Podcast Series: Innovations in Education

Explore the full series of eSchool News podcasts hosted by Kevin Hogan—created to keep you on the cutting edge of innovations in education.

MackinVIA Receives Its 7th Consecutive Modern Library Award From LibraryWorks, Winning The Distinctive Platinum Award

Burnsville, MN – Mackin, a leading provider of print and digital fiction and nonfiction books for PK-12, is pleased to announce it is a multiyear honoree, winning another Platinum Award in LibraryWorks’ ninth annual Modern Library Awards (MLAs). The MLAs were created to recognize the top products and services in the library industry.

Products and services were submitted in the fall using a simple application, and then were posted on a private site with an enhanced description and attendant materials. These products were batched into small groups and sent to the LibraryWorks database of more than 80,000 librarians in public, K-12, academic, and special libraries. Only customers with experience with these products/services in their facilities were permitted to judge the products/services, resulting in a truly unbiased score.

Each judge scored the product from 1-10 on a series of questions regarding functionality, value, customer service, etc. MackinVIA received a remarkable score of 8.84, resulting in their seventh Platinum Award from this prestigious organization. “Since its inception over a decade ago, MackinVIA has made great progress becoming the preferred digital content management system in schools around the world and has continued its technological growth to remain one of the world’s top choices. As a company, Mackin has always been known for their ingenuity and superior customer service. It’s no surprise that these motivating forces helped MackinVIA to be recognized and validated again,” remarked Troy Mikell, Director of
Marketing and Communications at Mackin.…Read More

Whitney Brothers® Introduces Nature View Mobile Book Browser

Keene, NH, – Award winning children’s furniture brand Whitney Brothers® today introduced the Nature View Mobile Book Browser, an imaginative interpretation of a standard book display for Early Learning environments that features a stunning waterfall image on the front and dry erase marker board on the back.

The exclusive design combines utility with beauty to entice children to pick a book and sit down by the serene brook for a peaceful read. The front features four graduated display shelves with a lip that provides stable book display and maximum front cover visibility. The back includes a dry erase marker board for drawing, writing, lessons or whatever the classroom activity entails. The browser is mounted on four heavy duty non-marking lockable casters and coordinates with all other furniture pieces in the
company’s award-winning biophilia-inspired Nature View Collection, an industry first in Early Learning furniture.

Scientific studies show that biophilic design helps to reduce stress, enhance creativity, focus clarity of thought and improve well-being, benefits that can foster a child’s deep connection to their learning environment and set a positive trajectory for future learning outcomes. The Nature View Collection by Whitney Brothers® now encompasses 35 separate furniture pieces that have earned product design
awards from Interior Design magazine, Spaces4Learning, GOOD DESIGN™ and Teacher’s Choice Award.…Read More

Microsoft and Optoma Partner to Offer Cloud Based Remote Management Solution for Audio Visual Displays

LAS VEGAS, June 8, 2022 – Optoma, a world-leading manufacturer of large visual display products, and the #1 DLP brand worldwide,* today announced its cloud version of the Optoma Management Suite (OMS)™, an intuitive display management solution, powered by Microsoft Azure, to streamline operations by monitoring, diagnosing, and controlling audio visual displays worldwide via a single platform.

Complimenting Optoma’s award-winning display products, the OMS remote management solution is compatible with other displays that are connected via PJLink, enabling easy integration into existing display fleets while offering differing levels of access and control for users, ensuring devices are securely managed.

“The collaboration with Optoma and Microsoft marks an important milestone in our IoT business’ partnership and boosts Optoma’s capabilities to focus on end customers and IoT operations at scale,” notes Jenna Lee, Head of Asia Technical Sales – Internet of Things (IoT) Solutions at Microsoft. “In strengthening our IoT partnership with Optoma through Azure IoT services, we aim to serve and empower Optoma’s IoT ambitions to enhance existing businesses, develop new opportunities at the global scale, and bring the best IoT solutions to the market.”…Read More

Slooh’s ‘Online Telescope for Families’ Brings the Wonder of Space Exploration to Homes Worldwide

Washington Depot, Connecticut, April 6, 2022 – Slooh, the only organization offering live online telescope feeds to students, is now making its award-winning learning platform and network of online telescopes accessible to families worldwide. Described by educators as “the complete package” that is truly “out of this world,” The Online Telescope for Families enables families to explore, capture, and analyze more than 1,000 real-world space objects and events using professional-grade technology together – all from the comfort of their homes.

