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.

Vernier Science Education Launches Two New Sensors for High School and College-Level Environmental Science

BEAVERTON, Oregon — Adding to its robust data-collection offerings, Vernier Science Education has launched two new sensors for high school and college-level environmental science. Both of the wireless sensors—the Go Direct ® Pyranometer and Go Direct ® PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) Sensor—connect directly to student devices using the award-winning Vernier Graphical Analysis ® Pro app allowing students to easily collect and analyze scientific data as they think critically and make real-world connections. 

“These sensors give educators new ways to study solar energy and photosynthesis with their students,” said John Wheeler, CEO of Vernier Science Education. “Whether investigating how energy varies with clouds or the process of photosynthesis in aquatic and terrestrial environments, educators can engage their students in meaningful, hands-on learning with real world applications.”

The durable, weatherproof Go Direct Pyranometer allows students to measure the power of electromagnetic radiation. The sensor is sensitive to near infrared, visible, and UV radiation, where 90 percent of solar energy is concentrated. It notably reads in watts per square meter, which makes it ideal for experiments with solar cells and those that calculate their efficiency.…Read More

New Epson PowerLite and BrightLink Lamp-Free Laser Displays Now Available

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – Providing technology that seamlessly merges with today’s “always-on” classrooms and hybrid workplaces is imperative in today’s display market. Epson, the number-one selling projector brand worldwide,1 today announced 10 of its new PowerLite® and BrightLink® lamp-free laser displays are now available. Powered by Epson’s proprietary 3-chip 3LCD technology, the new models offer 4,000 to 4,600 lumens of equal color and white brightness2 to deliver big, bright images. The new lamp-free laser displays also come equipped with built-in enterprise level wireless connectivity, convenient collaboration tools, value-added software, and ultra-wide options to ensure all participants can see, interact and be seen.

“As display technology continues to develop rapidly across different environments, Epson remains devoted to advancing its technology to align with the growing industry trends,” said Remi Del Mar, senior product manager, Epson America, Inc. “Aiming to provide smaller and more user-friendly, lamp-free laser display technology, Epson continues to focus on flexibility, compatibility and large, impactful images. The current lineup integrates new tools for seamless collaboration, simpler one-on-one student device connectivity, easier setup, and moreover enable wall-size images from a single display that is conducive to student engagement.”

Transform ordinary walls into giant interactive tablets with almost 85 percent more display area than a 75-inch flat panel. Epson’s new BrightLink 760Wi and BrightLink 770Fi ultra-short throw interactive lamp-free laser displays deliver big, bright, colorful images for dynamic digital collaboration. Designed for ease-of-use in collaborative learning environments, educators can easily access interactive whiteboard tools with flexible installation options or use BrightLink’s built-in pen-based interactivity and optional touch functionality. Wireless connectivity with casting capabilities from PCs, Mac® computers, Chromebooks, and Android™ and iOS® devices,3 making it even easier for teachers and students to wirelessly display up to four screens simultaneously. The new BrightLink interactive displays are also compatible with frequently used software applications, including Office 365® and Google Workspace™, and are equipped with split screen support4 and whiteboard sharing to make collaboration easier. Additionally, educators regain access to their whiteboard when the projectors are not in use with the ability to display on a common whiteboard.…Read More

Listen EVERYWHERE Helps Student Fully Participate in Musical Theater

BLUFFDALE, UTAH – Listen Technologies Corporation, a leading provider of wireless listening solutions for 24 years, is proud to report that Listen EVERYWHERE has helped a high school student with hearing loss participate more fully in his school’s musical theater production of Anastasia.  

Fremont High School (Plain City, Utah) Senior Hayden Reeve has a cochlear implant and utilizes an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, but that was not enough to help him keep track of lines, songs, and other stage cues. For previous productions at other schools, Reeve would resign to signing just one musical piece because it was too difficult to keep up with everything happening on and off the stage. 

Paco Aguilar, a manufacturer’s representative and former Broadway sound engineer who consulted with Reeve’s teachers at Fremont High School, suggested the Listen EVERYWHERE assistive listening system to assist Reeve in participating more fully in productions. Listen EVERYWHERE streams live or recorded venue audio over Wi-Fi to smartphones.  …Read More

3 wireless technology trends to track in 2022

2021 was a year of tremendous challenges, but there were also incredible strides made in the world of wireless technology that have changed the way we live, work, and play–all for the better.

