Tech & Learning - August 2008 - (Page 40)

NECC2008/PRODUCT REVIEWS Put to the Test T&L Reviewers Rate New Gear from NECC By Joe Huber PRODUCT: TURNING TECHNOLOGIES RESPONSECARD www.turningtechnologies.com Retail price: Receiver, $199. Keypads, $42/each DESCRIPTION: ResponseCard AnyWhere is a handheld RF receiver with LCD screen for displaying polling results in any learning environment. HOW TO USE IN SCHOOLS: ResponseCard has advantages over other SRSs (student response systems) since you do not need a projector or a computer to use it. This allows schools to use them in classroom environments where SRSs cannot be used—gym class, outdoor classrooms, on field trips, and in the cafeteria. PROS: Because this SRS does not require a computer or projector, schools have a wider range of flexibility over similar products. Also, the product uses RF (radio frequency) rather than IR (infrared), which will ensure much clearer reception. The product also integrates with PowerPoint, which should make it easier for most educators to learn. CONS: It does not integrate with ExamView, but does with Question Point. The only difference is that ExamView comes with a few more textbooks in reading and math. OVERALL IMPRESSION: If a school is looking for an SRS system, this is an excellent choice. The fact that it simply adds another toolbar to PowerPoint makes learning the software very easy. The software also includes over 30,000 questions that are correlated to state and national standards in the Question Point software. The real power comes from the Vantage Point software, which aids in the discovery of learning gaps, helps build curriculum maps, and allows you to track AYP. This may be the best SRS on the market today. PRODUCT: iTUNES U APPLE www.apple.com/education/itunesu/ Price: Free DESCRIPTION: Educators could create an entire online course with the materials available at iTunes U, a collection of audio and video tracks that covers a variety of subjects for the K-16 curriculum. All of the tracks are free. HOW TO USE IN THE CLASSROOM: This product is excellent for the K-12 classroom, especially for remediation and when combined with a content management product. For example, one particular track gives specifics on how to do 2-digit into 3-digit long division, which would allow an educator to post on the day this was taught in class. PROS: The tracks contain excellent curriculum material, and the price is certainly right for K-12 schools. The content of the tracks is good for both student remediation and acceleration. If your school uses, Moodle, SchoolWires, SchoolFusion, Angel, Blackboad, etc., iTunes U can easily be incorporated into these products. CONS: The downloads were slow on my connection (6 mbs dedicated). The product would benefit from a state-by-state curriculum guide for the content/tracks or a national subject area guide. OVERALL IMPRESSION: Since all of the tracks are free and have good curriculum content, iTunes U is an excellent value. I would suggest teachers download the content to their sites to make the most of the content. 40 | TECH & LEARNING http://www.turningtechnologies.com http://www.apple.com/education/itunesu/

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Tech & Learning - August 2008 Contents Editor's Desk News & Trends Q&A: Scratch That Best of NECC 2008 How to Build Better ePortfolios Focus on Digital Cameras Leader of the Year

Tech & Learning - August 2008

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