eInstruction's 2010 Classroom Makeover Contest

Get your cameras ready because eInstruction is holding its 4th Annual Classroom Makeover Video Contest. To enter, students will create a short music video demonstrating how they would use the technology won to enhance their learning experience. They can parody an existing song or create an entirely new one. Make it fun, creative, and focused on technology in the classroom

This year, the contest is global so Canadians can enter too (excluding Quebec). The grand prize is an interactive classroom worth up to $75,000 USD. The are dozens of secondary prizes from great technology sponsors. A panel of judges will select a grand-prize winner from three categories; grades K-5 (4-10 year olds), grades 6-8 (10-14 year olds), and grades 9-12 (14-18 year olds).

Submissions will be accepted between August 23 and November 2, 2010 so start creating today! For full contest details visit the official contest page.

Mapmaker's Toolkit

Help your students develop mapping and geography skills as they construct and interpret both modern and historical maps using Mapmaker's Toolkit.

There is a wide selection of world, continent, country and state maps from which to choose. Each map has physical and political features to display. Each map has many facts and much detail, such as population density, crops, industries agriculture and much more.

While using this software, students will develop a better understanding of map symbols, grid systems, scales and legends. Plus, they can use the historical maps to help them visualize where important events took place.

Paper Mate Biodegradable

The new Paper Mate Biodegradable ball-point pen and mechanical pencil can decompose within about a year in soil or home compost.

The pens and pencils are made from Mirel, a bioplastic derived from corn sugar, an annually renewable agricultural resource. Mirel has the same heat, moisture and sweat resistant properties as plastic.

This pen delivers a smooth ink flow, vivid colour, and has a comfortable grip. The pen and pencil can both be refilled, making them more environmentally friendly. When finished, simply disassemble the pens and pencils as instructed on the package and bury the biodegradable components (the majority of the pen) in soil or home compost.

MAGIX K-12 Academic Suite

Add a little MAGIX to education!

Movie Edit Pro Plus 15 is loaded with powerful editing tools, a intuitive user interface, and advanced MAGIX Pro-Audio dubbing technology, Movie Edit Pro Plus 15 will let you transform all your videos or pictures into movies. With the simple press of a button you can upload your creations to YouTube.

With, Music Maker 15 creating music is made easy. Preloaded with an extensive sound pool including some 1,500 sounds and loops and authentic virtual instruments that sound just like the real thing. Remix your favourite song, or edit an original creation, and then burn and share your projects.

MAGIX Xtreme Photo & Graphic Designer 5 combines professional image editing and intelligent graphic design for photos, bitmaps and vector graphics. It includes one-click photo optimization, sophisticated bitmap editing and intelligent vector graphics.

To purchase MAGIX's K-12 Academic Suite for the academic price, please visit JourneyEd

Adobe Photoshop Elements

Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 combines power and simplicity so you can easily tell compelling stories with your photos. Create unique, personalized photo books, scrapbook pages, greeting cards, slide shows, and more. Make all your photos look extraordinary with powerful yet easy-to-use editing options.

Snap one photo with flash on and one with flash off and Photomerge Exposure will combine the shots into a single, perfectly lit photo. The Auto-Analyzer automatically tags your media so you can quickly find your most interesting, highest quality photos and video footage. Find your subjects in a flash with People Recognition, which automatically identifies the people in your shots.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 is available for Windows and Mac operating systems. 
Remember to take advantage of Adobe's educational pricing.

speckFINDER HD Digital Computer Microscope

The speckFINDER HD is a digital computing microscope that offers high magnification quality. It incorporates the microscope, camera, and computer monitor into one compact piece of equipment. The unit has a Windows XP operating system built-in allowing users to work with and store images.

The speckFINDER HD offers high resolution and a full color display monitor. Its wide viewing angles allow multiple users to view at once. The flat panel is ideal for teaching and can be easily moved when not being used.

Additionally, its ergonomic design helps to reduce the stress placed upon the body as with conventional microscopes.

Epson BrightLink 450Wi

The Epson BrightLink 450Wi is an interactive projector that turns any standard whiteboard or smooth wall into an interactive learning area. This classroom tool is a cost-effective way for educators to integrate interactive capabilities without purchasing dedicated interactive whiteboards.

BrightLink allows networked presentations so educators can include several classrooms in one lesson. It is compatible with virtually any interactive software program.The project also features “USB Plug 'n Play” that projects images from a Windows PC or Mac computer via a USB connection.

Lastly, the BrightLink 450Wi has speaker and microphone input that allows teachers to use a microphone to amplify voice using the internal speaker.

Interwrite Mobi System

The Interwrite Mobi and Interwrite Mobi System is an interactive white board system tablet designed to support student-centered, collaborative learning, designed and produced by eInstruction.

The Interwrite Mobi system has wireless connectivity and works with existing computers and projectors. Each includes one tablet for instructors, two tablets for students, a charging dock and security station, and Interwrite Workspace software. The tablets are light weight in design and ergonomic and up to nine tablets can work together simultaneously. Single InterWrite Mobis can be charged by connecting to a computer using a USB cable.

The tablet features a Kwik Screen, a 2.4” color LCD display, which instantly reports student responses when used with eInstruction's Classroom Performance System.

SAMCAM 860

The SAMCAM 860 is a new document camera with high-end features that is affordable.

Features of the include: optical Image with 1.4 megapixel resolution, larger aperture lens that provides a total of 48x zoom with 6x optical zoom plus 8x digital zoom, video and image recording, SD memory card - up to 32GB, built-in microphone with optional microphone jack, built-in LED lamp, microscope adapter and macro setting, can be used with virtually any whiteboard.

The SAMCAM 860 can be used as a web cam that connects directly to applications such as Windows Moviemaker, and GradeCam. SAMCAM 860 is PC and Mac compatible and comes with a remote control.

Tool Factory: Assessing for Disabilities Bundle

Tool Factory's Assessing for Disabilities Bundle includes a number of programs for students experiencing a variety of disabilities, using researched-based norms.

The bundle includes assessments in reading, math, emotions, and sensory awareness across a full range of ability levels. Educators can assess students' level of Dyscalculia, or Dyslexia

A student's range of emotional awareness can also be determined with Emotional Literacy Screener. Assess whether students understanding their own emotions, and how those emotions affect others.

Sylvan Dell eBooks

It is safe to say that in the future the grand majority of books will be eBooks.  Sylvan Dell is now offering eBook formats of all their hardcover and softcover texts.

Their eBooks are accessed online and feature: auto-flip, auto-read, 3D page flipping, and selectable English and Spanish text and audio. The eBooks can also be viewed using smartboard technology or projectors.

A one-year site license provides unlimited access to all Sylvan Dell eBooks. The license can be used on all school computers and can be shared with parents to access the eBooks at home.

Skoolee

Skoolee is a web-based school management systems for educators. Skoolee's management system allows you to spend less time on administrative tasks.

Some of Skoolee's features include a scheduler where users can view by teaching hours or extra-curricular activities, a lesson-planning feature that allows teachers to build and upload lesson plans for different courses and classes, and much more.

Plus, there is an "agenda" that can be accessed by all students, and in one simply click, assignments can be handed out and viewed by the students.