Yahoo

"Active Motivation"
Reviewer: Luke Wittum, director of technology, Elisabeth Ann Johnson High School, Mt. Morris (Michigan) Consolidated Schools (690 students)
Products we use: PGD-150 3D glasses, PJD6531w 3D-ready DLP projectors; Cyber-Anatomy 3D software; Designmate videos
Goals: "3D has a lot of potential for engaging students in learning. We particularly thought it would be great for our visual learners," says Wittum.
Response: "We did a 3D demo for our principals, and they loved it, so we now have a 3D pilot in our high school science classes. Teachers are getting enthusiastic about using 3D in their classrooms and in their lessons, especially for the realistic simulations."
Learning Curve: "The projectors and glasses were quite straightforward. Windows 7 detected the right refresh rate, but in XP it had to be manually set," he says.
How We Use it: "We hope to motivate our high school science students using 3D technologies. In this enhanced learning environment, even students with learning and attention challenges fully absorb the material. Wearing the glasses, students can be seen reaching out into the air to actively participate with 3D objects and challenges." The school made AYP last year with test score gains in all subjects.
What's Ahead: "We will evaluate our 3D pilot classroom and assess student learning. If it is successful, we'll move on from there, and offer it to other classrooms," says Wittum.

eInstruction
"No Off-Task Behavior"
Reviewers: Kerry Coursey, principal, and Ron Phillips (top left), teacher, Coastal Middle School, Savannah (Georgia), (32,634 students); Paul Romero (bottom left), CIO, Rio Rancho (New Mexico) Public Schools (16,000 students)
Products We Use: Interactive Mobi, ExamView, CPS Pulse student response systems, Interwrite interactive whiteboards
Goals: "We looked at Mobi to allow students to work in groups or alone on an assignment while the teacher monitors the process," says Coursey. "We also needed the CPS Pulse student response system for student feedback."
Response: "When multiple Mobis are used, there is no off-task behavior, and next-day recall of content is higher than with traditional instruction. Teachers who have been trained found the Mobi and its software easy to learn," says Phillips.
Learning Curve: "Multiple units were used for professional learning as a tool. We also did training geared to specific classroom uses," says Romero.
How We Use It: For Coursey and Phillips, "The Mobis have increased student on-task behavior and teachers are developing lessons that incorporate the technology. Lessons can be uploaded-even the presenter's voice being saved along with the presentation."

SMART
Using the "Funboard"
Reviewers: Dr. Margaret Johnson, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, and Deb Balayti, coordinator of teaching and learning technologies, Palos (Illinois) Community Consolidated School District 118 (1,876 students)
Products We Use: SMART Boards, SMART Slates, SMART Response systems
Goals: "Palos 118 made a commitment to create digital-age schools. We installed a SMART Board in all of the classrooms," says Johnson.
Response: "Students called it the funboard, because of spelling and games. Parents like that the tools are in the classrooms," says Balayti.
Learning Curve: "Teachers commit to three days of hands-on summer training in order to have a smart Board installed in their classroom. This training includes the response system and wireless slates," says Balayti.
How We Use It: "Classroom websites and learning sites are being accessed frequently and teachers are employing the response clickers to instantly see which students need additional support and to focus student attention and increase engagement in class discussions," says Balayti.
What's Ahead: "We plan to purchase additional response systems and slates, as well as a smart Table in each of our K-5 buildings," says Johnson.

NEC
"3D Frog Dissections"
Reviewer: Lauren Sanders, grades 6-8 math coordinator, Shelton School, Southern Association of Independent Schools, Dallas, Texas (855 students)
Products We Use: 3D-ready projectors, specifically the NP216
Goals: "We wanted to see if 3D projection technology would add to our individualized, structured, multisensory programs. Especially for learning differences, which include dyslexia, ADHD, and speech and language disorders, and in lessons with volume, symmetry, and shapes."
Response: "Usually, I get lots of questions. But this time, I received far fewer questions-they were more patient and eager to explore the content. There was a much quicker learning pace for students."
Learning Curve: "Easy to work with. There has been no learning curve. Just connect the computer to the projector, give students their 3D glasses, and start teaching."
How We Use It: "We're using 3D content on DLP 3D-ready projectors to teach concepts in math and science. There is a lot of content for science, like frog dissection, that works so well with 3D."
What's Ahead: "They're starting to create more math curriculum. I'd like to see more done with fractions. Geometry lends itself to 3D, too. When you're trying to take an image and turn it, there are some things you can't draw on the whiteboard."

HP
"Simulations and Research"
Reviewer: Larry Sperling, CEO, Philadelphia Academy, School District of Philadelphia (1,200 students)
Products We Use: HP TeachNow software, ProLiant ML110 server, ProCurve 24-port switch, st5742 thin client, LE1851W 18.5-inch, widescreen LCD monitor
Goals: "Upgrade the school computer lab and provide a way to easily integrate technology into the classroom. We had only one computer lab, and the computers were so old, some still had floppy drives."
Response: "TeachNow has been well received by our IT staff-it simplifies maintenance and the technology is less vulnerable to hard-drive crashes or viruses, because only one computer needs to be updated and serviced. It saves time and effort."
Learning Curve: "Initial installation went smoothly. Our technology instructor says anybody with a bit of technical savvy could do it."
How We Use It: "We've learned that young kids are rough on PCs-that's why the thin-client approach, with one server for 30 thin clients and no hard disk or flash memory per workstation-works for us. Our ninth-grade science teacher has his students do simulations; the 11th-grade chemistry instructor uses HP TeachNow to allow students to work at their own pace. And our 12th-grade business math instructor did generational impacts on the economy research projects."

