WHAT’Snew
Amplify Education has
unveiled an open
tablet-based learning
platform designed
for K– 12 education.
The platform, which
runs on a 10-inch Android tablet, offers schools a 1: 1 personalized learning device. Subscribing schools or districts
get preloaded educational software as well as reference
tools, customer service, professional development, and
school-level device management. Students get a mobile
learning device organized around their in-school courses
and out-of-school interests. For teachers, the tablet comes
with instructional tools to help plan lessons, prepare quizzes,
send assignments, share multimedia resources, and easily
manage all of their students’ devices.
MORE INFO: www.amplify.com
The Institute for Visual History and Education invites
students in the United States and Canada to take its IWitness
Video Challenge. The contest challenges secondary school
students to act on the legacy of the movie Schindler’s List
and do something positive in their communities, exemplifying
the film’s message that one person can make a difference.
Entrants must create a video essay one to four minutes long
using the video-editing tool on the IWitness website. Teachers
must sign up their students in the IWitness Video Challenge by
June 30, and students must submit video essays by October
31. USC Shoah Foundation will fly the IWitness Video Challenge winning student, a guardian/parent, and a teacher to
Los Angeles in March 2014 to screen the video essay as part
of the Institute’s 20th anniversary activities.
MORE INFO: iwitness.usc.edu/SFI
ISTE is releasing three books in June
and July. Help Your Child Learn with
Cell Phones and Web 2.0, the latest
title by Liz Kolb, is due out at the end of
June. It explores the many educational
functions of cell phones, such as audio
and video recording, brainstorming,
data collection, blogging, research, polling, and social activ-
ism. The book provides ideas for dozens of fun and engag-
ing educational activities that students can do using any
basic cell phone.
1-to- 1 at Home: A Parent’s
Guide to School-Issued Laptops
and Tablets by Jason Brand will
be available in July. This guidebook
addresses the home side of 1: 1
programs. The book gives parents
the language to keep conversations
on track and provides the perspec-
tives of other adults—educators
and parents—who have addressed similar challenges.
Interactive Whiteboards in the
Elementary Classroom by Tony
DeMonte will also be available in July.
It explains the flexibility and multimedia
aspects of interactive displays and
shows how they naturally lend them-
selves to presenting material in diverse
and reinforcing lessons. The author ex-
plores motivation strategies, classroom
management tips, and general guidelines for getting the
most from your interactive whiteboard.
MORE INFO: iste.org/store
Recognizing that movement hroughout the day can increase student atten- tiveness, Smith System has released the Flavors Noodle Chair, a seat that
responds to and tilts with the student. Flavors Noodle Chair
has a seat pan with a waterfall front and prominent cutouts
in the back so students can face all directions without moving the chair, making it ideal in collaborative learning environments. It is available in various colors and sizes.
L&L senior editor Diana Fingal compiled this information from press releases sent to the L&L editorial office. The L&L staff does not
review the products and resources, and they are offered here without recommendation. Send press releases to products@iste.org.
