative structures, direct instruction, multiple teaching modes, and integration of technology. Each lesson contains extensive teacher notes, lesson plans, and homework worksheets.
Price: Contact the company for pricing.
Category: math

EBEAM MAC INTERACT 1.3 (WWW.LUIDIA.COM)

Luidia’s new authoring software now provides full support for the company’s Inscribe 200e wireless tablet, which allows users to draw, perform mouse functions, add notes to interactivewhiteboard displays, and interact with software applications from anywhere in a classroom. The new software offers additional ways for users to create and organize content within the eBeam Scrapbook environment, including reordering pages and manipulating text and graphic objects with the click of a mouse.
Price: Free for users of Luidia’s Edge for Education and eBeam Projection systems.
Category: authoring software

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT’S LEARNING VILLAGE (WWW.HMHPUB.COM)

This product connects educators to best practices, instructional strategies, lesson plans, and resources for measurable student achievement. Learning Village provides a content-agnostic, Web-based platform where teachers, administrators, parents, and students can access instructional content and learning resources as well as best practices and professional-development materials.
Price: Contact the company for pricing.
Category: online community

INSIGHT 7.3 (WWW.FARONICS.COM)

This classroom-management software allows instructors to educate, assist, monitor, and communicate with an entire class from one central computer. With version 7.3, a teacher can launch a Web browser from his or her console that will automatically open the browsers on the computers of selected students, who can follow along as the teacher navigates the Web. Questions are now presented in random order to prevent students from copying the answers of their neighbors, and teachers can now save their console settings and customizations and easily load them in the future.
Price: Contact the company for pricing.
Category: classroom-management software

IT’S LEARNING (WWW.ITSLEARNING.COM)

The platform allows students and teachers to create and deliver text, images, sound, and video for lessons, collaborative projects, assignments, online discussions, tests, and presentations. Students can save these digital files to an ePortfolio. Teachers can use the materials to instruct and assess students.
Price: Contact the company for pricing.
Category: authoring tool

KEYBOARD TOWN PALS SOFTWARE (WWW.KEYBOARDTOWNPALS.COM)

Children aged 7 to 12 learn to type on a computer keyboard with this keyboarding software. The KTP software uses association and memory techniques conveyed through stories told by live puppets. The software has also shown significant results with children with special needs.
Price: $29.95 (Web-based edition); $39.95 (home edition)
Category: keyboarding

MULTIMEDIA LEARNING SUITE SPANISH (WWW.MEMORYLIFTER.COM)

LearnLift, the makers of MemoryLifter, the flash-card freeware program, have just released the Multimedia Learning Suite: Spanish and ten new Spanish learning modules for the iPhone and the iPod touch. At the heart of the suite is the MemoryLifter stick, which features a portable version of the MemoryLifter study software and more than 3,500 multimedia flash cards that include text, images and audio recordings. The package also includes complementary learning aids, such as a verb wheel for practicing and looking up Spanish irregular verb forms, a printed study guide, a booklet on effective learning tips, and MP3 audiobooks.
Price: $89.95 (educational discounts available)
Category: foreign language

NAVIANCE SUCCEED (WWW.NAVIANCE.COM)

This suite of solutions and services for schools promotes college and workplace readiness. With Naviance Succeed, students create their own path to academic and personal success through the use of course-, college-, and career-planning systems. The solutions also offer analytics designed to help administrators measure meaningful long-term outcomes about their students, including enrollment and retention rates as well as college-admittance numbers.
Price: Contact the company for pricing.
Category: college and work prep

NETSWEEPER OS 2.6.27 INSTALLATION CD (WWW.NETSWEEPER.COM)

The Netsweeper OS 2.6.27 Installation CD adds significant features. For example, school authorities or businesses can now create a custom deny page for each URL category, group, or policy that redirects the user to a predefined URL. Netsweeper’s URL database will soon update automatically cycle every five minutes. Users now can use the LDAP protocol eDirectory group and user information, so that changes to their eDirectory management system automatically update the Netsweeper user and group database.
Price: Contact the company for pricing.
Category: security

NORTHCENTRAL UNIVERSITY (WWW.NCU.EDU)

Northcentral University’s online programs have been rated a “2009 Best Buy” by Get. Educated.com, a 20-yearold national consumer group that evaluates and ranks online colleges for cost and accreditation. According to Dr. Barnaby B. Barratt, provost of the 100 percent online university, the programs leading to Northcentral’s bachelor’s degree in business administration were ranked in the top third of a field of 83 colleges evaluated by GetEducated.com. The 2009 rankings will stand through July 2011, when the results of a new evaluation will be released.
Price: n/a
Category: online college

NUANCE PDF CONVERTER PROFESSIONAL 6 (WWW.NUANCE.COM)

This program provides all the features that schools need to create, edit, convert, and share PDF files. Nuance PDF Converter Professional allows users to scan paper documents directly to PDF. Nuance has also integrated Microsoft SharePoint and ECM connectivity directly into the Enterprise version of the product, making content management and discovery easier.
Price: $99.99 for individual users
Category: productivity

