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May 15, 2003
What's New
Hardware
The enhanced TI-73 Explorer from Texas Instruments incorporates a new color and bolder keys while maintaining compatibility with existing TI-73 classroom materials. The handheld, designed for use in the middle grades, is preloaded with applications for data collection and analysis, interactive number lines, probability simulations, and more.
Texas Instruments, 12500 TI Blvd., Dallas, TX 75243; (800) 842-2737
Software
Assesment
AptiQuiz from RJ Software provides user-friendly test management on Windows computers. The program allows educators to create and maintain true/false, multiple-choice, and fill-in-the-blank tests to be delivered on the computer or printed out for paper-based testing. $44.95; free trial available.
RJ Software, 3507 Wellsley Dr., Powder Springs, GA 30127; (770) 794-8969
The online Computer Assessment and Tutorial program, developed by the Technological Fluency Institute, diagnoses students' and educators' computer skills, from using a mouse to diagnosing a hard drive. Users are offered on-the-spot instruction if a tested skill is performed inadequately.
Technological Fluency Institute
Artificial intelligence-based assessment company Vantage Learning offers Learning Access, an integrated solution for creating, administering, scoring, and reporting of interactive diagnostic assessments in reading, writing, and math. Educators can create and deliver end-of-course exams, periodic benchmark assessments, quizzes, and homework in a single environment. Automatic scoring provides a view of specific student proficiency levels that allow teachers to adjust their curriculum or intervene when necessary.
Vantage Learning, 113 Floral Vale Blvd., Yardley, PA 19067; (215) 579-8390
Data Management
DataPoint, a comprehensive set of Web-based software tools for data-driven school improvement from the National Study of School Evaluation, enables schools and school systems to mine and manage, analyze, report, and apply data for school improvement efforts. Features include customizable disaggregation tools, automatic statistical analyses and graphic reports, support for collecting and analyzing both qualitative and quantitative data, data entry services, technical support, and online training.
National Study of School Evaluation, 1699 East Woodfield Rd., Ste. 406, Schaumburg, IL 60173; (800) 843-6773
Digital Video
DoEasier Tech's Easy Video Splitter version 2 can split AVI, MPEG, or WMV/ASF files into smaller video clips. Make editing selections while viewing the clip with the built-in preview editor; use the visual edit mode to extract unwanted video segments of any size. Version 5 of the company's Easy Video Joiner allows users to join multiple AVI, MPEG, or WMV/ASF files into one large movie. $19.95 each.
DoEasier Tech
Research Tool
Pinpoint integrated research tool from Sagebrush Corporation allows students and educators to gather relevant search results from multiple sources, including library catalogs, proprietary databases, intranets, Web sites, and Web search engines. Results are divided into content groups for quick navigation; students can save text and images, with citation information, for later use.
Sagebrush Corporation, 3601 Minnesota Dr., Ste. 550, Minneapolis, MN 55435; (800) 328-2923
Training
RoboDemo 4.0 from eHelp Corporation allows educators to create Flash-based "movies" of any software or Web-based application — without any Flash programming. RoboDemo records on-screen activity so users can create software tutorials that can be posted to the Web, burned onto CD, e-mailed to students, or integrated into a Help system. $349.
eHelp Corporation, 10590 W. Ocean Air Dr., San Diego, CA 92130; (800) 358-9370
Promotions
Professor Weissman's Software is providing free copies of its Math911 software to qualified schools. Math911 contains 20 chapters of math lessons to help students master introductory and intermediate algebra, trigonometry, and pre-calculus.
Professor Weissman's Software, 246 Crafton Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314; (347) 528-7837
Web Sites
To help first-time teachers ease into the classroom, Scholastic has created a New Teacher Site with standards-based content, productivity tools, downloadable resources, professional development, and expert advice for pre-K-8 teachers. www.scholastic.com/newteacher
Thinkport, an education portal developed by Maryland Public Television and the Johns Hopkins University Center for Technology in Education, provides free multimedia resources for the classroom, online professional development, innovative technology tools, and more. www.thinkport.org
Kids' Web guide Yahooligans has announced the Yahooligans Monthly Book Club. Each month will feature youth titles recommended by celebrities such as skateboarder Tony Hawk, figure skater Michelle Kwan, or actress Jamie Lee Curtis. Kids can e-mail book lists to their parents and post their own reviews of book club titles. www.yahooligans.com/bookclub
Books
Administrative Solutions for Handheld Technology in Schools identifies key questions and hurdles to handheld programs and then provides step-by-step processes to meet those challenges. The book addresses total cost of ownership, security, curriculum development, and more, with detailed rubrics to measure the integration process, examples of how schools have successfully implemented handhelds, Web resources, and materials for in-service workshops. $39.95.
International Society for Technology in Education, 480 Charnelton St., Eugene, OR 97401; (800) 336-5191
K12 Handhelds' 101 Great Educational Uses for Your Handheld Computer gives schools information to implement a handheld program, covering a variety of topics from purchase considerations to classroom integration tips. Classroom management ideas, cross-curricular integration strategies, and detailed lesson plans are included in this guide to using handhelds for school administration, communication, collaboration, teaching, and learning.
K12 Handhelds, Inc., 4105 East Broadway, Ste. 203, Long Beach, CA 90803; (800) 679-2226
Dates & Events
June 23-27: E-Learning Instructional Design Symposium, Chicago, Ill. www.elearningguild.com
June 28-July 1: National Media Education Conference, Baltimore, Md. www.nmec.org
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