Another ISTE has come and gone–were you in Philadelphia for ISTE 2019? If not, don’t worry–we’re highlighting some of the newest and most innovative edtech tools we saw at the show.
Coding and robotics (check out our ISTE 2019 robotics round-up), social and emotional learning, and building employability skills were at the top of the many trends and focus areas highlighted during the conference.
It was nearly impossible to see and attend everything the conference had to offer, and many educators who couldn’t attend followed keynotes with the #ISTE19 hashtag (they also threw in a #NotAtISTE tag for good measure).
We’ve rounded up some of the biggest trends, news, and tools to help you organize your post-ISTE 2019 thoughts.
Achieve3000, provider of differentiated instruction, released details about its forthcoming collection of original, differentiated fiction. Designed for K-8 students, each fictional story is precision differentiated and contains five to seven engaging “episodes” to inspire and spark a joy of reading in all students.
Related content: More than 40 new things we saw at ISTE 2018
Age of Learning recently launched ReadingIQ, an advanced digital library for children 12 and under with thousands of high-quality books, all curated by experts to advance literacy. As with Age of Learning’s ABCmouse, ReadingIQ is available at no cost to teachers for classroom use.
bulb Digital Portfolios, a learning tool for students and teachers, announced that embedded Google files will replicate as PDFs and be stored for life in their bulb Asset Library. The company also released updates to commenting, analytics, badging and credentialing. Launching later this summer is bulb’s newest Google integration, which will replicate and store embedded Google Drive files as PDF’s in their bulb Asset Library. It will allow users to keep content after losing access to a school-based Google account.
CDI Technologies has partnered with Eduscape to add the Photon robot to its education offerings. This cute, alien-like robot entices students as young as kindergarten to learn the basics of programming. This partnership expands CDI’s STEM offerings, which also include AR/VR kits and 3D printers.
Curriculum Associates previewed some of the new features coming to its i-Ready platform this summer, including new class and student reports, a new student growth model, diagnostics for iPad, expanded math, and reading comprehension, and phonics lessons. Other new features are planned for a fall rollout.
Discovery Education announced that beginning July 1, users of Discovery Education Streaming will have the opportunity to preview the new Discovery Education Experience, which becomes available to schools and educators nationwide at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year. A new generation of Discovery Education’s Streaming service, Discovery Education Experience supports instruction across all K-12 curricular areas. Through curated, personalized, one-of-a-kind digital curriculum resources delivered to the educator based on their preferences, Discovery Education Experience helps busy teachers save time and more easily differentiate instruction.
Ed Leadership Sims (ELS) is transforming professional development for school leaders by offering peer-sourced computer-based simulations. These simulations allow users to exercise judgement on challenging topics such as equity, safety, and school climate. ELS is excited to discuss their recent collaboration with the University of Indiana, the Association of Latino Administrators & Superintendents, and Gwinnett County Public Schools.
Edsby, a digital learning and data platform available for K-12 education, is being deployed across New Zealand. After two years of competitive evaluations, the New Zealand Ministry of Education awarded Edsby a contract to build and run the country’s Te Rito National Learner Repository and Data Exchange, formerly the Student Information Sharing Initiative.
Elmo offered an exclusive look at its upcoming products for 2019: the next generation of its PentaClass classroom voice enhancement system, its first-ever Android document camera, and the AXIS Board interactive flat panel.
Empowering Writers demonstrated its methodology for addressing effective writing instruction for grades K-8, with customers regularly showing double-digit gains in writing test scores after working with them.
Epson showcased its classroom projectors, including the BrightLink interactive projectors with 3LCD technology. It also demonstrated its interactive curriculum software–Epson BrightLink interactive displays include software tools specifically designed to help teachers create high-impact, interactive lessons.
Nearly two years after introducing Collections by Destiny, Follett is reporting a total of 2.5 million users, a dramatic increase in usage of the educational tool that allows librarians, teachers, and curriculum staff to share free or purchased resources across the district, schools or between users. Now in use by more than 4,000 districts and nearly 17,000 schools, usage of Collections by Destiny has increased 62 percent from year one to the 2018-19 school year. In addition, James Patterson announced a partnership with Follett and its “All Books for All Kids” initiative. Authors from Patterson’s children’s imprint, JIMMY Patterson Books, also will appear at Follett Book Fairs throughout the year.
FreshGrade announced the launch of FreshGrade Next. Using the same technology as consumer social media, the platform gives administrators, teachers, students, and families access to a communication system that simplifies interaction and emphasizes engagement. FreshGrade Next is a learning network for the age of instant access, combining elements of lesson planners, portfolios, communication systems, and gradebooks into a seamless experience.
Gaggle was on hand to highlight the importance of monitoring student behaviors when students may pose a threat to themselves or others. In a 2019 report on school safety, Gaggle revealed that in the first six months of the 2018-19 academic year, it observed more than 56,000 identified safety issues. Of these, more than 5,100 incidents were deemed serious enough to warrant immediate action by school officials to keep students safe.
Hand2mind showcased its interactive, hands-on resources for STEM and literacy. Its new Daily Math Fluency provide educators a ready-made solution to improving students’ grasp of basic math facts through greater efficiency, better strategy and higher confidence.
HoverCam demonstrated the Pilot X, a wireless dgital teaching station featuring a tablet computer, 4K interactive casting, and a 13.0 MegaPixel fold-out document camera. Also on display was the Ultra 10, a wireless 4K android-powered document camera with a touchscreen. The Ultra 10 offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, live streaming and cloud recording, and a 16 MP camera sensor.