Microsoft
"24/7 Education School or Home"
Reviewer: Keith Price, chief technology officer, Hoover City (Alabama) Schools (13,000 students)
Products We Use: Microsoft Office 2010
Goals: "With 6,000 computers throughout the district, we want our students using the latest technology available."
Response: The transition from Office 2007 to Office 2010 has been extremely smooth. We have little need for training. Office 2010 has also been a time and money saver for the district by reducing storage resources."
Learning Curve: "We needed to increase awareness of our capabilities. We've picked up the benefits of Live@edu Web Apps and SkyDrive—now our students and teachers are able to connect to one another from home through SkyDrive. Our deployment was simple because we were able to push out the update to all of our machines across the network."
How We Use It: "The productivity of our students, teachers, and administrators is also critically important-and Office 2010 allows us to integrate with Live@edu and SharePoint 2010. By making students and faculty documents available for sharing and editing 24/7 through SkyDrive, our students are now involved in education 24/7 whether they're in the classroom or not."
What's Ahead: "We'll have continuing professional development for our faculty and staff to help them integrate the capabilities into their curriculum."

Qwizdom
"Immediate Feedback"
Reviewer: Barbara Buckner, science teacher/coordinator, Bradley Central High School, Bradley County Schools, Cleveland, Tennessee (10,300 students)
Products We Use: Qwizdom presenter tablet, Q5 and Q6 response systems
Goals: "The main thing was to engage every student within the discussion and more effectively allow student knowledge to guide the inquiry. It's easy to have a few students comment."
Response: "I've had two different Qwizdom models: the Q5, and the new Q6. With the Qwizdom clickers, I get immediate feedback from all students. I find I don't waste time repeating material the students already know and I can focus more on the topics they don't understand."
Learning Curve: "With the Q7 presenter tablet, it is ready to use after plugging in the adapter and charging it. You can ask questions on the fly by simply clicking on a set area within the tablet."
How We Use It: "Teachers move about the room while they use the Q7 presenter tablet during lectures, asking questions, getting feedback, and seeing graphs of the responses. We use the games as a reward for the students, and work toward integrating more into the curriculum and standardized test-taking skills."
What's Ahead: "I would love to see every teacher using the Qwizdom remotes at the high school level. We will continue to seek grant funding."

DYMO/Mimio
"Creating Mimio Masters"
Reviewer: Lynn Reedy, K-12 educational technology specialist, Stafford (Connecticut) Public Schools (2,000 students)
Products We Use: DYMO/Mimio ITT system, MimioStudio software, Mimio Xi interactive wireless bar with mounted ceiling projectors, MimioPad, MimioVote
Goals: "Our district chose the DYMO/Mimio ITT system because it could purchase two Mimio Xi Interactive Wireless bars for the price of one conventional interactive whiteboard."
Response: "Teachers who have never used technology prior to this are now leading training sessions and sharing lessons and resources. Students are using the product in the creation of projects and presenting material to their classmates."
Learning Curve: "The technology isn't overwhelming-it's easy to figure out, and everything's at your fingertips."
How We Use It: "Partnered with Discovery Education Streaming, teachers have incorporated and developed digital resources into their lessons. Several of our teachers have become Mimio Masters, and have presented at conferences. Students enjoy that they can interact with the class by demonstrating, manipulating, and modeling."
What's Ahead: "We will continue to support classroom and in-lesson preparation and train new teachers. We hope to outfit all of our special education classrooms."

Promethean
"Significant Test Score Increases"
Reviewers: John Reid, director of education/principal, Kunsberg School, Denver, Colorado; Martha Romo, principal, Covington (Louisiana) Elementary School, St. Tammany Parish Public Schools (585 students)
Products We Use: ActivBoards, ActivSound, ActiVote, ActivExpression, ActivWand
Goals: "To enhance the child's learning experience," says Reid.
Response: "Everyone gets excited when they see our fully equipped classrooms, and all the new teachers are thrilled to know we have ActivBoards," says Reid. Third-grade teachers have the devices and now second-grade teachers want them, too. "The students love to text to the Promethean board," says Romo.
Learning Curve: For Romo, "Activ-Expression devices are easy to use. We provided professional development, and modeled lessons."
How We Use It: According to Reid, "Our teachers use the technology daily. Our teachers download content from Promethean Planet, including flip charts to enhance science classes." Says Romo, "Students practice for the third-grade iLEAP test. Our test scores have increased significantly."
What's Ahead: "Our focus is on special needs, so we'd like to add automatic readers for students in the library," says Reid. "We need to implement it fully in the second grade this year," says Romo.

Epson
"Reaching Different Learners"
Reviewer: Doug Johnson, director of media and technology, Rosa Parks Elementary, Mankato Area (Minnesota) Public Schools (7,300 students)
Products We Use: Epson 84 LCD projectors, Epson DC-10 document cameras, smart 680 interactive whiteboards, Calypso sound systems, Cisco wireless network routers, Apple laptop carts
Goals: "We wanted a green, multi-sensory learning environment for today's students-getting as much or more from audio and visual sources as from print and verbal instruction."
Response: "Teachers and students have been overwhelmingly supportive of these installations."
Learning Curve: "The basic equipment took less than an hour for teachers to master, including smart Board fundamentals, the Calypso controller, and the Epson document camera controls."
How We Use It: "It's rare to go past a classroom without a teacher or a student using sound and audio to help explain a concept or engage the class."
What's Ahead: "My hope is that eventually all students will have a personal computing device-a laptop, netbook, or tablet to use with the presentation system. These installations send a clear message to our community that we are teaching in new ways, reaching different kinds of learners, and creating more skilled students."