Due to the correlation between algebra and real-world skills, many states require students to pass Algebra I before graduating. Yet some students struggle with algebraic concepts and quickly fall behind their peers. PCI Education announces the launch of Algebra City to help struggling students build an understanding of the concepts, procedures and representations needed to master and pass Algebra I. Algebra City can be aligned with any algebra core curriculum to address topics struggled with most often.

Kaplan K12 Learning Services, in partnership with the Alliance for Excellent Education, is pleased to announce its participation as a partner in the first-ever Digital Learning Day campaign. This national campaign is designed to celebrate innovative teaching and highlight practices that make learning more personalized and engaging for students, exploring how digital learning can provide all students with the opportunities they deserve—to build the skills needed to succeed in college, a career, and life. In celebration of the event, Kaplan will launch 5 Days of Digital Learning, an initiative to share resources that support the goals of Digital Learning Day. Starting on February 1, Kaplan will make available a number of learning resources for students, parents, and educators, including digital flashcards, ebooks, and online events.

In today’s classrooms, educators are expected to be many things: teachers, counselors, mentors and advisors. One of their most important responsibilities is ensuring student safety in and out of the classroom. Gaggle, the leading provider of safe online communication tools for schools, will now make it easier for teachers to protect their students by including its Human Monitoring Service (HMS) at no charge with all Gaggle online communication subscriptions.

According to the College Board, students are "college ready" when they have the knowledge, skills and behavior to complete a college course of study successfully. To help students bridge the gap from high school to college, Shmoop announces the release of a college readiness guide. The comprehensive guide covers a variety of topics commonly found on standardized tests, plus provides a crash course on the five most common tests (SAT, PSAT, ACT, CAHSEE and ISEE), SAT Subject Tests and AP Exams. In addition, Shmoop offers College 101, a free online resource that addresses topics such as admission essays, entrance tests, financial aid, scholarships and money management tips for students and parents.

THIRTEEN announces the launch of Mission US: Flight to Freedom, the second in a series of innovative role-playing games developed to transform the way middle school students learn U.S. history. Timed to support Black History Month this February, Flight to Freedom immerses learners in the experiences of a runaway slave in the years leading up to the Civil War. Flight to Freedom helps students learn how enslaved people’s choices – from small, everyday acts of resistance to action that sought an end to slavery – affected the lives of individuals and, ultimately, the nation. Educators and students can access the game via streaming and download through any Internet-connected computer, making it accessible in the classroom, the library, school technology lab and home.

As an increasing number of K-12 students across the country are taking advantage of online learning options, PBS TeacherLine unveils a course that prepares educators to teach in virtual environments. “Fundamentals of Virtual K-12 Teaching” gives educators an eLearning Toolbox filled with practical skills, resources and materials required for putting theory into classroom practice. According to education experts, skills required for online teaching are different from the skills used for face-to-face instruction. The six-week course from PBS TeacherLine helps educators bridge the gap from classroom to virtual instruction. Fundamentals of Virtual K-12 Teaching takes approximately 45 hours to complete, and costs $525. Teachers can earn PDPs, CEUs, or graduate credit from one of the more than 30 higher education institutions currently partnering with PBS TeacherLine.

GradeCam announces a free formative application that automates multiple-choice test scoring and provides teachers with immediate feedback on the learning in progress in their classrooms. GradeCam is a web program that works with a standard web or document camera to quickly grade multiple-choice tests. Educators who take advantage of this free tool can dramatically improve the quality of their day-to-day instruction.

Shmoop unveils a new online course designed for students who are studying for the AP European History exam. The 11-unit guide takes readers through the pivotal events that reshaped the course of European history. From Colonialism and Imperialism to trends in literature and art, Shmoop Test Prep has it covered. In addition to detailed topic review, the online course from Shmoop features test-taking tips, two full-length practice exams and practice drills.

In a 21st century classroom, students often wear headsets for hours at a time while completing digital learning activities on computers, tablets or other audio visual devices. Most traditional headsets can become heavy and uncomfortable for students when worn over long periods of time. The new 3065AV Lightweight Personal Multimedia Stereo headset from Califone International is a comfortable, high-quality headset designed specifically for use in classroom and other educational settings.

The Common Core State Standards for English language arts and mathematics have been approved in 45 states, and educators across the nation are now faced with the challenge of adapting their instruction to satisfy the new requirements. To help educators prepare for upcoming changes, PBS TeacherLine has tailored its catalog of reading/language arts and math professional development courses to align with the Common Core State Standards, which aim to reflect the demands of today's world and provide a clear understanding of what students are expected to learn to be successful in college and in their careers. Through the PBS TeacherLine online, facilitated courses, teachers receive training and resources that will help them transition curriculum lessons to the new standards, gauge student progress toward standards mastery, and modify instruction to address weaknesses and accelerate achievement.

A new online course from Shmoop is designed to help students prepare for the Lower Level Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE). Students in grades 4 and 5 can take the Lower Level ISEE as part of the private school application process. The ISEE consists of three sections: verbal and quantitative reasoning tests, reading comprehension and mathematics achievement tests, and an essay portion. Shmoop online test prep offers an in-depth study guide, test-taking tips, two full-length practice exams and practice drills.

The E-rate filing window for 2012 opened this week, and applicants can now submit applications for the upcoming funding year. Requests for funding will likely exceed the amount of money available, however, since the demand for E-rate assistance has increased by 108 percent since 1998. In response, Funds For Learning CEO John Harrington penned an open letter to the FCC requesting that the commission increase available funding in the E-rate program to match need. E-rate stakeholders and supporters can sign the online petition before it’s delivered to the FCC in 2012.

A new online learning guide launched by Shmoop is designed to help students study for the AP Environmental Science exam (APES). In addition to providing an overview that prepares students for the length, content and format of the test, the Shmoop guide to APES explores each topic on the exam in detail. From earth systems and resources to global change, the learning guide hits upon key themes related to environmental science.

The Education Division of the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) will participate in London’s BETT Show, the leading international education technology showcase, from January 11-14. At BETT, SIIA will feature free materials for educators at its Ed Tech Pavilion, and host a members-only breakfast.

Time To Know, a complete online teaching and learning solution for 1:1 (one-to-one computing) classrooms, has earned an Honorable Mention in eSchool Media Readers Choice Awards. The annual awards program honors technology products that are making a difference in education. The eSchool Media Readers Choice Awards are chosen by readers and visitors of eSchool News, eCampus News and eClassroom News.

VizZle, the web-based authoring tool that empowers educators to create visually-supported curriculum customized to the needs of children with autism and other learning challenges, earned two awards from EdTech Digest inaugural awards program. VizZle was chosen as a “Cool Tool: Special Education” winner and “Leadership: EdTech Blogger” winner.

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), the principal trade association for the software and digital content industries, announced new members of its Education Division Board of Directors. These newly elected and appointed executives from SIIA member companies will provide the education technology industry with critical leadership, advocacy and market information in the crucial months and years ahead.

Shmoop announces the expansion of its free Pre-Algebra resources. In addition to a series of online Learning Guides covering everything from Basic Operations to Basic Algebra, the new section offers worksheets, quizzes and an extensive glossary of terms. The Pre-Algebra resources from Shmoop start with the most basic fundamentals and focus on making algebra fun, easy and painless.

With support provided by Discovery Education Assessment, Carrollton Exempted Village Schools in Ohio dramatically improved student achievement from 2010 to 2011. The district jumped from 507th to third in the state for academic performance, according to findings from Ohio Achievement Assessment. In addition, the district outpaced the state average by nearly 10 percent in math and reading proficiency scores. Discovery Education Assessment provided Carrollton educators with the tools needed to inform instruction and drive student achievement with a combination of interim and formative assessments.

The Siemens Foundation and Discovery Education, along with partners Oak Ridge Associated Universities and the College Board, announce an expanded Siemens Teachers as Researchers (STARs) program for 2012. In response to success in the program’s first two years, the new expansion will double the number of opportunities for educators to collaborate with some of the nation’s leading scientists this summer. Another science-based professional development opportunity for educators is the Siemens STEM Institute. The weeklong immersion program promotes hands-on, real-world integration of STEM in the classroom. The call for applications for the STARs program and the Siemens STEM institute is open until Feb. 9, 2012, and educators can apply by visiting www.siemensstemacademy.com.

In only four weeks, more than 900 E-rate supporters have signed an open letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski authored by Funds For Learning CEO John Harrington. By signing this petition, administrators, teachers, librarians, parents and students are asking the commission to increase funding to the E-rate program. Funds For Learning has proposed reallocating dollars from the Connect America Fund, which will not require increasing fees or taxes. The E-rate program provides discounts on certain services and products that are essential for classrooms and libraries to receive voice, video and data communications.

Shmoop announces a list of 10 books that will help warm your soul and put you in the holiday spirit this season. From A Prayer for Owen Meaning to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, this nontraditional holiday reading list from Shmoop runs the gamut of heart-warming literature.

While past research has shown a connection between teacher professional development and teacher competency, the relationship between professional development and student achievement has been a bit unclear – until now. A two-year study conducted by Hezel Associates, LLC, indicates student reading achievement increased after their teachers completed a PBS TeacherLine^® online professional development course. Students’ academic gains were higher in the treatment group than in the control group. The study examined the effects of the PBS TeacherLine Teaching Reading Fluency course on teacher and student learning and concluded the course had a positive impact on student learning outcomes, further supporting previous research that showed the organization's online courses improved teachers' content area knowledge and instructional skills.

To help bring environmental education to the classroom, Discovery Education and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) announce the expansion of the TurfMutt science program for K-5 educators and students. The online program offers free classroom resources for fostering an appreciation of the environment and green spaces through investigation, activities and experiments. In addition, a new “Spruce Up Your School” sweepstakes gives K-5 teachers the chance to win a $5,000 grant to make their school’s play area eco-friendly.

To help students explore the intricacies of people, culture, economics and politics of varying regions, Shmoop launches Online Test Prep for AP Human Geography. The guide offers topic review, practice skills and multiple full-length practice exams. In addition, students can access test-taking tips and guides to essay questions while earning “Shmoints” redeemable for Shmoop gear. With this most recent release, Shmoop now offers Online Test Prep Courses for 11 of the most popular AP exams, as well as the SAT, ACT and PSAT.

As winter begins, high school seniors are wrapping up the college admissions search and application process. After talking to admissions representatives, taking campus visits and scouring websites, many high school seniors still have questions that can’t be answered by the typical, generic resources. CollegeSolved.com allows current high school students to call or email current college students at thousands of colleges to get the inside scoop on campus life, classes, financial aid, and more. Most CollegeSolved features are free, including one call or email connection following registration.

Shmoop announces the launch of AP Biology, an online resource that offers topic review, practice drills and multiple full-length practice exams. In addition, students can access test-taking tips and guides to essay questions while earning “Shmoints” redeemable for Shmoop gear. With this latest release, Shmoop now offers Online Test Prep Courses for 10 of the most popular AP Exams, with additional prep available for the SAT, ACT and PSAT.

Discovery Education has earned five industry awards from EdTech Digest. The awards program recognizes the best and brightest people in the education industry, as well as transformative technology products and services. EdTech Digest recognized Discovery Education with two leadership awards, acknowledging Discovery Education as a whole for setting industry trends and the company’s CEO Bill Goodwyn for his passion and commitment to education excellence. Discovery Education Science Techbook and the Discovery Educator Network (DEN) also received awards.

Today, SIIA showcased some of the leading growth companies in the education technology market and recognized the best among them as part of the Innovation Incubator Program at the 11th annual Ed Tech Business Forum. Fluidity Software, Inc. won the “Most Innovative Education Product or Service” Award for FluidMath, and Footsteps2Brilliance won the “Most Likely to Succeed in the Education Market” Award for Footsteps2Brilliance Early Learning Mobile Platform.

Community Facebook voting has determined the winners of the FundingFactory^® America Recycles Day photo contest, conducted in honor of the national event held annually on Nov. 15 through an initiative of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. America Recycles Day celebrates the successes of recycling while providing an educational platform that promotes the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling on a daily basis. Participants of FundingFactory, the largest fundraising-by-recycling program for schools and nonprofits, submitted photos to creatively answer the question: How does your recycling program make a positive impact on your local and global community? Boy Scout Pack 197 in West Palm Beach, Fla., Cordova Lane Preschool in Penryn, Calif., and the Edison High School Swim Team in Stockton, Calif., were the top three vote-getters and earned cash prizes of up to $300. FundingFactory staff also awarded honor mentions to Grandy Primary School in Camden, N.C., for Most Creative entry, to The Learning Center in Hagerstown, Md., for the Most Green entry, and to the Winstead Area Child Care Center in Winstead, Conn., for the Funniest photo entry.

