LMS application brought to iPhone

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April 7, 2009

Ed tech developer, Blackboard, has released a new LMS tool for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch. The free application, Blackboard Learn for Apple iPhone, allows users to access information in their Blackboard accounts and to receive notices through their iPhones. The new application is Blackboard's first entry into iPhone development. It lets users receive alerts about grades, tests, and assignments and access various other kinds of information and resources, such as course materials, rosters, course maps, and other educational tools. Students can only receive information from courses in which they're registered, and administrators have the option of limiting or blocking access to certain types of information.

'Many students and learners today live in a mobile world, and now they can learn in one too,' said Michael L. Chasen, president and CEO of Blackboard, in a statement released today. 'The iPhone application is part of our focus to help students more deeply engage in the educational experience by creating learning opportunities that are not bound by time or place.' Blackboard Learn for Apple iPhone is available now through the Application Store and it can be downloaded free of charge.

Stem Learning through Video Game competitions in the US

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April 7, 2009

Supporting President Obama's call for a renewed focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA), Microsoft Corporation, and the MacArthur Foundation today announced a suite of multi-faceted efforts to engage and motivate students in STEM learning. The organizations will work to harness the excitement surrounding computer and video games through a series of STEM-related video game design competitions.

Two national video game competitions will be launched soon. These would include Game Changers. This competition is a component of the 2010 Digital Media and Learning Competition, a US$2 million annual effort funded by the MacArthur Foundation that advances the most innovative approaches to learning through games, social networks and mobile devices. SCEA, in cooperation with ESA and ITI, will team with MacArthur to support the competition, which will result in the creation of new game play experiences that enhance STEM principles using new discoveries on an existing popular video game, LittleBigPlanet(TM), winner of numerous 'game of the year' awards in 2008. Additionally, SCEA will donate 1,000 PlayStation(R)3 (PS3(TM)) systems and copies of LittleBigPlanet(TM) to libraries and community based organizations in low-income communities and make the winning levels available to game players at no cost.

LSE and ITIDAITIDA launches ‘Beyond BRIC’ report in London

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April 7, 2009

The Outsourcing Unit at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and ITIDAITIDA, the Information Technology Industry Development Agencythe Information Technology Industry Development AgencyInformation Technology Industry Development Agency. ITIDA of Egypt today launched the 'Beyond BRIC' Report in Central London. The study, researched independently by the LSE over 5 months, provides an original analysis of the offshoring competitiveness of 14 non-BRIC countries setting Egypt within the context of these locations. The ITIDAITIDA-commissioned study was presented at the launch by Professor Leslie Willcocks, Director of the LSE Outsourcing Unit. Also present was Hazem Abdelazim, CEO of ITIDAITIDA who spoke about Egypt's continuing progress as a global offshoring location.

The Report's findings suggest that Egypt's investment strategy in education, infrastructure and IT is paying off and is attracting offshoring and outsourcing business. Egypt scored particularly highly in terms of attractiveness of its low cost base, skilled workforce and market potential. Beyond BRIC utilised the LSE Outsourcing Unit's database of 1,000 plus global sourcing IT, BPO and offshoring studies from 1993-2009 as well as interviews with 50 plus client organisations, suppliers and analysts to compare Egypt with the following countries: Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Belarus, Morocco, Tunisia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Venezuela, Vietnam and the Philippines. According to Professor Leslie Willcocks, 'The Beyond BRIC study sheds new light on the global offshoring industry outside of traditional outsourcing markets, such as India. Egypt fared particularly well

HSC, SSC results likely to be announced early by Maharashtra Board

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April 7, 2009

Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams conducted by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Education likely to announce the results as scheduled earlier. HSC results will be announced by May 25. Dates for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) results may also be advanced by a week. HSC results are usually announced in the first week or second week of June, followed by SSC results. 'We are planning to announce results early, it will be helpful for students to get admission. The board will have to work out several things before announcing the date,' said Shridhar Salunkhe, Mumbai Divisional Chairperson. This year several students were caught copying during the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and Secondary School Certificate (SSC) in Mumbai, Thane and Raigad. 55 students were caught by supervisors. Letters of appreciation will be given to the supervisors by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, informed Shridhar Salunkhe.

Text book on Human Ecology and Family studies approved for schools

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April 7, 2009

National Monitoring Committee (NMC) has approved the proposal of National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to introduce textbooks on 'Human Ecology and Family Sciences (HEFS) for class XI.

