Volume 37 / Number 9

techlearning.com

Ideas and Tools for Ed Tech Leaders I May 2017 I $6

>C
 alling
>All Coders
>Why pr0grammin9 Is ess3ntial
>t0 all curricula
>See page 24 for more

To see more
Tech & Learning
scan the code
or visit us online
at: www.techlearning. Product guide Put to the test
K-12 Projectors Discovery Techbook
com/may17 See page 34 for more. See page 18 for more.

TL_05_17_v4rev.indd 1 4/21/17 11:07 AM

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 CONTENTS
M A Y 2 0 1 7 | V O L . 3 7 N O . 9

FEATURES
22 MEASURING STUDENT PROGRESS
By Ellen Ullman
The good news is that todays assessment tools are more
prescriptive than past products, and some of them even help
teachers and administrators understand what to do next.

24 CALLING ALL CODERS

By Ellen Ullman
If we want to remain a global leader curriculum, just as theyve
done in the following examples.

28 PRIVACY BY PRACTICE, NOT JUST BY POLICY

By Gennie Gebhart

22
One system administrators experience on keeping all students
secure in an environment of ever-changing devices and software.

30 CREATING A CULTURE OF INNOVATION: AN EXCERPT

FROM T&L LEADER

34 PROJECTOR GUIDE
As InfoComm gets ready to kick off next month, Tech &
Learning highlights some of the newest projectors for K-12.

16 PRODUCTS
16 PUT TO THE TEST: T&L EDITORS TAKE SOME NEW
PRODUCTS FOR A TEST DRIVE.
16 Epson PowerLite 685W WXGA 3LCD Presentation
Display
17 ThinkCERCA
18 18 Discovery Techbook
19 pivotED
20 Mobile Mindset Series
21 QwertyTown 2.0
Scan here to access

44 WHATS NEW: NEW

the digital edition,
which includes
TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS additional resources.

DEPARTMENTS &
COLUMNS
4 EDITORS NOTE: DATA DOUBTS
6 TRENDING
14 BIG IDEAS
Tech & Learning (ISSN-1053-6728) (USPS 695-590) is published monthly (except July and
December) by NewBay Media, LLC 28 East 28th Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10016
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tech & Learning, PO Box 8746, Lowell, MA 01853
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24 WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM | M AY 2 01 7 | 3
 EDITORS
note
MAY 2017 | VOL. 37 NO. 9

DATA Publisher: Allison Knapp aknapp@nbmedia.com;

(650) 238-0318; Fax: (650) 238-0263

EDITORIAL
Content Director: Kevin Hogan khogan@nbmedia.com

DOUBTS
Executive Editor, Content:
Christine Weiser cweiser@nbmedia.com
Senior Art Director: Nicole Cobban ncobban@nbmedia.com
Associate Art Director: Walter Makarucha, Jr.
Contributing Editors: Ellen Ullman, Judy Salpeter,
Gwen Solomon

S
Tech&Learning Leader Editor: Annie Galvin Teich

uffice it to say that the editors here at Tech & Learning Editorial Interns: Clea Mahoney and Diana Restifo

are pretty bullish on, well, technology and education. ADVISORS

You wont find any hand-wringing scare stories about
dangerous devices in the classroom, lurking bogeymen
on social media, or some sundry new tool that will
subvert students from a real classroom experience; not
that these arent reasonable issues with which to engage, its just
Chris Aviles, Michelle Vance, Shelly Sanchez Terrell, Harry
Tuttle, Andrew Wallace, Steve Young, Steve Baule, Robert
Gravina, Nancy Caramanico, Cathy Swan, Scott Floyd, Txe
Kolstad, Carl Hooker, Debra Jackson, Lisa Gonzales, Patrick
Higgins, David Andrade, Dean Shareski, Terry Freedman, Jen
Wagner, Lisa Nielsen, Michael Gorman, Henry Thiele, zge
Karaog lu, David Kapuler, Jenith Mishne, Darren Draper

that we believe the right approach is not to demonize. ADVERTISING SALES

One topic that does furrow our collective brow is that of student National Sales Director: Katie Sullivan
ksullivan@nbmedia.com
data privacy. A report released last month by the Electronic
Account Manager: Joanne Melton jmelton@nbmedia.com
Frontier Foundation (EFF) lays out those worries in stark terms.
The group surveyed over 1,000 stakeholders across the country, including students, parents, MARKETING AND EVENTS
Marketing Manager: Stephanie Rubin srubin@nbmedia.com
teachers, and school administrators. They also reviewed 152 school district edtech privacy policies
Director of Events: Diana Milbert diana@dmeventspro.com
in a yearlong effort to determine whether and how tech companies protect students privacy and Production Manager: Fred Vega fvega@nbmedia.com
their data. Their conclusion: In short, technology providers are spying on studentsand school
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
districts, which often provide inadequate privacy
Corporate Director, Audience Development:
policies or no privacy policy at all, are unwittingly Meg Estevez mestevez@nbmedia.com
helping them do it.
LIST RENTAL
I encourage you to download the report in MeritDirect: (914) 368-1024; jganis@meritdirect.com
our current issue online at techlearning.com or
REPRINTS AND PERMISSIONS
directly from the EFF (http://bit.ly/2oOH9fe). Wrights Media: newbay@wrightsmedia.com; (877) 652-5295
In the meantime, dig into the article on page 28, IN SHORT, TECHNOLOGY
EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING OFFICES
which was originally published just before the PROVIDERS ARE SPYING 28 East 28th Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10016
survey was released. Written by Gennie Gebhart, ON STUDENTSAND Phone: (212) 378-0400; Fax: (650) 238-0263
one of the EFF researchers, she interviews an For general editorial correspondence:

anonymous district IT director, who expresses his

SCHOOL DISTRICTS, techlearning_editors@nbmedia.com

or her own personal concerns: Were putting all WHICH OFTEN PROVIDE NEWBAYCORPORATE

our eggs in one basket that were not in control of,
he says, We dont know where this student data
is going.
Paranoid or prophetic? Be sure that these
wont be the last words on this topic at Tech &
INADEQUATE PRIVACY President & CEO: Steve Palm
Chief Financial Officer: Paul Mastronardi
POLICIES OR NO Vice President of Production & Manufacturing:
Bill Amstutz bamstutz@nbmedia.com
PRIVACY POLICY AT Vice President of Digital Media: Robert Aames
ALL, ARE UNWITTINGLY Vice President of Content & Marketing: Anthony Savona

Learning. HELPING THEM DO IT. NEWBAY K-12 EDUCATION GROUP

Executive Vice President/Group Publisher:Adam Goldstein
Publisher: Allison Knapp
Editorial Director: Kevin Hogan
Online Production Manager:Rob Granger
Web Director:Ragan Whiteside

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
One-year $29.95 (US); $39.95 (Canada and Mexico); $69.95
(all other countries). Two years $50 (US); $60 (Canada and
Kevin Hogan Mexico); $90 (all other countries).
To subscribe: (888) 266-5828 or www.techlearning.com
Content Director
khogan@nbmedia.com www.techlearning.com

4 | MAY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM

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 NEWS
TRENDING
ANDTRENDS
THE LATEST NEWS & STATS AFFECTING THE K-12 EDTECH COMMUNITY
top10
From techlearning.com

Four Sites to Fight Fake
1 News
Help your students learn to
separate fact from fiction
so they can be informed,
empowered citizens.

Best Practices for Your
2 1:1
Learn how 1:1 veterans are
keeping their programs
alive and well.
3

All Writing Can
Be Better through
Technology
Collaborative, real-time,
and cloud-based tools offer
new ways to help students
improve their writing.

Copyright a Little
4 Fuzzy?
How can you use various
media resources ethically?
This helpful infographic
clears up the confusion.

How to Guide Students
5 in Online Research
Find places online
where students can ask
questions of researchers or
subject-matter experts.
6 | M AY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM
BLOG BITS
How do we balance the world
of grading and standards with a
culture of risk taking, innovation,
and intellectual failure?
Adam Schoenbart
WEB STORIES Many scholars of the past
burrowed into library stacks,
read the printed literature on a
topic, consulted with a mentor,
and emerged with their research.
Today, the smartest person in the
room is the room.
Angela Maiers

We Love Books Just as Much
6 as Makerspaces: The Story of Despite the many spaces out
there that are essentially exactly
How Our Students Built Our
alike, there is no one-size-fits-
Collection
all approach to planning a
Circulation increased exponentially makerspace.
when students selected and Laura Fleming
organized titles for their new
bookstore-style library.

Six Ways to Use Adobe Spark
7 with Google Classroom
Discover how to use Spark
Video, Post, and Page with
Google Classroom to benefit TOP
from the power of these tools. TWEETS

Mind the Gap for Struggling
8 Readers Dr. Justin Tarte @justintarte: No kid
Learn how LANGUAGE! Live is should fail a course because they
helping students meet grade- dont do #homework. If they know
level benchmarks in reading. it, they know it; not doing doesnt
mean doesnt know. #edchat

Whats New: New Tools for
9 Schools
kellie80 @kellie80: I love this idea
from @keithkruegerwe must
Get up to dateon an award- stop making things about tech
winning gateway for social and make it about learning.
emotional learning, management Become learning-centric.
and collaboration tools, and more. #CoSN17

Is Your School Modern? Check Out @techlearning: If we want our
10 These 10 Principles to Find Out teachers to be learner-centered,
Explore the beliefs, goals, we need principals to be teacher-
centered. @barnillas #Tltechlive
convictions, and cultural elements
techlearning.com/tltechlive/
that make a school modern.
F I N D L I N K S AT W W W.T EC H L E A R N I N G .CO M / M AY 1 7
 Spectrum Enterprise
allows our teachers and
students to collaborate
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College Preparatory Academy
Green Dot Public Schools
Client since 2010

Meet Spectrum Enterprise. Our thing?

Delivering the right data, voice, video
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fiber network. And local teams who
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With our superior network and IT
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Visit enterprise.spectrum.com/education
or call 866-851-3576

2017 Charter Communications. All Rights Reserved. Not all products, pricing and services are available in all areas. Restrictions may apply.
Subject to change without notice. All trademarks remain property of their respective owners.

ent-JAN17-Brand-9x10-8-VertEDU-Tech+Learning-XXXXXXXXXX.indd 1 3/15/17 2:01 PM

 TRENDING

PROJECT REDS NEW RESEARCH

FINDINGS: SCHOOLS CAN RAISE
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND
SITE WE LIKE
PBS: ELECTRIC
LOWER EDUCATION COSTS HEART:
A three-year study by the One-to-One
Institute has found that, despite 35 years
OPERATION
of research and data and $100 billion spent TRANSPLANT
on technology in schools, education has
largely failed to capitalize on technology
to drive dramatic improvements in student
achievement.
Key findings of Project RED Phase III, a
deep study of 37,000 students and 2,200
teachers in 20 high-performing Project RED
Signature Districts, include:

* Properly implemented, technology can make a huge difference.

* Academic growth in study schools outpaced that of their state counterparts.
* 79% of reporting districts saw increased graduation rates. Explore the steps in a
* 84% of the districts reported reductions in disciplinary actions. heart transplant operation
* Implementation fidelity continues to be an issue even in high-performing districts.
* Ongoing use of formative assessment data can drive academic improvement. by performing a transplant
* Matching appropriate pedagogy to learning goals is necessary to maximize outcomes. in a virtual operating
* Hard data indicates that technology can be revenue-positive at the state level. theater.

T&L READER SURVEY

IS AT-HOME INTERNET ACCESS A
CONCERN IN YOUR DISTRICT?
16%
No

15%
Somewhat
69%
Yes

F O R M O R E S U R V E YS , V I S I T W W W.T EC H L E A R N I N G .CO M / M AY 1 7

8 | MAY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM

LEARNING
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their curiosity for science and discovery.
Vernier introduces Go Direct sensors. Wireless or USBthe versatility is built into these
affordable sensors, so you have the flexibility to choose. All 16 Go Direct sensors connect
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 TRENDING

ISTE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPS OF THE

DAY FROM
SELECTS NEW LEADER FOR A TECHLEARNING.COM
NEW ERA App of the Day picks are selected from the
The ISTE Board of Directors has named Richard Culatta, the top edtech tools reviewed by Common
former director of the Office of Educational Technology at Sense Education.
the US Department of Education, who currently serves as
chief innovation officer for the state of Rhode Island, as its
new CEO. Culatta is a longtime ISTE member and a past
recipient of the ISTE Making IT Happen award.
Kid-
At the US Department of Educations Office of Educational Friendly
Technology, Culatta was at the helm of numerous efforts Platform
to expand connectivity to schools across the country, to for Creating
promote personalized learning, and to develop the National Digital
Education Technology Plan. He also pioneered new ways Books
for the department to engage with educators and tech My Story Book Creator School Edition
developers. Richard Culatta
is an easy-to-use artistic tool that gets
I am honored to have the opportunity to lead ISTE. Im kids to tell stories and introduces them to
particularly excited about bringing a renewed focus to the impact of the ISTE community, digital creation.
increasing the value of ISTE membership, and highlighting the importance of the ISTE voice
on key education topics, Culatta says.