A growing body of research tells us that blended-learning programs, which combine multiple modes of instruction, are most effective – and the proliferation of ever-advancing technologies adds greater depth to the equation. Adaptive platforms, interactive tools and mobile technologies offer a breadth of instructional and learning opportunities. Kaplan’s white paper, Online and Blended Learning: What the Research Says, offers an easy-to-digest overview of how best to harness online and blended formats and to apply instructional best practices to deliver effective programs.

As high school and university students increasingly use their smartphones to manage their everyday lives, new data indicates that students who power-up mobile devices as study tools are better prepared for class. An infographic developed by StudyBlue, a mobile and online study service for students, demonstrates several benefits for students who study on-the-go. Mobile studiers spend an additional 40 minutes each week studying, cram less at night and are more likely to track their progress by scoring their study sessions.

The Education Division of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), the principal trade association for the software and digital content industries, today released the 2010 U.S. Educational Technology Industry Market: PreK-12 Report. First in a series of SIIA market reports, the survey values the overall market PreK-12 non-hardware educational technology at $7.5 billion dollars—with content-related products representing 42 percent of that revenue. The report will be highlighted tomorrow at SIIA’s Ed Tech Business Forum in New York.

VizZle, the web-based software for autism education, honored two Ohio educators with Ohio VizZle Educators of the Year Awards at the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) Conference in Columbus, Ohio. Intervention Specialist Michelle May from Canton City Schools and Intervention Specialist Carrie LaBeau of the Alliance City Schools District were honored as Ohio VizZle Creator of the Year and Ohio VizZle Educator of the Year, respectively.

District Administration magazine has named Shmoop one of its Readers’ Choice Top 100 products for 2011. Shmoop, a publisher of digital curriculum and test prep, was selected by the editors of District Administration from a record number of nominations submitted by readers, including school superintendents and district-level directors in districts across the country. The prestigious acknowledgement is given annually to K-12 education products that have supported education innovation.

It’s no secret college is expensive. Costs include not only tuition, but living expenses, textbooks, and that school-branded sweatshirt for game day. It’s no wonder ramen noodles are a college food staple. That’s why CollegeSolved^®, an online college search database and expert network, is offering two scholarships to financially support students as they spread the word about its services.

EdTech Digest named CollegeSolved, an online college search database and expert network, the top social networking solution in its 2011 awards program. The CollegeSolved Collegiate Chat student-to-student network allows high school students to connect directly with current college students to get up-close, personal insights about colleges beyond what they can learn from glossy brochures and campus tours.

InformationNOW from STI, a leader in education data management and instructional coaching, ranks among the Readers’ Choice Top 100 Products of 2011 announced today by District Administration magazine. STI’s web-based student information system was selected by the editors of District Administration from a record number of nominations submitted by readers, including school superintendents and district-level directors in districts across the United States. The prestigious acknowledgement is given annually to K-12 education products that have supported education innovation.

More than 100,000 students are using the interactive Discovery Education Science Techbook as a digital resource in Texas classrooms this fall. Built from the ground-up to meet Science TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) standards while addressing students’ 21st century learning styles, Discovery Education Science Techbook promotes collaboration, creativity and participatory learning. The Techbook ignites students’ natural interest in science with dynamic, engaging resources while meeting them in the digital environment where they live.

In an open letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, John Harrington, CEO of Funds For Learning, requests that the FCC increase the available funding in the E-rate program. With demand outpacing available funding, Funds For Learning is asking the FCC to take funds away from the Connect America Fund and to allocate them to the E-rate program, which will not require increasing fees or taxes. Funds For Learning has posted the open letter, video and background information at http://www.fundsforlearning.com/FCCPetition, and is encouraging others to sign the petition.

StudyBlue, a mobile and online study service for students, announces the launch of the updated StudyBlue mobile app for iPhone and Android devices. Students can now create flashcards on their smartphones with the free app, which offers the ability to snap and insert photos, as well as transcribe speech to text directly into their flashcards. Having these study materials accessible online or through Apple and Android apps, allows students to turn normally unproductive time, such as waiting for the bus, into study sessions to improve their comprehension.

PCI Education announces the winners of a grant celebrating the company’s 20 years of serving students with special needs. Hosted by WeAreTeachers, the grant program gave special education teachers the opportunity to earn money for their classrooms while sharing best practices with educators across the country. Nearly 300 educators submitted activities and tips as part of the program, and five grand-prize winners are receiving a $200 cash grant and a Flip Video camera to capture their ideas in action. PCI Education is also awarding the next 15 teachers who received the most online votes with a $200 gift certificate to spend on teaching materials.

VizZle, the easy-to-use, web-based authoring tool that empowers educators to create fun, interactive, visually-supported curriculum customized to the needs of children with autism and other learning challenges, was honored with a 2011 Award of Excellence from Tech & Learning magazine. VizZle was chosen as a Best Upgraded Product winner, which recognizes significant enhancements in a new version of a product already on the market. Best Upgraded Product winners evolve with the changing technology, continuing to offer the highest quality experiences for educators and students.

Two-thirds of school leaders say 1:1 computing classrooms are the future of education—despite recent public scrutiny about the value of technology in education. More than 300 district superintendents, assistant superintendents and school principals from districts with 2,500 students or more participated in a market research survey fielded by Interactive Educational Systems Design, Inc. (IESD). Curriculum provider Time To Know funded the survey, which had a margin of error of +/- 5.5 percent.

The Education Division of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) announces participants for its Innovation Incubator Program at the 11th annual Ed Tech Business Forum, November 28‐29 at the Princeton Club in New York. Eleven products and services will be featured during the event, and awards will be presented to the most innovative business and the most likely to succeed, based on the votes of participants at the Forum.

Six Flags and Discovery Education announce the launch of Read to Succeed, an online-based educational program designed to inspire K-6 students to read for recreation. Students who complete six hours of non-school-related reading are eligible for a free admission ticket to a participating Six Flags theme park. Teachers with 10 or more students who complete the program are also eligible. The Read to Succeed website is full of classroom and at-home resources provided by Discovery Education, which focuses on extending students’ passion for reading beyond the classroom.

Enrollment in postsecondary institutions increased from 14.8 million to 20.4 million between 1999 and 2009, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics. The popularity of postsecondary education produces a competitive and oftentimes convoluted application process for aspiring students. To help guide them through the application and entrance process, Shmoop announces College 101. The free online resource addresses topics such as admission essays, entrance tests, financial aid, scholarships, and money management tips for students and parents.

Industry leaders from key ed tech organizations will help education technology companies transition their businesses to meet the realities of today’s market at the 11th annual Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) Ed Tech Business Forum, from Nov. 28‐29 in New York. The theme for the Forum is “Doing Business in the New Normal” – a particularly relevant topic in a rapidly changing education ecosystem. The Forum will also focus on the economic landscape for companies looking at financing options now, as well as growth opportunities in the future.

Funds For Learning announces that company president Cathy Cruzan will appear alongside Donald Knezek, CEO of ISTE, on The Balancing Act. The appearance on Lifetime Television, scheduled to air Nov. 15, will highlight how the Internet and other 21st century technologies are revolutionizing the classroom. Encore airings of the segment will be shown Dec. 6 and 27. The nation’s largest E-rate compliance firm, Funds For Learning specializes in guiding E-rate applicants and service providers through the complex and ever-changing E-rate regulatory process.

Discovery Education earned two 2011 Awards of Excellence from Tech & Learning, a prominent education technology magazine. A team of more than 30 educators evaluated Discovery Education Science Techbook and Discovery Education streaming Plus alongside over 160 other products as part of the 29-year-old recognition program. Educators honored the Discovery Education Science Techbook in the “New Product” category, and Discovery Education streaming Plus earned recognition as a “Best Upgraded Product.”

FundingFactory is conducting a Facebook photo contest aimed at building awareness about the importance of recycling in honor of America Recycles Day, recognized annually on Nov. 15. FundingFactory is the nation’s largest fundraising by recycling program for schools and nonprofits, helping participants recycle 4.2 million electronic items annually. A national initiative of nonprofit Keep America Beautiful, Inc., America Recycles Day celebrates the successes of recycling while providing an educational platform that promotes the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling on a daily basis. For contest details, and to enter, go to Facebook.com/fundingfactory.

Shmoop has earned an Award of Excellence from prominent education technology magazine Tech & Learning. A team of more than 30 educators evaluated Shmoop resources alongside over 160 products as part of the 29-year-old recognition program. Educators deemed Shmoop to be a top pick in the Best Upgraded Products category, which recognizes recently revised and updated offerings. Shmoop Learning Guides, Test Prep and Teacher’s Editions balance a teen-friendly, approachable style with academically rigorous materials to help students understand how subjects relate to their daily lives.

Toyota and Discovery Education announce the launch of the all-new Toyota Teen Driver Video Challenge, a competition that asks high school students across the country to create a unique two-minute video describing how they would encourage safe driving among their peers. The challenge is part of Toyota Teen Driver, a joint program from Toyota and Discovery Education, which features a comprehensive online destination offering educators, students and parents a variety of tools and materials designed to help keep teens safe behind the wheel. The grand-prize winner of the Toyota Teen Driver Video Challenge will receive a $20,000 cash prize.

Shmoop announces the launch of AP World History, the twelfth major subject area covered on Shmoop. AP World History provides a wealth of information about our storied – and sometimes sordid – past. Each chapter is broken down chronologically, and each time period recaps the key themes that students need to know for the AP World History exam. Shmoop also includes timelines and lists of key terms for each subsection, giving students a detailed overview of the most significant historical events.

Monarch Teaching Technologies (MTT) is proud to announce its VizZle Player App for iPad is now available on the App Store, giving children with autism access to award-winning visual supports and lessons. The VizZle Player App takes advantage of a child with autism’s affinity for iPad's Multi-Touch display and gives educators and parents access to important academic and social skill building lessons.

As more than 3.2 million tons of electronic waste are piled into landfills every year and school budgets are being slashed virtually across the board, FundingFactory is expanding its list of items that organizations can recycle in return for funding. Schools and other nonprofit organizations can now exchange small electronics such as digital cameras, MP3 players and GPS systems for cash or points redeemable for new technology. The new qualifying items join inkjet cartridges, cell phones and laser cartridges as items accepted by the FundingFactory program. FundingFactory is the nation’s largest fundraising by recycling program for schools and nonprofits.

Funds For Learning will host a free webinar for E-rate applicants on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 12PM ET. Titled Cracking the Window: Making the Most of Your E-rate Applications, the one-hour webinar will take an applicant-oriented look at the E-rate program and share practical solutions for the upcoming E-rate filing window. An encore presentation will take place on Friday, Nov. 11 at 3PM ET, and registration for both webinars is open to E-rate applicants across the country.

Protecting students from digital abuse has become a crucial component of school curriculum. All schools who receive e-rate funding must teach students about Internet safety, and many states have passed cyberbullying laws that require school-based instruction and teacher training on the topic. As a result, Knowledge Delivery Systems, a provider of strategic professional development solutions for teachers, schools and districts, has developed two new courses for educators on Internet safety and cyberbullying, presented by national expert Nancy Willard. To learn more, visit the complete course descriptions online.

Students across the country are invited to a free, live webinar this Thursday covering a variety of resources available to help them gain valuable jobs skills as they prepare to enter the workforce. The webinar, presented by Discovery Education, will feature U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. Titled Own Tomorrow, Preparing for Your Future, the presentation is geared toward students in grades 6-12 who plan to pursue higher education through technical schools, community colleges, or four-year institutions. Following Solis’ presentation, students can submit questions virtually during a live Q&A session.

Shmoop announces the launch of Test Prep for SAT Subject Test Biology E/M, specifically designed for students who plan to pursue majors in science while in college. The SAT Biology Subject Test measures students’ understanding of the major concepts of biology, including ecology and molecular biology. All Shmoop SAT Subject Test Prep courses include comprehensive topic reviews, a battery of drills, two full-length practice exams, and test-taking tips and strategies.

LaVerne Evans Srinivasan has joined Time To Know as president of its North American division. Formerly a deputy chancellor for the New York City Department of Education, Srinivasan brings more than 25 years of extensive experience in education, business and law to Time To Know. While at the New York DOE for almost four years from 2003 to 2006, Srinivasan led an initiative to re-design the Division of Human Resources into a strategic function in service of the district’s human capital strategy, oversaw the creation of a student enrollment planning and operations office, and launched a parent and community engagement initiative.