“We want to make space exploration accessible to everyone, everywhere,” said Michael Paolucci, founder of Slooh. “For less than $10 a month, The Online Telescope for Families provides parents and children alike with an engaging – and fun – learning experience they can participate in together. Rather than having to buy expensive equipment that will end up collecting dust, families can now explore space just like real astronomers as they embark on starry expeditions, view and capture dynamic phenomenon, and ignite their love for space.”

Available for $9.95/month or $99/year, The Online Telescope for Families gives up to five family members control of a network of professional-grade online telescopes located in the Canary Islands and Chile. Families can book time on a telescope to view a specific space object or event or join other families in the Slooh community that have already reserved time to view and photograph astronomical phenomena.…Read More

“Biodegradable sanitary pad made out of dragon fruit peels designed by a team of Vientamese girls wins USD 100,000 in The Earth Prize 2022 competition!”

On Friday, March 25th, The Earth Foundation held a fully virtual event, The Earth Prize 2022 Awards Ceremony, to announce the winner and runners-up of the USD 200,000 environmental sustainability competition for teenagers. Team Adorbsies, made up of three young women – Quynh Anh (Dorothy), Uyen and Huyen, from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam – was proclaimed as the victorious recipient of the USD 100,000 grand prize that comes with The Earth Prize 2022 Winner title. The prize money will be split evenly between the team members and the educational program with which they registered for the competition, Summit Education.

The winning idea is the “Adorbsy” biodegradable menstrual pad. As the students explained in their submission, due to a drop in dragon fruit sales caused by the Covid pandemic, Vietnam was suddenly forced to deal with considerable amounts of unsold fruit, with an initial plan of simply burning it. The students had already been thinking of a project linked to making more eco-friendly menstrual pads – as they were virtually non-existent in the Vietnamese market – when Uyen learned about the absorbent properties of dragon fruit. This planted the seed for their Earth Prize project submission.

“This was a very difficult choice for The Earth Prize Adjudicating Panel to make; but Team Adorbsies’ project is an idea turned into a solution that can make a genuine difference”, said Rina Kupferschmid-Rojas, Chair of the Panel.…Read More

Osmo From BYJU’s Names Former WarnerMedia Executive Shawn Smith as Its First Global Head of Communications

Palo Alto, CA–March 23, 2022–Award-winning STEAM brand, Osmo from BYJU’S, announced today that former WarnerMedia executive Shawn Smith is joining its leadership team as its first-ever Global Head of Communications, effective immediately. Smith brings her extensive experiences leading multimillion dollar campaigns for global entertainment brands and franchises to the newly-created role. She will lead Osmo’s communications strategy and narrative messaging across all aspects of its business, including corporate communications and brand publicity campaigns. 

“As we continue to build the Osmo brand and bring more inspiring and impactful learning experiences to students around the world, we’re excited to have Shawn’s leadership and talent at the helm of our communications division at this exciting time in our company’s journey,” says Cherian Thomas, Senior Vice President of International Business at Osmo from BYJU’S. 

Smith most recently held the title of Executive Director of Publicity and Communications for WarnerMedia Global Brands and Experiences, where she developed global communications campaigns for DC franchises including Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, and more, and led franchise publicity campaigns for WarnerMedia’s animated properties such as Looney Tunes, Space Jam, Scooby-Doo, and other fan favorites from the Kids, Young Adults and Classics portfolio.…Read More

Family Of Mission-Led Educational Toy Companies To Support Children And Families In Ukraine

Vernon Hills, IL (March 9, 2022) – With thousands of children and families gravely affected by the conflict in Ukraine, the family of award-winning educational toy companies Learning Resources, Educational Insights, and hand2mind today announced they are providing support in numerous meaningful ways. Along with financial support, the companies are sending a number of educational toys and activity sheets translated into Ukrainian to benefit thousands of refugee children who are in desperate need of resources in their native language.

The family of companies is supporting relief efforts through United Hatzalah of Israel, a non-profit emergency response organization currently aiding families fleeing the war in Ukraine with medical assistance, psychological support, supplies, medicine, and food. A hand2mind employee, Elina Saksonova, Senior Graphic Designer originally from Kyiv, started a fundraising campaign for United Hatzalah to help families affected by the conflict in Ukraine. The campaign has already raised over $13,000 largely from employee contributions and the companies added another $20,000 to the total. The company’s Learning Resources UK office raised money for the British Red Cross serving Ukraine and set up a special project team to create local language, free educational worksheets working with partners located in the UK and Ukraine as well as Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. These partners have offered to help by translating and distributing the content, informing others of its availability, and providing toy donations of their own. The translated activity sheets will be available online and also delivered through local relief organizations serving in the region. 

