Learning and Leading - February 2012

The children’s movie-making website Zimmer Twins.com
has launched a new site aimed at teachers and students.
Zimmer Twins at School bundles the moviemaker with
new teacher-friendly class man-
agement tools and privacy set-
tings designed specifically for
use in the classroom. The site’s
movie-making tool is designed
around elements of sentence
structure and creative expres-
sion, which reinforce reading and writing skills. With a wide
assortment of characters, props, and settings, Zimmer Twins
animations enhance almost any subject, including media
literacy, online safety and citizenship, history, social studies,
and the environment. A free basic membership allows teach-
ers to set up five student accounts and create up to 12 mov-
ies. Zimmer Twins at School VIP memberships unlock the full
potential of the site for $9.95 per month or $89.95 per year.

MORE INFO: www.zimmertwinsatschool.com.

Promethean has launched its next-generation Learner Response System,

ActivExpression2. More than a clicker, the ActivExpression2 is equipped with a QWERTY keyboard and has full text capability, allowing students to easily answer in full text or multiple choice as well as other input modes. The new version has a larger screen to accommodate both questions and answers, and it comes with a mathematical equation editor.

MORE INFO: www.prometheanworld.com/server.php?show=nav.22357

Griffin Technology has launched the Stylus + Pen + Laser Pointer, a tool for the projection screen and touchscreen as well as for paper. This tool features a soft rubber tip designed to mimic the press of a finger, giving users more control as they write, sketch, tap, and drag on iPads, iPhones, and other touchscreen surfaces; an integrated laser pointer for screen presentations; and a refillable ballpoint pen for writing on paper.

MORE INFO: http://store.griffintechnology.com/stylus-pen-laser-pointer ISTE has released two new titles this month designed for school leaders—

MORE INFO: iste.org/store

Student-Centered Instruction As districts struggle to do more with less, how can school leaders provide students with the digital age skills they will need to succeed? Officials from the Virtual High School Global Consortium offer strategies and free web-based resources that enable a more teacher-efficient and student-centered approach to classroom instruction.

Digital Design for Elementary Schools How can schools teach STEM subjects along with the more right-brain skill of creativity? Sheena Vaidyanathan of Los Altos School District in California, USA, writes about the district’s digital design program. Rather than learning about technology or learning with it, students in this innovative program focus on creativity and innovation through technology.

Multitasking: Boon or Bane?

Use Online Courses to Bolster Options For many rural school districts with limited staffs, online learning is a lifeline that bolsters enrichment choices for advanced students and helps struggling students retake courses they need to graduate. Don Brown, from Lane Education Service District in Oregon, USA, writes about four rural districts that have tailored online learning to fit their unique situations.