STT Trainer 6.0: A New Design for Higher eLearning Engagement and Retention
Authoring tool STT Trainer 6.0 from Kaplan Learning Technologies creates software simulations that feature a brand-new lesson player, facilitate easy multi-lingual eLearning, and can be developed for multiple browsers and platforms including the iPad and Android mobile handsets.
STT Trainer is an award-winning authoring tool for creating software simulations and documentation of business software applications to help companies achieve a rapid return on their enterprise application investments. No other eLearning tool can be used to capture as many different applications, or offer as much flexibility and efficiency during IT training and publication.
Kaplan Learning Technologies now offers the capability of playing STT Trainer lessons from a wide variety of browsers and devices, including software simulation lessons built for the iPad and Android mobile handsets. Chrome, Firefox and Safari are also now supported for eLearning playback on Mac, Windows and Linux computers.
New features for multi-lingual eLearning content mean that authoring software simulations now becomes a much quicker and easier process. For instance, authors can now export all custom text messages and voice recordings to have them translated externally in one go.
STT 6.0 also includes screen reader support for software simulations. For learners with special accessibility needs, on-screen eLearning objects can now be identified and narrated by standard accessibility programs such as the Windows Narrator, Jaws Reader and NVDA.
“STT Trainer 6.0 provides organizations with revolutionary authoring features that allow eLearning developers to quickly create and deliver IT training for their employees on many different platforms. STT Trainer 6.0 sports a fresh new look and remodeled navigation behavior giving learners a smart and intuitive learning experience for software simulation training,” said Mike Alcock, Product Manager for Kaplan Learning Technologies.
New iPhone App Aims to Help Children Improve Math Skills
Parents looking to help their children improve their math scores – whether in Kindergarten or high school – need look no further than their Apple iPhone or iPod Touch. A new app by Dr. Judith Bender, who holds a Ph.D. in applied math, a design firm, and a parent with a vision, makes learning math fun!
“The concept behind MathiGo is simple: math doesn’t have to be boring and can actually be addictive” says Dr. Judith Bender. “With so much to do in school today, children don’t have enough time to practice math and they rarely enjoy it. With the MathiGo app, learning math becomes engaging and less like work – more like a challenging video game. And like a video game, it becomes something you enjoy doing.”
For only $1.99, the app challenges players to test their skills at the basic math functions. Depending on the skill level chosen, the questions can be as easy as 2+2 or something that would make even a math teacher pause to think.
“MathiGo offers different game modes and levels to keep the child’s interest level high and frustration level to a minimum,” explains Bruce Popek, of Design Innovation. “The parent or child selects the game mode, level and addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. There are 10 skill levels to allow the child to progress at their own pace.” Read more
New LabQuest software makes handheld device more versatile for science educators
‘Vernier showcases support for video, wireless printing and periodic table graphing’
Vernier Software & Technology showcased at the National Science Teachers Association in Philadelphia new features of the LabQuest 1.4 software update and also gave teachers a sneak peek at technology in development for the upcoming school year.
Available now, LabQuest 1.4 ships with two popular features — wireless printing and periodic table graphing. Using the Vernier Wi-Fi USB adapter, teachers and students can print wirelessly to most Wi-Fi enabled printers, including those that set up their own adhoc network. Secondly, the periodic table application permits students to create periodic table plots, such as atomic weight versus atomic radius, and graph them to view trends. Many chemistry courses introduce periodic trends by having students graph by hand. With LabQuest, chemistry students can now navigate through the periodic table to observe elements with similar properties reoccurring at regular intervals.
Vernier also gave educators a sneak peek at two features in development. In the next school year, LabQuest will be able to play full screen video. This allows educators to download short instructional videos on how to set up experiments or pose questions for student investigation. In addition, science students will be able to wirelessly transfer data from the LabQuest to a remote computer.
“Science teachers around the country provide us with inspirational ideas for improving data-collection technology in the classroom,” said David Vernier, co-founder of Vernier and a former physics teacher. “Our goal is to improve science education by innovating new sensors and developing new software features for LabQuest. We think LabQuest’s new features showcased at NSTA help science educators teach both simple and advanced concepts with state-of-the-art technology.”
Availability and Pricing
Current LabQuest customers can download the LabQuest 1.4 software at www.vernier.com/labquest/updates. A list of compatible Wi-Fi printers may be found at http://www.vernier.com/labquest/printers/
The LabQuest sells for $329. Vernier is also offering its handheld solution at a newly reduced price of $299 per unit when purchasing eight or more units. For more information visit the web site at http://www.vernier.com/labquest/updates/.
Microsoft announces global launch of Windows MultiPoint Server 2010
New shared resource computing solution increases access to affordable technology in education.
Microsoft announced the release of Windows MultiPoint Server 2010, a new Windows product that increases access to affordable computing in educational scenarios such as classrooms, labs and libraries by allowing multiple users to simultaneously share one computer using multiple screens. Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 is now globally available to OEMs and will be rolling out to Microsoft academic volume licensing customers on March 1. In addition, Microsoft is announcing new partnerships that create a strong global ecosystem of hardware companies that give customers a breadth of choices to buy and use Windows MultiPoint Server solutions.
