eInstruction’s RF Wireless Chalkboard…It’s NEW and IMPROVED!

September 29, 2006

eInstruction RF Wireless ChalkboardOur NEW and IMPROVED eInstruction RF Wireless Chalkboard arrived in the mail last week and I opened it to, you know, just to take a peek. WOW, I couldn’t help myself! I had to take it out, feel it…play with it! I am a self-professed technology toy fanatic and love any new technology toys. This chalkboard was just so COOL!

It now has an incredibly sleek design, although sturdier, and offers increased resolution. Its Plug and Play capability gets you up and running with it quickly. The pen is now attached and recharges while docked on the chalkboard. The chalkboard itself works on both PC and Mac, although the software is PC compatible only.

The chalkboard now comes with EasiTeach software which includes lesson templates and discipline packets with sample lessons. Discipline-specific toolbars can even be purchased from EasiTeach. The software offers you a CPS plug-in, which allows you to vote using CPS without actually being in the CPS program.

In my opinion, this is one teaching tool that a teacher who uses their computer often during class shouldn’t be without. Not only does it allow you easy access to your computer and acts as an overhead projector/chalkboard/document camera while its at it, but it still gives you the mobility in the classroom that is so important to assist students or curb discipline problems.


Latest version of CPS for Mac OS X released…

September 27, 2006

eInstruction has released the latest version of CPS for Mac OS X. This release supports Gen2 hardware but does not support Intel-based Macs. eInstruction hopes to have an Intel-based Mac solution soon, but no date for that platform is available at this time.

CPS 1.33 includes the following new features:

  • Second generation RF compatible
  • Support for WebCT and Blackboard Higher Ed classes
  • Import/export between Mac and PC
  • Ability to rearrange lessons
  • Upgrades to the Verbal Questions feature

To download CPS 1.33:

1) Go to www.einstruction.com/downloads.

2) Choose CPS for Mac Full Release from the pulldown menu.

3) Click OK.

4) Choose your institution type and click Submit. Click the link for the Classroom Performance System. A popup menu appears; installation is complete.


eInstruction Announces Acquisition of FSCreations

September 27, 2006

Wow…did we ever get some big news this week! EInstruction put out a press release on Monday announcing the acquisition of FSCreations, Inc., the leading provider of time-saving educational software products (used by educators) for test preparation and administration, lesson planning, and student performance assessment.

It will be interesting to see what changes come out of this joint venture . . .

eInstruction Earns an A+ with Acquisition of FSCreations

Deal combines worldwide leaders in interactive classroom performance systems and educational software products

(Denton, TX, September 15, 2006) eInstruction Corp., the leading worldwide provider of interactive response systems to K-12 and higher-ed classrooms, today announced the acquisition of FSCreations, Inc., the leading provider of time-saving educational software products (used by educators) for test preparation and administration, lesson planning and student performance assessment. Founded in 1991 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio, FSCreations has developed and delivered many exceptional software products that help thousands of educators daily to improve student learning.

FSCreations’ core product, ExamView, is the industry standard test generator and assessment software – providing access to questions prepared directly by leading textbook publishers. Nearly 80% of all textbook publishers distribute ExamView with their textbooks which, in turn, are used by over 500,000 educators worldwide. The Company also offers a number of complementary software programs to help educators efficiently build question banks, administer tests and analyze results in minutes. These time-saving solutions include Learning Series, a robust question bank that is both topic and state standard aligned; a Learning & Test Center, allowing educators to post password protected ExamView tests and study guides online to encourage non-classroom learning; LessonView, allowing educators to build electronic lesson plans associated with national, state and local standards; and QuickTake, allowing educators to present interactive ExamView questions and receive instant group feedback.

 

“The acquisition of FSCreations is exceptionally strategic for eInstruction,” said Darrell Ward, Chief Executive Officer of eInstruction. “Not only does it significantly differentiate our interactive response pads in the marketplace – with direct access to leading publisher test banks through ExamView – it provides eInstruction with over 40 publisher relationships and 500,000 teacher introductions.”

FSCreations will become a subsidiary of eInstruction and will continue to be based in Cincinnati. Christopher R. Schaber, President and Co-Founder of FSCreations, stated that “the products, culture and values of the two companies are a natural fit. We believe that our products will be more competitive and more successful as part of a larger organization with a broader product line.” Ron Davies, eInstruction’s Chief Operating Officer, further described the strategic benefits of the acquisition noting, “Assessment and high quality content are critical elements of an effective response pad system. As market leaders, ExamView and eInstruction response pads make a very powerful combination and will help educators efficiently improve the learning environment.”