OPENLOOP GRADEBOOK API (WWW.SCHOOLLOOP.COM)

School Loop offers a set of Web-based services that let K-12 districts exchange data with subsystems in School Loop. OpenLoop Gradebook API allows assessment and grade-book systems to pull assignment and roster information from School Loop, then write scores into the grade book in School Loop. This process lets School Loop display the results to parents, students, and education teams inside the school.
Price: free
Category: communication software

PINNACLE ACCELERATED LEARNING (WWW.PINNACLESUITE.COM)

GlobalScholar, formerly Excelsior Software, launches Pinnacle Accelerated Learning (PAL), an online tutoring platform embedded in the Pinnacle Suite. Utilizing the latest Web 2.0 technologies, PAL offers a secure virtual learning environment where districts can provide students with academic help and enrichment from trusted educators within their own school communities. PAL is seamlessly integrated with the gradebook, parent-student portal, student information system, and curriculum, assessment, and data analysis tools found in the Pinnacle Suite.
Price: $2-$3 per student
Category: tutoring

PRINTLIMIT PRO (WWW.NETOP.COM)

Print-Limit Pro 9.4 includes load balancing, which allows schools to spread the printing load over groups of printers, maximizing the life of their hardware, toner, and other supplies. With Find-Me Printing, PrintLimit Pro 9.4 lets schools intelligently route jobs to printing centers within their institutions. It also features toner-level reporting and notification for supported network printers so administrators can replenish supplies.
Price: Free 30-day trial available on Web site
Category: print management

SCHOOLCENTER PRO (WWW.SCHOOLCENTER.COM)

SchoolCenter Pro integrates SchoolCenter’s content-management software with all-inclusive services designed to give your school a focused, goal-driven Web site. In addition to School- Center’s Web site management tools, SchoolCenter Pro utilizes a unique Blueprint approach that includes mapping of your current Web site, identification of gaps, and an ongoing plan for new Web content.
Price: Contact the company for pricing.
Category: interactive software

SCHOOLFUSION (WWW.SCHOOFUSION.COM)

SchoolFusion’s new “Student Participation Platform” encourages student involvement by rewarding students, based on a validated rating system, for their constructive, positive, and educationally appropriate involvement in SchoolFusion Classroom. In addition, SchoolFusion has recently released the following new features: drag-and-drop classroom Web site tools, a 21st century newsletter solution, streaming video, wikis, and more. Parents and students have a new RSS capability and teachers have real-time access to reports including visits and actual usage trends by students and parents.
Price: Contact company for more information.
Category: web 2.0 tool

SMART CLASSROOM SUITE (WWW.SMARTTECH.COM)

The SMART Classroom Suite transforms computer-enabled classrooms into fully collaborative and highly interactive learning environments. The product includes SMART Notebook, SMART Sync, SMART Notebook SE (Student Edition), and SMART Response CE. Together, these software applications support educators from lesson creation and delivery to student assessment.
Price: Contact company for pricing.
Category: presentation, assessment

UNIVERSITY 2.0 (WWW.UOPEOPLE.ORG)

The Internet-based University of the People (UoPeople) has launched its official Web site— the face of the first online platform to provide universal access to college-level studies, reaching the poorest and most remote places on earth. UoPeople utilizes open-source technology and open courseware to create online communities for college-level studies. Within these communities, students around the world can attend lectures, cover readings, share resources, and discuss assigned questions.
Price: Free initially; UoPeople plans to charge nominal processing fees as it expands.
Category: virtual courses

VOCABGRABBER (WWW.VOCABGRABBER.COM)

Powered by Thinkmap Visual Thesaurus software, VocabGrabber intelligently extracts words from any document and demonstrates how those words are used in context. It analyzes text and generates lists of the most useful vocabulary words. Just copy text from a document and paste it into the box, then click on the “Grab Vocabulary!” button. VocabGrabber will automatically create a list of vocabulary from your text that you can then sort, filter, and save.
Price: free
Category: language arts

Hardware/AV

The Sharp PG-F325W (www.sharpusa.com)

combines enhanced colors and enriched imaging with 3,000 ANSI lumens of brightness. The projector can display full 720p from HD sources and pixel-perfect 1,280 x 800 (16:10 aspect ratio) WXGA resolution. The PG-F325W offers a wide array of video and audio inputs for an extremely versatile presentation experience and offers an expanded color palette for more realistic and lifelike images, utilizing BrilliantColor technology with multicolor processing.

The Datexx Hybrid Power Calculators (www.datexx.com)

are powered 98 percent of the time by enhanced solar power and 2 percent of the time by a mercury-free battery. The line is also RoHS-compliant, meaning that it is made of lead-free components and does not use cadmium or hexavalent chromium. The calculators are available in white, green, orange, and brown in desktop and wallet-size models.

Want to make sure kids are safe at the next school dance?