8 APPS TO LEARN WITH POETRY

These engaging poetry apps, says Shelly Terrell, will help your
students create and learn with poems.
Active Reading Enabled with
* Social Poetry pulls words from your Facebook feed. Top Ereading Platform
Users can add photos, customize, and share their creations.

* With HaikuJAM, students create haiku with two other people Actively Learn is an interactive ereader
with excellent built-in Common Core-
(each person writes one line).
aligned lessons that help students connect
* ImageChef allows students to create poems within shapes, as and stay engaged.
word clouds, or with images.

* FridgePoems helps students create poems using the magnetic

poetry concept.

* With Poetry Creators Verses app, students can access several Daily
unique dictionaries (Hip Hop, LOL, etc.), contribute words, and share Current
their poems online. Events App
Gets Top
* The Instant Poetry 2 app provides words to create poems; students can add images. Marks from
* Foldpass is a game where students can write haiku with their friends. Teachers

* Name Poem allows students to create and share acrostic poems. News-O-Matic for School features high-
interest stories that are engaging and
F O R M O R E , G O TO W W W.T EC H L E A R N I N G .CO M / M AY 1 7
appropriate for elementary-school
students.

10 | M AY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM
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1211 Tech & Learning Ad_May 2017.indd 1 4/18/17 2:31 PM

 TRENDING

4th Annual CoSN

INNOVATOR IN K12 SURVEY RANKS 10 4th Annual Co K-12 IT Leadership Survey

EDUCATION NAMEDCHALLENGES
WINNER KEY
& PRIORITIES TRENDS
OF THE HAROLD W. MCGRAW,#1 Challenge
K-12 IT Leadership
CHALLENGES & PRI
The 2017 CoSN IT Leadership Survey reveals these top 10
Budget Constraints and
findings:

JR. PRIZE IN EDUCATION #1 Challen Lack of Resources

n Budget constraints are ranked as the top
1 Broadband & 2 Wireless 3 challenge for the third straight year. Budget Constra
Top 3
Christine Cunningham, Founder and Director Network
Access
Lack of Resourc
of Engineering is Elementary (EiE) at the Priorities Capacity Mobile learning is the top priority for IT leaders,
n Mobile
1 Broadband & 2 Wir
Top 3
Learning
followed by mobile and network security. Ac
Museum of Science in Boston, has been named Network
as a recipient of the 2017 Harold W. McGraw,
Jr. Prize in Education. The prize, which is 64%
of K-12 IT LEADERS say Privacy & Security
are more important than they were last year
n Cybersecurity and privacy rankPriorities
number-three concern.
as the Capacity

64%
administered through an alliance between
DEMOGRAPHICS n Only 13% of IT leaders report that staffing matches needs.are more important than they were
of K-12 IT LEADERS say Privacy
McGraw-Hill Education and Arizona State
n Single-Sign-On (SSO) is the most-implemented
90% of IT LEADERS
Diversity?

University, honors outstanding individuals who

are dedicated to improving education through are white in school systems that of IT LEADERS
are female
36
% interoperability initiative.
DEMOGRAPHI
new approaches. are increasingly majority minority
n Over a third of IT leaders express no interest in BYOD.
90% of IT LEADERS

Diversity?
The prize recognizes Cunninghams work DAY-TO-DAY REALITIESn 79% of respondents indicated that OER is part of
Christine Cunningham their
are white in school systems that

4 5
are increasingly majority minority
pioneering an engaging curriculum that districts digital content strategy.
of
Nearly
introduces engineering concepts and practices
IT Leadersto elementary students. 90% expect instructional

n IT leaders are experienced73% have worked in K12DAY-TO-DAY

materials to be at least
REAL
Cunningham believes schools should Innovate
use online
for the futurebut 50% digital
productivity tools
design for the classrooms of today. Sincethe2004,
largest useher
of curriculum has
education
in the next
three years
technology for more than 10 years.
of 4 5 Nearly

90%
cloud-based solutions in education
been implemented in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, reaching n Lack of racial diversity continues to be an issue90%
IT Leaders
use online
of IT
12.8 million children and an estimated 1.25 Technology
million educators, Budgetswhile also leaders identify as white. productivity tools

30%in
the largest use of
providing access to populations underserved and underrepresented
46% n IT leaders are well-educated77% have some college
cloud-based solutions in education

STEM fields. 13% 57% INCREASING

budgets beyond
expect their Digital Technology
Content a bachelors degree and 61% hold masters degrees.Budgets
DECLINING FLAT
budgets budgets to be at least 50% OER
30%
13% 57%
in the next 3 years
INCREASING
F O R M O R E G O TO W W W.T E C H L E A R N I N G .CO M / M AY 1 7 FOR COMPLETE SURVEY RESULTS, GO TO WWW.COSN.ORG/ITSURVEY budgets
CTO SNAPSHOT DECLINING
budgets
FLAT
budgets

47% of CTO/CIO
65% CTO SNAPSHO
and District Technology

65%
Directors report to their more than a
superintendent are in charge of both
instructional and THIRD 47% of CTO/CIO

CLASS
A BEST PRACTICE administrative of IT LEADERS plan to and District Technology
id entified b y CoSN
technology retire in the next six years Directors report to their
superintendent are in charge of both
instructional and

TECH
Visit cosn.org for the full report. A BEST PRACTICE administrative
identifi ed by CoSN
technology
The K-12 IT Leadership survey
was conducted in January of 2016
and distributed to U.S. school

TIPS
technology leaders.

The survey was conducted by

Visit cosn.org for the full r
CoSN and MDR with sponsorship
from SchoolDude.
The K-12 IT Leadership survey
was conducted in January of 2016
and distributed to U.S. school
technology leaders.

8 Ways to Check for Understanding with 9 Must-Have Virtual Reality ToolsThe survey was conducted by
CoSN and MDR with sponsorship

Nearpod for Teaching with Google Cardboard

from SchoolDude.

Find out how to monitor student Get started with VR with these
Cultivating Communication in the Classroom
progress during a lesson while tips for finding everything from
Regardless of the devices theyll be using in the future, engaging them with interactive inexpensive headsets to free lessons,
students will still have to communicateand this new book activities such as polls, drawing tools, and great nature, travel,
provides lots of actionable resources for teachers. activities, and quizzes. history, and news content.

F I N D M O R E C L A S S T E C H T I P S AT W W W.T EC H L E A R N I N G .CO M

12 | M AY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM
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 BIG IDEAS
HOW TO GUIDE
STUDENTS IN
ONLINE RESEARCH
By Angela Maiers
An excerpt from Genius Matters: A
Framework for Epic Transformation by
Angela Maiers. To download the book for
free, go to: downloads.smarttech.com/media/
ebooks/genius_matters_book.pdf
M
any scholars of the past
burrowed into library stacks,
read the printed literature
on a topic, consulted with a
mentor, and emerged with their
research.
Today, the smartest person in the room is
the room.
While there are many instances of
scholarly collaboration throughout history,
none rise to the level of whats possible
today, when dozens or scores or hundreds of
people from around the world can connect
simultaneously and in real time.
NYU professor Clay Shirky says that most
people overestimate the value of access to
information and underestimate the value of
access to each other.
While this may be true of most adults,
students already understand the power and
value of connecting with others, and theyre
exceedingly comfortable doing it digitally.
Students dominate popular Q&A sites such as
Yahoo! Answers, Answers.com, and Quizlet.
However, these sites are not authoritative, rarely
provide links to references, and should not be
cited as sources in a student paper.
Here are examples of places where students
can ask questions of researchers or subject
matter experts online and possibly find a mentor
or collaborator.
ASK A LIBRARIAN
Many local, county, and college libraries
offer virtual Ask a Librarian services through
which students can ask trained librarians for
reference help. Many libraries work through a
14 | MAY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM
network of libraries to provide 24/7 coverage
around the world. When a student needs to find
a great resource but cant arrange a face-to-face
visit with a reference librarian, Ask a Librarian
services fill the gap.
QUORA
Quora is a question and answer site where
most answers are provided by professionals.
Unlike other Q&A sites, most users register
with their real names and provide their
credentialsand most answers are at least
somewhat useful. We recently created
this Choose2Matter page on Quora. When
a student asks a question about social
entrepreneurship, well find an expert to answer
it: www.quora.com/topic/Choose2Matter
TWITTER
With hundreds of millions of users, Twitter
can be an excellent resource for students
who want to find a handful of people who can
provide them insight. Students need to learn
to use hashtags to target their tweets to people
who are likely to have knowledge about the
subject of their question.
When Maggie Moran, a sophomore
education major, wanted to find an expert with
whom she could discuss tutoring a student
with interrupted formal education (SIFE), she
turned to Twitter, using the #SIFE hashtag.
She reports that, within minutes of my tweet,
I received five replies with suggestions on
books to read, methods to try, and educators to
follow who were experts in the area.
VIDEO CONFERENCING
Services such as Skype and Zoom make
it feasible for anyone with an Internet
connection to video conference, free of charge,
with anyone anywhere in the world who also
has an Internet connection. Skype in the
Classroom offers premium tools free of charge
to educators, including a service to connect
with guest authors, expert teachers, and others.
Depending on the ages and sophistication
of your students, either create a classroom
account or have students create individual
accounts for each of the services (or divide the
services up among the students, so that a fifth
of your class is using each one).
Fortunately, students can explore many
free avenues online to connect with experts
in almost any field of study or area of interest.
All they need is for adults to open the door and
point them in the right direction.
Angela Maiers is an educator and author who
speaks regularly at conferences. Learn more at
www.angelamaiers.com.
 BIG IDEAS

EDUCATIONAL
BLOGGING: THE
CURRENT PICTURE
By Terry Freedman

I
ve been reading Edubloggers (www.theedublogger.com) report on
educational blogging. Published by Sue Waters, it relates to the picture as it
was in 2016. It makes for interesting reading, and I urge you to read the full
report. Here are a few of the findings and my thoughts on them.
The majority of respondents told us they mainly used their blogs for:
class blogs (31.5%), class blogs with individual student blogs (19.2%), and for
student blogs (17%); many also had their own personal blog (15.7%).
The figure for class blogs is quite impressive, but I have to say that Im a
little surprised, and even disappointed, that more teachers arent blogging
themselves. I think all teachers should blog. Its a good way of reflecting on
your practice.
Mind you, it has to be acknowledged that this survey into blogging
focuses only on blogging. It may well be that many of the roughly 85 percent
of teachers who say they dont have their own personal blog do much of their
thinking out loud on Facebook or Twitter. Also, the statistic of 15.7 percent
relates to a personal blog; maybe a lot of teachers write blog posts elsewhere,
such as on Medium.
Student class blogs were used for: assignments and class news (42.7%),
[to] share information with families (37.3%),and [to] share links and
resources (33.1%).
I think blogging is a great tool for undertaking assignments. If you 4K HDMI Audio Extractor w/Audio Ampliier
encourage students to write a blog post every week over the course of a six- HDBT Input, Line Audio Input RS-232 Ports
week project, both you and they have a record of what they learned, and how and IP Control
their project and their thinking developed. Its a way of maintaining a project
VSA-X21
record without the associated boredom!
When I taught and my students did six-week projects, I had them write
down at the end of each lesson what they accomplished and what they
intended to do next. That also provided them with their homework. For
example, if they intended to create a spreadsheet next lesson, the homework
they set themselves might be to research and find the data required for
populating the spreadsheet. If blogging had been around in those days, Id
have asked them to write up a blog post each time. That would have had the
additional advantage of making it easy for parents and the principal to see
what theyd been doing.
The report includes reasons to blog, and also blogs you ought to look at. I
was delighted to see that one of them is Kathy Cassidys class blog. Kath has
been doing wonderful things with five- and six-year-old students, which she
wrote about in The Amazing Web 2.0 Projects Book.
There are also examples of students blogs, all of which are well-written, 4K HDMI audio extractor with EDID management
although its disappointing that there are so few cited (just five) and that a couple Built-in 50 watt audio amp for direct connection to 8 Ohm speakers
of them have not been updated for well over a year. And if you become tired of (25 watts/channel)
reading about blogging, the report includes videos. All in all, the educational Audio input for connecting line-level inputs (e.g. wireless microphones)
blogging report is a good read and will give you lots of food for thought. Control via front panel, RS-232, digital pot (rotary encoder)
HDMI Ducking (when Line input is detected, HDMI sound volume in the mix
Terry Freedman is an independent educational ICT consultant with
is automatically lowered)
over 35 years of experience in education. He publishes theICT in Education
Primary RS-232 port for device control
websiteand the newsletter Digital Education.