The leading worldwide provider of interactive response systems to K-12, higher-ed, corporate and military classrooms, eInstruction has over 2 million response pads (or “clickers”) in thousands of K-12 schools and over 700 universities in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Israel, Puerto Rico and Singapore. In fact, over 75 post-secondary colleges and universities nationwide have now standardized on the eInstruction technology platform across their entire campuses. With eInstruction’s infrared and radio frequency solutions, data is collected immediately from every student in seconds, allowing up to 1,000 students to simultaneously provide feedback that is compiled instantaneously into easy-to-interpret graphics.

 

The response pads also help narrow the gap between the most and the least successful students, as the technology levels the playing field and equalizes the opportunity to participate and succeed. Students can get a sense from the system of how well they are absorbing material and where the rest of the class stands. For students who are reluctant to speak out in class, the response pad is a great relief because it allows them to click and communicate in a much less intimidating manner than speaking out in front of peers.

 

About eInstruction Corporation

Based in Denton, Texas, eInstruction is a researcher, developer and manufacturer of educational products designed to enhance the learning process in educational environments through the use of computer-based technology, software and the Internet. eInstruction was founded in 1981 by Darrell L. Ward, PhD., a researcher and former teacher, who recognized a need for innovative technology-based products in schools. The company introduced its real time, interactive, wireless response pad technology, the Classroom Performance System (CPS), in 2000, and this innovation has helped distinguish eInstruction as the leader and preferred provider of cutting-edge products and technologies for the education market. Visit www.einstruction.com for more information.

About FSCreations, Inc.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, FSCreations is focused on enhancing the learning process. Founded in 1991, FSCreations has consistently delivered exceptional products and services to educators, publishers, corporations, parents and students alike. The combination of skillful software development and comprehensive understanding of the needs of educators, students and publishers has resulted in the successful delivery of many software products, including the industry-leading ExamView Assessment Suite. Visit www.fscreations.com for more information.


Moodle…Taking the Classroom Home

September 21, 2006

Familiar with Moodle? Yes, you heard me right…sounds like Doodle. The name hardly represents the complexity of this new open-source course management system. However, Moodle was originally an acronym for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment, which, yes, does sound complex. But don’t get me wrong, it’s not too complex for the K-12 teacher. The fabulous thing about this FREE software (yes, that is probably one of the most fabulous things) is that it can be scaled to a 50,000-student University or a single teacher in a small rural school. Many colleges have adopted Moodle and many K-12 teachers have started to implement Moodle in their classrooms.

Not only is this software useful for development of online classes, but consider blending this online approach with your regular classroom environment. Essentially, your students can take their classroom home. Learning doesn’t have to be confined to the walls of your school. Some of Moodle’s features include forums, quizzes, glossaries, resources, choices, surveys, assignments, real-time chats, and workshops. Whatever you choose to leave on your Moodle site will be accessible to your students not only at school, but also at home.

I have included a link here to a wonderful interview with Michelle Moore about Moodle. This is a great interview to listen to, especially if you really aren’t sure what Moodle is or what you can do with it.

Also, here are some example Moodle sites that have been created by teachers of different levels. Check them out and see what you can do!


Interview on CPS with Professor Dee Silverthorn, School of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin

September 18, 2006

This is a wonderful interview with Dee Silverthorn, a professor in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin. This was created by the Center For Instructional Technologies at UT and is an honest “From the Field” perspective on the Classroom Performance System.

The Quicktime movies do take a minute to stream, but they are worth the wait! One of my favorite parts of this link is seeing a college professor’s setup for using CPS in the classroom on a daily basis. She also uses Eric Mazur’s Peer Instruction Model in a blend with CPS. It is fabulous! Where was this when I was in college?

CPS Interview With Dee Silverthorn, professor in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin


Hello world!

September 18, 2006

Our first blog post! Ok, the website (www.engaging-technologies.com) is progessing and we are finally to a point where we can spend a little time blogging! My husband–Dustin–and I are continuously sharing sites and having “classroom techie” conversations at home, so this is finally a place where we can share those ideas and conversations with you!

We’ll let you know when we make updates to our site content, we’ll fill you in on special pricing from the lines of products that we market, and we’ll try to keep you up-to-date with some of the latest technologies teachers are using in the classroom. We hope to provide you lot of links here and hope you’ll provide us with your opinions and on the latest emerging technologies.

So…welcome to our blog! We hope you’ll keep coming back to visit!