“We heard clearly from our customers in education that to help fulfill the amazing promise of technology in the classroom, they needed access to affordable computing that was easy to manage and use,” said Anthony Salcito, vice president of worldwide education at Microsoft. “That’s why we developed Windows MultiPoint Server — a solution that meets these needs and delivers an up-to-date, trusted Windows experience.”
Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 is an operating system that enables multiple people to connect to a single host computer with their own monitor, keyboard and mouse through USB or a video card. Each person individually controls his or her own station with an independent and familiar Windows computing experience. Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 is the flagship product in a family of shared resource computing technologies, the MultiPoint solutions, which provide teachers and students with greater access to educational technology. Shared resource computing is an emerging category that allows a customer to tap into more of a computer’s capability to enable a single host computer to support multiple users simultaneously.
“Shared resource computing can multiply the number of student workstations available to schools, delivering more value while staying within the same budget,” said Bill Rust, research director at Gartner Inc. “Teachers can better align computing resources with instructional strategies while deploying fewer fully configured computers and reducing workstation support liabilities.”
Building an Ecosystem
Helping to fully realize the opportunities created by Windows MultiPoint Server, the solution is launching with strong support from vendors all over the world that have committed to developing creative and effective solutions for the MultiPoint platform. In November 2009, HP became the first OEM to announce support for Windows MultiPoint Server 2010. HP is now rolling out its HP MultiSeat shared resource computing solution to customers worldwide. In addition to HP, Microsoft is pleased to announce partnerships with DisplayLink, NComputing, ThinGlobal, Tritton Technologies Inc. and Wyse Technology Inc. to provide an increasing number of Windows MultiPoint Server hardware options for customers globally. At the local level, Microsoft is working with a broad array of OEMs, such as Howard, Positivo, Seneca Data and Tarox, to deliver even more choices to meet the varied needs of customers.
Software vendors, such as AB Consulting, LanSchool Technologies and NetSupport Ltd., will also be developing applications that extend the Windows MultiPoint platform and provide teachers and students with access to classroom management and other education-focused technology.
Having the support of a broad range of partners makes it easier for customers to purchase Windows MultiPoint Server solutions and content optimized for their individual language, content and curriculum needs. More information on the Windows MultiPoint Server ecosystem is available at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/multipoint/solutions.aspx.
Affordable Access for Schools
Customers from around the world have already endorsed Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 and are experiencing firsthand the benefits this affordable solution can provide. With lower initial hardware acquisition costs, schools can expand access to more students with lower-cost or existing resources. Using the familiar Windows-based interface on the host computer, teachers can establish a consistent Windows experience depending on the needs of the class. Students can work on individual projects and at their own pace, while finding, using and sharing information effectively, enhancing their productivity and learning experience. All this can be done within the classroom, since Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 was designed for nontechnical professionals to set up and manage.
“With Windows MultiPoint Server, we can offer more computer access to more students, even on our tight technology budget,” said Cary Petersen, executive director of information technology, Jefferson County Public Schools. “Teachers can easily distribute tailored curricula to individual students and help them progress at their own level and pace. Students can develop 21st-century skills that will help them with their school projects and prepare them for the next level of schooling and for jobs in the future. Besides, the system is easy to set up and maintain, meaning less work for our IT department.”
SIIA announces finalists for 2010 CODiE Awards in Education categories
Fifty-four companies qualify for second round of prestigious award program
The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) announces the finalists for the prestigious CODiE Awards in the categories relating to education technology. The products that qualified will now be reviewed by members of SIIA, who will vote on winners for all 24 categories. The winners will be announced at a special CODiE Awards Dinner on May 24th, which will be held in conjunction with the 2010 Ed Tech Industry Summit.
Eighty-eight products from 54 companies were selected as finalists from more than 327 nominations submitted by 124 companies. Nominated products underwent an intensive review by subject matter experts, analysts, journalists, and others with deep experience in the field. Pearson has 13 nominations reaching the final stage, the most for one company this year. Five companies have 3 nominations reaching the final stage. The finalists may now be reviewed on the CODiE Awards Website at www.siia.net/CODiEs.
“This is the twenty-fifth year we have recognized excellence through the CODiE Awards program,” noted Ken Wasch, President of SIIA. “The competition is always tough, and in this economic climate, companies are doing even more to innovate. Excellence within the education technology industry shines through in the products selected as finalists, and we are very excited to see how the voting goes this year.”
Originally called the “Excellence in Software Awards,” the CODiEs were established in 1986 by the Software Publishers Association (SPA), which preceded the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA). The program was created so that pioneers of the then-nascent software industry could evaluate and honor each other’s work. Since then, the CODiE Awards program has carried out the same purpose – to showcase the software and information industry’s finest products and services and to honor excellence in corporate achievement and philanthropic efforts.
Source: Software & Information Industry Association