Freebee Friday: From PC to iPad and Back

Need to use an iPad to teach, but your teaching resources are stuck on a PC? The free Netop Vision Mobile app lets teachers do exactly that put data securely at a teacher’s fingertips with the ability to use swipes, taps and gestures as well as an on-screen keybaord. It’s a freebee that can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store, but not available for the Android platform.

ISTE 2012: Taking Blackboard with You

 Blackboard Collaborate is a great way to get teachers and students together, even if they’re in different places, but, at the moment, it’s stuck in the school. That will change with Collaborate Mobile, a version for iPads and iPhones that can go where you (and your students) go. The company just started a beta program for the new software, which lets everyone see interactive content, take quizzes and even have secure one-on-one extra help meetings. It should be available later this year, but you can see it at booth 4301.

 

 

Angel in the Classroom

The latest edition of Blackboard Learn’s ANGEL Edition takes the classroom software to new heights while making it easier for instructors and administrators to use. Version 8.0 includes the ability of teachers to share content, upload a variety of multimedia files and create rubrics with criteria for classroom discussions.

 

 

 

Managing the School

So far, most of the classroom management programs do several, but not all, things well. ASAP’s K-12 service is hosted online and covers everything from Web-based registration of new students and attendance to surveys and encouraging a staff’s professional development. It can even handle planning and informing parents of upcoming events and help with student ID cards and yearbooks.

A New Classroom Vision

If classroom computer management software seems like a lot of money for a little help for teachers, Netop’sMyVision has a new approach that values price and usability. Simple and basic, MyVision can take control over every PC in a class and even blank their screens so that everyone’s attention is on the teacher. Afree 30-day trial is available and the software costs $200, or $149 if purchased before the end of the year.

FREEBEE FRIDAY: A Classroom with Vision

Once you have a class full of PCs and eager faces, what do you do next? Often the hardware ate up the lion’s share of the technology budget, leaving little room for digital curriculum and classroom management software. Netop can help with a line of classroom management programs that can change the way a class learns. Called MyVision, the object is to make teaching with technology as easy and natural as using a chalk board was a generation ago. Based on GenevaLogic software, the program will work with PCs and Macs and let teachers digitally look over students shoulders to see what they’re using their computers for. On top of the Free version, which is currently in beta testing, Netop will offer an inexpensive Basic edition that includes tools for guiding students, blanking screens and turning the Internet on and off for individuals. 

   

 

Education Gets Personal

With many digital curriculum systems its one size fits all, regardless of individual students’ achievements and needs. it’s learning takes a different approach with a Web-based learning system that not only can be tailored to each student but saves their work in a digital portfolio. Chock full of multimedia options, it’s learning has several different interfaces that are tuned to a variety of age groups. A demo is available online.

 

Making Macs and PCs to Play Nice

For those principals and district administrators thinking using a mixture of PCs and Macs but want to avoid headaches, the final piece of the puzzle has arrived. LAN School’s Classroom Management program not only can control a classroom of computers, but it now supports both PCs and Macs via Parallels. A native version of the software that runs directly will be available later this year. The software can not only blank a class full of screens, show what’s on the teacher’s screen or direct them to a specific Web site, but the teacher’s console can see what everybody is up to. At any time, the teacher can send any student a message or give the class a pop quiz. A free upgrade for current LAN School users, the software costs $200 per classroom with less than 10 computers and $600 for more systems. There’s a guided tour of the application as well as a 30-day trial version of the software so you can try before you buy.

One-Step Classroom Software

What if you could integrate everything you do in the classroom into one complete program with a single interface to control everything? Using the ribbon design that Microsoft incorporated into Office 2007, NetOp School 6.0 moves away from traditional pull-down menus to present options and features as a strip at the top of the screen. With the program, teachers can prepare lesson plans, evaluate students and actually teach. The big upgrade involves the ability to create and edit documents from any computer, transfer them via a USB memory stick and incorporate them into the school’s NetOp program. The program is available in a variety of languages and now supports 64-bit Windows. There’s a free trial to try it out.

Push Button Tests

How many teachers have thought about incorporating a wireless student response system, but have gotten caught up in the cost and complexity of setting one up? Califone’s Got It! wireless interactive student response system can easily transform a classroom from using paper tests to push-button response. Got It! sends the class’s responses to the teacher’s computer where they are processed and analyzed. It can create six different reports on class progress, including scores, activity and full semester grades. This system can not only show who knows what but which students need remedial help or advanced work. You’ll have to wait until the beginning of the next school year to get Got It!, which will be available in either 24- or 40-person packs.