StudyBlue, an online and mobile study system for students, announces the launch of a new Facebook application that helps students retain concepts by connecting them on a personal level. Every day (or every other), Friends with Brainefits posts a term and definition from a subject-specific flashcard deck to the user’s Facebook wall. The application then challenges the user’s friends to apply the need-to-know terms in creative and unique ways, improving learning by providing a deeper, more personalized connection to the term.

Discovery Education invites educators from across the globe to attend the Fall Virtual Conference: Tech or Treat, a free online and in-person professional development event focusing on digital storytelling. Available to all educators, the conference includes a spotlight presentation from Wes Fryer, author of Playing with Media: Simple Ideas for Powerful Sharing. Participants will also take part in a series of virtual sessions presented by the Discovery Educator Network (DEN) Gurus.

Dave Salmoni, Discovery Education’s large predator expert and host of several Animal Planet and Discovery Channel programs, will host a free Siemens STEM Academy webinar for K-12 students across the country on Oct. 19. Titled “Making a Difference through Conservation,” the webinar will help students appreciate the delicate relationships between animals, humans and the environment. Students will also learn about meaningful educational ways they can take action – such as participating in Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, the premier national sustainability contest for K-12 students.

Equipping a classroom with 21st century capabilities can be a complex, and often expensive, process. Califone now offers a complete 21st century classroom suite with the introduction of an interactive whiteboard, model WB80. The WB80 can be mounted to almost any surface, regardless of electrical outlets or strength of the wall. Teachers simply attach the sensors to any blank wall, and install the included software onto any PC running a Windows operating system, and the whiteboard is ready for use. The WB80 provides an affordable, easy-to-use product that teachers can incorporate into their instruction with ease.

eChalk has reached a new milestone in helping educators foster an engaging 21st century learning environment as the company’s software is implemented in more than 100 Brooklyn schools. At Dr. Rose B. English School, the response rate to the school’s Learning Environment Survey jumped 26 percent since the adoption of eChalk, and more than 90 percent of parents felt satisfied or very satisfied with how the school communicated with them. The Weeksville School saw similar results as its survey indicates that an overwhelming majority of parents feel engaged in an active partnership with the school to promote student learning. eChalk’s presence in Brooklyn schools is a microcosm of the company’s impact on educational institutions across the New York City area.

At the Closing the Gap Conference in Minneapolis, the winners of the 2011 VizZle Visual Learning TechGrants were announced. The 10 grand prize winning districts will receive 25 licenses of VizZle, the award-winning web-based authoring tool that offers interactive, visually-supported curriculum for children with autism and other learning challenges. VizZle also named an additional 40 districts as honorable mentions, and each will receive two VizZle licenses.

Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation and Discovery Education announce the re-launch of Energy Balance 101, an initiative focused on educating students and teachers about wellness and energy balance (balancing calories in and out). The website provides a variety of curricular resources and access to the annual Healthy Playground Makeover sweepstakes. Energy Balance 101 also includes two new initiatives this year – the Find Your Balance Challenge and support of the USDA’s HealthierUS Schools Challenge. In all, Energy Balance 101 will provide more than $150,000 in prizes and curriculum tools.

To help schools improve environmental education and nurture the future science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce, PBS TeacherLine is offering a new online course for high school teachers. STEM 417: Global Climate Change for High School enables educators to teach global climate change using a problem-based approach and STEM methodology to engage high school students and help them understand the causes and effects of climate change. The course is part of a series of professional development resources on climate change developed through a grant from NASA. PBS TeacherLine is offering the 45-hour course for $345 during the Fall session, which begins Oct. 26.

After a single-year surge of 24 percent in Hispanic enrollment, the number of 18- to 24-year-olds attending college reached a record high of 12.2 million last year. As the number of students preparing for college increases, Shmoop announces SAT and ACT Test Prep in Spanish. Shmoop draws from relatable allegories and pop culture references to keep students engaged as they prepare for college prep exams.

Research shows that children with autism and higher degrees of auditory sensitivity can become bothered and distracted by common classroom noise. The new Hush Buddy line of protective earmuffs from Califone International, Inc., provides the quiet and comfortable hearing protection that children need to concentrate. With a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 27dB, each lets in 24.2% less sound than the closest competitive item, due in part to its smaller ear cups and headband that are designed to fit children rather than standard hearing protectors which are designed for adults.

Discovery Education has leveraged partnerships with several like-minded companies to create an array of free resources for educators, students and their families. Designed to support and advance student achievement at the start of the new school year, the resources span several topics. From the wonders of science to Internet literacy, the free content covers a variety of subject areas with a focus on providing fun and engaging tools to classrooms and homes around the country. These joint efforts include components such as supplemental family activities, K-12 curriculum programs, interactive classroom lessons and more.

After two decades of developing products and services for learners with special needs, PCI Education is commemorating its 20th anniversary by looking ahead to trends that will shape the next 20 years in special education. The company has developed more than 200 special education products helping students of all abilities succeed in school and in the community since 1991. Lee Wilson, president and CEO of PCI Education, says the company is looking forward to the “reinvention of education media” in the coming years.

Schools are back in session, and Daisy is back looking for something to satisfy her sweet tooth - caramel! - in Dairy Dispatch, the online newsletter from C. Blohm & Associates. Education topics in the new edition include:

• Shmoop Debuts Two New Online Learning Guides
• Kaplan K12 Announces Support of Common Core Standards
• Time To Know Expands Its Texas User Base
• CollegeSolved.com Helps Students With College Pick

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Braeden Benedict, a 14-year old student from Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., has been named the winner of the 2011 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. As "America’s Top Young Scientist," the Palos Verdes Peninsula High School student won $25,000 and a trip from Discovery Student Adventures. Benedict worked with 3M scientists to develop a low-cost impact detection device that can make it easier to spot concussions in athletes. He competed alongside nine other finalists during a live competition at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minn.

With teachers increasingly seeking support and clarity on how the Common Core State Standards will impact their classrooms, Kaplan K12 Learning Services has launched an online toolkit with instructional and professional development resources to help them transition between what students need to learn now and future expectations. Teach!^® Strategies and Resources includes an online teacher resource library, professional development support, and reporting tools that measure usage. Despite budget constraints, experts believe investing in professional development remains critical for teacher and student success.

A new mobile app launched by eChalk extends its school communication and instruction management software to more computing devices, giving students, parents and teachers another way to stay connected. The eChalk app provides parents easy mobile access to the eChalk online platform to view notifications of school activities, grades, homework assignments, learning resources, and class discussions. Parents with more than one child in a school or district can access all of their children’s information in one place. Research conducted by the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory indicates parental involvement is an important factor in student achievement. The eChalk app makes it easier for parents to be engaged in their children’s education.

E2020, Inc., one of the fastest growing providers of online curriculum, and Seattle-based Giant Campus Inc., which offers high-interest elective courses, will combine to deliver the most comprehensive selection of online courses available for middle and high schools. Together, the firms provide schools and districts with the curriculum needed for core and elective courses to prepare students for college and STEM-focused careers.

The Siemens Foundation and Discovery Education announce the expansion of Siemens Science Day to all K-6 students and teachers. Launched in 2008, Siemens Science Day is designed to help educators reinvent science class through engaging digital content from Discovery Education. Educators also have the chance to win an “Ultimate Cool School Assembly.” The new standards-aligned science resources, hands-on activities and videos are now expanded to reach K-6 classrooms.

West Point School District in Mississippi has launched a laptop initiative, funded by an EETT grant, enabling every senior student to checkout a laptop for the entire year at a nominal usage fee. To support the program, the school district is providing teachers with professional development and training conducted by STI, a southern-based company that is a leader in education data management and instructional coaching. STI is providing a customized technology integration plan and training that helps the district build a foundation for teachers to transform their classrooms into dynamic interactive learning environments. The training helps teachers personalize learning by using the technologies that are already available to them.

A successful summer school pilot program has led the Wylie Independent School District in Texas to implement Time To Know in 16 fifth grade math classes plus sixth graders who would benefit from additional math practice, giving more than 340 students access to the program this fall. Wylie initially implemented the program in a 2011 summer school pilot program with 17 students. Comparing scores at the beginning and end of the summer, Wylie teachers saw student math and language arts scores improve by as much as 25 percent when students were using the Time To Know platform.

As schools face one of the toughest education funding crises in decades, i21 zone from STI Achievement Services offers a solution that helps educators more effectively utilize the technology they already have to improve student learning while maximizing investments. Partnering with educators, STI provides research-based instructional practices, mentoring and leadership coaching focused on technology integration. By utilizing presently owned technology to its full extent, educators can reduce costs and ensure students receive the best education possible.

Shmoop announces the debut of California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) Test Prep in Spanish. Students set to graduate from California public schools must pass the CAHSEE to earn a high school diploma. Shmoop’s new Online Test Prep Course offers hundreds of explanations, examples and exercises covering every California State Standard. The course also includes two full-length, interactive CAHSEE practice tests that provide on-the-spot feedback and explanations.

One of the most stressful times in any college-bound student’s life is choosing colleges to apply to and starting the admissions process. A new company, CollegeSolved™ (www.collegesolved.com), makes the process personal by allowing prospective students to learn more about a college’s on-campus experience through a host of tools, including free conversations with current college students.

During the last school year, Queens Councilman Eric Ulrich secured funding for Kaplan SAT classes for six high schools within his district, and on Thursday he announced the average combined practice test score in those schools increased from 1232 on the first test to 1316 on the final test. Schools that took part in the program included Beach Channel, Channel View, Franklin Lane, Robert H. Goddard, John Adams, and Scholar's Academy. Councilman Ulrich was so pleased with the results that the city council is continuing the program through the 2011-12 school year.

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), the principal trade association for the software and digital content industries, today joined U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan along with other government, education, and technology leaders at the White House for the launch of the Digital Promise initiative, a public-private research and development collaborative aimed at further advancing the learning technologies critical to students and educators.

Replacement costs for classroom tools and technology is a major factor in school purchasing decisions. In this tough economic climate, schools need sustainable solutions. Today, Califone debuts its Guaranteed for Life cords for its Titanium Series of headphones and headsets that help schools avoid equipment damage from the typical extensive wear and tear from student use. Students often chew, swing, twirl or roll over headphone and headset cords. The cords come with a lifetime warranty that covers school use unlike other products on the market.

CDW-G and Discovery Education awarded nearly $200,000 in customized classroom technologies to 43 schools nationwide for the 2011 Win a Wireless Lab Sweepstakes. Grand prize winners who received state-of-the-art 21st-century classrooms were Piner Elementary School in Kentucky, Spaulding School in Illinois, and St. Veronica Catholic School in Virginia. Each prize, valued at nearly $43,000, includes notebook computers or tablet PCs, an interactive whiteboard, a student response system, a projector, a document camera and more.

The Bay Area After-School All-Stars and Shmoop are partnering to offer an information literacy curriculum to students in San Jose. Made possible by a $50,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation fund at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the after-school program will teach middle school students critical reasoning and credible content analysis of online sources. After-School All-Stars is located in 23 sites around the Bay Area, and is one of twelve chapters nationwide with free comprehensive programs.

The Education Division of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) has issued a call for applicants to its Innovation Incubator Program. Developers of promising new technologies in the K-12 and postsecondary space will be invited to participate in SIIA’s Innovation Incubator program at the annual SIIA Ed Tech Business Forum in New York, November 28-29. The deadline to apply is September 19. The Incubator Program provides invaluable business development opportunities and visibility to creators of innovative ed tech products and services. The chosen innovators will be connected with industry leaders, potential investors and established companies seeking partnerships or prospects for acquisition.

Monarch Teaching Technologies (MTT) is accepting proposals from qualified educational institutions for their Second Annual Visual Learning 2011 TechGrant program. Eight school districts will be granted access for up to 25 teachers to VizZle, MTT’s web-based authoring tool that offers interactive, visually-supported curriculum for children with autism and other learning challenges. The 2011 Visual Learning TechGrants are open to any learning institution that would benefit from visual learning and language support for students with autism, pervasive development disorder (PDD), Asperger’s syndrome and other learning challenges.

Two instructional technology resources from Discovery Education have been honored by the 18th annual Teachers’ Choice Awards for the Classroom from Learning^® magazine. Discovery Education Science Techbook and Discovery Education streaming Plus were both selected by a nationwide panel of teachers as exemplary products in this year’s competition. Discovery Education is a frequent choice among panelists, earning recognition in four of the last five years.

