It’s back-to-school time! Educators were busy this month getting back to the business of the classroom. Ed-tech providers were also in full swing, releasing a slew of new solutions for learning and instruction, from a new Web site Curricki.org that offers Open Education Resource materials, to a donor-matching program for teachers wanting to purchase programmable robots, to new 3D-printing curriculum that supports math, science and English language arts.
Take a look at this month’s releases from SmartBrief on EdTech’s Product Showcase:
Free platform lets teachers create, share CCSS-aligned assessments
Edulastic is a free online platform designed to help teachers prepare students for Common Core assessments. Teachers can create and share assessments, aligned with curriculum, and get scores in real time. The device-agnostic platform integrates with student information systems and supports single sign-on through Clever and Google Apps for Education.
Web site offers Open Education Resources, online community for educators
Educators have a new way to access Open Education Resources. Curricki.org offers free, vetted learning materials, plus a professional network (called Curriki groups) where educators can collaborate and exchange ideas.
News program uses hip-hop to reach young learners
“This Week in Rap Junior” is a new weekly news program, with a hip-hop vibe, designed for students in grades K-5. Hosted on Flocabulary.com, the program features a new hip-hop video each week, along with learning activities and assessments. Examples of news stories covered include the U.S. Women’s soccer team’s World Cup win, a young entrepreneur’s budding lemonade business and a new Hawaii law banning plastic bags.
Touch app teaches coding to young learners
Wonder Workshop, creators of programmable robots Dash and Dot, have released a new version of their touch app Blockly. The app, available for iOS and Android devices, uses puzzles to teach coding concepts to students ages 8 and up.
Education platform delivers multiple content options, real-time reporting
i4class is an education application that integrates curriculum, formative assessment and real-time reporting into a single Web-based platform. Teachers can use content in the system, their own content or content from an open source. Users can access the learning materials from any Internet-enabled device. The application runs on Android, iOS and Windows operating systems.
MyON enhances content personalization, reporting with updated interface
MyON has released an updated design of its literacy platform. MyON 3.0 features new dashboards for teachers and students, enhanced personalization of content recommendations based on student interest and reading level, improved search options and real-time reporting.
Shmoop launches “all-you-can-eat” subscription
Education content provider Shmoop has debuted two new subscription programs that allows users to gain full access to its digital content. Teachers and students can sign up for six- or 12-month programs for $75 and $120, respectively. Both plans come with a 24-hour free trial.
McGraw-Hill releases Inspire Science curriculum
Inspire Science is a new hands-on learning curriculum from McGraw-Hill. The curriculum, which incorporates Common Core literacy and math requirements, comes with professional development and lab experiments and simulations.
Platform streamlines special-education management
Enrich State, by Excent Corp., offers a comprehensive platform to help local- and state-education agencies monitor state and federal special-education compliance requirements and student-performance standards. The program also can help agencies manage response to intervention programs, 504 plans and more.
New interface for digital content includes multiple interactive tools
Follet has released a new interface for its digital content. Lightbox comes with several built-in tools to enhance the reading experience, including audio, video, learning exercises, vetted Web links, slideshows, Google maps, quizzes and highlighted key words with definitions. Multi-user licenses are available at $40 per title.
Donor-matching program aims to put robots in classrooms
Wonder Workshop has launched a donor-matching program to help more teachers bring programmable robots Dash and Dot into their classrooms. Qualification requirements are outlined on the company’s Web site.
Reconditioned, recertified iPad 4 devices available from Mac to School
Apple device provider Mac to School is now offering recertified iPad 4 devices. The devices, 16GB Wi-Fi black, come with a one-year warranty.
Gaggle adds professional development for Google, Microsoft technologies
Gaggle is offering training for educators and school leaders on Google Apps for Education, Microsoft Office 365. Training, led by Google and Microsoft trainers, is offered online and on site.
NVBots debuts new curriculum for 3D printing in the classroom
NVBots chas launched new curriculum for teachers looking to add 3D printing to their coursework. The curriculum, designed according to Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards, comes with lessons for 3D design, engineering, math, English language arts and the sciences.
vibePrimer aims to help students choose best college for social, academic success
vibePrimer is a digital assessment product designed to help students choose a college or university best suited to their social and academic strengths. The system identifies traits a student has that will improve his or her likelihood for success and outlines the ideal campus features the student should look for when considering his or her options.
Odysseyware updates platform with custom course builder, enhanced search
Odysseyware has added new search and course-building features to its platform. The custom course builder includes the capability to adjust the sequence of Odysseyware courses and add units, lessons and assessments from other Odysseyware courses among other features.