Nearly 16,000 educators from around the world gathered in Philadelphia earlier this month for ISTE 2015. Attendees crowded the exhibit hall floor to test drive the latest gadgets and tools for learning and instruction. SmartBrief Education editors were on the ground, covering it all. We showcased several of these products in this month’s SmartBrief on EdTech Product Showcase. Take a look at what caught readers’ attention:
Educade from GameDesk. Educade is an online library of free K-12 instructional resources, including lesson plans, apps, games and hands-on activities. Teachers can search for resources by grade level, subject matter and technology type. Users must register in order to access the library.
OpenEd. Teachers looking for new instructional tools can find them at OpenEd, an online resource library with lesson plans, videos, games and assessments designed for K-12. Most content on the site is free but users may purchase a subscription to access premium content from education publishers.
STEM report from Vernier. Thirty-five percent of high schools currently include science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in their core curriculum, according to a recent report from IESD and Vernier. Another 41% of high schools plan to implement STEM courses by next year. The report is available for download from Venier’s website.
White paper on science education from Pasco. Technology – including tools used in science education – is most effective for learning when used as part of an inquiry-based instructional approach, according to research highlighted in a new white paper from Pasco and IESD. The report offers findings from a review of research on science education and the use of technology in the science classroom. Also included use cases from schools using Pasco technology.
Quick Key Mobile. Developed by K-12 educator Walter Duncan, Quick Key Mobile is designed to provide real-time feedback on digital and paper assessments. The solution enables educators to create quizzes, administer assessments, and manage data at the student, school or district level. The system is designed to integrate with PowerSchool.
Observe4success and EdTrainingCenter. A Web-based system from Observe4success and EdTrainingCenter aims to provide schools with personalized classroom observation and teacher professional development.
Activate. Activate, from C8 Science, combines computer games with physical activities to help students with ADHD improve neurocognitive functions. The system’s cognitive software and assessment tools are designed to identify areas where students struggle and coach them through to success. The physical exercise program aims to build physical endurance and social skills.
Dash and Dot. Meet Dash and Dot, programmable toy robots designed to teach students how to code through play and storytelling. Created by Wonder Workshop for students aged 5 and up, Dash and Dot come with apps for different age groups and learning and play styles. Apps for young learners include music and movement. Older students learn coding and application development with Blockly, Objective C and Java.
SMART kapp iQ. SMART kapp iQ is a 4K ultra high-definition interactive whiteboard display from. Users can collaborate on and save content from the board in real time — even from remote locations — using their Android or iOS devices with the SMART kapp app. The display, available in 55- and 65-inch sizes, is designed for plug-and-play installation, with no IT integration required.
Total Motivation. Mentoring Minds has released Total Motivation, a supplemental curriculum designed to help teachers identify and fill learning gaps with students. The program, available in print and digital formats, includes tools for instruction, formative assessment and real-time progress monitoring.
Copia Class. Copia Class is a cloud-based platform that houses text, videos and education content from various publishers. The system also features tools for student collaboration and real-time performance reporting. Copia Class integrates with most SIS providers.
Kajeet Education Broadband. The Kajeet Education Broadband program lets schools and districts buy discounted data in bulk and pool the data for student use. The pooled data can be used at home or on campus on any device. Unused data rolls forward each month and never expires.
What caught your eye at ISTE this year? Drop us a line in the comments below.