Discovery Education will host a free screening of Discovery Channel’s new documentary series RISING: REBUILDING GROUND ZERO, showcasing the men and women determined to rebuild and restore a sacred site by constructing the new, 104-story One World Trade Center. Streamed live to students nationwide at no cost, the event will be followed by a live panel discussion with members of the community who will share how they were personally affected by 9/11. For additional information on the event and other resources related to 9/11 from Discovery Education, visit www.discoveryeducation.com/911.

The Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education, the National Science Teachers Association and the College Board announce the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge. In its fourth year, the competition challenges students to use scientific investigation and web-based curriculum tools powered by Discovery Education to replicate green solutions. All students, from kindergarten through twelfth grade, are encouraged to team up with classmates and solve environmental problems as part of the national sustainability challenge. The deadline for entries is March 15, 2012. Visit www.wecanchange.com for more information about the challenge.

Discovery Education, in collaboration with the September 11th Families’ Association and Tribute WTC Visitor Center, will provide free educator resources, host previews of Discovery Channel’s documentary RISING: REBUILDING GROUND ZERO with panel discussions and update Discovery Education streaming with 9/11-focused materials. The screenings will be hosted in four cities closely affected by 9/11 and streamed live to students nationwide at no cost. To supplement the events, Discovery Education is providing educators with free online resources related to 9/11 available at http://www.discoveryeducation.com/911/.

As students and teachers around the nation return to classrooms, Shmoop unveils new free online Learning Guides. From analyzing A Midsummer Night’s Dream to surveying some major battles in U.S. history, the new resources from Shmoop cover a variety of subject areas and topics. High school students gearing up for college can also access Shmoop’s College 101, a free guide to university and college admissions including tips for financial aid and scholarships.

In honor of its tenth anniversary, Discovery Education announces several back-to-school upgrades to Discovery Education streaming, a service designed to improve classroom engagement. New exclusive content includes standards-aligned clips from Discovery Channel’s HUMAN PLANT, CURIOSITY and RISING: REBUILDING GROUND ZERO, in addition to content from other top educational producers. Discovery Education streamlined the service to further improve performance, and is offering a free, three-week webinar series covering the breadth of this year’s enhancements.

Amistad Academy Middle School in New Haven, Conn., the flagship school in Achievement First’s public charter school network in New York and Connecticut, has selected Time To Know’s Digital Teaching Platform for its fifth grade math curriculum. The platform allows teachers to build daily lesson plans based on the Common Core Standards, and monitor progress in real time. Students will enjoy the platform’s interactive activities and the gallery feature, which will allow them to post their work for peer review and collaborate with fellow students on projects.

Discovery Education and Intel Corporation announce the launch of Curiosity in the Classroom, an interactive, science-based education tool. CuriosityintheClassroom.com brings concepts found in Discovery Channel’s television series CURIOSITY to life, offering curriculum examining such topics as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and robots. Additional resources on the site include free lesson plans and videos aligned to national education standards. The partnership also features “Catch Me Being Curious,” a national sweepstakes awarding a vacation to the winning family.

Beginning in Funding Year 2012, schools receiving E-rate funding for Internet Access or Internal Connections must certify that they have updated their Internet safety policy to include educating minors about appropriate online behavior, according to a new Order released by the FCC. The Order adds the requirements outlined in the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act to the existing Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requirements. Funds For Learning, a leading E-rate compliance services firm, applauds the decision, saying the changes should help “foster a generation of responsible Internet users.”

Knowledge Delivery Systems (KDS) announces the expansion of its online Platform 2.0/eClassroom, a technology-enriched professional learning environment for teachers and administrators. The eClassroom environment expands KDS’ online professional development offerings to include a simple and intuitive user experience for course taking, peer evaluation, and highly interactive discussions. The platform centers around a comprehensive and collaborative learning environment, including features like forums, private messaging with course facilitators, and the ability to build and download a portfolio of their course work.

Fourth and fifth graders in Grand Prairie, Texas, are improving their reading and math skills after using an interactive learning system called Time To Know, as evidenced by their competency scores on the most recent Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) exam. Grand Prairie Independent School District implemented Time To Know in 2009, and they’ve seen academic performance increase dramatically along with decreased student absences and fewer discipline issues, which has led to more students actively engaged in learning.

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) today released the results of the 2011 Vision K-20 Survey, its fourth annual national survey to measure U.S. educational institutions’ self-reported progress toward building a framework that embraces technology and eLearning. The comprehensive report surveyed nearly 500 educators and education administrators, and suggests that K-20 institutions are not making progress toward the education goals and technology benchmarks set forth by the Vision K-20 Initiative.

Shmoop announces Biology as the most recent addition to its Learning Guide repertoire. Dubbed the “living textbook,” the new Learning Guides aim to make biology more approachable for students. Shmoop covers basic topics such as cells and photosynthesis, but in keeping with website’s design and purpose, infuses humor and pop culture to make the content teen-friendly. Biology is the twelfth subject area featured in Shmoop’s collection of free, online Learning Guides.

Shmoop announces the launch of Shmoop Mythology. It’s the eleventh subject area covered by Shmoop, which now offers more than 750 free online Learning Guides. The Learning Guides blend a teen-friendly, approachable style with academically rigorous materials to help student’s relate subjects to their daily lives. For Shmoop Mythology, Shmoop’s team of private investigators infiltrated personal files, such as Facebook profiles, email inboxes and photo albums of the gods, to help students learn about Greek, Roman and Norse mythology.

More than 70 educators from across the nation recently completed professional development programs through the Siemens STEM Academy, a collaborative effort by the Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education, Oak Ridge Associated Universities and the College Board. Currently in its second year, the Siemens STEM Academy offers programs such as Siemens STARs Program and Siemens STEM Institute, which connect educators with the tools and best practices they need to inspire students to pursue STEM education.

Key Curriculum Press announces the launch of Sketchpad Explorer, an iPad app offering an intuitive environment for exploring Dynamic Geometry mathematics. Sketchpad Explorer offers users access to the vast library of The Geometer's Sketchpad mathematics content on the Web – including Sketch Exchange, the Sketchpad Resource Center and dozens of teacher-published websites – where users can view and share sketches across a range of mathematics topics and levels.

Key Curriculum Press announces a strategic shift in focus towards developing and building upon its technology assets. As a result, the company has sold its high school mathematics textbook programs. The sale, effective August 1, 2011, transfers ownership of six programs to Kendall Hunt Publishing, and enables Key Curriculum Press to further establish its future in the digital realm. Key Curriculum Press and Kendall Hunt will work together to develop a smooth transition plan, ensuring that the needs of all schools and districts are met as the new school year begins.

The Texas Board of Education has selected the Discovery Education Science Techbook as an approved resource for use in Texas middle schools statewide. Built to align with the state’s curriculum, the Discovery Education Science Techbook underwent a rigorous evaluation process prior to approval. The all-digital resource includes video clips, ebook passages, an interactive glossary and more. Texas joins Florida, Indiana, Louisiana and Oregon as the fifth state to adopt the Discovery Education Science Techbook.

Discovery Education announces that Literature Guides and Biographies from Shmoop, a digital curriculum company that makes fun, rigorous learning and teaching materials, are now available in Discovery Education streaming PLUS. Educators can access Shmoop’s Literature Guides for classics such as Romeo and Juliet, A Tale of Two Cities and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, as well as Biographies of numerous authors and presidents. The partnership adds another resource to help support educators as they integrate digital content into school curriculum.

The Universal Service Administration Company (USAC) officially announced to the FCC yesterday that it has identified additional monies to fund Funding Year 2010 E-rate Priority Two (internal connections and basic maintenance of internal connections) requests at the 80 percent discount level. Schools and libraries that are entitled to 80 percent E-rate discounts serve some of the country’s most financially strapped communities. This reversal resulted from inquiries that the FCC made to USAC after Funds For Learning, a leading E-rate compliance services firm, filed a petition with the FCC strongly objecting to USAC’s recommendation to cut off funding for 2010 at 81 percent. According to a Funds For Learning analysis, the decision to fund down to the 80 percent discount band impacts over 1,400 applicants and 870 service providers, and could result in nearly $280 million in new E-rate funding commitments for FY2010.

netTrekker, a leader in delivering digital K-12 educational content in context to individualize curriculum, and global education leader Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH), have partnered to help educators conduct data-driven instruction more effectively and efficiently. DataDirector, an online assessment management system from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, is now integrated with netTrekker, enabling teachers to easily identify standards-aligned, digital content that can be used to address students’ individual needs and overcome performance gaps for specific learning objectives. With this new integration, school and district subscribers who have both netTrekker and DataDirector can access netTrekker content from their Exam Report in DataDirector to help improve performance for every student. Teachers have immediate access to instructional resources for remediation on a specific standard for whole-class re-teaching, or remediation for individual students.

Discovery Education and Toyota announce the winners of the Toyota Teen Driver Educators' Challenge. The Grand Prize winner is Nick Aprea from Seymour Public Schools in Seymour, Connecticut, and the First Prize winner is Gina McCarley from Lawrence County Schools in Moulton, Alabama. For the Challenge, teachers across the country were tasked with developing three 90-minute project-based driving safety lessons for high school students. The winning lessons will function as public service announcements promoting safe teen driving for the winners' schools and communities.

Discovery Education and 3M announced today the top 10 finalists in the 13th annual Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. Each finalist will have an the exclusive opportunity to work directly with a 3M Scientist during a summer mentorship program, and compete for $25,000 and the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.” Students across the country entered this year’s competition to showcase their scientific ingenuity and innovation.

The Alabama State Department of Education has selected InfomationNOWHealth, a comprehensive health record system from STI. InformationNOWHealth will enable every school health professional in the state to have access to information anytime, anywhere to address the critical needs of students, and administer health services more efficiently and effectively. InformationNOWHealth was implemented during the 2010-11 school year to districts statewide as an integrated module within InformationNOW, STI’s Web-based student information system that is used throughout the Alabama public school system.

netTrekker has teamed up with SAS Curriculum Pathways to provide an extensive, integrated library of resources to support teachers in lesson planning and personalized instruction. Award-winning middle and high school resources from SAS Curriculum Pathways will be integrated into netTrekker this fall, providing subscribers with access to a greater depth and breadth of interactive content. The integration will allow teachers to quickly and easily find and organize relevant digital resources in one convenient location to meet the needs of every learner and transform learning.

To help schools bring learning to life, PolyVision, a leader in the development of interactive teaching and learning technology, has partnered with leading education software providers Conceptua^® Math, Britannica^® Digital Learning and SkillsTutor™. The companies have teamed up to help educators better integrate interactive technology into the classroom in ways that maximize school budgets and meet students’ expectations for learning in the digital age. With their open architecture, PolyVision interactive whiteboards give educators the freedom to use the hardware, software and digital tools they already know and love, including award-winning online software from Conceptua Math, Britannica Digital Learning and SkillsTutor.

Nearly 80,000 elementary and middle school students will be using the interactive Discovery Education Science Techbook in classrooms this fall instead of traditional textbooks. Each edition of the Discovery Education Science Techbook is built from the ground up to address individual state standards and is intended to serve as the primary instructional resource for students. The Techbook provides dynamic, engaging resources, such as virtual labs, video clips and an interactive glossary. Real-time assessments are also included to measure students’ progress, and recommend individualized resources that reinforce classroom instruction.

New independent research results indicate that school and district leaders need technology products backed by strong customer service and technical support, specifically when purchasing communications and course management software. MDR, an independent research firm, conducted the study commissioned by eChalk to examine school and district technology needs and purchasing decisions. Also highlighted in the survey was compatibility with existing systems, which further underscores the importance of technical support.

In September 2010, the FCC announced some of the most sweeping changes to the E-rate program since its inception. Today at ISTE, Funds For Learning CEO John Harrington presented a session titled Historical Day for E-rate: The National Broadband Plan, which featured best practices for E-rate stakeholders during this time of regulatory change, as well as highlighted changes to the E-rate program in the FCC’s Sixth Report and Order.

Districts face increasing pressure to improve teacher effectiveness and reduce gaps in student achievement. Research shows professional development programs can improve teacher effectiveness and student achievement, yet districts struggle to develop solutions that work. With limited resources available for professional development planning, administrators are forced to make decisions without understanding the true needs of the district. Knowledge Delivery Systems (KDS) takes the guesswork out of professional development by helping districts build strategic professional development programs that achieve real success, and is expanding its range of solutions by developing 13 new courses with Solution Tree, a leading provider of educational strategies and tools that improve staff and student performance.

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) recently recognized Edmodo, a free and secure social learning network for schools, as a Best Website for Teaching and Learning. The award program recognizes those websites, tools and resources that are of exceptional value to inquiry-based teaching and learning as embodied in the AASL’s Standards for the 21st Century Learner. Edmodo’s emphasis on creativity, collaboration and active communities were key components of its AASL Best Website win.

