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Volume 1, Number 35, February 17, 2006 |
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| Editor's Note | |
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I was struck these past weeks by the emergence of the interactive whiteboard. Of course, they've been around for a number of years, but they've seemed less than central as a technology tool. That's no longer the case. Walking the exhibit hall at TCEA last week, whiteboards were everywhere, not just in the booths of the whiteboard vendors, but in many other booths as exhibitors used them to demo their own products and touted partnerships. This higher level of exposure allows teachers to see for themselves how a whiteboard might function in their classroom and it appears they like what they see. For one thing, whiteboards facilitate whole group instruction, a format teachers find very comfortable. Whiteboard technology can transform the one-computer classroom, allowing teachers to make effective use of the limited classroom technology resources they have available. The action has also heated up as the two major UK vendors – RM and Promethean – focus in earnest on penetrating the U.S. market. RM quickly realized that if it wanted to play in the K-8 market it would need Macintosh compatibility (Feb 10) – not much of a factor in the UK. Promethean has added Bluetooth connectivity (Feb 10). Both RM and Promethean, along with Canadian vendor Smart Technologies , emphasize teaching resources – lesson plans, content area software, online educator communities – that enhance the classroom usefulness of the whiteboard. Publishers are forming partnerships with these vendors to make it easier for teachers to use whiteboards as the delivery platform for proprietary resources. For example, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill just announced a partnership with Virtual Ink to expand secondary school use of whiteboard technology by integrating Glencoe's digital curricula, software and Web sites. Whiteboard vendors are also adding assessment capabilities as GTCO CalComp, Inc. did by integrating the InterWrite PRS student response/assessment system into the latest release of its InterWrite 6.0 software. And with an emphasis on instruction and assessment comes standards. The netTrekker d.i. search engine now includes links to Promethean lesson plans and resources among its search results (Feb 10). RM Educational Software Inc. has partnered with EdGate to correlate the Math, Language Arts and Science content packs for its RM Easiteach software to state standards (Feb 17), while Promethean has partnered with Academic Benchmarks to align its flipchart lessons and resources for teachers to state education standards (Feb 17). In other news, Education Sales Management announced it is moving into new corporate headquarters in the Metro Denver area (Feb 17). ESM's president and CEO Rick Forte expects to significantly grow the company's workforce thanks to the increased space and improved amenities the new headquarters provides. ESM helps companies market educational products and services by providing outsourced sales teams. CompassLearning is also on the move, relocating its corporate headquarters from San Diego, CA to Austin, TX with the aim of establishing a more centrally-located facility. (Feb 10). The San Diego office will be permanently closed. |
Lead of the Week A
LEAD FOR YOU FROM QED's SCHOOL PURCHASING MONITOR WHAT: Computer Software Licensing |
Contents Feature
Story K-12 Market Headlines
Higher Ed Market Headlines Internet/Telecom International Headlines Financials/Mergers/Corporate Product
Announcements She Snoops for Scoops: The
Personal Side of the EdNET |
Feature Story Teachers and Parents Alike Give Internet Learning Services High Marks in New AP-AOL Learning Services Poll DULLES, Va.--Feb. 8, 2006--According to a new Associated Press-AOL Learning Services Poll, most teachers feel that parents should spend more time helping their children with homework. When it comes to homework help resources, 81% of teachers and 83% of parents agree that the Internet and online sources are helpful. Responding to teachers' and parents' concerns over children's homework help and learning needs, AOL has launched a new suite of Internet learning tools called AOL(R) Learning Services that bridges the gap between the classroom and home learning. The AP/AOL Learning Services poll conducted by Knowledge Networks between January 13-23, 2006, surveyed teachers and parents of children in kindergarten through 12th grade. The topics ranged from homework and Internet resources to standardized testing and problems facing schools today. Find the full story here. |