SERVING YOU SINCE 1984

A New Wave in Connectivity hallresearch.com 714-641-6607
WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM | MAY 2 01 7 | 15
PRODUCTREVIEWS TECH & LEARNING EDITORS TAKE SOME NEW PRODUCTS FOR A TEST DRIVE

EPSON POWERLITE 685W WXGA 3LCD

PRESENTATION DISPLAY
epson.comnRetail Price: $1,390
OVERALL RATING: The
Epson 685W 3LCD

E
By Rebecca Andr
psons new Powerlite 685W 3LCD
projector is a wall-mounted, short
TOP FEATURES
throw model with a brilliant, 100-
inch display in 16:10 ratio. It can
simultaneously display four inputs
from most devices and operating
systems, including Android, Chromebook,
iOS, and Windows. The lamp has an extended
life of 10,000 hours in ECO, Epsons energy-
saving mode.
projector has a crisp, clear
100-inch display to see from
anywhere in the classroom. It
is easy to install and connect to
Epsons 685W 3LCD short throw projector has 3500 lumens,
various devices. The lamp has a
which produces a vivid and large 100-inch display from as close
very long life at 10,000 hours
as 11 inches with up to four devices.
in ECO, an energy-saving
This Epson short throw projector is easy to install and use. mode.
The Epson 685W 3LCD projector has long lamp life (10,000 hours in
ECO mode), three HDMI input ports, and multiple choices to resize the
display from practically any device: 640 x 480 (VGA); 800 x 600 (SVGA); 1024
x 768 (XGA); 1280 x 960 (SXGA2); 1280 x 1024 (SXGA3); 1366 x 768 (WXGA 60-2); 1440 x
900 (WXGA+); 1400 x 1050 (SXGA+); 1600 x 900 (WXGA++); 1600 x 1200 (UXGA).

Ease of Use: The projector comes with

step-by-step instructions and a 15-foot power cord, and was simple to
install and connect to the LAN or wireless system.
Creative Use of Technology: The Epson PowerLite 685W 3LCD
projector was designed especially for school classrooms. With 3,500
powerful lumens, enormous 100-inch display, a microphone, and a
16W speaker, this Epson projector will command everyones attention
and encourage external communication with authors, designers,
and other teachers and students.
Suitability for Use in a School Environment: This Epson projector
can be smoothly and easily integrated into one classroom or the
whole school. It is easy to install and use, making it a winner for tech
personnel and teachers. It is also designed for long life, low-cost
replacement lamps ($49), and low energy use, which administrators
will appreciate.

FOR MORE OF THE LATEST PRODUCT RELEASES, VISIT US ONLINE AT TECHLEARNING.COM.

16 | MAY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM

 PRODUCT REVIEWS

THINKCERCA
thinkcerca.comnRetail Price: An annual license costs $30$40 per pupil, depending on the number of students. Professional
OVERALL RATING:
ThinkCERCA is
outstanding. The platform
challenges students and
development opportunities cost $1,000$6,000 and include training and ongoing support. helps them develop critical
thinking skills through
reading and writing.
By Rayna Freedman

T
hinkCERCA is an online platform that
challenges students in grades 312 in critical
thinking, argumentative writing, and reading
skills and strategies. Students make connections,
build reading comprehension skills, engage with
texts, summarize information, build arguments,
and create written samples.

Quality and Effectiveness: ThinkCERCA will help

students strengthen argumentative writing as they learn how
to make a claim, use supporting evidence, develop reasoning
skills, identify a counterargument, and think about audience. ThinkCERCA provides extensive customer, technical, and
This research-based platform designed by former English teachers instructional support, including PD videos, downloadable teaching
offers personalized learning for students in grades 312. resources, ELD supports, and state-specific resources.
Cross-curricular lessons cover ELA, math, science, and social
studies. Educators can search lessons by grade level, standard, or Creative Use of Technology: ThinkCERCA utilizes many
theme, and can assign lessons to a whole class, groups of students, technology tools to engage learners, including an option to have the
or individuals. Teachers can also create their own lessons in text read to them, online formative assessments with instant feedback,
ThinkCERCA. Students will connect with the themes, which cover dialogue boxes with helpful hints, and an interactive rubric.
big ideas such as the environment, money and needs, and personal
identity. Suitability for Use in a School Environment: ThinkCERCA gives
Each lesson includes: an essential question to get students students access to poetry, informational texts, close reading activities,
thinking; a writing prompt; vocabulary definitions in the context of the literary analysis, and narrative pieces, and helps them develop skills
reading sample; a comprehension check; and a close reading activity in critical thinking, effective writing, collaboration, and debate. In
in which students reread the text and highlight specific evidence. classrooms with low technology, ThinkCERCA can be accessed in
Students can also add notes and annotate for more guided practice. stations.
All student work is auto-saved. The program provides novel pairings with books such as To Kill
a Mockingbird, The Hunger Games, The Fault in
Ease of Use: Educators can track student Our Stars, and 1984. Theres also a plethora of
performance by grade level on color-coded
dashboards and can also see students progress
TOP FEATURES test prep support, including error analysis and
annotation practice. ThinkCERCA offers unit
Texts are differentiated by grade level,
over time. Teachers can quickly identify skills and planning resources and curriculum alignment to The
aligned to standards, and of high interest
concepts that need to be covered and see which to students. Wheatley Portfolio, Summits Personalized Learning
students need additional practice or higher-level Platform, Pearsons ReadyGEN, McGraw-Hills
Teachers can access PD and support
texts. resources at thinkcerca.com Reading Wonders, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourts
Lessons take about 90120 minutes and begin Collections. For schools that use G Suite, students
Administrators, teachers, and students
with a lot of modeling and scaffolding. The goal of can track student progress, seeing growth
can log in with their Google ID and assignments can
the program is to cover between two and five applied and places for improvement. be announced in Google Classroom, but all the work
lessons each month. is done in ThinkCERCA.

WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM | M AY 2 01 7 | 17
PRODUCT REVIEWS

DISCOVERY EDUCATION SCIENCE TECHBOOK

discoveryeducation.com/ScienceTechbooknRetail Price: Between $48 and $57 per student for a six-year subscription.

By Frank Pileiro

T
he Discovery Education (DE) Science Techbook is
a comprehensive, multimedia digital textbook and
learning platform that addresses the Next Generation
Science Standards (NGSS). It can be customized with
state-specific standards so teachers and students have
the exact content they need.
The Techbook features reading passages (multiple languages
available), virtual labs, interactive multimedia content, videos,
and nearly 2,000 hands-on labs. Students are given a complete set
of tools to help them explore and document their learning using
an inquiry-based approach. A text-to-speech engine as well
as highlighting, note-taking, and journaling tools help
students with all different learning styles succeed.
Teachers have complete control of content OVERALL RATING: The
delivery via the built-in Classroom Manager. Model DE Science Techbook
lessons, essential questions, and high-quality vetted is an excellent solution
for science education. It
resources give educators the flexibility to assign Ease of Use: Districts that adopt the DE Science
strikes the right balance of
interactive, differentiated learning content based on content and activities. Techbook will see it added to their new or existing
their topic and on student needs. account on the Discovery Education website in the
My DE Services section. It loads very quickly, and the
Quality and Effectiveness: The DE Science Techbook comprehensive support and training materials ensure users
is an excellent resource for the classroom, and its intuitive are soon up and running.
interface gives teachers a comprehensive and vetted set of materials Creating, managing, and assigning work is simple and fast.
for grades K12, including high-school biology, chemistry, physics, and Finding materials is easy, since its broken down into units of study
earth and space science. and contents. It follows Discovery Educations 5 Es approach
Teachers can select and save assets and combine them with tools to learning: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate with STEM, and
for building assignments, quizzes, writing prompts, and interactive Evaluate. Exercises in each of these areas are followed by a model
boards to customize the learning/assessment process. Teachers can lesson that includes content and all the necessary materials to save
also monitor student understanding through student journals, graphic teachers time and help them to deliver effective instruction.
organizers, constructed responses, and quick checks.
Creative Use of Technology: The DE Science Techbook solves the
problem of science curricula that are continually outdated; since

TOP FEATURES
High-quality interactive content and materials engage todays learners any
place, any time.
Its flexibility allows teachers to differentiate and customize instruction.
This complete learning platform not only delivers instruction but also enables
teachers to assess student work and give feedback.
its a digital textbook, content can be added and refreshed as needed
to ensure that both teachers and students have the most up-to-date
content and tools.
The flexibility of the platform allows teachers to easily
differentiate instructional content and efficiently assess student
learning. The tools help each student, regardless of individual learning
style, to succeed.

18 | MAY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM

 PRODUCT REVIEWS

PIVOTED
wp.pivoted.com/nRetail Price: Pricing available for single educators, buildings, and districts.

By Shannon Mersand

P
ivotEd partners award-winning Capstone fiction and
informational text with interactive technology to create
learning experiences that encourage creativity,
collaboration, and critical thinking for
third- through sixth-graders in 1:1 and
OVERALL RATING: pivotEd
blended learning environments. is a fantastic resource that
provides educators with pre-built students can be imported from Google
Quality and Effectiveness: Lessons are lesson sequences to engage and assess Classroom; accounts can be created without
linked to over 500 Capstone titles, both student learning in literacy. With over email addresses; or educators can provide
fiction and informational texts, covering 500 lessons centered around a variety of students with a educator code to sign up.
texts utilizing various forms of assessment,
a variety of topics. Each lesson includes
educators will be able to gain a more robust
both formative and summative assessment understanding of where students are in Creative Use of Technology: pivotEd is
and focuses on reading skills and strategies their literacy development. The ability to perfect for a blended learning environment,
that align with Common Core and state assign different activities to different where some work is done online and some
standards for literacy. Lessons include groups allows educators and students offline, as well as for 1:1 classrooms, and it
a number of hands-on activities tied to a
to realize the true benefits of 1:1 also allows for differentiation as educators can
and blended learning.
Capstone ebook and are checked out individually. assign different lessons to individuals, groups, or
After checkout, lessons remain in a educators whole classes. Educators set the duration of each
account to be published to students when appropriate. learning experience, so it can be set to open only during
the class period or for a number of days so students can work at
Ease of Use: Interfaces for both educators and students are clean home as well. Educators can also control the pace of each experience
and easy to navigate, with built-in help. The most helpful resources by choosing to keep parts locked until all students have reached a
are written guides, helpful tips, and the large number of video certain point or by unlocking them so students can work at their own
tutorials that walk educators through the product from start to finish. pace. pivotEd integrates with most device cameras for uploading
Additionally, optional in-person training and development is available images.
for a fee. The Lesson Library is easy to navigate, as experiences are
organized in a number of ways and keyword searching is available. Suitability for Use in a School Environment: Lessons are educator-
There are three options for student account creation so that each led and allow for differentiation based on activity types as well as
school or educator can choose the best method for their situation: on the levels of different students and groups. Educators are able to
view work in progress, which allows them to adjust their instruction
in real time, leading to increased student gains. Students can work

TOP FEATURES independently or in groups to practice language arts skills by writing,

Selection: With over 500 lessons built on Capstones award-winning literature
titles, there are lessons appropriate for all students in grades 36.
Ease of Use: The easy-to-navigate interfaces make finding lessons a snap.
Support: The onsite training and professional development that come with
pivotEd subscriptions are invaluable for implementing new technology in the
classroom.
drawing, responding to questions and polls, reading text, and taking
notes. They can also create and view images, video, word clouds,
and graphic organizers, in addition to interacting with peers and
educators.
pivotEd gives details for each lesson in the Lesson Library
including reading level (Lexile and AR/ATOS), primary language, age
group, lesson type, and genre.

WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM | M AY 2 01 7 | 19
PRODUCT REVIEWS

MOBILE LEARNING MINDSET SIX-BOOK

SERIES BY CARL HOOKER
www.iste.org/resourcesnRetail Price: $19.95 per book

OVERALL RATING:
By Rebecca Andr This six-book series
deserves my highest rating.
The series includes many
Quality and Effectiveness:
detailed examples and solid
strategies for each audience,
Professionally and personally, and will help anyone
I appreciate this series. Each implement or improve a
volume targets a specific mobile device initiative.
audience of stakeholders in
the mobile learning puzzle,
including district leaders, parents,
coaches, teachers, principals, yet specifically relevant, chapters
and IT staff. Each book is for the various audiences. Each
independently useful, but ideally, book contains a chapter of Top 10
the whole series would best Things NOT to Do, a chapter on
serve the intended audiences Tying All Things Together, and
simultaneously. Hooker is highly a chapter to Reflect and Share
praised in educational technology Ideas. Each book also includes an
circles, deeply understands interview with a renowned expert
each perspective, and brings his in the field. For example, Kathy
engaging voice and informed Schrock, an edtech advocate for
examples to each volume. 20+ years, shares deep knowledge
for coaches.
Ease of Use: The books are
written in a conversational style, Creative Use of Technology:
are easy to absorb, and will serve At review time, the final layout
as references for years. All the was not ready, but I know ISTE
books are organized into similar, will publish a visually appealing,
easy-to-read series. Hookers
innovative examples throughout the books are compelling for each
TOP FEATURES audience. If read together, the books will inform conversations crucial
For anyone interested in launching or improving a mobile device program, for any mobile device program.
Hookers series is engaging, practical, and full of insightful examples.
The six-book series effectively shares experiences and deep reflections about
Suitability for Use in a School Environment: This series was
implementing a mobile device program for all the stakeholders who need to written exclusively for school and district environments. Vivid
participate to ensure a successful process and outcome. examples and deep reflection in each book will allow any school or
This series can serve as a resource long after the mobile device program is district to launch or improve its mobile device program. Hooker is
launched; there is always room for improvement, and Hooker offers much sage an established teacher and eloquent writer with a rich history of
advice. experiences in the field of mobile devices and teaching.