Today, PolyVision, a leader in the development of teaching and learning technology, launches several new interactive solutions designed to bring learning to life in the classroom. PolyVision’s innovative technology focuses on reaching and connecting all types of learners, wherever they may be. The comprehensive suite of interactive solutions helps districts go beyond traditional teaching and learning techniques and experience the future of education. Launching at the ISTE 2011 conference, PolyVision will showcase a new digital visualizer, sound integrated interactive whiteboard and a new ultra short throw projector to bundle with its ēno® one height-adjustable interactive whiteboard solution.

The Discovery Educator Network (DEN) from Discovery Education contributes greatly to the professional growth of educators, according to a study conducted by Dr. Ilona Holland, independent researcher and faculty member of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Nearly 90 percent of educators said DEN “tremendously” or “very much” contributed to their professional growth. DEN is an online community of more than 150,000 members worldwide that supports educators’ use of technology in the classroom.

Shmoop announces the addition of several game-like features to its website including Shmoints, new literature quizzes and school leaderboards. Students can rack up Shmoints by answering literature quizzes on Shmoop, working through Shmoop’s test prep courses, or simply by logging into Shmoop. Plus, the new school leaderboards allow students to see where they rank within their own school and throughout the country. Shmoop gives out t-shirts (and more prizes to come) to top scorers.

Monarch Teaching Technologies (MTT) received a $730,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II grant program to continue development of VizZle^®, a web-based authoring tool used to create interactive, visually supported curriculum for children with autism and other learning challenges. The highly competitive federal grant will provide resources for MTT to evolve the video modeling elements within VizZle from their successful basic prototypes into expanded, more sophisticated tools.

Edmodo, the free and secure social learning network for teachers, students and schools, is pleased to offer educators new ways to share expertise and showcase their professional experiences through its new teacher profiles. The new teacher profiles provide educators with a permanent space to connect with peers and the larger education community. Educators can now add unique features to their Edmodo profiles, including their school and educational experience, teaching philosophy, interests and favorite content or resources.

Self-directed learners can now be more proactive in the search for additional information thanks to e2020, Inc.’s new eLibrary feature program, a keyword search tutorial system that gives students access to more than 4,600 Common Core state standard aligned lessons (language arts, math, science, social studies, and electives) for grades 6-12. Offered as a stand-alone feature, or as an optional add-on to the e2020, Inc., Virtual Classroom and Virtual Tutor products, eLibrary helps self-directed students pursue additional, individualized, self-paced learning activities to enhance and strengthen previously presented information.

To foster classroom innovation and engagement, PBS and WGBH, and their producing partners WNET and KET, along with 31 other PBS member stations, today launched PBS LearningMedia (pbslearningmedia.org), a free service for all teachers, students and families nationwide. In addition to a rich public media library, PBS LearningMedia has content contributed from other publicly funded organizations, including the National Archives, the Library of Congress and NPR, as well as content funded by NASA, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the US Department of Education, to deliver thousands of resources for use in the classroom and with home-schoolers. Delivering unprecedented access to a robust digital library of instructional and professional development content aligned to Common Core and State Standards and available to all preK-16 classrooms, PBS LearningMedia empowers educators to create media-rich curriculum lessons that meet the needs of 21st century learners.

netTrekker, a leader in delivering digital K-12 educational content in context to individualize curriculum, has partnered with Learnetic, an internationally renowned software and e-learning provider, to offer interactive middle school math and science lesson content to U.S. schools and educators. When the integration is completed later this year, schools and districts will be able to add Learnetic’s digital math and science collection to their netTrekker subscription for single sign-on access to a robust library of engaging curriculum content and support tools for personalized learning. With this integration, educators will have access to a comprehensive set of science or math activities that can be used for a variety of instructional needs, including pre-assessing student readiness, reinforcing concepts taught, re-teaching concepts students are struggling with, catch up assignments for absent students, or review and extension work. Learnetic Math and Science is a full collection of over 200 digital math and science lessons covering all the key national standards for middle school.

The Education Division of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) announces the members of its 2011 Postsecondary Sector Board of Directors. Focusing on issues unique to the postsecondary sector, appointed executives from 16 SIIA member companies will provide leadership and market expertise in developing and prioritizing SIIA's higher education initiatives. Six new executives were appointed this year, while 10 representatives will continue to serve on the 2011 board. A complete list of board members can be viewed at: http://siia.net/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=641.

Building on their shared mission to bring students high-quality educational content, Discovery Education and Cerebellum Corporation announce a partnership for exclusive streaming rights to a broad array of Cerebellum’s top programs. As part of the agreement, Discovery Education streaming subscribers will have sole access to nearly 300 educational programs produced by Cerebellum, including Standard Deviants and Just the Facts. The expanded partnership also allows for new projects in broadcast VOD, home video access and educational programs around the world.

John Harrington, CEO of Funds For Learning, will be presenting at the 2011 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference on Tuesday, June 28 in Philadelphia. Harrington’s presentation, Historical Day for E-rate: The National Broadband Plan, will feature an overview of recent revisions, in addition to best practices for E-rate stakeholders during this time of regulatory change.

igotta by netTrekker has been honored with a 2011 Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP), which has recognized the top educational resources for use in and out of the classroom since 1967. The latest product from netTrekker, igotta provides a virtual workspace, unlike any other on the market, for students to find, analyze, organize, and use information to complete a wide-range of school assignments, while developing the skills they need to be college and career ready. This is the fifth AEP award for netTrekker, a leader in the delivery of digital K-12 educational content.

Time To Know founder Shmuel Meitar was one of three leaders to receive awards from the “I Have A Dream” Foundation at its spring gala Tuesday evening in New York. Meitar, a successful businessman in several ventures, has been involved in numerous educational initiatives for more than a decade. He founded Time To Know in 2004 in Israel as a philanthropic endeavor and expanded the company’s comprehensive digital teaching platform into an international business to help transform K-12 education.

Edmodo, a free and secure social learning network for schools, took home the Distinguished Achievement Award (DAA) for K-12 Social Media at the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) 2011 AEP Awards. The awards recognize the year's best products according to subject area and grade level, and highlight the standard of excellence other developers can use to measure their products. Edmodo was honored in the technology category, which focuses on technology tools and applications intended to help in instruction, management, assessment and professional development. For more information on Edmodo, visit www.edmodo.com/about.

PCI Reading Program Software Levels One and Two received a Distinguished Achievement Award in the Special Education and Intervention, Intellectual Disabilities, Elementary category in the 2011 Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) awards program. The interactive lessons in PCI Reading Program Software Levels One and Two teach students to recognize high frequency words within a comprehensive program of instruction, practice, and assessment. One of the largest and longest-running programs of its kind, the AEP Awards and its seal of excellence are widely recognized by educators, administrators and parents as a mark of outstanding educational value.

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) Education and Research Foundation and Discovery Education today announced Ms. Deborah Icard’s fourth grade class at Cloverleaf Elementary School in Statesville, N.C. as the grand prize winner in the TurfMutt “Landscapes Across America” contest. Ms. Icard’s class was chosen based on their presentation of how they would solve erosion and topsoil issues, attract wildlife, lower air pollution, and make their school grounds more sustainable. The national contest challenged third through fifth grade classrooms to showcase their school’s unique local landscape and the environmental aspects of their region that need to be protected.

Discovery Education streaming Plus received a Golden Lamp Award in the Technology Innovations category from the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) during the 2011 AEP Awards program. Discovery Education streaming Plus features a collection of more than 150,000 digital learning objects, including videos, interactives, images, and articles, which integrate seamlessly into any curriculum. One of the industry’s top honors, the Golden Lamp Award recognizes the best overall tools for teaching and learning.

Building on the success of its popular Experts’ Guide to the K-12 School Market, the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) has published the Experts’ Guide to the Postsecondary Market, a helpful reference for members of higher education publishing and technology industries who are familiar with the field, and a professional development tool for those new to this market. Many of the education publishing and technology industries’ brightest thinkers share insights in this first-ever resource for those in higher education. Topics include learning on mobile devices, global marketing, cloud computing and other technology trends in higher education.

Discovery Education announces the 2011 Discovery Educator Network (DEN) Gurus, recognizing distinguished educators who are thought leaders in the education community. After a competitive application process, five educators were selected as this year’s DEN Gurus for their commitment, leadership and participation in one of the nation’s largest professional learning communities. The DEN Guru program, now in its second year, honors educators who go above and beyond to share their passion for education with others and demonstrate an expertise in one or more academic topic areas.

According to a survey issued by the Education Division of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), edWeb.net and MCH Strategic Data, nearly half of education industry executives surveyed agree that social media helps their company or organization build brand awareness. The new survey and white paper, Social Media Marketing in Education, offers insight into the social media tactics valued most by education executives. A free copy of the report can be downloaded at www.siia.net/estore/10browse.asp, or www.edweb.net.

PBS and its member stations today announced the winners of the PBS Teachers Innovation Awards in recognition of the educators’ creative and inventive use of public media to engage students and improve learning. Sponsored by The Henry Ford and SMART Technologies, the second annual PBS Teachers Innovation Awards honors teachers who continuously strive to inspire young minds and cultivate the nation’s next generation of innovators and leaders. First place was awarded to the top 12 educators, one from each of the subject and grade-level groupings. They receive a unique weeklong “Innovation Immersion Experience” at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Mich., from July 31 to Aug. 5, 2011, a SMART Slate wireless slate, free enrollment in a PBS TeacherLine online professional development course, and a tote bag of PBS educational resources. The top 12 award recipients are: Theresa McGee, Monroe Elementary, Hinsdale, Ill.; Keith Rosko, Chenago Forks High School, Binghamton, N.Y.; Barry Richard Barber, South Asheboro Middle School, Asheboro, N.C.; Ann King, Westchester Academy for International Studies, Houston, Texas; Susan Carter, Glenridge Elementary, Clayton, Mo.; David Massey, Chatsworth High School, Chatsworth, Calif.; Liza Mathews, Neil Cummins Elementary, Corte Madera, Calif.; Elizabeth Jorgensen, Arrowhead Union High School, Hartland, Wis.; Jennifer Williams, Isidore Newman School, New Orleans, La.; Brendan Noon, Williamson High School, Williamson, N.Y.; Jo-Ann Goldenberg, Melinda Heights Elementary, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.; Mark Rabalais, Pineville High School, Pineville, La. Twenty-eight educators were selected as second place winners, and receive an exclusive educator’s kit filled with tools and instructional technology resources for the classroom from PBS.

The top five winners across three categories include Leaders to Watch in the education business community; the Shining Stars products and services that are potential game changers in education technology; and the Teachers Select picks for the most useful, free online resources. The inaugural 2011 EdNET’s Best peer recognition program recognizes leaders and innovations in the education marketplace as selected by the EdNET community at large, the EdNET’s Best panelists, and the WeAreTeachers online community. http://www.ednetsbest.com

The Geometer’s Sketchpad® has been voted one of the top five “Shining Stars” in EdNET’s Best for 2011. “Shining Stars” is one of three categories that recognize products and services in the education marketplace that are potential “game changers,” as selected by the EdNET community at large, and the EdNET’s Best panelists. EdNET’s Best was developed by MDR, with the support of Educational Systemics, to recognize leaders and innovators in the education marketplace. Winners will be honored at the 2011 EdNET Conference, Sept. 25-27, in Denver.

Discovery Education Science Techbook has been voted one of the top five “Shining Stars” in EdNET’s Best for 2011. “Shining Stars” is one of three categories that recognize products and services considered to be potential “game changers” in the education marketplace, as selected by the EdNET community at large and the EdNET’s Best panelists. MDR, with support from Educational Systemics, created the EdNET’s Best program to recognize leaders and innovations in today’s education marketplace. Winners will be officially honored at a recognition ceremony to be held at the 2011 EdNET Conference, Sept. 25-27, in Denver.

Discovery Education has named Chuck Amos as the vice president of digital Techbook strategy & business development. Amos has nearly 20 years of experience in the education market and is a strong advocate for the effective application of educational technologies and digital content in schools. In his new position, Amos will oversee the expansion of Discovery Education’s digital textbook line of business.

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) announced that myON™ reader from Capstone Digital earned two recognitions in the 2011 Innovation Incubator Program. myON reader was voted by more than 380 ed tech industry executives as “Most Likely to Succeed in the Education Market” and runner-up for the “Most Innovative Education Product or Service” award. The Innovation Incubator program connects the developers of promising, new technologies with industry leaders, potential investors and established organizations seeking partnerships or prospects for acquisition.