Illuminate Education, provider of a K–12 student performance system, announced significant enhancements to its eduCLIMBER, DnA, SchoolCity SUITE, Achievement Dashboard and Inspect PLUS products. The company will roll out the updates to customers with their summer release.
Illustrative Mathematics, author and developer of the IM 6–8 Math curriculum and IM Certified professional learning, announced the launch of IM Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2. The new standards aligned, problem-based high school curriculum is specifically designed to nurture a comprehensive proficiency with functions, algebra, geometry, modeling, and statistics.
Impero demonstrated the Impero Education Pro cloud series, which is designed to consolidate the three core, essential modules needed to support digital learning: Impero EdTeach, designed with teachers in mind; Impero EdAdmin, offering technical teams a comprehensive suite of remote network administrative tools; and Impero EdProtect, focusing on creating a culture of good digital citizenship in schools.
The newest release of the itslearning learning management system has improved the workflow for OneDrive and G Suite users, added more security features such as password protection for tests, and made text easier to read. It also adds new functionality for communication and for viewing event details. The update improves users’ work experience with OneDrive by making the OneDrive file picker clearer and more accessible. Also, schools or districts using G Suite for Education will now find it easier to automatically connect G Suite accounts for teachers and students to itslearning.
Lexia Learning added new activities to its Core5 to accelerate literacy from early print awareness to deep comprehension and text analysis. New activity types engage students with formats such as interactive fiction and polls, while 43 new passage comprehension activities feature new gengres such as poetry and drama.
littleBits announced littleBits Classroom, an online platform that offers teachers the ability to easily source 250 lessons and over 5,000 inventions aligned to state and national standards to create an engaging experience for students. The company also introduced littleBits BitCamp, which invites teachers to build community with littleBits by hosting a workshop with 15-20 educators in their network–littleBits will provide the product, marketing materials, and a $350 to ensure success.
MIND Research Institute, a neuroscience and education social impact organization dedicated to ensuring that all students are mathematically equipped to solve the world’s most challenging problems, introduced its new ST Math Chats. Designed around puzzles, these new lessons inspire dialogue and help students understand abstract math concepts through visual models and real-time feedback.
NetSupport demonstrated how its complete School IT Management suite, NetSupport DNA, can help save time, reduce costs, maintain a safe learning environment, and boost digital citizenship. It also demonstrated how its dedicated Classroom Management solution, NetSupport School, can help enhance the quality of instruction with real-time management of and collaboration with any student device in the classroom–including Windows, Chrome, iOS, Mac, and Android.
PBLWorks congratulated its 2019 PBL Champions–a designation that honors a school district, a school, and an individual for their commitment to providing high-quality Project Based Learning. The 2019 PBL Champions are: PBL Champion District: Burkburnett Independent School District; PBL Champion School: Billie Martinez Elementary; and PBL Champion Individual: Ron Berger. The PBL Champions were recognized during PBL World 2019, held June 18-20, 2019 in Napa Valley, CA.
The traditional paper airplane lesson has remained a staple in classrooms for years as it teaches students the principles of aeronautics and physics, and gives them a chance to flex their creativity and problem-solving skills. To bring an edtech-focused iteration of the lesson to more classrooms, POWERUP Toys, creator of a smartphone-controlled paper airplane motor kit, has forged a new partnership with The Douglas Stewart Company, the largest education-focused distributor in North America. POWERUP Toys’ flagship products–the POWERUP 2.0 Electric Paper Airplane Kit, POWERUP 3.0 Smartphone-Controlled Paper Airplane Conversion Kits, as well as their POWERUP 3.0 Spare Parts Kit–are part of The Douglas Stewart Company’s growing collection of STEAM products.
Real Networks announced a free trial of its SAFR for K-12 facial recognition cloud version. This version of the product allows districts to implement facial recognition quicker and with more flexibility.
Renaissance, which has recently acquired Early Learning Labs and Freckle, discussed how these new partners fit into its overall vision for the future of assessment and interoperability. It also showcased its Growth Alliance program, a collaboration that bridges the gap from assessment to instruction, providing personalized learning for students and unified mastery reports for teachers and administrators.
Vernier has partnered with a number of groups to enhance STEM learning and student engagement. A partnership with Scratch engages students with scientific and computational concepts through hands-on, project-based learning. In collaboration with Google Science Journal, students are encouraged to explore as they organize their ideas into projects, make predictions, collect data in multiple trials, and annotate results. Along with Microsoft, Vernier helps teachers enhance their STEM curriculum through the Microsoft Hacking STEM project.
Vex Robotics demonstrated some of its education solutions. Scaffolded, standards-matched learning materials provide educators with a guided learning experience that allows students to get the most out of the VEX EDR platform. The company’s STEM Labs are hands-on activities including diverse builds, games, and competitions that align with education standards and offer real-world concepts.
Vivi, a wireless screen mirroring solution designed exclusively for the classroom, launched a new Student Feedback Tool to support real-time student-to-teacher feedback. The tool is included at no additional cost in Vivi’s classroom engagement solution, which uses screen mirroring technology to foster and maintain active student participation in lessons, while supporting teachers with the implementation of evidence-based classroom practices.
Voyager Sopris Learning announced a Voyager Passport revision, launching in August, which will feature a new “teacher talk” component for lessons. Voyager also recently announced the winners of its LANGUAGE! Live Literacy Acceleration Grant program, which was created to help districts increase literacy achievement in struggling students. Recipients will receive at least six months of Voyager Sopris Learning’s LANGUAGE! Live, an award-winning literacy curriculum proven to help struggling readers and writers achieve grade-level reading expectations.
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