District Administration - October 2006 - (Page 86)

NewProducts Microsof t Corp. SharePoint Learning Kit/SharePoint Community Kit www.microsoft.com, Software, free download with Microsoft community license Both programs are designed to extend Learning Gateway and e-learning oppor tunities. The Learning Kit is a standards compliant e-learning tool that makes it easy for educators to deliver both basic and interactive resources through Learning Gateway. The kit is Shareable Content Object Reference Model 2004 and SCORM 1.2 compliant and provides basic functions for any electronic resource in a SharePoint document library. The Community Kit Knowledge Adventure helps schools create unique and targeted sites for their clubs and Books by You organizations. Both are free to download for schools and teachers who have a www.knowledgeadventureschool.com Microsoft community license. Software, $59.95/teacher edition T h is make-your-own book software program allows students ages 8 Toshiba and up to craft, edit, illustrate and Portege M400, www.toshiba.com, Hardware, $1,699 personalize their own literary cre- at ions. Students select from four T h is tablet PC is powered by Intel Centrino original chapter books that can be mobile technology and incorporates a 12.1- customized based on personal expe- i nch diagonal XGA or SXGA+ display r ience and input. Once they select featuring wide-view angle technology. a storyline, the program guides The framing around the display has six students through book creation via buttons for cross functional, ESC/display a series of leading questions and rotation, Windows security, Toshiba supportive strategies. After their Assist, Toshiba Presentation and On/Off. It answers are woven into the story, also includes EasyGuard, which is a series of hardware students can edit the book, add illus- and software enhancements that help boost mobile security, system t rat ions, design a book cover, print integrity, network connectivity and overall ease-of-use, and a complete suite their book in the classroom and save of communication technologies, such as Gigabit Ethernet, V.92 modem and it as a PDF for easy e-mailing. Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG network connection. QI Systems QiWave Blackboard, Inc. www.quisystems.ca K-12 Starter Edition Vending solution, starts at $100 per unit www.blackboard.com/k12/starter_edition.htm, Software, starts at $19,000 annually T h is new cashless vending sys- K-12 districts that are in the early stages of establishing an e-Learning strategy tem can be retrofitted to existing will find a variety of resources in this software. It enables districts to provide machines, including snack machines classroom materials online without having to know HTML, engage parents by and photocopiers. The company allowing them to view student progress, provide 24/7 access to learning materi- offers both custom and off-the-shelf als in a secure environment, offer innovative models, which can cost as little as testing methods and self-assessments for $100 per unit. The contactless card individualized learning paths and take advan- system, which is based on HID's tage of secure, around-the-clock hosting. A chip platform, can increase transac- comprehensive platform for up to 2,000 users t ion speed and convenience for the to help districts become familiar with the fea- user, reduce or eliminate cash han- dl i ng, reduce machine maintenance tures and benefits of a learning management and extend card life by eliminating platform is also available. mechanical contact between the card and the reader. 86 October 2006 District Administration DA_1006_NewProducts.indd 86 9/15/06 1:45:34 PM http://www.microsoft.com http://www.knowledgeadventureschool.com http://www.toshiba.com http://www.quisystems.ca http://www.blackboard.com/k12/starter_edition.htm

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - October 2006

Table of Contents
Editor's Letter
Snapshots
Update
Inside the Law
Curriculum Update
Administration Profile
District Profile
Disaster Recovery
Tech Trends
COVER STORY: The Chicago Team
Out Is In
Algebra's At-Risk Solution
Rural Quality
Struggling Readers
The Online Edge
Speaking Out
Principal Opinion
Problem/Solution
Research Corner
Leadership Books
New Products
By the Numbers

District Administration - October 2006