During this year's Ed Tech Industry Summit, hosted by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), more than 380 ed tech industry executives voted to select three companies from 11 participating finalists as The Most Innovative and The Most Likely to Succeed in the Ed Tech Market in the association's Innovation Incubator Program. This cycle of the Innovation Incubator Program focused on developers of education technologies that customize learning to meet individual student needs. For more information, visit http://siia.net/etis/2011/incubator.asp.

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), the principal trade association for the software and digital content industries, announced the winners of the 2011 CODiE™ Awards in the education technology industry yesterday, in conjunction with the association's eighth annual Ed Tech Industry Summit. The 425 nominated products and services were first reviewed by third-party judges, whose evaluations determined the 113 finalists. Members of SIIA's Education Division then reviewed these finalists and voted to select winners in all education technology categories, including six supercategories. A complete list of the winners can be found at www.siia.net/codies.

Capstone Digital announces the myON Publisher Program, which provides an opportunity for children’s publishers to include their content in myON reader. To accommodate the growing community of educators and students, Capstone Digital will package publishers’ content to create the largest and most extensive personalized digital library with reading supports available today. The addition of new publishers to the myON platform will allow educators to expand their selection of titles for their students. Currently, myON reader features more than 1,200 books exclusively from Capstone’s award-winning imprints.

The Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education, the National Science Teachers Association, and the College Board today announced the grand prize winners of the third annual Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge. Students from Iowa, Hawaii, Maryland, and North Carolina took top honors this year. Nearly 18,000 elementary, middle school and high school students competed in this year’s Challenge, which aims to empower young people to create solutions to today’s environmental problems. This year’s projects addressed a multitude of topics including recycling old trophies, stopping radon gas from entering homes, and harvesting usable energy with a microturbine.

PBS - America's largest classroom - joins with WGBH and other PBS member stations today to announce the upcoming launch of PBS LearningMedia, a new public media education platform that will be available to every teacher and student across the country by the 2011-2012 school year. Bringing together the best available high-quality media from 1,500 public media producers and more than 350 local PBS stations, PBS LearningMedia is a next-generation digital media platform for PreK-16 classrooms to help re-imagine classroom learning, transform teaching, and more creatively engage students. Distributed by PBS member stations in every school district, PBS LearningMedia will be available in two tiers: a free version available to every teacher and a premium service developed and distributed in partnership with state education departments or local school districts.

igotta by netTrekker has been named a finalist in the 2011 Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) Distinguished Achievement Awards for Excellence in Educational Technology. igotta provides a virtual workspace for students to find, analyze, organize, and use information to complete a wide range of school assignments, while developing the skills they need to be college and career ready. The annual AEP Awards have recognized the top educational resources for use in and out of the classroom since 1967. Winners will be announced at the AEP Awards Banquet & Gala on June 8 at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, D.C.

MiCTA, a national non-profit cooperative purchasing organization, has selected Funds For Learning to provide E-rate compliance services. The partnership will allow eligible MiCTA members to contract with Funds For Learning for complete E-rate compliance services at a discounted rate. MiCTA negotiates discounted purchase contracts for telecommunications and technology services, and serves thousands of members nationwide.

Shmoop has launched an Online Test Prep Course for the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) to help struggling learners prepare for the test. The course comes complete with hundreds of examples, explanations and exercises, two full-length interactive CAHSEE practice tests, 600 practice problems, and practice essays. All California public school students are required to pass the CAHSEE to earn a high school diploma.

Daisy invites you to lei down your troubles and check out the new edition of Dairy Dispatch, the online newsletter from C. Blohm & Associates. We spotlight some festive Hawaiian traditions, and serve up stories such as:

• Discovery Education supports Obama, Biden initiative
• Key Curriculum Press launches Key Math Strategists
• PCI Education provides LIFT for struggling students
• Edmodo adds Khan Academy Community to its learning network

Click the festooned cow to read more...

The Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) has named four Discovery Education services and initiatives as finalists in the 2011 AEP Awards program. Discovery Education streaming Plus has been named a finalist for a Golden Lamp Award. Both Discovery Education Science Techbook and Explore the Blue, which encourages youth participation in on-the-water activities and aquatic conservation efforts, earned finalist honors for the Distinguished Achievement Awards. Finally, Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, a national K-12 sustainability education initiative, is a finalist for a Beacon Award. Winners will be announced at the AEP Awards Banquet & Gala on June 8 in Washington, D.C.

PCI Education has earned four finalist honors in the Association of Educational Publishers’ (AEP) annual awards program. PCI Reading Program has been named a finalist for the Golden Lamp Awards, the industry’s top honor recognizing the best overall tools for teaching and learning. In addition, PCI Reading Program and Real-World Vocabulary earned three finalist honors for the Distinguished Achievement Awards, which honor the year’s best educational products. Winners will be announced at the AEP Awards Banquet & Gala on June 8 in Washington, D.C.

The Geometer’s Sketchpad^® Sketch Exchange™ from Key Curriculum Press has been named finalist in the Association of Educational Publishers’ (AEP) Distinguished Achievement Awards for Technology and Social Media. The free, online community encourages educators using The Geometer’s Sketchpad to share their activities, tips and questions. Effective for students in elementary school through college, The Geometer’s Sketchpad offers students a tangible, visual way to learn mathematics. Winners will be announced at the AEP Awards Banquet & Gala on June 8 in Washington, D.C.

At the International Reading Association Annual Convention, Capstone Digital announced CARE (Capstone Assisting Remarkable Educators), a $2 million grant program focused on improving literacy in schools. Due to massive cuts in federal funding, including the Improving Literacy through School Libraries Program, schools across the country can apply for $2 million in matching CARE grants toward the purchase of myON reader, a personalized literacy environment that focuses on increasing student literacy rates. For more information, visit www.TheFutureinReading.com/CARE.

VizZle, a web-based authoring tool produced by Monarch Teaching Technologies, has been selected as a finalist in the 2011 AEP Awards by the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP). AEP’s annual awards program honors the best in educational resources, and its seal of excellence is widely recognized by educators, administrators and parents as a mark of outstanding educational value. VizZle is a finalist in the Distinguished Achievement Awards (DAAs) for Special Education and Intervention (Intellectual Disabilities) – Elementary levels. For a complete list of finalists, visit www.AEPweb.org/awards/finalists.htm.

Califone International, Inc., announces the extension of its popular Deluxe Stereo line of headsets and Multimedia Stereo lines of headphones and headsets. Ideal for use in today’s classrooms, computer labs and libraries, these product lines are now available in either 10- or 12-pack bundles, making it easier to provide every student with a safe, productive listening experience needed to optimize learning. For more information, visit www.califone.com.

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) has named myON reader™ from Capstone Digital one of 10 finalists for the 2011 Innovation Incubator Program, which connects developers with industry leaders, potential investors and established organizations seeking partnerships or prospects for acquisition. Capstone Digital will be highlighted at the 2011 Ed Tech Industry Summit, sponsored by SIIA, where the company will vie for recognition as “The Most Innovative” and “The Most Likely to Succeed” in the ed tech market.

The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) has recognized e2020, Inc., with a Bronze 2011 International Distance Learning Award for Best Practices for Distance Learning Programming. The USDLA Awards acknowledge major accomplishments in distance learning, highlighting those distance learning instructors, programs and professionals who have achieved and demonstrated extraordinary results through the use of online, videoconferencing, satellite and blended learning delivery technologies. e2020, Inc., (education2020) is a leading provider of core and elective instruction in a virtual school setting for students in grades 6-12, creating innovative, rigorous, standards-aligned courseware and online virtual instruction programs to help students recover and accrue credits for graduation and prepare for state, end-of-course, and standardized exams. For more information, visit www.education2020.com.

Making it easier for schools and districts to offer engaging opportunities for online learning and global collaboration in the classroom, Califone International, Inc., announces the launch of its USB webcam. Windows and Mac compatible, the webcam features a built-in microphone and adjustable stand for desktop or computer mounting to provide a quality audio-visual experience for both teachers and students. For more information on the USB webcam, visit http://www.califone.com/products/cw1.php.

Key Curriculum Press announces the publication of Precalculus with Trigonometry, Third Edition, designed to engage high school students of all abilities and modalities to prepare them for success in calculus and beyond. Each chapter begins with a Mathematical Overview, which presents concepts graphically, algebraically, geometrically, and verbally, to optimize the learning experience for all students. A new wrap-around Teacher’s Edition also helps educators plan their year, support all students and integrate technology into their teaching.

The Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education, the National Science Teachers Association, and the College Board today named the 24 middle school and 24 high school state finalists in the third annual Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge. The national Challenge aims to educate, empower and engage students and teachers to become “Agents of Change” in improving their communities and world. On May 18, two national winning teams and one grand-prize team will be chosen in both the middle school and high school categories. For more information, visit www.wecanchange.com.

The E-rate program received $4.3 billion in requests for Funding Year 2011, which represents a 10 percent increase from 2010 and the highest amount requested since 2002. The increase stems from a number of substantial changes to the E-rate program, including new applicant forms, changes in eligibility and indexing the funding cap to inflation. Despite the increase to the funding cap, the boost in requests has many applicants concerned about the likelihood of receiving funding for Priority Two requests.

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) announces 10 finalists for its Innovation Incubator Program. Participating organizations will be highlighted at the 2011 Ed Tech Industry Summit, May 22-24, in San Francisco. Thirty-five applicants were assessed on a broad range of criteria, including the degree to which their innovation offers flexible anytime/everywhere learning, project-based/authentic learning, adaptive mastery/competency-based progression or pace, and other characteristics of a student-driven, personalized learning solution. To view the complete list of finalists, visit www.siia.net/etis/2011/incubator.asp.

The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) today launched the Graduation Tracking System to support its ”Every Child a Graduate” Dropout Prevention Awareness Campaign. Tracking key dropout indicators enables school leaders to identify and monitor students at-risk of school failure and apply intervention strategies to get students back on track to graduate. The system is available to all schools, districts and local education agencies in the state at no additional cost through InformationNOW, the comprehensive web-based student information system from STI that is implemented statewide.

PBS is bringing together key leaders in the arts, education, media production and technology for a one-day Idea Lab to ensure that these subjects remain vital in America’s classrooms. The event will be conducted on April 28 and will focus on new models for using digital media arts in schools, while exploring ways public broadcasting can contribute to the advancement of arts education. Colleen Macklin, director of PETLab at Parsons the New School for Design in New York, will be the keynote speaker for the event.

Discovery Education and Toyota announce the 10 winners of the 2011 Toyota Teen Driver Sweepstakes, who will each receive a $5,000 cash prize to be used at an accredited college or university. High school students across the country participated after playing an interactive road challenge game, Heads Up!, designed to promote safe driving habits. The Toyota Teen Driver Sweepstakes is part of a joint program called Toyota Teen Driver, which aims to provide free online resources to educators, parents and students to help keep teens safe behind the wheel.

Hung Vu has joined eChalk as its chief technology officer (CTO). Vu will provide the vision and technical expertise to deliver eChalk’s next generation of social learning management systems. He will play a vital role in the continued expansion of eChalk services into more schools and districts. Vu has 25 years of experience that includes founding and running his own software firm for six years and being named one of Washington D.C.’s top 10 Technology Executives by the Washington Post and Washington Techway. Vu’s extensive knowledge of Microsoft technology and experience in developing best-in-class enterprise software will help eChalk leverage its resources and partnerships to create applications that enable all school stakeholders to connect, communicate and collaborate anytime, anywhere, to provide effective, personalized learning for students.

TinkerPlots Version 2, from Key Curriculum Press, enables teachers and students to analyze data by creating colorful, visual representations that help them make sense of data and recognize patterns as they unfold. Designed for students in grades 4-8, TinkerPlots builds a solid foundation for high school mathematics by helping students master probability and statistics concepts while achieving the objectives of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. The new version of TinkerPlots features updated activities, tutorials, sample data sets, and help movies.

e2020, Inc., a leading provider of core and elective instruction in a virtual setting for students in grades 6-12, announces a restructuring of its executive team to offer the highest level of innovation, service and results as it expands the business into other strategic arenas, including virtual schools and mobile platforms. Co-Founder Gene Storz, new Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for the company’s overall strategic direction and vision, and will oversee the launch of the virtual school business unit. Management expert Nigel A. L. Brooks is joining the organization as Chief Learning Officer to drive the development of entrepreneurial, leadership and managerial skills, and oversee all support functions, including development and enrichment of all technology components to e2020, Inc.’s programs. For more information, visit www.education2020.com.