20 | M AY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM
 PRODUCT REVIEWS

QWERTYTOWN 2.0
qwertytown.comnPrice: prices range from $2-$7 per student depending on district size

By Rayna Freedman

Quality and Effectiveness: QwertyTown OVERALL RATING:

2.0, from Second Nature Learning, is an QwertyTown 2.0 is an
online keyboarding program that allows excellent way for students
students to move at their own pace while to learn keyboarding and
communication skills. It
learning how to type more efficiently and
is user-friendly for both
accurately. The lessons are scaffolded students and teachers.
and include a demo, guided practice, and
independent practice. The independent
activities offer students a chance to assess their
speed and accuracy. QwertyTown 2.0 covers the
home row, the upper row, the lower row, the reach keys, numbers,
punctuation, and symbols.

Ease of Use: QwertyTown 2.0 offers lesson starters for educators,

helping students understand the importance of learning
keyboarding. The wonderful support section includes tutorial
videos, student benchmarks, and a teacher guide. Clear explanations
show how to customize class and student settings for the teacher
dashboard. Theres even a YouTube Channel that offers help on
using various components of the program. Directions for each lesson
are clear, and students can use audio and visual clues to help them
navigate the keyboarding activities.

Creative Use of Technology: Each student creates an avatar for a

personal feel. QwertyTown 2.0 uses voice to text when explaining
directions, and students can create friend lists and challenge their
friends to games. Students can communicate with teachers and peers
depending on the
settings the district
sets. The Head 2 Head
game lets students
TOP FEATURES Suitability for Use in a School Environment: QwertyTown 2.0
Lessons are scaffolded to meet the needs of
challenge a classmate individual learners.
meets a districts elementary and middle school needs for helping
or other user to a typing students become more comfortable with keyboarding skills. The
Students learn valuable keyboarding skills in
duel. Students can earn online application provides differentiated instruction and teacher-
a fun and engaging way.
coins to be spent in the friendly controls. QwertyTown 2.0 also allows students to practice
Teachers and administration can easily track
avatar store and tokens digital citizenship skills while communicating with other users.
student progress with a convenient, easy-to-
that can be used while use dashboard. QwertyTown 2.0 offers robust student reporting features and uses
playing Head 2 Head. Clever for automated roster management.

WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM | M AY 2 01 7 | 21
 PROGRESS
REPORT
By Ellen Ullman
I
f you Google K12 assessment, more
than 11 million results pop up. Between
state assessments, formative assessments,
summative assessments, and student
portfolios, thats an awful lot of evaluation
going on. The good news is that todays
assessment tools are more prescriptive than past
products, and some of them even help teachers
and administrators understand what to do next.
IF YOU WANT TO ASSESS
READING
Try Lexias RAPID Assessment, says Language Learning), says Michelle Bracken,
Heidi Busk, principal at Morgen Owings
Elementary in the Lake Chelan (WA) School
District. Busk used RAPID for benchmarking
this year and says her school will move away
from NWEA MAP and DIBELS. DIBELS
gave us more detailed information than MAP,
but the information was never granular and
we didnt know what to do with it, she says.
RAPID lets us dig in much deeper. We can see
where the child is struggling and get scripted
lessons and other resources for teachers to
use. RAPID provides point-in-time percentile
rankings and breaks children into groups
that are struggling with the same standards
so that teachers can hit the ground running.
It also takes less time to administer, says
Busk: an hour, versus up to two weeks with
DIBELS. Since students do the assessment on
computers, teachers get immediate feedback
and real-time data results. The lessons
provided in the program are research-based, so
we can trust them. It gives me the confidence to
know that my teachers and paraprofessionals
are using best practices, quality resources, and
learning so much themselves. Its like having
professional development for teachers in
reading instruction.
22 | MAY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM
IF YOU WANT TO ASSESS
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
LEARNERS (ELL)
Try Pearsons TELL (Test of English IF YOU WANT
TO DRIVE
program specialist for English Learner Programs
for the San Bernardino (CA) City Unified School
District. Twenty-six percent of the 53,000
students are ELL, and the district wanted a tool
that provided immediate, real-time data on
second language development.The district used
the California English Language Development
Test (CELDT) to measure student progress
annually, and teachers use an ELD portfolio to
monitor individual student progress. In early
2016, the districts English Learner Programs
department put together a 10-school pilot
to see how TELL could help teachers and
administrators pinpoint student achievement.
After a successful pilot that resulted in positive
feedback, 8,000 students at 70 schools used
TELL this past fall. The testing went really well,
and now teachers have an area to target for each
student, by domain. Before TELL we relied on
CELDT and a teachers judgment in determining
where they thought students were at. TELL
provides the insight to let us know for sure if
its a language issue or an academic skill issue.
In addition, she says students liked taking the
test. Its interactive and feels more like a game,
and students told her the test makes them feel
successful.
GRADE-LEVEL
INSTRUCTION
WITH
FORMATIVE
ASSESSMENT
Try i-Ready Standards
Mastery, says Peggy Crowe,
curriculum coordinator for the
Choctaw (MS) Tribal School District.
The 2,600 students, who are members of the
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, are
bilingual but speak English and Choctaw at
school. When the district first used i-Ready
Standards Mastery in December of 2015,
they gave students three unit tests and were
disappointed with the outcome. We wanted
to use the product more successfully, since
teachers and students were dissatisfied with the
first results, says Crowe. They invited teachers
to choose standards to teach for nine weeks,
and then they completed an assessment. This
year, Crowe met with teachers in August. I
said, Lets select mastery items based on our
MAP assessment and test these standards.
Then you can look at scores and determine your
instructional needs. Teachers also used the
Standards Mastery Reports and Item Analysis

Students at Westlake High School in Austin, TX, use this template to
build their portfolios, house their documents, generate resumes, and
assess themselves.
Report to review the student
and class misconceptions. Crowe
took away the word assessment
and encouraged the teachers to
view i-Ready Standards Mastery as
an instructional tool instead. She and the
curriculum facilitator meet with grade-level
teachers every nine weeks. They bring their
i-Ready Standards Mastery Reports and look
for trends. It is so encouraging. Teachers no
longer feel isolated; they see that other children
are having the same difficulties. Teachers have
bonded and discuss how to improve instruction.
When the district administered the most recent
i-Ready Standards Mastery test, more classes
were proficient and teachers were motivated.
The approach of changing it to an instructional
tool supports higher student achievement, says
Crowe. We learned that teachers must instruct
with more rigor to address the standards in the
depth they require. She says the teachers come
to their grade-level meetings with books and
other resources to learn more effective strategies
to improve teaching best practices.
IF YOU WANT TO TEACH
STUDENTS HOW TO ASSESS
THEMSELVES
Try Google Classroom, says Lisa Johnson,
educational technologist at Eanes (TX)
Independent School District, chief executive
officer of TechChef4u LLC, and author of
Cultivating Communication in the Classroom:
Future-Ready Skills for Secondary Students.
Johnson, who has worked at Westlake High
School for five years, was disappointed that
students would graduate without any kind of
portfolio or lasting But Johnson wanted students to have more than
example of their work. just a writing portfolio, so she enlisted a fellow
Since the district ed tech in her district to work with Doctopus, a
already used Google Google Sheets Add-On, to create a standardized
Drive, it was a natural portfolio that students, teachers, and district
extension to use officials had access to. This repository, which
Google Classroom as a is really a glorified Google folder and a Google
learning management Doc that serves as a chapter of contents, allows
system and utilize students to list their goals, activities, awards,
Google Drive as honors, and clubs. With this information
a place to house readily in hand, the portfolio also helps students
student writing and write their resumes or complete their college
assessments. With all applications. Many students also opt to design
of their writing and a showcase portfolio using bulb, a tool that
documents in one displays artifacts beautifully, to keep everything
place, teachers can ask a from prezi animations to audio recordings
class of students to pull to blogs. The next level, which Johnson has
up last years assignments started working on, is helping teachers use
and re-edit them with digital portfolios to foster self-analysis and
new knowledge. Or they can use earlier writing peer reviews. The goal is to have someone ask
samples to track student growth. The beauty questions or help you review your portfolio
of using Google Classroom and Google Drive and discuss what youve learned, she says. For
is that there was no learning curve for teachers instance, what do you notice about yourself
or students. Its simple and effective, says when you work in a group? What roles do you
Johnson. If a student leaves the district, he can excel at? Now that weve laid the groundwork,
share his work with a personal gmail account. we are ready to build on it.
WHICH FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT TOOL IS RIGHT
FOR YOUR CLASSROOM?
At last years Boston T&L Live, a group of educators held a lively Formative
Assessment Shoot Out, packed with educators learning about popular tools avail-
able for classroom use. The contenders were the following:
Nearpod (nearpod.com): Teachers can create lessons, synchronize them across all
student devices, and get real-time feedback and post-session reports on student com-
prehension.
Pear Deck (peardeck.com): A Google app for 1:1/BYOD classrooms that engages every
student in every class every day. Teachers create presentations, students join with any
device and engage with the lesson in multiple ways: questions, videos, Web pages, etc.
Formative (goformative.com): A platform for real-timeformativeassessments that lets
students type, draw, or upload images.
Socrative (socrative.com): Teachers quickly assess students with prepared activities or
on-the-fly questions to get immediate insight into student understanding and then use
results to determine the best instructional approach.
Attendees watched demos and voted for their favorite one. In the end, it was too
close to call, says Andy Wallace, technology director of South Portland (ME) Schools
and the Shoot Out moderator. Each product delivers a valuable, nuanced way to
let teachers get a better understanding of well, their students understanding.
The real winners are the classrooms in which teachers use any of these tools for
increased engagement and easy formative assessment, says Wallace.
WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM | M AY 2 01 7 | 23
 CALLING ALL CODERS
Why Programming Is Essential to All Curricula

By Ellen Ullman

B
y 2018, there will bemore than two
millionopen jobs in STEM (science,
technology, engineering, math)
professions, but only 19 percent of
current college degrees are in STEM
fields. Even worse, 75 percent of
students that do well in science and math decide
to not pursue STEM in college. If we want to
remain a global leader, we have to develop more
interest in these topics. One way to do that is
by to show students that coding ties into nearly
everything we do. And to do that, we need to
incorporate programming into the curriculum,
just as theyve done in the following examples.

PROGRAMMING FOR ALL

At the South Bronx Early College Academy,
a public charter school for grades six and seven,
computational thinking is woven into every
class. I joined this school to help bring
computer science into the core and make a
difference, says computer science teacher
Kelly Powers, who has been involved in
programming since 2005. Our students
do computational-thinking activities that
develop their problem-solving and analytical
skills and push them to think creatively.
Last year, Powers worked with the physical
education teacher on a unit in which students
collected data to determine how fitness and
good nutrition helped them grow. In Powers
classes, students learn how to approach a
problem, about the tools that can help solve
problems more efficiently, and then go about
solving those problems. They learn how to
program with Scratch (scratch.mit.edu) and
AgentCubes (www.agentcubesonline.com)
and create their own games. Recently, Powers
worked with her colleagues to bring inquiries
into their classrooms. She and the science
teacher taught students to use Python (www.
python.org) to chart climate data, create graphs,
and reflected on their graphs. Literature students
made Scratch animations about Theseus.
When they do these kinds of projects, they
make all sorts of connections and reinforce
their learning, says Powers. We spend lots of
time brainstorming and decomposing problems
Captions TK
into smaller chunks. We want our students to
discover new ways to solve problems using a
variety of tools. Powers is determined to spread
her love of programming because our world is
driven by technology. Any careers my students
go into will be rooted in computer science. By
learning to use programming languages to come
up with solutions, theyll be prepared for any
field they choose.
MAKING A STATEWIDE IMPACT
The state of Virginia is determined to
expose its students to programming and has
formed a computer science steering committee
that is creating computer science standards
for grades K12. In 2016, we became the first
state to include computer science as part of
the curriculum in all schools, says Deborah
Marshall, department chair for Career &
Technical Education at Granby High School in
Norfolk, VA, and a member of the states steering
committee. Two of her districts high schools
teach IT Fundamentals, and it will be offered at
all five high schools soon. Part of the challenge
for many districts is finding and training teachers
who can teach coding, but in Virginia thats being
addressed by CODEVA (www.codevirginia.
org), a nonprofit organization that offers free
teacher training and meetupsfor teachers
who cant attend CODEVA training but are
interested in learning more about integrating
computer science and coding activities into
theircourses.Marshall and her colleague, a
digital marketing teacher, hosted a CODEVA
meetup at their school; CODEVA is planning
to sponsor these events in other regions of
Virginia.Marshalls district participates in Hour

