Planning, Professional Development, Broadband Access Key to Technology Improving Student Achievement

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 18, 2013 – A recent study from the Center for American Progress (CAP) concludes that too many students are using technology for lower-order skills, such as drill and practice programs. The report, “Are Schools Getting a Big Enough Bang for Their Education Technology Buck?” argues that in order to compete globally, students must be prepared to use computers in more advanced ways and sets forth a series of recommendations aimed at helping schools make the most of their investments in technology.

ISTE Bestseller Co-Authored by Flipped Learning Pioneers Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 17, 2013 – Today the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE^®) announced that its bestselling book, “Flip Your Classroom: Reach Every Student in Every Class Every Day,” is a finalist for the ForeWord Reviews 2013 Book of the Year Awards in the education category. Co-authored by Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams, considered the pioneers of flipped learning, the book was selected from 1,300 entries covering 62 categories of books from independent and academic presses.

Award-winning Platform’s Changes Foster Critical Reading and Writing Skills

SONOMA, Calif.  (June 19, 2013) – Today’s students need a repertoire of knowledge and skills that is more diverse, complex and integrated than anything demanded of previous generations. Reading, writing and communicating are essential abilities that they must apply in our rapidly-changing world. For that reason, StudySync (www.studysync.com), the leading-edge standards-based literacy curriculum from BookheadEd Learning, has upgraded several features and added a mobile application. The upgrades improve teachers’ delivery of high-quality reading and writing assignments while embedding sought-after communication skills, important for career and college readiness in the 21^st century marketplace.

FundingFactory and Learning Resources announce the winner of the Set a Goal, Win a now!Board giveaway. Participants who set a fundraising goal and created a public page at FundingFactory.com between Sept. 1, 2012 and Oct. 31, 2012 were entered to win now!Board Portable Interactive Whiteboard Technology. In addition, participants who met or exceeded their fundraising goal by May 31, 2013, were given a second entry to double their chances of winning. Of the more than 364 FundingFactory participants who set a fundraising goal during the promotional period, and 38 participants who met or surpassed their goal, the Immanuel Christian School Parent Teacher Organization of Steens, Miss., won the coveted classroom technology.

State to Provide Free Access to Technology-based Reading Instruction for Hundreds of Elementary Schools

BOSTON—June 18, 2013—The State of Kansas has established a two-year pilot program for improving reading outcomes using educational technology and has chosen to implement Lexia Reading Core5™ based on a review of stringent requirements. The state budget includes up to $6M in both 2014 and 2015 to implement the program, providing as many as 50,000 students in grades pre-K–5 with free access to Lexia Reading Core5. There is no cost to the schools chosen to participate in the pilot program as long as they meet minimum usage requirements. Lexia’s research-proven reading approach is currently used by approximately 20 percent of elementary schools throughout the state. 

Flipped Learning Network™, George Mason University and Pearson’s Center for Educator Effectiveness Collaborate to Provide Resources to Support Growth of Innovative Instructional Model

STILLWATER, Minn. - June 17, 2013 — As thousands of teachers around the country are moving from the traditional “sage on the stage” model of teaching to what is broadly understood as “flipped learning,” they are looking for research and resources that suggest proven methods they can rely on as they implement this innovative new instructional approach. Today at FlipCon13, the sixth annual flipped learning conference, the Flipped Learning Network, George Mason University and Pearson’s Center for Educator Effectiveness released, “A Review of Flipped Learning,” a comprehensive review of the emerging literature on flipped learning to support the growth of this teaching model that appears to be improving student achievement.

Online Registration for ISTE Open Until June 18

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 13, 2013 – The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE^®) today announced that Microsoft Corp. plans to give a Microsoft Surface RT to 10,000 ISTE 2013 conference attendees as part of the Windows in the Classroom Surface Experience Project. Online ISTE conference registration is open until June 18 for the world’s premier education technology event slated for June 23-26 in San Antonio.

Califone today announces the launch of its Bluetooth Speaker (PA-BT30). The first speaker of its kind designed with presenters and teachers in mind features easy connectivity to any Bluetooth®-enabled mobile device and computer. It supports whole class and group learning activities in the classroom, and high-quality presentations in any meeting setting. The speaker is compatible with a variety of mobile devices, including Android® and iOS-based devices such as the Galaxy®, iPhone® and iPad®. The speaker is designed for fast and easy classroom or meeting room setup, offering convenient connect-and-play audio streaming capabilities.