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What's
New
The following
announcements
are compiled from press releases that come into the ISTE
editorial
office. The products and resources are not reviewed by
the L&L
staff and are offered here without recommendation. Send
press
releases and suggestions for entries to products@iste.org
Compiled by
Jennifer
Ames
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Hardware
Casio introduced the XJ-450 Mobile Projector and
the YC-400
Digital Camera and Copy Stand. The projector produces
2800 ANSI
lumens, has automatic vertical and horizontal keystone
correction, and
auto focus with a 2X optical zoom lens. The projector measures
7.6"
3 10.9". The remote control has a built-in laser pointer.
Cost
is $4,999. The 4-megapixel document camera can connect to the
projector,
or most other brands of data projector according to the
company. It
can also be used as a stand-alone camera, a scanner, or a copy
stand.
The camera cost $1,999. Education programs are available.
Casio
1.800.836.8580
http://www.casioprojector.com
Apple is offering its eMacs in packs of 20 for
educational
institutions. According to Apple, these computers are designed
specifically
for education and come loaded with Mac OS X and the iLife
digital media
suite. They feature a 1 GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 128MB SDRAM,
40GB
hard drive, CD-ROM drive, two FireWire 400 ports, five USB
ports, and
more. When purchased in the 20-pack, the price starts at $649
for each
computer.
Apple Inc.
1.800.800.2775
http://www.apple.com/education/
iScienceProject announced the release of the HOBO Henry
Science
Kit, a kit that uses their data logger. The kit,
designed for
K-6 students includes the HOBO data logger, a HOBO Henry
sponge figure,
a 48-page activity book, and the BoxCar Pro software to
interface the
logger and a computer. According to the manufacturer, the HOBO
data
logger can record temperature, relative humidity, light, and
liquid
temperature. The kit is available in PC or Mac versions. The
cost is
$149 per kit with quantity discounts available.
iScience Project
1.800.564.4377
http://www.iscienceproject.com
Software
NetSupport School is a classroom
instruction, monitoring,
and polling tool. The software is multifunctional and can
remotely control
student workstations, conduct real-time surveys, control
application
usage, administer tests, and more. Educators can download a
free trial
version online. Cost depends on configuration.
NetSupport
http://www.netsupport-inc.com
MicroWorlds EX Robotics Edition, for Grades 4
and up,
works with products such as the LEGO RCX programmable brick
and the
microcomputer Crickets. According to the manufacturer, the
software
helps students plan projects, develop models, and test
programming ideas.
They can also build presentations or simulations. The software
is available
for Windows and includes a teacher support package. The price
is $139
for a single user set, $599 for a six-user lab pack, and
$1,899 for
a site license.
MicroWorlds
1.800.321.5646
http://www.microworlds.com
Sagebrush has introduced Analytics, a data
analysis system
for educators and administrators. According to the publisher,
the program
integrates with an organization's existing technology systems,
and users
can customize a browser-based interface. Educators and
administrators
can also use it to run queries and publish reports.
Sagebrush Corporation
1.800.533.5430
http://www.sagebrush.com
Spectorsoft announced the release of Spector
for Mac
OS X. According to the developer, the Macintosh version of the
program
was built from the ground up. Spector is a monitoring and
surveillance
that records periodic screen shots and saves them to a local
or network
drive for later viewing. Network administrators can set the
amount of
time between screenshots. Spector also records e-mails,
applications
run, and instant messenger conversations. The cost is
$99.95.
Spectorsoft
1.888.598.2788
http://www.spectorsoft.com
Books
Distance Education: Issues and Concerns,
edited by
Cleborne D. Maddux, Jacque Ewing-Taylor, and D. LaMont
Johnson, strives
to be an overview of the state of the art of distance
education. The
collection of papers from various authors provides multiple
perspectives.
The book discusses how distance education classroom can affect
students'
attitudes and behaviors, group projects, and the
teacher-student relationship.
The cost is $49.95 for hard cover and $32.95 for soft
cover.
The Haworth Press Inc.
1.800.HAWORTH
http://www.haworthpress.com
In What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and
Literacy,
author James Paul Gee argues that video games are not mindless
entertainment,
but rather intricate learning experiences that can teach us
how learning
and literacy are changing. Gee examines how video games relate
to major
cognitive activities such as how individuals develop a sense
of identity,
grasp meaning, pick a role model, or perceive the world. The
cost is
$26.95.
Palgrave Publishing
1.212.982.3900
http://www.palgrave.com
101 Best Web Sites for District Leaders, by
Susan Brooks-Young,
is divided into sections that mirror the organization of
district offices.
The book includes resources for business decisions,
educational services,
personnel matters, and more. There are quick reference charts
at the
beginning of each section and each entry provides a URL, Web
site description,
and links to other useful information. The cost is $26.95 for
ISTE members
or $29.95 for nonmembers.
ISTE Bookstore
1.800.336.5191
http://www.iste.org/bookstore/
In her new book, Discussion-Based Online Teaching to
Enhance
Student Learning; Theory, Practice and Assessment,
Tisha Bender
discusses the human implications of teaching and learning
through the
Internet. According to the publisher, the author presents
suggestions
and techniques for effective online discussion and improved
teaching
practices. The book also includes a section about assessing
the efficacy
of online courses. The cost is $25.95.
Stylus Publishing
1.800.232.0223
http://styluspub.com/index.html
Resources
Math Today is a partnership between Texas
Instruments
and USA Today to deliver classroom activities and
resources based
on a series of newspaper articles. The free subscription
provides activity
resources including a teacher's guide, student handout,
graphic transparency,
and technology guide. The activities use TI-83 calculators and
explore
topics such as pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, pre-calculus,
calculus,
and statistics.
Texas Instruments
http://education.ti.com/USAT
Junior Achievement has introduced a new program called
What's
the Diff? Digital Citizenship Lesson Plan that focuses
on moral,
legal, and economic consequences of illegal file swapping. The
program
was created in association with the MPAA and is designed to
teach middle
grade students responsible digital citizenship and educate
them about
the importance of respecting copyrights. Online, teachers can
download
introductory materials, classroom activities, a parent
newsletter, and
more. A contest is open to Junior Achievement students.
Junior Achievement
http://www.ja.org/programs/programs_supplements_citizenship.shtml
Tech4Learning Inc. introduced an online edition of
Recipes4Success.
The professional development series includes tutorials and
reference
guides regarding some of the most common skills in soft-ware
programs.
Programs supported include Word, Excel, PowerPoint,
Inspiration, AppleWorks,
iMovie, Publisher, and Safari. Users can compile different
resources
into reference books. A subscription costs $34.95.
Tech4Learning Inc.
http://www.tech4learning.com
A collaboration between NPR's Justice Talking and The New
York Times
Learning Network, Justice Learning gathers radio
broadcasts
and newspaper stories about various legal and civic issues.
The topics
covered include affirmative action, the drug war, the death
penalty,
juvenile justice, and gun control. In addition to the media
coverage
of the issues, statements by the courts and congress and
others are
also included. Teacher and curriculum guides also accompany
each topic.
Justice Learning
http://www.justicelearning.org
Copyright © 2004, ISTE (International
Society for Technology in Education).
All rights reserved.
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