24 | M AY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM
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 CALLING ALL CODERS
Captions TK
of Code and Digital Learning Day, and students
received coding lessons for the entire month of
December. She helps students make connections
between programming and the real world so
they can recognize the importance of coding and
understand that its not just one more thing a
teacher makes them do. According to Marshall,
80 percent of Granby High School students have
done some form of coding, whether in a class or
an after-school program.
CODING IS ELEMENTARY
Three years ago, Quaker Hill Elementary
School participated in Hour of Code. It was the
first experience for our building and staff, says
Robyn McKenney, K-5 technology coordinator
for Waterford (CT) Public Schools. We didnt
even know what coding was, says Whitney
Wadecki, a first-grade teacher at Quaker Hill.
Since then, all three Waterford elementary
schools are doing Hour of Code, theres a coding
club for grades K and 1, and Wadecki created
an eight-week course based on Code.orgs
curriculum. The first year of the coding club, I
had 30 members and a waiting list of 30 more,
says Wadecki. Now in its third year, she runs the
club for two four-week sessions and is up to 45
attendees each time. Wadecki and McKenney
also do programming activities in classrooms
and in the computer lab. Robyn and I shared
robots and Beebots (www.bee-bot.us) with
classrooms to build momentum. The children
were so excited that the PTAs in each school
purchased robots for their labs and teachers.
McKenney set up an Innovation Station in
the computer labs; students rotate through 11
26 | MAY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM
different areas to fly drones and program robots. programming. In digital design, students learn
The activities we plan help children improve how to design web pages, how to connect to
their skills in problem solving, collaboration, and STP servers, and more. Before graduation,
critical thinking. They are engaged and excited. they do an internship and have a portfolio (see
Coding and robots are integrated throughout samples, at right). Ramirez gives her students
the curriculum. Students used Sratch Jr. (www. problems to which they must use their skills to
scratchjr.org/teach.html) at math stations, use find solutions. Technology is taking over all
Blockly (developers.google.com/blockly) to jobs, even truckingall trucks will be driven by
animate robots, and commands to make Beebots computer programs in a few years. If you dont
pull wagons. Fifth-grade classes worked in know coding, you wont have a job, she says.
groups to build snow plows with Dash and Dot When youre coding, you have to spend hours
(www.makewonder.com). They had to work to troubleshoot if it doesnt work. It builds up
together and problem solve, which they did endurance and perseverance. You have to be
because the challenge of getting it to work was so patient and pay attention to detail. Those soft
magical, says McKenney. skills are vital for everyone, and you can only get
those skill from programming.
CODING PREPARES STUDENTS
FOR EVERYTHING
Web design teacher Luna Ramirez
teaches coding in all of her classes at
Information Technology High School
in Long Island City, NY. I focus on
the vocational aspect of coding, she
says. How will the skills I teach help
students in their career or profession
after high school? Ramirez, who teaches
HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and jQuery,
says the concepts of programming are
good in any subject, since they prepare
students to develop ideas and use the
code to provide the answer. The school
has a web design academy and a video
production academy. In the first year
of web design, students learn Adobe
tools; in their second year, they learn
about data, globalization, coding, and Captions TK
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 PRIVACY BY
PRACTICE,
NOT JUST
BY POLICY
A System Administrator Advocating
for Student Privacy
By Gennie Gebhart
W
hen Matt L. started to raise
the alarm about educational
technology in his school
district, he knew it would
ruffle some feathers.
As a system
administrator (or sysadmin), Matt has had
a front-row seat to the increasing use of
technology in his rural, public school district.
At first, the district only issued Chromebooks to
students in guest kiosk mode for test-taking.
Over time, though, each of the districts 10,000
students got individual access to school-issued
devices, from iPads for younger students who
cannot yet type to Chromebooks and G-Suite for
Education logins for students as young as third
grade.
Matt and his sysadmin colleagues are
at the center of deploying, configuring, and
maintaining Google devices and software for
the entire district. This gives Matt opportunities
to identify privacy problems with ed tech
implementation, and to propose solutions.
ALL OUR EGGS IN ONE
BASKET
I dont want to say that Google or
Chromebooks or any of this stuff is inherently
bad, Matt said. Getting these tools into the
hands of kids is hard to argue with. Thats why I
got into technology.
As the district has continued to expand its
28 | M AY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM
technology use, however, Matt has started to
have concerns about consolidating students
educational and personal information in one
company. Were putting all our eggs in one
basket that were not in control of, he said. We
dont know where this student data is going.
On top of his privacy concerns, Matt
observed students learning about only certain
softwares without broader awareness of
their technology choices. Having grown up
experimenting with Linux and other open
softwares, he was dismayed to see students being
steered toward only Google services and away
from other options.
The beauty of technology is that it is so
vast and deep, with so many choices. But were
funnelling people into one situation, which is
not our job, he said. We should be teaching
concepts of computing, not specific software. We
should be giving parents and kids a choice.
PRIVACY BY POLICY
After frustrating initial conversations with
colleagues, it became clear to Matt that student
privacy advocacy in his district could get touchy
pretty quick. Even higher-up colleagues who
might have been in a position to make district-
level changes were hard to effectively approach.
They like Chrome because its easy to
use and they dont have to worry much about
the mechanics behind it, he said. So, I was
constantly ridiculed when I brought up concerns
about privacy.
Colleagues also pointed out the cost-
effectiveness of free Google services in response
to Matts concerns. But Matt was not convinced.
Nobody's asking why it's free," Matt said.
I thought it was common sense that, generally,
if you're not paying for the app, you're the
product.
After repeated requests to talk more about
student privacy issues, Matts boss and members
of administration pointed him to the districts
as well as Googles privacy policies. But this
approach of ensuring privacy by policy did not
lessen Matts concerns.
We have privacy policies for our website,
and for our student academic records, but not
so much for students information in regards to
what Google is collecting, he said. We cant
guarantee what Google is or is not doing with
this information. Its all pretty vague, and its not
the kind of thing you want to be vague about.
One of the biggest problems with such
privacy by policy is that it relies on all
staff members being up-to-date on complex,
sometimes vague policies, and having the
time and resources to comply with them
consistently. Matt observed that many in his
districtincluding his colleagues in system
administrationsee student privacy as a long-
term issue rather than an active, ongoing project.
Stuff like student privacy gets back-
burnered, Matt said. Its hard to look down
the road at long-term projects when teachers
day-to-day is consuming all of our departments
time and energy.

PRIVACY BY PRACTICE
Unsatisfied by the privacy by policy that his
district usually practices, Matt is investigating how
he can implement privacy by practicethat is,
prioritizing student privacy with active safeguards
to augment and ensure existing policy, like
technical settings and opt-out options.
His first step has been to crank down the lid
on privacy settings so that students use Google
products as anonymously as possible by default,
without associating their online profiles with
identifying information. Ideally, technical controls
like these will make it harder for teachers or third-
party companies to collect student data, making
privacy the default in students and teachers work.
He is also advocating for an opt-out policy.
EFF helped Matt locate relevant examples of
opt-out policies from other school districts to get
conversations started. However, this advocacy
process has brought up more questions than
answers. Coworkers were concerned that giving
students the option to opt out of Chromebooks
and/or Google services will create more work
for teachers and administrators, and it has been
hard to build consensus around what classroom
alternatives would be available when students
choose to opt out.

CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE
Matts conversations with colleagues
have moved forward in fits and starts, and are
constantly changing as the districts technology
situation changes. For example, a system-wide
update gave Matt an opportunity to propose
concurrent changes in ed tech implementation.
But, soon after, discussions about abandoning
local storage and migrating completely to Google
Drive ran counter to Matts efforts to locally
control student data and ensure their privacy.
In the meantime, Matt is thinking about
stepping up student digital literacy education with
more student-staff interactions on the topic. He
has also brought up his concerns at professional
conferences to learn from sysadmin in different
schools and districts. Matt remains persistent and
committed to advocating for more secure, more
private student systems.
Its a really hard problem, but we need to
come up with an answer, Matt said.
Reprinted from the Electronic Frontier
Foundation site (www.eff.org) using the Creative
Commons license.

WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM | M AY 2 01 7 | 29
 AN EXCERPT FROM TECH & LEARNING LEADER (FORMERLY SCHOOLCIO)

CREATING A
CULTURE OF
INNOVATION

ISTOCK/THINKSTOCK
By Ellen Ullman teachers brought the Google Genius Hour passion goal so that they can connect teachers

Y
(www.geniushour.com)Google engineers get with the tools and other resources they need.
ou cant mandate to spend 20 percent of their time working on As for opportunity, Sanfelippo says hes always
innovation, says Joe a pet projectto their district. They named it on the lookout, via social media and speaking
Sanfelippo, superintendent Passion Projects for Adults, and Fall Creek staff engagements, for other schools that tie in with a
of Fall Creek (WI) members get to learn about anything they want. passion project.
School District. From an Were trying to help people move to a different At the beginning of this school year, two
administrative standpoint, place without moving them, says Sanfelippo. teachers requested robotics kits. Sanfelippo
you have to create an environment in which To encourage teachers to explore, the district suggested they first try using the Spheros, which
people can take risks. provides three essential ingredients: time, are ball-shaped gaming devices that students
Thats exactly what he and his staff have resources, and opportunity. This year, teachers program with a smartphone or tablet, in the
done. Instead of offering traditional professional received three student-free days to work on library and connected them with a school in
development, Sanfelippo and a group of their projects. Principals know everyones Minnesota that holds a Global Sphero Day. The

30 | M AY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM

teachers now have 25 Spheros and their students
are programming and live-streaming for the
community.
Our intent is to embed everything we do in
our culture. Last year, when we surveyed staff
about our new professional learning model, 94
percent agreed or strongly agreed that it made
them a better teacher.
BE A PROBLEM SOLVER
When the word innovation is in your title,
chances are youve got some insight on the topic.
For Jennie Magiera, chief innovation officer at
Des Plaines (IL) School District 62, one of the
keys to creating an innovative culture is solving
problems. Remember that your colleagues are
normal people who oftentimes cant see beyond
their pain points, she says. If you identify and
alleviate that problem, you win. If you can do it
in an innovative way, even better. For example,
when teachers complained about spending all
of their time grading papers, Magiera made a
Google Form to help them grade more efficiently.
If you make someone happy, you establish
trust and demonstrate that technology can solve
problems.
Magiera is also strategic about which
teachers to approach first. She acknowledges
that a lot of people target the early adopters,
but she goes straight to the laggards. If you can
convince the laggards, especially the loudest
ones, to meet an early adopter or innovator and
be turned into an innovator, thats political gold
and makes everyone else jump on board. They
dont want to be behind the laggards.
When she launched a makerspace
movement, Magiera decentralized making by
bringing it to the classrooms instead of housing
a space in the library. She recruited 10 teachers
to be part of a cohort called the Dream Lab;
they wrote a grant and bought 3D printers,
virtual reality (VR) equipment, and other
materials. Now the Dream Lab is exploring
maker pedagogy, incorporating it into their core
content, and writing lesson plans. They publish
(bit.ly/62dreamlab) their lessons and teachers
use a Google Form to check out maker materials.
BE VISIBLE
Two years ago, when John Martin began
working at Inter-Lakes (NH) School District,
his predecessor had just died. Understandably,
Strategies for K-12 Technology Leaders
there had been a gap in technology services
for a couple of years. The first thing I did
was knock down a wall between my office and
the administrators, says Martin, director of
innovation & technology. Our office is in the
high school and I didnt want any barriers
between me and the people I was trying to serve.
Martin wanted to encourage people to pop in
and chat. I needed to get traction to make any
sort of innovations take off, he says.
Today, the elementary school has a podcast
club called the Blue Wave Broadcasters. The
middle/high school has a LakerMaker space
which, because it isnt a scheduled room or
tied directly to a classroom, allows students
to explore technological questions outside of
their classes. Martins latest project is getting a
360-degree camera so that students can begin
working in VR settings. His office also hosts
student interns who are exploring careers in
computer science.
Martins technology staff knows that unless
a request is potentially unsafe, their first word is
never to be no. As he says, When youre trying
to get people engaged and to think about how
to do things differently, its imperative to have
a Lets talk this through attitude. It also lets
people know that our concerns start and end
with one question: How effective is their idea for
students?
A LOT OF TIMES,
PEOPLE THINK
INNOVATION
MEANS CHAOS.
FOR US,
INNOVATION
IS STRATEGIC
FREEDOM.
Martin is also forming a technology
leadership council to decide future plans.
Their first task? Figuring out whether to
replace a fleet of eight-year-old interactive
whiteboards.
BE WILLING TO TRUST
A lot of times, people think innovation
means chaos. For us, innovation is strategic
freedom, says Vincent Scheivert, chief
information officer for Albemarle County (VA)
Public Schools. Scheivert says leaders need to
decide what they are willing to give up and trust
their students, teachers, and/or administrators
to find more effective, efficient ways. The death
knell of any progressive organization is, This is
the way weve always done it, he says. If you go
into things with that mindset, youve defeated
yourself. Instead, do it differently from how you
did it last year.
At Albemarle, every school has advanced
manufacturing capabilities; many teachers
let students choose their own style of seating.
From the beginning of its 1:1 program in 2013,
students were allowed to be full administrators
of their devices. We cant call them personal
learning devices if kids cant personalize them,
and that goes further than letting them select a
background picture, says Scheivert. Students
add or delete programs and are expected to
customize their laptops to suit their learning
needs. The machines are content-filtered at
school or on a home network, but students can
access questionable sites as they learn. The
beauty of this arrangement is that the mistakes
students make are easily resolved. We find
that middle schoolers generally need a reimage
once a quarter. By high school, that drops to one
reimage in four years.
Perhaps Albemarles biggest innovation
is how they are solving the digital divide by
building an LTE network to deliver public
wireless network access to every home across
the countys 726 square miles. By 2020,
we want everyone to be able to access their
tools, their homework, and any of our other
resources, says Scheivert. Even though the
LTE initiative took a few iterations before it
came together, he knows that is part of the
process. We try to fight saying no. Instead, we
work through a process that allows us to get to
that yes.
WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM | M AY 2 01 7 | 31
 The Often-Overlooked
Tool Critical for a Successful
School iPad Program
T
here are several factors that help determine the successor
failureof a school iPad program. For instance, educators must
be trained in how to use iPads effectively to support teaching and
learning, and schools must have adequate network infrastructure for
their students to get online securely.
According to K12 leaders who have implemented successful mobile
device programs, choosing a mobile device management (MDM)
system that is designed to meet the specific needs of schools is equally
important, though it is sometimes overlooked during initial planning.
The right MDM solution not only helps IT leaders with an efficient
and smooth rollout and ongoing management of apps and devices,
but it also empowers teachers to be more successful in their
instruction by providing simple tools for classroom-level management
and control.
DIRECTED LEARNING
When Sayard Bass became assistive technology coordinator for Hinsdale
Township High School District 86 in Illinois, iPads were already in use in
the districts special education department, but there was no easy way to
manage them. Whats more, Bass knew there were times when students
were using the iPads to play games instead of for learning.
NM_TabPilot_spread T&LMay.indd 1
With an MDM solution called TabPilot, Bass has improved the manage-
ment of these devices dramaticallyand teachers are now able to direct
students learning much more effectively.
With TabPilot, administrators and teachers can use a simple, drag-and-
drop interface to control which apps are visible or hidden on student
devices in each class. The software also includes powerful classroom
management features; for example, teachers can lock students into a
specific app or website during a lesson so the students stay focused.
Then, when the lesson is over, students can be given the freedom to
explore on their own. Another helpful feature is the ability for teachers
to clear forgotten passcodes on student devices without having to ask
for assistance from the IT department.
As everybody knows, the challenge with individual devices is the oppor-
tunity students have to go off-task, Bass says. We knew we needed to
be able to monitor usage better. TabPilot has improved our directed use
of iPadsand this has allowed us to justify purchasing more devices.
LIKE FLIPPING A SWITCH
Georgias Cherokee County School District has more than 5,000 iPads
stored in mobile carts across nearly 40 schools. Teachers can reserve a
classroom set of 30 iPads for their students to use during project-based
learning. But setting up each cart of iPads was cumbersome and
required IT staff to physically touch every device. In addition, teachers
had no easy way to customize the apps their students could access.
Our teachers feel like they have more
control over what is being used and
howand they really like that.
Dana Kickler, Instructional technologist, Lackland ISD
Elementary School
That all changed when Cherokee County began using TabPilot, which
has made it easy to manage the iPads in a shared-use environment.
Before TabPilot, Network Analyst Carol Dickerson and her staff used
Apple Configurator to set up each group of iPads. It was a very time-
consuming process.
4/11/17 12:11 PM NM_Tab