K-12 Market HeadlinesCrick Software's 'Assistive Technology Bundle' Provides a Complete Solution for All Ages and Abilities (Crick Software, Inc., February 15, 2006) Baltimore City Public School System Chooses 4GL's Encore!™ Solutin To Manage Special Education Program and Improve Student Achievement (4GL School Solutions Inc., February 14, 2006) Eduss' Revolutionary Education Software Identifies Where Learning Stopped (Eduss, Ltd., February 14, 2006) Houghton Mifflin Launches Two New Science Programs for K-6 Students (Houghton Mifflin Company, February 14, 2006) Lake Weston's Lowest-Performing Students Make Biggest Gains on FCAT with Voyager Universal Literacy System (Voyager Expanded Learning, February 14, 2006) National Middle School Association Challenges State Licensure Agencies and Universities To Better Prepare Middle Level Teachers (National Middle School Association, February 14, 2006) February's Tutorial Release is Largest Ever for Atomic Learning (Atomic Learning, Inc., February 13, 2006) Califone® Releases Five DVD Products To Help Educators Take Instruction to the Next Level (Califone International, Inc., February 13, 2006) Scholastic Red Professional Development Introduces Course To Help Teachers Build Students' Academic Vocabulary (Scholastic Education, February 13, 2006) Jefferson County Public Schools Upgrades Long-Standing Teradata(R) (NCR Corporation, February 10, 2006) RM Educational Software Announces EdGate Partnership To Correlate Award-Winning RM Easiteach Content
(RM Educational Software Inc., February 10, 2006) Educational Resources and JourneyEd Partner To Provide Microsoft Products to Teachers and Students for Home Use at Dramatic Savings (Educational Resources, February 9, 2006) More Content Partners Join SAFARI Montage on New Package for Grades 9-12 (Library Video Company, February 9, 2006) PowerMediaPlus.com Launches State-of-the-Art Curriculum Integration Features and Other Enhancements (CLEARVUE & SVE, February 9, 2006) Promethean and Academic Benchmarks Align Teacher Lesson Plans to State Education Standards (Promethean, February 9, 2006) Hawaii Standards Added to Vantage Learning's MY Access! Instructional Writing Program (Vantage Learning, February 8, 2006)
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Higher Ed Headlines University of Toronto Selects Blackboard for e-Learning (Blackboard Inc., February 14, 2006) Jenzabar Surpasses 200 Microsoft SQL Server Implementations (Jenzabar, Inc., February 13, 2006) Maplesoft Announces Availability of Placement Test Suite; Developed in Partnership with the MAA (Maplesoft, February 13, 2006) |
Internet/Telecom HiSoftware's Educational Web Page Testing Tool Helps Identify Errors To Make Web Content Accessible to Individuals with Disabilities (HiSoftware, February 15, 2006) Horizon Wimba Releases Course Genie 2.0 Featuring Flashcards, Insert of Code, and New Export Formats (Horizon Wimba, February 15, 2006) LearnStar, Inc. Announces Launch of New Website; New Design and Content Features SmartTRAX, Latest LearnStar Software (LearnStar Inc., February 14, 2006) Hotmath.com Adds Online Math Tutoring; Online Math Tutoring Now Less than $10/Hour (Hotmath, Inc., February 13, 2006) McGraw-Hill Education Launches a Customized Learning Management System for Teacher Education Developed by Xplana Learning (McGraw-Hill Education, February 10, 2006) My eCoach Announces Upgrade of My eCoach Online (My eCoach, February 8, 2006) |
International Headlines (Starbucks Corporation, February 14, 2006) |
Financials/Mergers/Corporate Bridges Announces Financial Results for Second Interim Period of Fiscal 2006 (Bridges Transitions Inc., February 14, 2006) Education Sales Management Moves To New Corporate Headquarters in Highlands Ranch (Education Sales Management, February 14, 2006) School Specialty Reports Fiscal 2006 Third Quarter and Year to Date Financial Results (School Specialty, February 14, 2006) Blackboard Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2005 Results (Blackboard Inc., February 13, 2006) Cambium Learning, Inc. Acquires IntelliTools, Inc. and Announces Formation of New Technology Group (Cambium Learning, Inc., February 13, 2006) |
Product Announcements (ISTE, February 13, 2006) |
| She Snoops for Scoops: The Personal Side of the EdNET | |