PCI Education introduces a new line of intensive intervention programs, LIFT, at the CEC 2011 Convention and Expo. The series is targeted toward middle and high school students and provides critical academic support in reading, writing and mathematics. LIFT is designed to help struggling students who are performing two or more years below grade level, including students with learning differences and English language learners.

VizZle, produced by Monarch Teaching Technologies, is now approved in the Iowa state software sales contract by the Iowa Educators Consortium (IEC). This joint venture will especially benefit students with autism needing access to effective visual education software. IEC offers reduced pricing for VizZle and other educational software from companies, including Crick Software, Kurzweil, Texthelp, and other educational resources. For more information on the VizZle-IEC Statewide Contract, visit http://www.iec-ia.org/vnews/display.v/ART/4d9bc848bfaf9.

netTrekker CEO Randy Wilhelm has been selected to the Board of Directors of the Consortium of School Networking’s (CoSN) for a second consecutive term to help the organization in its mission to re-imagine learning through strategic technology integration. CoSN is the premier professional association for school, district and educational service agency technology leaders.

netTrekker has been selected as a finalist in the Best K-12 Instructional Solution category for the annual CODiE Awards for the second year in a row. The category recognizes the best broad-based, multi-disciplinary teaching application or solution for curricula and content that is specifically targeted toward students in K-12 learning environments. The awards are sponsored by the Software & Information Industry Association.

STI, based in Mobile, Ala., has relocated its headquarters to a new facility in the Technology and Research Park on the University of South Alabama campus. The company required a larger, more modern office complex to accommodate its continued expansion. The move will allow for greater access to world-class university resources and talent, and help spur innovation. As a tenant-partner of the University, STI can offer its more than 150 employees with wide-ranging professional development opportunities and benefits while supporting local academic and economic growth.

To provide educators with more online learning opportunities throughout the year, PBS TeacherLine, the premier provider of online professional development for preK-12 educators, has expanded its course schedule to six terms. PBS TeacherLine now offers additional spring and summer terms that feature some of the latest and most popular courses from its catalog of more than 80 online facilitated courses that span the preK-12 curriculum. Independent research studies show that PBS TeacherLine courses help educators boost their confidence and competence in instructional technology integration, improve their knowledge of content and instructional strategies, and increase student achievement. Enrollment is now open for the new course terms. The first session begins May 11.

Discovery Education streaming Plus and Discovery Education Science Techbook are winners of 2011 Best Educational Software (BESSIE) Awards, presented by ComputED Learning Center. Discovery Education streaming Plus, which features more than 150,000 digital learning objects, was named Best Digital Library Website for the second consecutive year. Discovery Education Science Techbook, a digital science service that covers physical, earth and space, and life sciences, won a BESSIE for Best Science Website.

Key Curriculum Press announces the release of Interactive Mathematics Program® (IMP) Year 4, Second Edition, which completes the four-year IMP curriculum. Correlated to the Common Core State Standards, IMP increases students’ comprehension of math through integrated, problem-based learning. IMP integrates traditional material, including algebra, geometry and trigonometry, with important topics such as statistics and probability. In addition to preparing students for standardized tests, IMP teaches problem-solving skills students need in higher education and professional careers.

On April 9, eight-year-old Casey Rohrer from Hermosa Beach, Calif., traveled with his family to Morgan’s Wonderland, the world’s first ultra-accessible family fun park designed for children and adults with special needs. After being nominated by his teacher, Casey was selected as second runner-up in a nationwide contest sponsored by PCI Education. Casey, who is unable to walk or speak on his own due to Cerebral Palsy, was the guest of honor to help Morgan’s Wonderland kick of its first birthday celebration.

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) has selected e2020, Inc., a leading provider of core and elective eLearning instruction solutions for students, as a finalist for the 2011 CODiE Award for “Best Virtual School Solution for Students.” The category recognizes educational solutions that deliver courses or degree programs online for tutoring, home-schooling, advance placement course work, credit recovery, additional instructional support, personalized learning environments, or college credit. For more information on the CODiE Awards, visit www.siia.net/CODiEs.

VizZle, produced by Monarch Teaching Technologies, announces the launch of the VizZle Classroom Edition, which includes three additional student player licenses per teacher license. With its new mobile tablet compatibility, educators can better meet the needs of students with special needs using technology best suited to their individual learning styles. Teachers interested in trying the VizZle Classroom Edition can sign up for a free trial at http://www.monarchtt.com.

igotta provides a virtual workspace, unlike any on the market, for students to find, analyze, organize, and use information to complete a wide range of school assignments, while developing the necessary skills for college and career-readiness. Students learn how to take notes, cite sources properly, conduct research, organize their thoughts, paraphrase information in their own words, incorporate multimedia, and more. When combined with the company’s complementary product, netTrekker, igotta enables students to find the information they need from more than 300,000 safe, educator-reviewed, standards-aligned digital resources from around the Web and from partner offerings, then complete their school assignments and projects through one integrated solution. The growing netTrekker portfolio of integrated products and services brings digital resources and student productivity tools into the classroom in a safe, relevant and engaging way, which makes it easier and faster for schools to offer personalized learning experiences for students.

Key Curriculum Press announces the launch of The Geometer’s Sketchpad Version 5 Curriculum Modules at NCTM today. The activities are optimized for Sketchpad 5 and allow elementary, middle school and high school students to explore mathematical concepts related to the Common Core State Standards using a dynamic, hands-on learning tool. Each module features a collection of Sketchpad sketches, activity notes that introduce the sketch, presenter notes to facilitate classroom discussion, as well as student worksheets.

PCI Education announces the launch of a new math intervention solution, Momentum Math Grade Level Editions, to rebuild key concepts and skills for struggling students who are two years or more below grade level in math. Momentum Math is designed to engage all learners, including students with special needs and English language learners, who have given up on math because they have fallen behind. Students will master the concepts, procedures and language that are the foundation for higher mathematics, including algebra.

VizZle, the web-based visual learning software for autism and special needs produced by Monarch Teaching Technologies, was selected as a finalist in the 2011 CODiE Awards in two categories: Best Instructional Solution for Special Needs Students and Best Educational Use of a Device-Specific Application. The categories recognize the best teaching applications specifically designed to benefit students with unique educational needs, including those with physical or learning disabilities, and the best educational software solution, either curriculum or administrative, designed for integration and use with unique devices.

Discovery Education is heeding the challenge of a new national initiative set forth by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to support and honor America’s service members and families. Discovery Education will provide high-quality digital content to DoDEA schools, professional development through the Discovery Educator Network, Help on the Homefront classroom challenge, and military children representation on Discovery Education’s Student Advisory Board. As part of the launch, Jamie Hyneman and Grant Imahara from Discovery Channel’s hit series MythBusters will join Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden for an event at Fountain-Fort Carson High School in Colorado Springs, where military children compose nearly half of the student body.

e2020, Inc., earned four 2011 BESSIE Awards for its online English Language Arts 9, Algebra I, Environmental Science, and MS Civics, Government and Economics course offerings. According to the judges, the strength of each course was its delivery – in a Virtual Classroom Suite, a virtual teacher gives video presentations, and the learning environment uses high-quality animations and simulations. To review the full Awards Showcase profile on e2020, visit http://computedgazette.com/page2.html.

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) announces finalists in education technology categories for the 2011 CODiE™ Awards. Of 425 total nominations, 113 products from 80 companies were selected as finalists. SIIA members will review the remaining products and select winners for all 24 categories, which will be announced May 23 at the CODiE Awards Reception and Gala at the annual Ed Tech Industry Summit. A complete list of finalists can be viewed at http://www.siia.net/codies/2011/finalists.asp.

Key Math Strategists, a new professional development organization from Key Curriculum Press, is designed to help schools make sense of, and gain maximum benefit from, the integration of the Common Core State Standards. Professional development programs by Key Math Strategists are data-driven, and include a thorough assessment of a district’s math program. Once completed, Key Math Strategists partners with the district to develop a comprehensive, integrated and strategic professional development program designed to deliver results and provide valuable resources for teachers and administrators.

The EdNET’s Best peer recognition program recognizes leaders and innovations in today’s education marketplace. Finalists selected in the “Leaders to Watch” category represent the top business professionals seen as making a significant impact in the education industry. Nominees were selected by the EdNET community at large and narrowed down by the EdNET’s Best panelists. Voting closes on April 22 at 5 PM PDT; the top five EdNET’s Best will be announced on May 25 in a special edition of EdNET News Alert and via social media, including EdNETBiz on Twitter and EdNET Community on Facebook and LinkedIn. Vote at http://www.ednetsbest.com

In honor of Financial Literacy Week, NYSE Euronext and Discovery Education are taking students in grades 5-12 on an exclusive virtual field trip to the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Students will learn about the fundamental principles of finance and stock ownership from real-world experts. The free webinar will take place on Thursday, April 14 from 12-1 PM ET.

Together with the Autism Society Philippines (ASP) and Globe Telecom, VizZle has partnered with the Department of Education of the Philippines (DepEd) to meet the needs of children with autism in metro Manila schools. During the 2011-12 school year, the company’s flagship product will be piloted in two schools – P. Gomez Elementary School in Sta. Cruz, Manila, and P. Villanueva Elementary School in Pasay City – to gauge the effectiveness of technology in supporting specific learning styles of students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). To learn more, visit www.monarchtt.com.

Califone, a subsidiary of School Specialty^® (NASDAQ: SCHS), announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire the Discovery™, Odyssey™, Explorer™, 610™ brand names of headphones, headsets and matching replaceable cords from Telex. The purchase, effective immediately, transitions the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of the product lines to Califone ownership and management. To learn more, visit califone.com.

The University of California (UC) has awarded e2020, Inc., with program status as an official online course provider. As a preferred provider of online learning, e2020, Inc., can submit online courses or curricula to UC for a-g approval. As e2020, Inc.’s courses are approved, students will be able to take these courses to meet UC’s eligibility requirements. For more information, please visit education2020.com.

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s Take Me Fishing campaign, and Discovery Education, announced James Cole as the grand prize winner of the Explore the Blue essay contest. Students were asked to compose a short essay describing an outdoor fishing or boating experience and reflect on the importance of conserving and protecting the nation’s waterways. The fifth grader and his family won a trip to Yellowstone National Park, which includes airfare, lodging, spending money, and a $250 Sports Authority gift card. Five first prize winners also received $100 Sports Authority gift cards.

To assist high school students preparing for the AP exams in May, Shmoop has added Online Test Prep Courses for AP Psychology and AP Macroeconomics. To make learning more enjoyable for students, Shmoop Test Prep Courses offer lessons based on topics students can relate to, such as popular music and superheroes. Each course is available for individual purchase, and includes four full-length practice exams and more than 400 practice problems. Shmoop now offers Online Test Prep Courses for nine of the most popular AP Exams, as well as the SAT, ACT and PSAT.

A national survey sponsored by Atomic Learning, Lightspeed Systems and netTrekker indicates a growing acceptance of Web 2.0 and collaborative technologies among school leaders and educators. Usage levels have been increasing since 2009, particularly in areas such as online social/collaborative networking. Student safety and lack of teacher knowledge about effective use of Web 2.0 tools remain barriers to implementation. More than 380 district technology directors participated in the survey conducted by Interactive Educational Systems Design on behalf of the sponsors. To download the full report, visit http://www.digitaldistrictsurvey.com.

PBS TeacherLine is offering on-demand, video-based lessons to help teachers integrate global climate change topics into their math and science classes. Four modules are available right now in the PBS STEM Resource Center with six more to be introduced by June 2011. The standards-based modules come with the necessary resources to introduce global climate change topics to middle and high school students. PBS TeacherLine received funding for the development of the modules, along with a graduate-level online professional development course, from the NASA Global Climate Change Education grant.

Building on the successful implementation of digital resources and assessment services, Florida’s Santa Rosa County School District is expanding its partnership with Discovery Education to further integrate digital content into the curriculum. To achieve this goal, the district and Discovery Education are working together to implement customized professional development and curriculum alignment services. For the past five years, Santa Rosa County School District and Discovery Education have partnered to provide educators with the digital resources and assessment services they need to engage students and drive academic achievement.

To help teachers individualize learning for students with special needs, VizZle is seeking applications from qualified learning institutions in California and Arizona for its Visual Learning TechGrants. Each TechGrant provides access to VizZle software for up to five or 10 teachers, as well as professional development and ongoing support, depending on the organization's size and needs. Deadline for applications is April 22.