As technology evolves, there’s always plenty to be excited about. Today, over 300 million people have access to a 5G wireless network, so it’s hard to believe this innovation became available only three years ago. 5G has been described as a transformative technology, but most transformations happen steadily – they become “trends” that happen over time.

To that end, here are three trends I predict for 2022 that can have a lasting impact on families and businesses across the country.…Read More

New Epson BrightLink GoBoard Brings Advanced Connection and Collaboration to Classrooms as Breakthrough Software Solution

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – June 24, 2021 – Epson, the number-one selling projector brand worldwide,1 today announced a breakthrough software solution for enhanced lesson plans and student engagement – the BrightLink® GoBoard™ Wireless Collaboration and Integrated Whiteboard Solution. As a dynamic whiteboard solution, BrightLink GoBoard is equipped with a suite of collaborative features and included AirServer technology, allowing both students and teachers to share, annotate and stream mirrored content in real time. At the ISTELive 21 virtual event next week, Epson’s product manager Tom Piche will discuss the BrightLink GoBoard solution in more detail during Epson’s Solutions Snapshot sessions.

“BrightLink GoBoard is a powerful solution that transforms classroom whiteboards into creative canvases for students and teachers,” said Piche. “Epson’s BrightLink solutions aim to empower teachers with engaging and interactive tools, and BrightLink GoBoard adds another layer of collaboration to inspire, captivate and encourage student participation from anywhere in the room.”

BrightLink GoBoard is a full featured collaborative software solution that offers seamless integration with current BrightLink interactive display setups. The downloadable solution is simple and intuitive, allowing students and teachers to share content from Chromebook™, Windows®, iOS®, and Android™ devices. Created with convenience and student participation in mind, BrightLink GoBoard also works alongside popular video communication tools, such as Google Meet, Zoom and Microsoft Teams, so students at home can easily follow along.2…Read More

Wacom Intuos added to Chrome OS compatible tablet lineup

Tokyo, Japan and Portland, Ore – June 9, 2021 – Wacom announced today that its Wacom Intuos Small non-wireless model holds the Works With Chromebook certification, following the One by Wacom, certified earlier this year. Chromebook users, especially students and beginning creatives, have more options to start creating digitally, using a Wacom pen tablet with a growing number of drawing, painting and photo editing applications that work flawlessly on Chromebook.

“Chromebook has been attracting attention among education sectors and by those seeking new solutions for working from home. Wacom is currently working on expanding Chromebook compatibility to include further Wacom devices and bring its intuitive and natural pen technology to a fast-growing number of Chromebook users,” says Faik Karaoglu, Executive Vice President of Wacom’s Branded Business. “Combining an Intuos tablet and Chromebook also enables young creatives to unleash their full art and design potential with a number of drawing and painting apps. A long-term collaborative partnership with Celsys offers Wacom Intuos users an opportunity to create spectacular art with the renowned drawing application, Clip Studio Paint.”

Plug in and start creating…Read More

Carousel Digital Signage and ScreenBeam Bring Dynamic Content into Meeting Spaces and Classrooms

Integrated, enterprise-level and K-12 solutions keep displays fresh with digital signage after presentations and lectures conclude
 

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, May 6, 2021 – Carousel Digital Signage has partnered with ScreenBeam, a wireless display and collaboration solutions innovator, to keep meeting spaces and classrooms alive with digital signage content while screens are idle. The integrated solution converts ScreenBeam wireless presentation systems for enterprise and K-12 customers into Carousel Cloud media players upon conclusion of a presentation or lecture, creating an ideal digital signage solution for meeting spaces and classrooms.

“Today’s commercial 4K UHD displays beg to share content, yet most enterprise organizations only use them during presentations and lectures,” said JJ Parker, CEO, Carousel Digital Signage. “These events are precisely why displays exist within meeting spaces and classrooms, but too often they remain unused through the day. Carousel has partnered with ScreenBeam to bring life to screens that otherwise become black rectangles.”…Read More