Q3 Innovations, LLC (www. alcohawk.com) introduces the AlcoHAWK One Test, a low-cost disposable alcohol tester. The unit, designed for testing at specified BAC thresholds, provides fast results and is easy to use. The user simply blows into the tube, and the color inside the tube indicates whether the breath sample is at or above the unit’s BAC testing level.

Tangent (www.tangent.com) has unveiled the VITA LT,

a space- and energy-saving, all-in-one PC for the education market. The VITA LT can be deployed as a client in Tangent’s VDI solution, enabling schools to obtain a low-cost VDI solution combined with a full-featured all-in-one that integrates an 18.5-inch LCD touch-screen display into a slim, ergonomic chassis. The VITA LT is only 1.4 inches thick and weighs only 10.5 pounds. It includes a 4-in-1 reader, an integrated Webcam, and integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics, and a wide-screen display provides an elegant visual experience. Built-in 802.11 wireless facilitates installation anywhere.

Optoma Technology, Inc. (www.optomausa.com)

has introduced the first two models in a new series of data-grade portable projectors. The TX536 (bottom) and TS526 (top) feature a brightness of 2,800 ANSI lumens and deliver a 3,000:1 contrast ratio. Both projectors support computer resolution of up to 1,900 x 1,200 (WUXGA) and accept common global video inputs and video formats of up to 1,080p. The TX536 and TS526 use less than one watt of power in standby mode. The DLP engine design operates without filters, keeping operating costs low while ensuring consistent performance throughout the projector’s life. Both projectors are backed by Optoma’s three-year express-replacement-service warranty

AVerMedia Information (www.avermedia-usa.com)

announced the release of the new AVerVision355AF Portable Document Camera. This 5-megapixel portable document camera boasts full, 1080p high-definition output, 80X total zoom capabilities, and full 14x11-inch pagesize viewing. The one-touch audio/visual recording and image capture can be saved to a USB flashdrive or SD Card. The new AVer+ software is complete with enhanced object-oriented annotation, project tools, image capture, video recording, LAN networkability, and more. The AVerVision355AF is available now at an MSRP of $799.

Lutron Electronics (www.lutron.com) makes it easy to control LEDs

with its GRAFIK Eye QS Wireless system, a fully customizable preset light- and shade-control system. The DMX Control Interface provides control of lighting and other equipment that uses the DMX512 protocol, including LED light engines, strobes, animated characters, and motorized fixtures.

The Epson AP-60 Sound Enhancement System (www.epsonbrighterfutures.com)

is a complete and fully integrated K-12 classroom sound solution. The Epson AP-60 delivers 360 degrees of sound, includes a high-quality infrared pendant microphone, and can amplify from numerous classroom audio sources. The system installs in one place and is compatible with virtually any projector mounted on a ceiling using standard 1.5-inch projector mounting equipment. The Epson AP-60 amplifies and distributes sound coming from multiple sources via the system’s four interconnected speakers and two line inputs that connect to common classroom devices such as computers, DVD players, and other audio devices.

Hitachi (www.hitachi.com) has introduced the CP-X3010 3LCD projector,

which has a brightness of 3,000 lumens and a 2,000:1 contrast ratio. The projector weighs 7.9 pounds and has 16 watts of built-in audio, eliminating the need for external speakers while maintaining a low noise rating of 29 dB in eco mode. The CP-X3010 also comes with a hybrid filter that offers 5,000 hours between maintenance, and it boasts a long lamp life of 3,000 hours in standard mode. The projector’s My Buttons functionality allows two buttons on the projector to be programmed to execute any projector command.

The Dukane Mobile Presentation System cart (www.dukcorp.com/av)

includes a document camera, speakers, a DVD/VCR player, electrical power, cable connections, and an audio switcher, all in a rugged metal lockable cart. When the MPS-A is not in use, all components can be safely locked inside the cart.

PolyVision (educators.polyvision.com) recently unveiled the newest members of the

eno interactive family of classroom solutions. The new additions include: eno click (installs to any existing marker board or chalkboard; right), eno mini (the mobile companion to the eno interactive whiteboard; below), and eno flex (combines a marker, chalk, and/or tack surface with the power of PolyVision’s eno interactive whiteboard, all without wires or cables). The eno classroom solutions provide the world’s first three-in-one interactive technology— dry-erase marker, magnetic, and multimedia— combined in one solution.

The ClearSound loudspeaker from Califone (www.califone.com)

mounts flush to the ceiling or wall, so it is ideal for auditorium, classroom, and other educational-facility uses in either stereo or surround systems. Each ClearSound speaker enables efficient sound distribution and audio amplification. The speakers, which are available in pairs, are engineered with a frequency response optimal for vocal reproduction and multimedia presentations, creating wholeroom audio immersion with superior coverage.

The WCM-RF Audio System (www.calypso systems.com)

combines digital-quality RF sound with IR data control to produce a versatile new multi-channel classroom audio system that provides schools with clear sound. The multi-channel system facilitates collaboration and communication by supporting the operation of several teacher and student microphones in the same room.