Name:

What is it? A presidential trivia game developed by parents and industry experts with over 50 years of education industry experience. Questions include: Who was the first president to visit China? Which president became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court? Who said “The buck stops here”? Which president kept grizzly bears on the White House lawn? and more.

Best for: Middle school and high school students; adults and teachers.

Price: $2.99

Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.3 or later.

Rated: 4+

Features: More than 1,000 questions featuring facts, quotes, and historical trivia; 40 puzzles; 2 levels of play: Brainy, for those who want to test their knowledge, and Insaney, for those who know way too much about US history.

Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id560671241?mt=8

Video demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9cN4pKeR1o&feature=youtu.be

Experts believe 600 million new female internet users can be added within the next 3 years.

A first-of-its-kind report gathered data from thousands of women in developing countries to shed light on the lack of women on the web. On average, 25 percent fewer women than men are online today; yet, if action is taken now, 600 million women could have access to the internet in the next three years.

“Women and the Web: Bridging the internet gap and creating new global opportunities in low and middle-income countries,” commissioned by Intel Corp. in consultation with the U.S. State Department’s Office of Global Women’s issues, UN Women, and World Pulse, aims to answer questions such as “What is the size of the internet gender gap?” and “What prevents women from accessing the internet?”

“200 million fewer women than men are online today,” said Shelly Esque, president of Intel Foundation and vice president of corporate affairs for Intel. “In many regions, the internet gender gap reflects and amplifies existing inequalities between the sexes.”

According to Michelle Bachelet, undersecretary general and executive director for UN Women, internet access enhances women’s economic empowerment, political participation, and social inclusion through initiatives that support increased productivity and income generation, mobilization, and accountability, as well as improved livelihoods and expansion of services.

(Next page: What the report recommends)

• · The mobile device explosion is driving increasing demand for enterprise Wi-Fi. In 2012 alone, Aerohive significantly grew its customer base with the addition of 4,500 new accounts, making strides in key verticals worldwide including healthcare, retail, education and the enterprise. The company increased shipments by 132 percent and closed out the year with a $100M run rate.

• · With over 7,500 customers worldwide, key customer wins include Brookdale Senior Living, the nation’s largest assisted living chain with nearly 600 facilities and over 60,000 residents; Hoogvliet, a Dutch supermarket chain with 62 supermarkets and 57 liquor stores, spread across The Netherlands, North Holland and Texas; and Tennessee Technological University, one of the nation’s top universities in the Southeast, according to Princeton Review.

• · The company has also been recognized as a leader by industry influencers. Most recently, Aerohive topped Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500™ list at 5^th place, making the company the 5^th fastest growing technology company in North America. Earlier in the year, Aerohive was also named a “Visionary” in Gartner’s Wired and Wireless LAN Access Infrastructure 2012 Magic Quadrant. This is in addition to winning seven other industry awards in 2012 from organizations like AlwaysOn, CRN and eSchool Media.

• · In September, Aerohive announced $22.5 million in Mezzanine Equity financing, led by Institutional Venture Partners (IVP), a premier later-stage venture capital and growth equity firm. This was in addition to $72 million raised in previous rounds of funding since inception in 2006.

• · Aerohive also increased its market leadership with key new product releases. These releases included the industry’s first Bonjour Gateway, which enables enterprises to solve the challenge of supporting multiple Apple devices across multi-subnet enterprise networks—all for free. In addition to Bonjour Gateway, Aerohive released two new Access Points (APs): AP121 and AP141 designed to provide throughput and coverage at a cost-effective price point ideal for education, healthcare, retail and distributed enterprise environments. Aerohive also expanded its Branch on Demand product family with the BR200 Branch Router, which allows enterprises to connect, secure and manage branch office networks.

• · Aerohive extended its technological innovation into new arenas with strategic partnerships. In December, Aerohive teamed up with iPass Managed Network Services to form a managed Wi-Fi service partnership, delivering a secure Wi-Fi solution for the distributed enterprise and venue owners. Earlier in the year in June, Aerohive and JAMF Software announced an Integrated Mobile Device Management Solution for comprehensive management of Apple devices.

• · Lastly, Aerohive added key leadership positions to guide the company’s rapid growth in the hot cloud-enabled enterprise Wi-Fi space. New executive appointments included Dean-Hickman Smith as senior vice president of worldwide sales, Raphaël Gernez as vice president of operations and Kurt Mills as vice president of channel sales.