TabPilots simple interface helps track device use.
We would set up one iPad, download all the apps the teachers
requested, back up that configuration, and then copy it to the other
devices, she explained. And if teachers wanted to add more apps later,
the process had to be repeated. This kept teachers from having the most
up-to-date resources for their classrooms, because it could take as long
as two months for the IT team to fulfill a teachers request.
Now, with TabPilot, all we do is name the device, and were through
touching it, Dickerson says. I go to the TabPilot console, and I can
put each iPad into a group. I can drag the apps I want to appear on the
iPads for that group, and voila! The apps just show up on those devices
instantly, over the air.
TabPilots console is so simple that teachers can use it without having
to involve IT staff. We let it be teacher-driven, explained Dickerson.
Teachers can set up customized home screen layouts for each of their
classes. When they borrow an iPad cart, they simply turn on the appro-
priate screen layout for that classand their students then see only
the apps they have specified.
Its as easy as flipping a switch, Dickerson states.
BUILT FOR EDUCATION
Not all MDM solutions are the same, as the Lackland Independent
School District in Texas has learned.
Because Lackland ISD serves the children of Lackland Air Force Base
personnel, students are constantly entering and leaving the district.
With such a high turnover rate, the district needed an easy, flexible
way to set up and manage the iPads in its 1:1 mobile learning
program. After trying other MDM systems and finding they didnt
work well for education, Lackland ISD found TabPilot, which has
been designed specifically for schools and gives educators more fine-
tuned control.
TabPilot has helped Lackland ISD make sure the apps used by students
are educationally appropriate and comply with the Childrens Online
Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Dana Kickler, instructional technologist
for Lackland ISDs elementary school, and her team, work with teachers
12:11 PM NM_TabPilot_spread T&LMay.indd 2
SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT
to find, evaluate, and curate high-quality apps that are COPPA-compliant.
These apps are loaded into TabPilot and made available for teachers to
use as needed.
TabPilot also helps the district make more efficient use of its resources
by saving money on app licensing. Instructional technologists only have
to purchase a small number of licenses for paid apps, because TabPilot
makes it easy to move the licenses to different classes as needed.
As all three of these districts have discovered, the right MDM solution helps
support more effective teaching with iPads. We can push apps to specific
classes or entire groups, Kickler says. Our teachers feel like they have
more control over what is being used and howand they really like that.
ABOUT TABPILOT
TabPilot believes schools shouldnt be stuck with mobile
device management tools built for the enterprise and
shoehorned into classrooms. The companys school-
specific, easy-to-use MDM is designed to make life easier
for IT staff while empowering teachers to use mobile
devices in the classroom more effectively.
With TabPilots MDM, school IT personnel can:
Manage and distribute apps
Manage devices by school and district level
Track app licensing
Set restrictions and network profiles
Configure permissions
Inventory devices and apps
Enroll devices quickly with Apple DEP
Sync with Apple School Manager
The software allows teachers to:
Choose apps for student home screens
Freeze student screens (heads-up!)
Lock students into a single app
Distribute content
Create Web links
Clear forgotten student passcodes
For more information, visit http://www.tabpilot.com.
tabpilot
4/11/17 12:11 PM
 PROJECTOR GUIDE
As InfoComm (www.infocommshow.org/2017) gets ready to kick off next month in
Orlando, Tech & Learning highlights some of the newest projectors for K-12.

BENQ LU9715 BLUECORE LASER PROJECTOR

(www.benq.us/product/projector/lu9715)
The BenQ LU9715 BlueCore Laser Projector is a bright choice for larger
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100,000:1 contrast ratio for superior viewing even under bright ambient
lighting. The BlueCore laser engine provides significantly improved
color performance through a dual color wheel system, supports 360 and
portrait installation, and offers a selection of lenses for a wide range of
projector placement options.
The LU9715 features proprietary BlueCore 1-chip DLP high
brightness laser technology and WUXGA native resolution (1920 x
1200) for stunning image quality courtesy of dual color wheel projection.
Combined with great installation flexibility and a maintenance-free laser
light source, the BlueCore laser projector reduces total cost of ownership
for schools with 20,000 hours of maintenance-free operation, saving on
lamp replacement and maintenance costs.

34 | MAY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM

 LOOK NO FURTHER. Hitachi is one of the most trusted names in long life
projectors and high quality flat panel displays that are transforming the
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More products, more solutions. Contact Hitachi today at
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 PROJECTOR GUIDE
BOXLIGHT P9 INTERACTIVE PROJECTORS
(boxlight.com/p9)
The Boxlight P9 pen-interactive projector brings short throw
projected images and collaborative areas to classrooms. Up to five
students can work together at the front of the room. The full-featured
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allowing teachers to perform collaboration and assessment activities
at the front of the room with almost any student device. Additionally,
the projectors analog and digital audio/video connections ensure
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The P9 pen-interactive projectors include the dynamic MimioStudio
classroom software. It connects the Boxlight products, so using other tools
from the document camera to the pen tabletis quick and easy. MimioStudio
software allows educators to create interactive lessons and collaborative
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CANON DLP PROJECTORS

(www.usa.canon.com)
Canon released two new DLP projectors, the LV-
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projector. Balancing image quality and versatility,
the compact LV-HD420 and LV-X420 projectors
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Both models include the BrilliantColor system
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CASIO XJ-UT351WN ULTRA SHORT THROW SERIES

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XJ-UT351WN)
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close range with its built-in 0.28:1 fixed lens. Its laser & LED hybrid
light engine lasts for up to 20,000 hours without needing to replace
costly lamps or filters, and requires minimal maintenance. The XJ-
UT351WN produces 3500 lumens of brightness and boasts WXGA
(1280 x 800) resolution with a 20,000:1 contrast ratio, which is ideal for
displaying HD content from video and computer sources.
Two (2) HDMI inputs provide connectivity with all current display
technology without the need for switching cables. A high-power USB
port (5v DC, 2A) provides direct power for USB stick devices and
eliminates the need for a separate power supply. Network (RJ-45)
and local RS-232 connections provide control and remote status
monitoring capabilities and adding the optional YW-40 wireless
adapter allows for wireless display streaming for a Windows and Apple
computer, or download the Casio C-Assist App for wireless display of
content from a tablet (IOS and Android).

36 | M AY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM
 Go MercuryFree and Be Safe.

Meet the
Family.

www.casioLampFree.com/tl

2017 CASIO AMERICA, INC. All Rights Reserved.

 PROJECTOR GUIDE
CHRISTIE AP SERIES
(www.christiedigital.com/en-us/business/products/
projectors/lcd-display/ap-series)
The Christie AP Series comprises two 5,000-lumen-class
3LCD projectors in a compact, user-friendly, and value-added
package. Offering a long lamp life (up to 6,000 hours) and
integrated audio, the AP Series provides a low total cost of
ownership and is designed for easy classroom installation and
use.
Featuring a comprehensive list of I/O connections,
including HDBaseT, the Christie AP Series handles a variety
of integration environments and content sources. With WXGA
or WUXGA resolution and up to 10,000:1 contrast ratio, images are
crisp and clear, ensuring content looks great in any classroom. Special
pricing for schools is available through the Christie ScholarTech program.

EPSON BRIGHTLINK INTERACTIVE

(www.epson.com/brightlink)
Epson announced the latest BrightLink Interactive ultra short throw presentation displays for education, including
the BrightLink 685Wi, 695Wi, 696Ui, and 697Ui. These enhanced displays enable individualized instruction
with wireless content sharing and deliver crisp image quality, with up to full HD resolution and a bright,
readable, interactive image up to 100 inches3x as big as a 60-inch flat panel. Combined with Epsons
advanced 3LCD light engine for bright, vivid colors, the
new BrightLink interactive displays result in impactful
presentations and productive collaboration.
The new BrightLink interactive presentation displays
deliver wireless capabilities for easy content sharing to help
students learn and collaborate. The BrightLink series now
enables instructors to share content between the big screen
and wirelessly connected mobile devices for individualized
learning. With the Epson Multi-PC Projection with
Moderator function and the Epson iProjection App,
teachers have the ability to see and choose to display up
to four devices simultaneously from a maximum of 50 connected
student devices for an engaging, collaborative classroom experience. The
new BrightLink series also introduces DuoLink, an extended whiteboard
feature enabling teachers and students to get twice the collaboration
space by utilizing two BrightLink devices side by side.

HITACHI LP-WU3500
(www.hitachi-america.us/projectors)
Hitachi America introduced the LP-WU3500, 3,500 lumen
LED projector. In addition to brightness and clarity, the LP-
WU3500 offers low total cost and low-maintenance ownership,
with an expected 20,000 hours of life. The new LP-WU3500
projector comes with a host of features and an exceptional
five-year or 20,000 hours limited warranty, for a long life of
worry-free operation.
The LP-WU3500 operates at a much lower noise level than
other projectors, making it ideal for presentations and classroom
environments. The dust-resistant structure applied to the
optical engine reduces the effect of dust and particles in the air
and enables the projector to be used in an array of environments
without overheating and creating unnecessary noise. Without
the costs for replacement lamps, the LP-WU3500 projector is a
great total cost of ownership investment.

