Tool Factory has released Strumbie Island educational
software. Strumbie Island software and its accompanying
storybook are designed to help young and special-needs
students recognize,
understand, and appropriately express
their emotions. Five
interactive games and
activities cover topics
such as bullying and
self-esteem building.
Strumbie Island also
includes a storybook
that highlights emotive words, lesson plans for a full 10-
week teaching program, and curriculum links and resources.
Strumbie Island sells for $69.95 for a single license and
$529.95 for a network site license.
MORE INFO: www Toolfactory.com
CTB/McGraw-Hill has released an on-demand professional
development library to support the company’s Acuity
InFormative Assessments. Acuity PhD is a collection of online
professional development courses for teachers, assessment
coordinators, and administrators. Courses focus on using
Acuity assessment results to deliver targeted instruction and
improve student achievement. The one- to two-hour courses
target specific educator roles.
Gaggle has released a collection of new online collaboration tools for K– 12 teachers and students. The Gaggle App
tools are designed to help schools safely incorporate real-world innovations, such as social networking, texting, and
downloadable online videos, into education and meet technology standards without compromising security. Teachers
and schools have total control while promoting student communication and collaboration. Gaggle’s services include new
and enhanced online digital lockers, homework drop boxes,
message boards, blogs, live chat rooms, SMS texting, digital
document sharing,
social learning,
mobile phones,
and downloadable
online videos from
YouTube.
MORE INFO:
www.gaggle.net
Coming Next Issue in
Learning Together, Leading Together
North Carolina technology director Brenda
McCombs explains how her school district
achieved districtwide technology integration
through an ongoing professional development
program. During regular collaborative planning
sessions, teacher leaders who have mastered
the technologies help their colleagues, resulting
in staff buy-in and increased student engagement and achievement.
Is Technology Distracting Your Students?
How does the K– 12 educator compete with
tablets, cell phones, netbooks, and text messaging? How do we manage the distractive qualities
of technology in schools? Doug Johnson,
director of media and technology for Mankato
(Minnesota) Public Schools, answers these
questions and explains how teachers can use
these technologies in the classroom to improve
learning and teaching.
Lessons from New Zealand
In February, 13 members of ISTE’s Special Interest Group for Teacher Educators (SIGTE) traveled
across the globe on a SIG-sponsored study tour
to look firsthand at New Zealand’s approach to
leadership, teaching, and student experiences.
In this first installment of a three-part series,
discover the 21st-century skills found in New
Zealand’s key competencies.