Comments

“In 2012 we focused on building our business and helping our customers get greater ROI from their Wi-Fi solutions, while expanding our market leadership into key verticals,” said David Flynn, chief executive officer, Aerohive Networks. “We are extremely proud of all we accomplished last year, and know we couldn’t have reached this level of success without the hard work of our dedicated team, amazing customers and strategic partnerships. We look forward to what’s in store for Aerohive in 2013.”

About Aerohive Networks
People want to work anywhere; on any device, and IT needs to enable them — without drowning in complexity or compromising on security, performance, reliability or cost. Aerohive’s mission is to Simpli-Fi these enterprise access networks with a cloud-enabled, self-organizing, service-aware, identity-based infrastructure that includes innovative Wi-Fi, VPN, branch routing and switching solutions.

Aerohive was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif. The company’s investors include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Northern Light Venture Capital, New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA) and Institutional Venture Partners (IVP). For more information, please visit www.aerohive.com, call us at 408-510-6100, follow us on Twitter @Aerohive, subscribe to our blog or become a fan on our Facebook page.

]]> http://www.eschoolnews.com/2013/01/09/aerohive-wraps-up-successful-year-with-rapid-expansion-new-funding-prestigious-award-wins-and-significant-customer-and-channel-growth/feed/ 0 http://www.eschoolnews.com/2013/01/07/app-of-the-week-classdojo/ http://www.eschoolnews.com/2013/01/07/app-of-the-week-classdojo/#comments Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:10:21 +0000 Meris Stansbury http://www.eschoolnews.com/?p=118936 Name: ClassDojo

What is it? A behavioral development tool helping teachers reinforce positive behaviors like risk-taking, helping others and honesty

Best for: K-12

Price: Free

Requirements: iOS 5.1 or later

Rated: 4+

Features: Captures and generates data on behavior that teachers can share with parents and administrators. Teachers can use this app to give students real-time feedback while in class—it will sync with the main ClassDojo website.

Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/classdojo/id552602056?mt=8

Educators need a practical system that organizes school data in a way that is easily understood.

Educators and administrators are collecting an enormous amount of data about the progress of their students and schools. Now that this information has been collected, how can it be used to improve education?

What administrators and teachers need is a practical system that organizes school and student data in a way that is easily understood and readily available during the school day, according to a collaboration by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), and Gartner Inc.

School districts are looking to purchase student information systems and learning management systems to help them with this task.

Watch CoSN CEO Keith Krueger’s interview with Comcast Newsmakers (aired on CNN):

(Next page: A closer look at the collaborative’s goals—and nine templates it has created to help educators leverage school data)

“Students are constantly communicating, just not the same way we’re used to,” said one reader.

It seems that every generation has a few gripes about the younger ones. But are there misconceptions specific to today’s students?

In a recent eSchool News ”Question of the Week,” we asked our readers what they thought were the “common misconceptions about today’s students,” similar to our “Common misconceptions about teachers” feature. (Read “Ten common myths about teaching.”)

And though many readers agreed that students today are more intuitive when it comes to using technology, readers also noted that using technology more frequently doesn’t always mean you use it well.

Another popular misconception: that students today don’t care about others or about learning.

What do you think of this list? Be sure to add your comments below!

(Responses are edited for brevity.)

1. They’re all tech-savvy.

“Just because they have the technology does not necessarily mean they know how to use it well. Students [think they] can ‘just Google it’ and survive in a rigorous academic setting.” —Peg Becksvoort, library media specialist and National Board Certified Teacher, Falmouth Middle School, Falmouth, Maine

“That they know how to use all technology and are geniuses at working anything electronic. Half of the one-to-one projects that get implemented fail because [school leaders] just plop technology in front of student and teachers and say, ‘Here. Learn.’ Not only do teachers not know how to guide the students, the students might know how to check Gmail but not how to use programs for learning.” –Alex P., Missouri

2. They’re disengaged.

“The primary and most common misconception that should be addressed … is that ‘they don’t care,’ especially at the secondary level. Nearly every child in education, whether in kindergarten or a sophomore in high school, ‘cared’ at least some point in their academic career. They might have had a discerning experience (personally, environmentally, academically) where they lost the faith, but they were committed and did care. I have witnessed the hardness of the high school student who exhibits the ‘I don’t care’ attitude, as well as the desperate attempts of the challenged third grader who is begging for acceptance as his desire to learn slowly dies. It is tragic and must be addressed at all levels before students can truly become successful and embrace learning.” —Jeni Janek, West Texas

“That students don’t know about, or care about, the world around them. Really?! So many times I hear people complain because students don’t read the New York Times or something. All you’d have to do is talk to a student about current events and they’d know more about it than you—simply because they’re connected to the internet in a very social way. They’re the ones tweeting and bringing to light injustices, creating aid organizations, getting funding for groups, spending their spring breaks doing charity work in other countries. They’re one of the most globally-active generations we’ve seen.” –Alice Penson

SAN JOSE, CA–(Marketwire – December 03, 2012) – Thin and light with long battery life, Acer America today announced availability of the new TravelMate B113 notebook PC for U.S. and Canadian customers. An ideal solution for institutional customers, the TravelMate B113 meets all the needs for productivity, communication and mobility needed in today’s e-learning environment.