“The war in Ukraine created a massive humanitarian crisis for thousands of families and children. Our team has a sense of urgency to offer meaningful support during this difficult time,” said Rick Woldenberg, CEO of Learning Resources and hand2mind. “With the help of our employees, partners, and local distributors, some of which are in Ukraine and the surrounding areas, we sprung into action. Our hope is to inspire others with our initiatives and support thousands of children and families in dire need right now.”…Read More

Osmo From BYJU’s Appoints Jonathan Naseath Chief Operating Officer To Lead Next Phase of Growth

Palo Alto, CA–Feb 23, 2022–Award-winning STEAM brand, Osmo from BYJU’S, announces Jonathan Naseath’s appointment as Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. With extensive experience in finance and operations, Naseath, CPA, CFE and CISA, will further Osmo’s global growth, creating operational excellence across the company and scaling the company’s vision of making a broader impact to education. 

“Jon is an energetic and passionate executive who will help take Osmo and Powered by Osmo businesses to the next level by solving complex issues of large scale organization management such as supply chain, logistics, finance, and creating centers of excellence,” says Cherian Thomas, Senior Vice President of International Business at Osmo from BYJU’S. “Furthermore, Jon will be instrumental in setting up our multidisciplinary teams for success in carrying out Osmo’s vision for the future.”

Naseath arrives at Osmo from Google Cloud, where he served as Cloud Value Advisor Senior Principal, and assisted the office of Google Cloud CFO to define the financial opportunity of cloud digital transformation. Between 2018 and 2020, Naseath was Chief Financial Officer and Transformation Leader at PCH International, which provides supply chain distribution and software as a service (SaaS) platforms to leading global brands. He advised on matters ranging from developing and implementing cash strategies, to overseeing global accounting, financial reporting, tax, compliance and regulatory teams. …Read More

Osmo From BYJU’s Names Peter Glovin Senior Vice President of Educational Sales

Palo Alto, CA–Award-winning STEAM brand, Osmo from BYJU’S, announces Peter Glovin’s appointment as Senior VP of Educational Sales, effective immediately. In this role, Glovin, a seasoned senior edtech sales executive, will develop and implement a U.S. sales strategy for the brand’s educational sales division, Osmo Education, as well as expand its sales team, targeting the Pre-K to Grade 5 education market. Osmo Education celebrated its fifth anniversary last March.

“Peter’s proven background in edtech sales and business development will undoubtedly help open doors for Osmo in the education field,” says Cherian Thomas, Senior Vice President of International Business at Osmo from BYJU’S. “While we’ve seen tremendous support from kindergarten and elementary teachers in the past five years who individually purchased Osmo to use inside classrooms across the country, we’d love to build sales and begin support for the education community at the district level.”

Glovin’s remarkable track record of success and longevity in sales is defined by his expertise in creating and implementing innovative sales programs, and providing targeted solutions for high-level customers. He was previously Senior Vice President of Sales at MIDAS Education where he led sales efforts for K-12, Higher Ed and Workforce development markets. …Read More

Lightspeed Wins a T.H.E. Journal 2021 New Product Award

TUALATIN, ORE. (PRWEB) DECEMBER 09, 2021– Lightspeed, a leading provider of powerful instructional audio solutions, announces the company’s Topcat instructional audio system wins a T.H.E. Journal 2021 New Product Award, winning platinum in the “Classroom Audio Distribution/Sound Enhancement” category.

T.H.E. Journal’s  2021 New Product Awards honor the outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered to be noteworthy in the transformation of education technology. Launched in 2020, the awards program recognizes leading product and services providers—like Lightspeed—in education. The 2021 awards program drew an impressive number of submissions.

Lightspeed’s Topcat, an all-in-one ceiling-mounted instructional audio system, produces an even distribution of sound throughout classrooms, ensuring students hear their teachers’ natural voices. The wireless audio integration makes installation simple and cost-effective for both new construction and existing classrooms. Plus, the Topcat now connects with life-safety systems ensuring building-wide communications are never missed.…Read More