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The Global Age – Are Your Students Prepared?

Ours is an increasingly global word fueled by rapidly expanding transnational markets and economic interdependence. As a result, young Americans face a more complex job marketplace than past generations. We need to ensure that they are prepared.

Download and share this infographic. Together, we can make sure all of our students are ready.

See how language learning can work for your students

Posted By Rosetta Stone On In Retired Whitepapers,Teaching Trends | No Comments

Are you curious about how blended learning fits into the language programs your students need to compete in the 21st century economy? This video [1] gives educators a true sense of how Rosetta Stone can revolutionize your language-learning programs.

Get a birds-eye view of what it’s like to implement online language learning with Rosetta Stone for K-12

The critical ABCs of 802.11ac

Posted By By Laura Devaney, Managing Editor, @eSN_Laura On In Featured on eSchool News,IT Management,News,Top News | No Comments
802.11ac-network

Network speed will experience a huge expansion under the 802.11ac standard

A relatively new technology standard has huge potential for school connectivity as it aims to relieve congested networks and drastically increase network speed.

The 802.11ac standard operates in the 5-gigahertz spectrum–a move away from the clogged 2.4-gigahertz frequency in which 802.11n operates.

The rollout will occur in three waves, and the first wave is already active. The three waves will eventually increase data rates up to 6.93 Gbps and will open MHz channels and available data streams.

And while talking about 802.11n and 802.11ac may seem overwhelming or hard to grasp, it is extremely important for school technology leaders to understand the potential this new standard holds.

(Next page: Details about the new standard, and an infographic to illustrate key points)

802.11ac increases wireless data rate capabilities from 450 Mbps (under 802.11n) to 6.93 Gbps.

Switching to the new standard won’t impact Wi-Fi signal reach.

802.11ac enables multi-user performance. Where previously a second client had to wait until a data transmission was complete.

802.11ac uses multiple antennas to transmit to up to 4 clients–similar to a 4-port wired switch. This means that network congestion is avoided.

The Wi-Fi Alliance certifies products and tests that they work with other Wi-Fi certified products before those products have the official Wi-Fi seal. The alliance began certifying 802.11ac products last summer.

Click on the infographic [2]below for more information:

5 great storytelling tech tools

Posted By By Steven Webb On In Blended Learning,IT Management,Teaching & Learning,Top News | No Comments

Steven Webb, superintendent of Vancouver Public Schools and a 2014 eSchool News Tech-Savvy Superintendent, shares five ed-tech devices to improve storytelling

In 2008, more than 400 students, recent graduates, district employees, parents, and community, agency, and business leaders came together to help Vancouver Public Schools (VPS) craft a new strategic plan. Thousands of stakeholders had a chance to weigh in along the way.

That plan, called Design II [3], has provided a road map to improve learning and teaching throughout the district. During the 2013-14 school year, stakeholders met again to refresh the plan and extend the vision for our schools to the year 2020.

Flexible learning environments are one of six Design II goal areas that guide our comprehensive effort to remove barriers and raise achievement for every student. Our work in this area has been focused on integrating digital technology tools to increase student engagement.

Thanks to a voter-supported initiative passed in 2013, every third- through 12th-grade student will have his or her own digital learning device by 2019. But weLearn 1:1 [4], our digital transformation, isn’t about the technology. It’s about equipping each of our graduates with the adaptive skills they need to thrive in an increasingly interdependent global economy.

Technology empowers and engages learners. Storytelling can inform and inspire. Together, they can invite discovery and growth. In VPS, we want to leverage technology’s storytelling power to accelerate student, staff, and school success. 

(Next page: Storytelling tech tools)

Explain Everything [5]

Billed as an interactive whiteboard and screencasting tool, Explain Everything enables students to import and annotate items, as well as integrate images, text, video, and audio files into shareable recorded presentations. VPS students have enlivened science demonstrations with this app by embedding videos of experiments.

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Aurasma [6]

At Vancouver iTech Preparatory, a STEM-focused school, students researched eras of U.S. history and then created multimedia projects through Aurasma. The augmented reality app made history come alive through image-recognition technology that launches interactive content. As a result, both creator and consumer can engage with the subject matter in meaningful ways.

Watch more here [7].

Book Creator [8]

This is the epitome of digital storytelling. Not only can students add images, videos, music, and narration to text, they also can share their works with their peers and build class libraries. The app removes barriers to participation such as speech disorders, English language learning, or reticence, and draws out the voices of students who might otherwise never speak in class.

Podcasts [9]

Students aren’t the only ones leveraging technology for narrative purposes. I believe that storytelling is one of the best ways to reach stakeholders. I create monthly podcasts [10] that spotlight success stories around the district to inform and, I hope, inspire the more than 3,000 employees who serve VPS.

Twitter [11]

Tweeting as @SuptVPS [12] provides a real-time platform for sharing success stories and linking to both the VPS community and the education community worldwide. Thanks to fellow Twitter users, I also have a wealth of educational and leadership resources—and new stories—to discover.

Steven T. Webb has been superintendent of Vancouver Public Schools since 2008. Webb also is a member of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools’ executive advisory committee and chair of its research work group. In 2014, he was named an eSchool News Tech-Savvy Superintendent.

App of the Week: Fractions, anyone?

Posted By Laura Ascione On In App of the Week,Apps,Featured App of the Week,IT Management,Teaching & Learning | No Comments
app-fractions

A new app helps students with often-dreaded fractions

Name: Quick Fractions

What is it? Hate fractions? That’s ok! Quick Fractions is here to help you master one of the most troublesome areas of mathematics! Perfect for those just starting out with fractions, more advanced students, or even adults looking for a challenge.

Best for: Students ages 9-11

Price: $2.99

Requirements: iOS 7.0 or later

Features:

Four game modes include:

Link: iTunes  [13]

Six characteristics of great professional development (and great classrooms)

Posted By By Tom Daccord On In Digital Issue Article,Teaching Trends,Top News | No Comments
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