“Acer has had great success with the 11.6-inch form factor in the education market because their compact size is ideal in a classroom setting, even for the youngest of students,” said Michael O’Beirne, Acer senior director, commercial product marketing. “The TravelMate B113 notebook is an important addition to our notebook portfolio, as it combines everything educators and students need, including exceptional performance, durability and reliability for a best-in-class mobile experience.”

Fast, Efficient and Reliable Notebook Performance
The TravelMate B113 notebook allows students to create and share content with friends and schoolmates, even in real time. Perfect for both beginners and advanced users, it provides basic functionality and ease of use. With its six-cell battery, the TravelMate B113 can achieve more than seven hours of battery life(1), avoiding the need for recharging in the classroom where only a few outlets may be available.

Powered by up to a third-generation Intel® Core™ i3 processor, the TravelMate B113 notebooks ensure smart performance that adapts to students’ needs. The TravelMate B113 packs up to 4GB of DDR3 memory and is upgradeable to 8GB. It provides plenty of space to store and manage important documents and media thanks to a spacious SATA hard disk with up to 500GB of capacity(2).

The TravelMate B113 allows teachers and students to view crisp images and deliver superb presentations via the notebook’s 11.6-inch Acer ComfyView LCD LED backlit display with HD (1366×768) resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio. The “ComfyView” display has an anti-glare matte surface, which reduces mirror-like reflections and improves viewing in bright light.

Ultra-slim at one-inch thin and just 3 pounds light, the TravelMate B113 is extremely manageable and easily fits students’ backpacks without adding excess weight. Despite its small size, this notebook has a keyboard with large keys that make typing more comfortable.

The TravelMate B113 notebooks offer a full range of advanced connectivity solutions including Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi and Bluetooth, making it easier to access and share documents in the classroom. The Acer Video Conference solution, including a high-def webcam and built-in microphone, also enables high-quality video conferences, so that teachers and students can easily keep in touch while e-learning.

Premium Security and Manageability
The TravelMate B113 comes packed with extra levels of security and management tools, allowing a teacher or school IT manager to protect their data. Acer ProShield Manager, a suite of essential security and manageability tools, integrates fundamental features in a unified user interface. The multi-level Acer ProShield prevents unauthorized access while safeguarding the B113 notebook’s valuable assets and data integrity. Acer ProShield features pre-boot authentication (PBA) and protects the notebook from the BIOS level all the way to the application level. Users can create a Personal Secure Drive (PSD) to seamlessly store and encrypt all critical files, ensuring that if the notebook is lost or stolen, the data cannot be accessed. Unwanted files or folders can be permanently removed beyond recovery thanks to the File Shredder utility. Finally, it offers the automated solution to manage IT assets remotely.

The TravelMate B113 has another layer of security with Acer Backup that protects valuable data, media and other digital assets. Acer eRecovery Manager provides on-demand recovery. Additionally, the TravelMate B113 comes with Acer Office Manager (AOM), a manageability solution, which allows IT managers to deploy security policies, monitor IT assets, and schedule maintenance tasks in one simple application.

Pricing, Eco-Compliance and Warranty
The Acer TravelMate B113 notebooks are available now in the U.S. and Canada at authorized Acer resellers. Prices for the TravelMate B113 begin at $399 in the U.S. and at $369 CAD in Canada.

Acer professional notebooks are submitted to a series of reliability tests and are compliant with the most stringent industry criteria. These TravelMate B113 series models are Energy Star® qualified, ensuring energy savings and longer battery life.

The new Acer TravelMate B113 Series comes with a standard two-year parts and labor warranty,(3) which can be extended to three years of Acer Advantage service. Additionally, some models have longer warranties offered through specific channel partners. All Acer notebooks and netbooks are backed by toll-free service and support.

About Acer

Since its founding in 1976, Acer has broken barriers between people and technology, enabling users to explore, create and grow. Acer ranks No. 2 for notebook PCs globally.(4) The Acer Group employs 8,000 people across the globe, and revenues for 2011 reached US$15.7 billion.