38 | MAY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM

 PROJECTOR GUIDE
INFOCUS IN2120A PROJECTOR
(www.infocus.com/projectors/office-classroom/IN2120a-
Series)
The IN2120a projector from InFocus is ideal for classroom environments
for easy video and digital content display. The projector can display
content from HDMI, USB, or 2 GB of internal memory, as well as 3D
content from Blu-ray or PC. Educators can use this affordable projector
to enhance the interactivity of their classroom by allowing their students
to share their documents, videos, audio, and photos, which can be cast
wirelessly from a mobile or personal device.
This projector features a wide variety of connection capabilities
including HDMI, VGA, USB, wireless connectivity, PC, and Blu-ray to
allow teachers and students to share content to enhance their learning and
collaboration. Boasting impressive brightness of 3,500 lumens, the IN2120a
network projector increases effectiveness and visibility of presentations and
lessons, and with minimal IT configuration needed, the IN2120a projector can connect
to internal networks and sync with Crestron or AMX systems.

NEC PA SERIES
(www.necdisplay.com)
NEC Display Solutions of America announced four LCD installation projectors that
deliver UHD Blu-ray and 4K content support, extended lamp and filter
life, and a wider color space, enhancing the user experience and
lowering the total cost of ownership for users needing large images
or higher brightness on the screen. Ranging from 6,500 lumens
to 9,000 lumens, the latest innovations in the PA Series include
the NP-PA653U, NP-PA803U, NP-PA853W, and NP-PA903X
projectors with WUXGA, WUXGA, WXGA, and XGA resolutions,
respectively.
A key differentiator in these latest compact models is NECs
Scaler Chip, an advancement in picture processing. The integrated
picture processor simultaneously manages a 4K/60p input and shares
signal output with multiple daisy-chained connected projectors. It also
translates into unsurpassed image noise reduction, de-interlacing, scaling,
and full 10-bit color processing, giving education, museum, corporate, retail, and
other industry users a better overall viewing experience.

OPTOMA ZH400UST
(www.optomausa.com/projectorproduct/
zh400ust)
The Optoma ZH400UST is a good choice for classroom settings,
combining the best of what projection offers todaya high-
definition, bright, and colorful image, an ultra short throw ratio,
and a laser light source to provide the ultimate in reliability with
20,000+ hours of virtually maintenance-free lifetime performance.
Featuring 4,000 lumens and a contrast ratio of 100,000:1 with
Dynamic Black enabled, the ZH400UST is equipped with a 10-watt
speaker, and a PC-free USB media player to support video, audio,
image, and presentation files from any USB device.
The Optoma ZH400UST combines reliability and
maintenance-free operation with flexibility. With a throw ratio of
just .25, the Optoma ZH400UST can display a 100 image from
only 13 away, making it the ideal projector for space-constrained environments. It is
also equipped with state-of-the-art laser phosphor display technology for the absolute
best in picture quality and color performance, outperforming traditional lamp-based
projectors with rich color and deep black levels.

40 | M AY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM
 PROJECTOR GUIDE
RICOH PJ WX4152NI
(www.ricoh-usa.com/en/products/pd/pj-wx4152ni-ultra-
short-throw-projector/_/R-432104)
The portable RICOH PJ WX4152NI is an ultra short throw, 360-degree projector
capable of showcasing interactive images on walls, floors, and tabletops when placed
mere inches from the projection surface, enabling more collaborative experiences for
students. A high-precision wireless digital pen lets participants directly annotate and
highlight the projected surface. LAN and wireless connections empower participants
to share documents and images directly from their devices to drive even more
collaboration, from algebra problems to essay feedback.
The RICOH PJ WX4152NI boasts a number of features to make projecting
information where and when you need it as simple, effective, and collaborative as
possible. In addition to its industry-leading short throw distance, the projector is small
enough to be comfortably portable. Content can be projected directly from a USB drive
or memory card, or accessed via LAN or wireless network, so wherever a teacher goes,
their high-quality, interactive projection capabilities follow.

VIEWSONIC LIGHTSTREAM PJD6352LS DIGITAL

PROJECTOR
(www.viewsonic.com/us/pjd6352ls.html)
The ViewSonic PJD6352LS is a short throw, XGA, networkable projector, featuring
3200 lumens of brightness in a sleek form factor. Built-in SuperColor technology offers
vivid image reproduction; the proprietary SonicExpert sound enhancement technology
delivers incredibly clear sound. PortAll, an enclosed HDMI/
MHL connection compartment, supports streaming media
from wireless HDMI dongles or MHL connectors. With an
adapter plate, an existing SMART Board or Promethean
Interactive White Boards can be upgraded with the latest
projection technology.
The PJD6352LS includes a cable management hood that
eliminates cable clutter, and the top lamp door enables easy
access for lamp maintenance. The long-lasting bulb offers up to
10,000 hours in Dynamic Eco Mode. A 0.61 short throw lens ensures
large screen projection for smaller spaces, and corner adjustment and
HV keystone provide set-up flexibility. Crestron RoomView Express
provides network management to remotely control 250+ LightStream
projectors from a single PC. Lightweight and packed with features, this is an ideal
projector for classrooms.

VIVITEK DH765Z-UST
(www.vivitekusa.com/productdetail/DH765Z-UST/)
The DH765Z-UST from Vivitek is a full high-definition, ultra short throw laser
projector with an advanced phosphorus light engine and lampless design. With a large
100 projection only 20 inches from the projection surface, the projected image
is shadow-free, allowing students in any area of the classroom to see the days
lesson. With 3500 ANSI lumens, the DH765Z-UST allows instructors to engage
students and create a truly visual learning experience.
The DH765Z-UST offers the next generation of advanced projection
technology, giving an immersive big-screen experience in short viewing
distances. It delivers vivid colors and a brightness of 3,500 ANSI
lumens. Built lamp-free, the DH765Z-UST provides a low cost of
ownership, with minimal maintenance, and emits a high-quality
projection for up to 20,000 hours. The HD765Z-UST features
HDMI, component, composite video, s-video, and VGA-in/out
connectivity options with an embedded 10W audio speaker and multiple
audio in/out ports.

42 | M AY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM
 ENTRY DEADLINE
IS MAY 15

ARE YOU MAKING A

DIFFERENCE?
Tell us how you lead by using technology in education. Enter Tech &
Learnings 2017 Leader of the Year Program
Tech & Learning is once again honoring K-12 administrators, technology coordinators, and
teachers who use technology in innovative ways to help teachers teach and help students
learn. Share your teaching, training, and managing success stories with us! Each of the
finalists will win prizes, gain national recognition and be profiled in T&Ls 2017 Awards
Issue.

At a time when educators are challenged to do more with less, Tech & Learnings Leader
of the Year Awards:
*Celebrate the best practices and innovations of dynamic leaders who inspire, encourage
and show dexterity in maintaining their efforts over the long haul
*Provide proven, replicable technology-based ideas and programs designed for teaching
and management
*Offer an incentive to strive for professional advancement
*Provide national and local recognition amongst peers, legislators and other key opinion
leaders

HAVE A LEADER TO SUGGEST?

Visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/LOY17 to enter

sponsored by

T&L_LeaderoftheYear_NOM_031717.indd 1 3/17/17 9:31 AM

 WHATSNEW
TECH & LEARNING ROUNDS UP A SUMMARY OF NEW TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS

Logitech (www.logitech.com) announced the Rugged Combo,

Rugged Case, and Add-on Keyboard for Rugged Case for
Apples new 9.7-inch iPad. The Rugged Combo helps protect the iPad from
drops and daily wear and tear, and has a detachable keyboard offering a
secure and approved solution for testing and exams. The Rugged
Cases frame is lined with soft polymer ribs that flex on impact
to protect iPad from drops as high as six feet onto surfaces as
hard as concrete. The kick-back stand has sturdy mechanical
hinges that move freely within a 40-degree range, while
staying firmly in place, without collapsing, even with
aggressive tapping. The keyboard sources power directly
from iPad, so users never have to charge the keyboard.
Its dedicated row of
short-cut and function
keys also make it easy
to navigate various iPad
functions, directly from
the keyboard.

Listen Technologies (www.

Casio America, Inc. (www.casio.
listentech.com) announced its
com) released the PRIZM
newest offering, ListenTALK,
CAS fx-CG500 next-
which will begin shipping in
generation graphing calculator. In
June. ListenTALK is a mobile,
addition to boasting an advanced
two-way communication system
Computer Algebra System (CAS),
that makes it easy for groups of
the fx-CG500 features a high-
two or more people to listen and
resolution, color, touchscreen LCD,
talk with the push of a button.
conveying a Natural Textbook
The pocket-sized device enables
display in addition to other features
clear, secure, collaborative
that are permitted for use on the AP,
communications with the largest
SAT I and II, PSAT and NMSQT
range of any traditional portable
exams. The fx-CG500s extra-
FM technology -- up to 100 meters
large 4.8 screen allows for more
(328 feet). ListenTALKis ideal
complete and detailed viewing of
for noisy, crowded, and/or mobile
mathematics. Its drag-and-drop
environments. Applications
functionality enables students to
include training and collaboration,
quickly and intuitively pull information from one representation into another, while its
presentations, guided tours,
split-screen functionality allows simultaneous viewing of functions and graphs. Students
event production, and language
can also switch between portrait and landscape views for extended screen width.
interpretation.

FOR MORE OF THE LATEST PRODUCT RELEASES, VISIT US ONLINE AT TECHLEARNING.COM.

44 | MAY 2 017 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM

 software & online WHATS NEW

AIRPARROT 2
(http://www.airsquirrels.com/airparrot/
chrome/)
Squirrels LLC
released AirParrot
2 for Chrome OS
to bring previously
unavailable
screen-mirroring
capabilities to classroom Chromebooks.
AirParrot 2 for Chrome OS software runs
on Chromebooks and allows teachers
and students to wirelessly present their
device screens to Apple TV. The original
AirParrot for Chrome OS released in 2014
gave Chromebooks the ability to connect
to second- and third- generation Apple
TVs. AirParrot 2 for Chrome OS advances
that technology, allowing Chromebooks
to connect to the new fourth-generation
Apple TV and mirror to multiple AirPlay
receivers at once. AirParrot 2 is also easy
to use: a user opens the app, selects which
AirPlay receiver they want to mirror to, and
clicks connect. Users can choose to mirror
their entire Chromebook desktop display
or just a single tab.
CLASSFLOW
(www.classflow.com)
ClassFlow,
the free,
next-generation lesson delivery
software, announced new partnerships
with leading digital content developers
to provide teachers with expanded
access to the latest interactive
educational content. By partnering
withGooru,SketchFab,PhETInteractive
Simulations, andDesmos, ClassFlow
will offer teachers the latest technologies
for lessons, including 3D models, virtual
reality, and science and math simulations.
Designed for K12 classrooms with
interactive displays, ClassFlow simplifies
the way teachers and students collaborate
and use todays modern technologies
such as mobile, PCs, and interactive
touchboards.
DISCOVERY EDUCATION
STREAMING AND
TECHBOOK
(www.discoveryeducation.com)
Discovery
Education
announced two
new enhancements
to its digital
services, Streaming and Techbook, to
support educators in peer networking
and differentiated instruction. Currently
rolling-out to users of Discovery Education

Reach the Summit

C

M
MA-808 Portable Wireless PA System
Y Versatile Sound Amplication
CM
The MA-808 innovatively integrates wireless microphones, speakers, CD / USB player and a
Bluetooth interface for wireless music streaming into a sturdy, compact case that offers an
MY
entirely portable sound system anywhere it is needed.
CY
MIPRO supplies UHF and 2.4 GHz receiver modules options and matching handheld or
bodypack transmitters, as well as the exclusive miniature transmitters for musical instruments,
CMY
such as violin, saxophones, erhu, guitar, cajon, and so on, thus the instrument players could
K
experience convenient wireless amplication via the MA-808 portable wireless PA system.

The Ultimate in Convenience

Lightweight with built-in pull-up handle and sturdy wheels for easy transport, the
economical rechargeable battery system enables operations indoors or outdoors without AC
power and cumbersome cables. Even handheld & bodypack transmitters can be stored
within the sleek cabinet.

