Every Monday, SmartBrief on EdTech features Product Showcase, a section highlighting new products and services designed to support teaching and learning. We’ve pulled all the solutions together into a product roundup, featured here on our Connected Teaching and Learning blog.
Spring is upon us and, with it, the launch of several new classroom products and solutions. Here’s what SmartBrief on EdTech readers liked this month in Product Showcase:
Permission Click. Teachers now have new way to create and send digital permission slips, thanks to Permission Click, a free online platform for schools. Parents can submit approvals, make payments and receive receipts through the system. The platform comes with form templates, digital archiving and payment history.
Backyard Engineers. Students design catapults for water balloon fights with neighbors in Backyard Engineers. Gamers can tailor their device’s mechanical elements to control movement, accuracy and range. The game can be played on Google Android and iOS devices as well as through a Web browser for $5.99.
Free math, reading curriculum. Teachers running math and reading programs this summer can get a license for free online curriculum from Learning Upgrade. Students will work on their math and reading skills through songs, videos and games. Teachers in schools with a minimum of 300 students can apply for a 20-student license. To apply, visit Learning Upgrade’s site and register for the free school-wide license. Enter “summer school” and the number of licenses needed in the information field.
Webinar on working with older students with autism and attention disorders. Educators working with middle- and high-school students with autism and attention disorders can get new techniques for supporting these individuals during a free April 21 webinar hosted by Presence Learning. Neuroscientist Martha Burns will present new research on the autism spectrum in older students as well as methods for improving auditory attention, self-regulation and behavior management.
Skills Advanced Cognition. Web resource Skills has released Skills Advanced Cognition, a new tool designed to boost learning for high-functioning students with autism spectrum disorder. The system, based on the applied behavior analysis (ABA) method, offers a number of features that aim to help teachers assess student skill level and create a specialized treatment plan.
MindPlay Understanding Dyslexia. A new online course from MindPlay aims to help guide teachers working with student with dyslexia. The course will cover the characteristics of dyslexia, assessment and strategies for effective interventions.
Gizmos on Chromebook. Gizmos online simulations for math and science courses are now available on Chromebook.
The Urban Superintendents Academy. A new academy aims to prepare superintendents to serve at urban schools. The Urban Superintendents Academy, a partnership of The School Superintendents Association and Howard University, features professional development and mentoring geared at preparing candidates for certification as urban superintendents.
Collaboration Nation. Schools and districts with an interesting ed-tech collaboration story are invited to participate in Collaboration Nation, a new ed-tech award program from CDW-G and eSchool News. Schools and districts are invited to submit videos of their ed-tech collaborations and the measurable impact these projects have had on learning and instruction. The winning school or district will receive $50,000 to spend on CDW-G products and services. The program runs March 2 through June 30.
PTBoard. Web portal, PTBoard, gives teachers, parent groups, and school leaders a new channel for communicating and sharing information. The system allows users to perform a number of functions, including creating school directories, posting announcements, organizing fundraisers and sharing class documents. To get started, register at PTBoard’s Web site.
Learnteria. This online tool enables users to research and rate preK-12 educational resources.
Curriculum Foundry. Learning.com’s new platform Curriculum Foundry allows districts to build and share curriculum. The system comes with a searchable content repository.
SafeStop. A new mobile app, SafeStop, aims to help parents and schools keep tabs on school buses.
PEP. An online platform, PEP (short for Pre-service Educator Program) helps faculty give pre-service teachers experience with student information system.
It’s budget and buying season so make sure you’re up to date on what’s new in the education market. Check out Product Showcase each Monday in SmartBrief on EdTech. If you’re not already receiving this brief, we invite you sign up today.