Acer’s channel business model is instrumental to the company’s success, while its multi-brand approach integrates Acer, Gateway, and Packard Bell brands in worldwide markets. Acer designs environmentally friendly products and, with its vendors, has established a green supply chain.

Acer is proud to be a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Movement. That includes supporting the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and London 2012 Olympic Games.

More information is at www.acer-group.com.

© 2012 Acer America Corp. All rights reserved. Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Inc. Other trademarks, registered trademarks, and/or service marks, indicated or otherwise, are the property of their respective owners. All offers subject to change without notice or obligation and may not be available through all sales channels. Prices listed are manufacturer suggested retail prices and may vary by location. Applicable sales tax extra.

(1) Battery life varies depending on product specifications, computer settings and applications or features launched. All batteries’ maximum capacity diminishes with time and use.

(2) Access capacity varies; MB = million bytes; GB = 1 billion bytes

(3) Limited warranties and service agreements apply. May not be available in all locations. Availability varies. Other conditions apply. For a copy, write to Acer Customer Service, P.O. Box 6137, Temple, TX 76503.

(4) Source: Gartner data FY 2011
Acer Incorporated
Erin Davern
Tel: 949-471-7785
Email: erin.davern@acer.com

“It’s time to focus on the people side of the data equation,” the Data Quality Campaign says.

Schools and districts have come a long way in gathering and analyzing data to help boost student achievement, but according to a new report from the Data Quality Campaign (DQC), what school data initiatives are still missing is the human element.

The DQC’s eighth annual state analysis, Data for Action 2012, found that although states are making progress in supporting “effective data use” and  have enacted data-based policy changes, they have “not yet focused on helping people—especially parents, teachers, and students—effectively use data.” The organization issued the findings of its analysis in a report titled “Focus on People to Change Data Culture.”

“States should be commended for their hard work building robust data systems,” said Aimee Rogstad Guidera, executive director of the DQC. “But it’s time to focus on the people side of the data equation—how this benefits teachers and students. State policy makers must actively support a culture in which all education stakeholders are actually using and learning from this crucial information to improve student achievement.”

The DQC is the creator of 10 State Actions to Ensure Effective Data Use, and according to the campaign, no state has taken all of these steps yet. For example:

• States have laid the foundation to link P-20/workforce (P-20W) data systems but lack governance structures with the authority necessary to share appropriate data among agencies and departments. “This deficiency makes it nearly impossible to provide people the data they need to ensure that students stay on track for success in college and careers,” says the report.

• States are producing reports and dashboards using longitudinal data but are lagging in ensuring data access by stakeholders such as parents.

• States are increasingly providing training to help stakeholders use data but have not done enough to build the capacity of all education stakeholders to effectively use data, especially teachers.

To change the culture of education data use, the report says, states not only must create enabling state conditions, “but also determine their role in creating enabling local conditions.”

What’s also critical in proper data dissemination is promoting data ownership and trust by “building end users’ capacity to use data responsibly, and focusing on using data for continuous improvement, not to shame or blame.”

According to the report, three state-level conditions must be present to enable a data culture change: P-20W leadership, policy, and resources.

In this School Technology Action Report (S.T.A.R.), the editors of eSchool Media have compiled the best articles we’ve published about digital projectors in recent months.

Inside this special digital publication, you’ll learn about:

• A new way to measure and compare the color brightness of projectors.

•  New projectors that make any wall an interactive environment—without needing a computer.

• iPad-ready projectors: How to share content from mobile devices with the whole class easily.

Go to page 2 for the full PDF report.

NC State University provides Google Apps Accessibility Usage Guidelines.

Technology, often associated with helping to make life easier and more accessible, isn’t always as usable for some as others, accessibility researchers say. And with Google Apps quickly becoming a go-to solution for schools and colleges nationwide, it’s critical to know exactly how accessible these apps are for students with disabilities.

The Access Technology Higher Education Network (ATHEN), a professional association whose purpose is to collect and disseminate best practices in accessible technology for colleges and universities, has performed a number of functional tests on various Google applications, including Google Docs, GMail, and Calendar.

And though researcher and technology accessibility specialist Terrill Thompson at the University of Washington says that many improvements have been made, these efforts largely have targeted screen reader users and have not considered people with other types of disabilities.

ATHEN’s tests show that many people with disabilities are “currently unable to successfully use these applications, and the level of support for assistive technologies ranged from being able to perform many, but not all, of the functions to not being able to use the applications at all,” Thompson said during the EDUCAUSE 2012 conference in Denver last week.

Click here for the full story on eCampusNews.com