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Happy Friday, everyone…read on for the news this week of friends and colleagues. Let's start with several promotions recently announced… Peter Esposito has been promoted at WRC Media to Chief Marketing Officer and President of Consumer, Custom and Library Publishing. As Chief Marketing Officer, Peter will lead all corporate branding efforts, oversee communication and brand positioning with responsibility for maximizing market coverage for all WRC Media companies and brands within its portfolio. He will continue to oversee Custom Publishing, Corporate Partnerships and Research, which have all demonstrated tremendous growth under his direction. As President of Consumer, Custom and Library Publishing, Peter will now expand his responsibility to include three additional brands within the WRC Media portfolio; World Almanac, Facts On File News Services and Gareth Stevens. Please join me in warmly congratulating Peter on his promotion. Megan Stewart has been promoted to Director, Worldwide School Solutions, for Adobe Systems Incorporated . Megan was formerly Senior Director of Macromedia's Global Education Division , and with the recent acquisition by Adobe of Macromedia, she has taken on this vastly expanded role. Please join me in sending warm congratulations to the talented Megan. Words & Numbers has also announced two new promotions. Eleanor Angeles has been promoted to Executive Director for Humanities. In her new role, she will focus on strategic initiatives to grow the business. And Patricia Colacino has been promoted to Director of Business Development. In her new role, she will oversee all of the sales and marketing efforts for the firm, focusing on non-traditional clients as well as servicing the established customer base. Eleanor and Patricia will both report to Phyllis Hillwig , COO. Please join me in warmly congratulating these women on their promotions! I connected this week with Joan Whitney and learned of a move she made last August so wanted to share that news. Formerly with J. Weston Walch Publishers, Joan is now at New Readers Press as Director, Sales & Marketing. She moved from one snow area to another and is now loving her position in Syracuse. Please join me in sending Joan belated congratulations on her new position. Michele Mitchell , recently with Time for Kids, has joined Weekly Reader as Senior Vice President of Marketing. In this role, she will be responsible for all the marketing of the classroom magazines and for providing marketing and sales support to all areas of the business. Please join me in warmly congratulating Michele on her new position. I hope Valentine's Day was special for all of you readers. It was a very special day for our friend, Guy Blumberg , Eastern Sales Manager for Scholastic Administr@tor magazine. After 25+ years as a happy bachelor, he officially tied the knot with Melissa Earle. As I had reported earlier, Melissa is a program director for a drug rehab facility for women and children in East Harlem - she works to help women work to be drug-free and good mothers, and she is also working on her doctorate in social work. She sounds delightful, and I look forward to meeting her! This part of the marriage is going to be held in NYC at a very small restaurant with only family in attendance. There will be two larger parties held this summer in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and NYC for extended family and friends. We will see Guy at FETC, where I understand part 2 of the "Floating Bachelor Party" will be held. Part 1 was just held in Austin at the Texas Computer Education Association conference and was apparently a rousing success thanks to Scholastic and QED pals Chip Fesko , Kevin Hogan , and Reed Johnson - I can only imagine! A reminder to all of you that we will be looking for YOUR reviews for our soon-to-be-launched column, What's That You're Reading. We are only looking for 250-word reviews on the books currently on your nightstand or in your lap on those airline flights! Join some of our early contributors… John Weiss, Weiss & Associates Executive Recruiting ; Glen McCandless, Focus Marketing ; and Deb DeVries , Pearson Education . I look forward to their reviews! And we want to know what YOU are reading! Get in the queue to share your own review by e-mailing Emily Garner at egarner@qeddata.com Well, Murphy settled in at my office this week. I have managed to lose two separate logic boards and additionally had a monitor die on me - sizzles, smoke and all! I am still trying to get back in full production, so if I lost any scoops in the process, my apologies - please send them my way again. I am shooing Murphy out of here now so be aware. Also, the Snoop plans to be on vacation next week. George and I are welcoming our daughter Ellen (who is doing wonderfully right now - thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers!), her husband Chris, and our two sweet granddaughters to Texas. They are getting out of the cold and drizzle in Seattle to enjoy the Texas sun - we plan heated pool time here and a trip over to San Antonio, too. We can't wait. If I don't get a column in for next week, you will know why! Have a wonderful week, friends… Vicki, the Snoop
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