Educators and students nationwide are invited to join world-famous conservationist and television personality Jeff Corwin on April 19 at 1 PM EST for a free webinar examining last year’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Presented by The Siemens STEM Academy, in partnership with Discovery Education, the College Board and Oak Ridge Associated Universities, the webinar will examine the effects the spill had on the ecosystem. Educators who register for the event will receive a lesson plan aligned to national standards to prepare for student participation. Click here for more information or to register for this webinar.

Designed specifically with educators in mind, Califone International, Inc., announces the launch of its Wireless Tablet Interface. The lightweight tablet enables users to control computer desktop and presentation functions remotely, up to 50 feet from the computer when connected to a USB receiver. While it can be enabled as a PC mouse, additional software functions allow the user to draw within a presentation using red, blue and multi-colored pens, erase sketches, magnify images and details, or capture snapshots of the on-screen display. It also can be used among multiple student groups for shared discussion and learning.

After receiving 30 submissions in early 2011, VizZle has awarded more than $100,000 in microgrants to six Texas schools/districts and eight schools in New York City. Combined, the Visual Learning TechGrants provide access to VizZle software for nearly 110 teachers, as well as professional development and ongoing support. The 14 schools and districts began implementation of VizZle on March 1. For more information, visit http://www.monarchteachtech.com.

According to research done by Funds For Learning, the final 15 days for the Funding Year 2011 E-rate filing window are expected to be the busiest. An estimated 19.5 percent of applicants file the Form 471 within 20 days of the close of the filing window. But Funding Year 2011 is off to a slow start, with only $581 million being requested thus far, 43 percent lower when the same formula is applied to the same time frame in Funding Year 2010.

Discovery Education invites teachers and administrators worldwide to join, online or in-person, the Discovery Educator Network Virtual Conference on April 30. The free professional development seminars will provide attendees with the skills and techniques necessary to combine digital content and educational technology to maximize available resources and improve student engagement. The conference will feature keynote speaker Rushton Hurley, director of educational nonprofit, Next Vista for Learning. The Discovery Educator Network, a global community of educators supported by Discovery Education, is presenting the conference.

The Education Division of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is now seeking applications for its Innovation Incubator Program. Developers of innovative K-12 and postsecondary educational products or services that support personalized learning will be reviewed, and a select group will be invited to participate in the annual Ed Tech Industry Summit this spring. Deadline for applications is March 29. For more information, visit siia.net/etis/2011/incubator.asp.

In response to President Obama's appearance at TechBoston Academy, the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) commends the President's call for education innovation through learning technologies, and for his recognition of the important role played by technology and content companies in meeting these educational needs. SIIA also calls on Congress to support related investments, including the Obama Administration’s ARPA-ED research proposal, as well as funding for the Enhancing Education through Technology (EETT) program needed to bring learning technologies to teachers and students.

With AP Exams quickly approaching in May, Shmoop announces the launch of Online Test Prep Courses for AP Calculus AB & BC and AP Microeconomics. Shmoop now offers seven online courses for AP Exams, including AP English Language, AP English Literature, AP US History, and AP US Government. The online courses include hundreds of practice problems, explanations and examples, as well as full-length practice exams.

Exploring the theme of Growing Business in a Changing Market, the Software & Information Industry Association's (SIIA) eighth annual Ed Tech Industry Summit, to be held May 22-24 in San Francisco, will explore the postsecondary market, personalized learning and other hot topics. The conference will connect industry executives, highlight trends within a changing business market, and recognize companies selected as having the year’s most promising innovations and the best established products or services. For more information, visit edtechindustrysummit.net.

Georgia’s DeKalb County School System (DCSS) has partnered with Discovery Education to improve academic achievement and lead the nationwide transition to digital curriculum. In 2010, DCSS became the first district in Georgia to partner with Discovery Education on cross-curricular alignment, which has led to improved student achievement in science. DCSS and Discovery Education have been working together for six years to improve student achievement, advance professional development, and evolve curriculum to meet the needs of 21st Century learners in a cost-effective way.

Building on the success and legacy of the EdNET Industry Awards, MDR, with support from Educational Systemics, announces the creation of EdNET’s Best, a professional peer recommendation program, that will recognize leaders and innovations in today’s education marketplace. Shaped by input from a panel of education market veterans, the EdNET community at large, and the online teacher community WeAreTeachers, EdNET’s Best list will recognize leaders in three categories: Leaders to Watch, recognizing leading business professionals in the education market; Shining Stars, recognizing products and services that have the potential to be “game changers” in education; and Teachers Select, recognizing teacher-recommended free online classroom resources.

VizZle, produced by Monarch Teaching Technologies, announces the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) will pilot its web-based authoring tool for teachers to help the growing number of children with autism succeed in its schools. Through funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), LAUSD will pilot VizZle in 23 schools across the eight districts within LAUSD. The district selected VizZle for the pilot based on the dramatic results it’s achieving in classrooms across the country as well as for its interactivity, accountability and ease of use. For more information on VizZle visit: www.monarchteachtech.com.

Discovery Education and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI) Education and Research Foundation announce the launch of TurfMutt, an online, science-based program designed to help educators teach an appreciation of green spaces and landscapes. TurfMutt is aimed at elementary school students and led by Lucky the rescue dog, who encourages kids to protect the land around them and foster an appreciation of the natural surroundings in their own community. Classrooms can enter the Landscapes Across America contest for a chance to win a $5,000 grant toward implementing eco-friendly programs at their school.

Districts across the country, including Fairfax County Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools and Orange County Public Schools, are implementing myON reader to improve student literacy skills. Unveiled last week by Capstone Digital, myON reader is a personalized literacy environment that engages students through the largest integrated online library of digital books with multimedia supports, customized to a student’s interests and reading ability. myON reader includes embedded reading scaffolds, including audio, highlighting and dictionary, which support students at every reading level.

VizZle introduces the VizZleGram, a new service that allows teachers, speech therapists, and occupational therapists working with students with autism to share interactive lessons with parents, after school programs and tutors. VizZleGrams make it easy for educators to send a VizZle lesson to anyone with an email address. Upon receipt of the VizZleGram, the recipient can quickly and easily play the shared lesson, extending the learning experience beyond the classroom. For more information, or to register for a free, 14-day trial, visit www.monarchteachtech.com/try-vizzle-free.

PBS’s Need to Know will be airing an education-themed episode on Fri., Feb. 11, to coincide with the current national debate about the direction of education. The program will highlight three dramatic stories of academic transformation focusing on literacy, physical education and science education. Host Alison Stewart will also lead a lively discussion with education reformers about practical solutions that bring about effective results. To continue the conversation, Need to Know is soliciting videos from educators about their best ideas for improving public education.

Discovery Education’s suite of digital curriculum-based services, including Discovery Education streaming Plus, Discovery Education Science and Media Share, are now compatible with Learning.com’s Web-enabled Sky digital learning environment. Among the benefits are that Learning.com users can now access Discovery Education content using one username and password, Discovery Education’s digital content will appear in Learning.com users’ searches, and Learning.com users can include Discovery Education’s digital assets when creating their own curriculum items or customized units within Sky.

The 13th annual Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge is now accepting entries from students in grades 5-8 who are enthusiastic about science. Ten finalists will receive an all-expense paid trip to the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minn., to compete in one final challenge. The winner of that challenge will receive $25,000 and the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”

Released today, the PBS and Grunwald Associates LLC national research report on teacher's media usage, entitled "Deepening Commitment: Teachers Increasingly Rely on Media and Technology," indicates an insufficient capacity of computing devices and technology infrastructure to handle teachers' Internet-dependent instructional activity. The national study also found that more than half of K-12 teachers report continued cuts in their school media budgets, increasing their reliance on free, quality content. Teachers spend 60 percent of their time using educational resources in the classroom that are either free or paid for by teachers themselves. Over half of K-12 teachers (62%) frequently use digital media in classroom instruction.

Originally created in response to teacher demand for safe social networking tools for the classroom, Edmodo has become a powerful communications tool for school districts as teachers and administrators discover new ways to communicate with their school communities through the free online service. Offering a comprehensive communication and content distribution center for school districts, Edmodo provides school administrators with an instant and targeted delivery platform to enable rapid communication and school community engagement among teachers, students, administrators, and parents.

STI developed INFOCUS as a component of its comprehensive Web-based student information system to enable teachers and administrators to create customized reports and cross-examine data from different STI sets, such as attendance and grades, to obtain information that is insightful and relevant to them. INFOCUS, an ad-hoc reporting tool, allows educators to mine real-time data to reveal the information they need to know to make modifications to school operations, programs and instruction to improve student outcomes. INFOCUS is available at no additional cost to current customers and will be included in subsequent InformationNOW subscriptions.

Shmoop launches an Online ACT Prep Course that keeps students tuned-in through its creative use of language, music and images harvested from contemporary youth culture. Shmoop offers wildly affordable Site Licenses to schools, districts and libraries for its growing stable of Online Test Prep Courses for ACT, SAT, PSAT and AP Exams.

StudySync combines classic and modern texts, digital media, mobile technology, and social networking to inspire students to achieve higher levels of critical thinking and academic collaboration. Powered by BookheadEd Learning, LLC, and designed for middle and high school students, StudySync aligns the world of contemporary media and entertainment with the proven pedagogy of traditional teaching.

The Florida State Instructional Materials Committee approved the Discovery Education Science Elementary Techbook for classroom use. Florida joins Indiana, Louisiana and Oregon in adopting Discovery Education’s digital science service as the core instructional resource for elementary science instruction. The announcement comes in the wake of President Obama’s State of the Union address in which he advocated for the inclusion of digital textbooks in classroom instruction. The Discovery Education Science Techbook is a comprehensive learning system that integrates science and inquiry into every phase of learning.

netTrekker, a leader in the delivery of digital K-12 educational resources, is partnering with Defined Learning to integrate premium content from the Defined STEM collection of resources into netTrekker Search. With the Defined STEM upgrade, teachers will have access to the full collection of high-quality, standards-aligned digital content in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) that promotes effective and relevant connections between classroom content and real world applications. Defined STEM's videos, performance tasks, and simulations enhance the classroom experience by creating real world learning opportunities around a central, cross curricular theme. The integration saves teachers time by only requiring them to sign-in once to access Defined STEM resources conveniently within netTrekker Search.

Shmoop announced Ken Li, of Old Tappan High School in Old Tappan, N.J., is the grand prize winner of its high school essay contest in which students were tasked with analyzing two Edgar Allen Poe works. Li won an iPad 3G and a free one-year Shmoop VIP Pass for his school, which includes Shmoop Test Prep (PSAT, SAT and AP Exams) as well as Shmoop Teacher’s Editions. Christine Kim and Han Sol Park, both also of Old Tappan High School, won second and third place respectively.

Capstone Digital will leverage The Lexile Framework for Reading from MetaMetrics in its new literacy program to be unveiled next week at FETC 2011. Through this partnership, Capstone Digital will use the Lexile Framework to level more than 14,000 books from Capstone’s award-winning imprints and divisions. Determining the Lexile measure of each book will allow educators to personalize reading instruction for their students.

The Education Division of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) announces the latest free webcast in its series of webinars for executives in the postsecondary technology industry. The webcast, titled When eLearning Goes Mobile, will take place on Wednesday, January 26th at 2:00 PM EST. Web access and telephone dial-in information will be sent to registered attendees.

The second annual PBS Teachers Innovation Awards showcases the best practices for introducing new teaching methods into the classroom to foster student engagement and improve learning. PBS and its member stations encourage preK-12 teachers to submit examples of innovative practices they have introduced in their classrooms to inspire and engage students. The 12 first prize winners will be invited to The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Mich., for a weeklong "Innovation Immersion Experience," which will include unique professional development sessions. Entries will be accepted from Jan. 11 through March 31.

Funds For Learning announces the education industry’s first E-rate application for iPhone and iPod Touch that provides current E-rate Manager (ERM) users free access to account information from their mobile device. The app allows current ERM users to access their funding requests and commitment amounts, the names of their service providers, and their remaining funding balances. Users can download the app for free by searching for “E-rate” in the iTunes app store.

PBS TeacherLine has partnered with the University of Missouri - Kansas City, Washburn University and the University of Central Missouri to give more teachers across the United States the opportunity to earn graduate credit for online professional development courses. The courses offer teachers convenience, flexibility and support of an online collaborative learning environment with the rigorous, high-quality instruction of a graduate-level coruse. By earning graduate credit, teachers can improve their skills and knowledge while advancing their careers. PBS TeacherLine offers graduate credit for its more than 80 courses in core curriculum areas and instructional technology and strategies through its partnerships with 31 universities and colleges nationwide. Teachers can earn credit through a national or local graduate credit provider.