Distributed in USA by StarinFOR MORE OF THE LATEST PRODUCT RELEASES, VISIT US ONLINE AT TECHLEARNING.COM.
Marketing
136 Venturi Drive Chesterton, IN 46304
Phone: 800.846.5606 | sales@starin.biz | www.starin.biz WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM M AY 2 01 7 | 45
| www.mipro.com.tw
 software & online
Streaming, Streaming Plus, and the
Discovery Education Techbook series is
the Discovery Educator Network (DEN)
Online Community. A new social media
platform, embedded within Discovery
Teachers in control... Educations services, the DEN Online
ezRoom
Community enhances educators ability to
connect with peers from around the world
and personalize their own professional
development.To further support
educators efforts to differentiate math
...students engaged instruction, a Math Assessment Builder
has also been added to the Discovery
EducationMath Techbook. Now, teachers
F RONTROW EZROOM is the everything-
but-the-display AV solution for
todays smart classrooms.
can access 8,000 additional technology-
enhanced items from which they can create
their own standards-based assessments.
Only EZROOM integrates
AV control, wireless D-LINK E-RATE PROGRAM
voice & media (http://us.dlink.com/e-rate)
reinforcement, D-Link
digital intelligence, announced a
and teacher alerting in new Schools and
a networked solution LibrariesE-Rate
you can manage from programdesigned
anywhere. to help schools build a better infrastructure
for their budget. As part of the new
The customizable Smart Mic lets
program, D-Link will help schools and
teachers start lesson capture, call the
libraries simplify the E-Rate process
office, turn off projectors, and more,
by preparing a technology plan, filing
from anywhere in the
with E-Rate, identifying detailed costs,
classroom.
and receiving discounts on a variety of
And a huge array networking products. Alone or as part of
of affordable, a multi-vendor system, D-Link E-Rate
professional-quality Category Two-eligible products bring
AV options makes a broad range of network benefits, and
EZROOM the obvious choice for updating provide school with more for their E-Rate
your classroom AV power. spend. Qualifying D-Link products include
switches, wireless access points and remote
Call for your free consultation today!
wireless, and VPN routers.
EMPOWER ASSESSMENTS
Free mic offer for (www.measuredprogress.org)
TECH & LEARNING readers! Measured
gofrontrow.com/tl-ezroom Progress, Inc.
announced the
launch of eMPower Assessments, interim
Call 800.227.0735 46 | MAY 2 01 7 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM
assessments that measure student growth
for grades 3 8. Built to measure college
and career readiness standards, eMPower
Assessments provide a coherent program
to connect to the scale of the SAT Suite of
Assessments. eMPower Assessments track
student progress toward meeting state
standards. The program meets districts
needs to reduce redundant, disconnected
testing and to measure growth consistently
through all grades, within and across years.
Used together, eMPower and the SAT
Suite of Assessments support consistent
assessment from grades 3 through 12. The
SAT Suite of Assessments measures what
students are learning in school, and what
they need to know to succeed in college and
career.
EXACT PATH
(www.edmentum.com/products/exact-path)
Edmentum has
completed the initial
phase of the beta
program for its new
K-8 individualized
learning
program,Exact Path. The program
provides an adaptive, research-based
assessment, dynamically assigned quality
content, and progress monitoring tools to
target individual instruction. Exact Path
was developed with the goal of delivering
each student the right lesson at the right
level, at the right time. With 6,300 students
participating in the beta program, the
new solution has shown increases in their
reading, language arts, and math skill
proficiency while saving teachers time.The
full program is expected to launch in time
for the 2017-18 school year.
JAMF SUPPORT FOR NEW
APPLE RELEASES
(www.jamf.com)
Jamf announced support for the upcoming
Apple releases of iOS, macOS, and tvOS.
 software & online WHATS NEW

When customers upgrade their iPhone,
iPad, Mac, or Apple TV, IT administrators
using Jamf Pro (formerly Casper Suite)
or Jamf Now (formerly Bushel) can be
confident their management workflows will
be uninterrupted. In addition to version
compatibility, Jamf Pro supports the
new functionality of the Apple releases,
including new security capabilities and
configuration management for devices,
additional managed restrictions, a new
version of Apples Classroom app, and
new device management capabilities for
Apple TV, including zero-touch setup,
configuration, and app distribution.
ITSLEARNING AND GOORU
(https://itslearning.com and www.gooru.org)
itslearning
partnered with
Gooru, a nonprofit
organization that curates and vets open
educational resources (OERs), to offer
complete online curricula for more than
35 teacher-curated courses in core subject
areas, including science, mathematics,
English language arts and social studies.
The courses contain resources, collections,
and assessments. In addition, itslearning
lets teachers remix and customize
content collections and courses to meet
the personalized instruction needs of
individual students and the performance
objectives of entire districts. With
itslearning, educators can tap into over 1.7
million learning objects, such as websites,
interactives, educational games, questions,
digital text, and videos that have been
curated and organized from over 500
sources, such as PBS, Smithsonian, NBC
Learn, NASA, National Geographic, and
Algebra Lab.
KAJEET SENTINEL
(www.kajeet.net)
Kajeet,a specialist
in safe,mobile
student Internet connectivity,
announced enhancements to the Kajeet
Sentinelplatform. The platform enables
students to access online educational
content,filters out unsafe and irrelevant
material, manages data allocations, and
enables educators to better understand
how students are using the devices outside
the classroom. The KajeetEducation
Broadband solution connects students at
home or on the go through two nationwide

What the Classroom Can Be.

Creating an innovative classroom is easier than you think.
Better Solutions. Better Results.
Boxlight products are designed to help students learn more effectively
and develop the essential skills they need for success. Students
respond to this enhanced way of learning, and teachers find it allows
them to do more in the classroom, with less time and hassle.

Our technology and software empower both educators and

students in all forms of learning, enabling real understanding and
enhancing student achievement. Whether the approach is whole-
class learning, small-group collaboration, formative assessment, or
STEM-based learning, Boxlight offers the services, software, and
hardware to create the classroom you need. Boxlight is excited
to announce our new line of P12 laser projectors, giving you even
more choices for brilliant collaborative learning.

Experience what your classroom can be.

Visit mimio.boxlight.com/CanBe.
Text canbe to 51555.
Call 360.464.2119.
FOR MORE OF THE LATEST PRODUCT RELEASES, VISIT US ONLINE AT TECHLEARNING.COM.

MIMIO.BOXLIGHT.COM WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM | M AY 2 01 7 | 47
2016 BOXLIGHT, Inc. 2016 Mimio.
 S&VC Ad.pdf 1 4/13/2017 5:05:07 PM

software & online

Turn lectures into field trips. 4G LTE networks in more than300 districts across 41 states and D.C.
The upgrades to the Sentinel platform will allow educators to better
manage the filters and provide enhanced reporting on when students
are using their data and which sites they are visiting.

LIGHTSPEED SYSTEMS RELAY FOR CHROME

(www.lightspeedsystems.com/relay)
Lightspeed Systems Relay for
Chrome is a comprehensive, easy
to set up solution designed for
Chrome OS devices in K-12. The
all-in-one, cloud-based solution
maximizes return on investment of
school Chromebooks with simple
tools for filtering, protecting,
geolocating, and reporting on
Reinvent the classroom. the devices. Administrators can easily filter access to the internet,
From the number one brand in high-definition fixed-lens projectors, including social media and SSL sites, with granular policies for staff
Optomas education projectors combine unparalleled features with and students.
C

M industry-leading technologiesperfect for classrooms and lecture halls.

Y
MENTORING MINDS
CM (www.mentoringminds.com)
MY
Mentoring Minds relaunched
The EH320USTis TouchBeam interactive its website as a resource for
technology enablesengaged learning
CY

teachers seeking ways to integrate

in every space.
critical thinking into learning and
CMY

teaching. The new resource hub,

K

Learn with Us, features a blog

User-friendly in every install, the new Optoma
ZH400UST, ZW300UST and ZW300USTi laser
projectorsoffer impressive image performance
and ultra short throw capabilities.
and downloadable white papers
that offer ideas and insight into key challenges that teachers and
administrators face. Educatorsboth on staff at Mentoring Minds and
as guest contributorsshare new content on a weekly basis on topics
such as college and career-readiness, student-centered classrooms,
and best walkthrough practices.

Packed to perform and equipped with SMITHSONIAN LEARNING LAB

HDBaseT, the Optoma ProScene WU515T (http://learninglab.si.edu)
provides impressive connectivity.
The Smithsonian announced a joint effort
with Lenovo to foster STEAM learning
in school and after-school programs
NEW! Optoma exclusives for education. using theSmithsonian Learning Lab,
Available to all K-12 and Higher Education institutions and educators, a free online toolkit to find, customize,
Optomas Education First program offers: and share digital museum resources with
Increased discounts others. Lenovo is funding the development
Enhanced technical support of six STEAM activities that combine
FREE extended warranties resources in the Smithsonian Learning Lab with hands-on projects
FREE lamps & mounts for educators and Lenovo employee volunteers to facilitate with
Learn more about Education First eligible models at edu.optoma.com

48 | MAY 2 01 7 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM
 JOIN THE COUNTRYS

TOP EDUCATIONAL REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS

Dont miss the chance to join Tech & Learning magazine for a high-end,
information-packed one-day event designed especially for district and
school administrators and technology leaders like you. This is your chance
to network with others who care deeply about the future of education.
Share your successes and address challenges in an engaging and intimate
setting, and leave with practical tools and key contacts for continued rich
communities of practice.

BREAKOUT SESSION TOPICS MAY INCLUDE:

Blended and Personalized Learning
Coding & Computer Science
Gamification and Game Based Learning
Building successful academic coaching programs
Digital citizenship
Successful PD models
Growing & Sustaining 1:1 Programs New for 2017!
NEW: Both spring conferences will offer a new leadership track
Workshops & demonstrations to try out the latest edtech tools focusing on district-level executive topics including: Living in
Playgrounds: interactive exhibits including makerspaces, 3-D printing, the ESSA World, Getting to the Cloud, Data Privacy, Digital
AR/VR, new gadgets, and more Equity, E-Rate Updates, and more.
And more!

JOIN US ON THE 2017 TOUR

Chicago - Friday May 5 | Boston - Friday May 12 | Princeton - October 20 | Texas - November

PAST & CURRENT SPONSORS INCLUDE

Tech & Learning Live is A Regional Partner of Future Ready Schools.

PRODUCED BY: If youre interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Allison Knapp at: aknapp@nbmedia.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM/LIVE

T&L011717_TechForum_T&LLIVE.indd 1 3/23/17 3:52 PM

 software & online
ON DEMAND
Check out the following resources from
our partner sites:
WEBINARS
Fostering Skills for Successful Learning
in a Blended Environment
Sponsored by: ItsLearning
Mobile Device Management Strategies
for Success
Sponsored by: School Dude
Motivating Struggling Adolescent
Readers: Try Relevance and Success
Sponsored by: Voyager Sopris Learning
Solving the Digital Equity Puzzle
Sponsored by: Comcast Business
Leading and Learning: Collaborative
Leadership for K-12 Education
Sponsored by itslearning
Check techlearning.com for updates
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COMPANY PAGE
Boxlight 47
Bretford Manufacturing 13
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itslearning 2
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50
students. The Smithsonian Center for
Learning and Digital Access is designing
the activities and a step-by-step facilitators
guide to accompany each one to support
implementation in the classroom and after-
school programs. The center will also create
two virtual-reality education experiences
for teachers to embed into their curriculum.
STEMEXPLORE
(www.earthecho.org)
EarthEcho
International
launched
STEMExplore, a
new, free, digital STEM career resource.
The online resource features dozens of
interviews with scientists and engineers
from the STEM fields, and is designed to
encourage students interest in STEM
careers. United Technologies Corporation is
collaborating with EarthEcho to offer videos
that feature a range of scientific careers.
TABPILOT MOBILE DEVICE
MANAGEMENT
(www.tabpilot.com)
TabPilot released
an update to their
mobile device management system for
schools that expands their capabilities
for macOS and also adds support for new
features in iOS 10.3. With the release of
version 6.2, the Mac capabilities were
greatly expanded to include Restriction
Profiles with more than 80 options,
Settings Profiles with dozens of Finder
and login options, and Network Profiles
for configuring Wi-Fi settings, distributing
certificates, and more. Other new features
include the ability to play an alert sound
on iPads in Lost Mode and support for
Wi-Fi Whitelisting to prevent devices from
connecting to non-approved networks.
TabPilot is continuing to offer Mac licenses
for their MDM for free, one with each iOS
license, through the end of this school year.
| MAY 2 01 7 | WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM
THE VIRTUAL HIGH SCHOOL
SUMMER COURSES
(www.vhslearning.org/summer)
The Virtual High
School, Inc., a non-
profit that offers
online and blending learning programs,
introduced three new summer courses
that are open for registration. Summer
Schoolcourses are offered for credit
recovery and enrichment in two four-week
sessions starting in July and August, and
one eight-week session in July. Solar Energy
Design for grades 9-12 has students explore
how solar energy can reduce the carbon
footprint, and learn how photovoltaic solar
panels work. Cryptography: The Math
Behind Secret Messages for grades 6-12
shows students how to use mathematical
concepts to read and write secret messages
through the application of ciphers from
classical cryptography. Chemistry for grades
9-12 tasks students with investigating topics
like chemical reactions, atomic theory,
and states of matter using multimedia and
textbook resources.
WORDLY WISE 3000
(www.epsbooks.com)
EPS Instruction
and Intervention, a
division of School
Specialty, Inc.,
has teamed up with Quizlet, an online
platform that offers engaging study and
game activities to help students practice
new vocabulary. EPS will incorporate
Quizlet into the newWordly Wise
3000 4th Edition (print) and Wordly
Wisei3000(digital) direct academic
vocabulary programs. Students and
teachers can choose from seven available
study and game modes (flashcards, learn,
spell, test, match, gravity, and live), to
practice and master the vocabulary theyre
learning.Both the print and online editions
will be available this summer.
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 Real-time collaboration. Orchestrated by CDWG.
Today, classrooms arent limited to a physical space or the students right in front of you.
Intel Unite software is a wireless technology that connects immediately to new or existing
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are. Let Intel Unite securely power your classroom so students can connect and contribute
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