Department of Women Studies of NCERT has developed the two-year syllabus. 'The book deals with issues like principles of social justice, gender sensitivity, diversity and plurality in urban and rural areas, concerns of homeless and low resources,' said Sushma Jaireth, Co-ordinator of textbooks. The content of the book has taken from five areas such as food and nutrition, human development and family studies, fabric and apparel, resources management and communication and extension.

Awareness on cancer should begin in primary school

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April 7, 2009

'Catch them young,' was the advice that former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had for oncologists at Delhi. Expressing concern at lung cancer being caused chiefly by tobacco and alcohol consumption, the people's president advocated that awareness about the evils be spread among children from the primary-school itself. 'Since 90 % of lung cancer cases owe their origin to tobacco smoking, there is a need to accelerate the campaign against tobacco and alcohol consumption. Cancer awareness should, therefore, start early… in primary school itself, Kalam said at a conference on lung cancer at the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute here on Sunday.

This may keep children from falling prey to tobacco consumption who generally adopt these habits from their elder siblings or parents. In India, about 30,000 new lung cancer cases are registered every year. At present, there are about 50,000 lung cancer cases prevailing in India.

200,000 Teachers to be trained in ICT by Microsoft

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April 7, 2009

Under Ministry of Education and Microsoft partnership, over 200,000 teachers will be equipped with computer skills in a bid to modernize and improve learning using technology in the classroom. This was disclosed by the Minister of Education Namirembe Bitamazire and Microsoft officials during the Uganda National Innovative Education Forum held last week at Hotel Africana in Kampala. The minister said the project will benefit underprivileged schools since it will now be possible for schools to share information and good teachers using advanced technology. 'This project will help bridge the gap in performance between rural schools and urban schools. It will be possible for many schools to share one teacher online and the excuses of rural schools not performing well because of under qualified teachers and lack of resources won't come up anymore,' said Bitamazire.

The project will see ICT integrated in the school curriculum from the primary level up to university. It will also introduce new teaching and learning skills such as the use of smart boards in class instead of the traditional blackboards and establishment of digital libraries. 'This is a very big project that will benefit many Ugandans and I cannot even quantify it in terms of money. We want to provide comprehensive systems bringing together people, practices and technology to provide quality education,' said Mark Matunga the education and citizenship programme manager Microsoft East and Southern Africa. The officials said this project will also be made possible by the arrival of the Seacom fibre optic cable that will improve the national telephony backbone. This will also cut down internet costs by almost 10% and increase the speed. The five-year project will be implemented in partnership with Makerere University Faculty of Information and Communication Technology and ICT Consults Ltd.

Creating an Innovative Technology Ecosystem : Mohammed Ghouse, Scientech Technologies Pvt. Ltd

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April 6, 2009

Scientech Solutions are comprehensive soltions such as innovative Interactive portable solution eBeam, which doesn`t restrict one to size as it creates an interactive workspace of 100″ Diagonal. Its purely Plug n Play and light weight. Mohammed Ghouse, Manager
(Analyst & Media),

Scientech Technologies Pvt. Ltd. talks more…

“Our Corporate line “Innovative Technology Ecosystem” Testifies our philosophy. Scientech was always associated with Education segment.”

Scientech started out as a company manufacturing Test & Measurement Instruments. What was the motivation behind the shift to education solutions?

Our Corporate line “Innovative Technology Ecosystem” Testifies our philosophy. Scientech was always associated with Education segment .

Digital Learning is just a community of our Innovative Ecosystem. Our Ecosystem will have all forms of learning / training systems. Our Innovative Ecosystem consists of wide range of products to cater the needs of education from Classroom to lab & For K12 to IIT`s.

What are the major functionalities that differentiate the Scientech Solutions from other White Boards?

Scientech Solutions are comprehensive solutions such as innovative Interactive portable solution eBeam, which doesn`t restrict one to size as it creates an interactive workspace of 100″ Diagonal. Its purely Plug n Play and light weight. It can be easily paired with wireless tablet and comes with dual input feature. And unique add-ons, such as Document Camera, Livewire, etc. makes it a best ICT product.

Scientech Technologies is the global manufacturer of technology training products, which keeps us ahead of other competitors.

Tell us about your new products for the education sector.

The new product is eBeam Document Camera. The eBeam Focus 150 document camera allows users to view and digitize real-world material instantly and import the content directly into eBeam Scrapbook. Capture snapshots or video of text, physical objects, and even people and import them into Scrapbook with the click of a button.

The eBeam Inscribe 200e wireless tablet allows users to perform familiar mouse functions and utilise all the features and functionality of standard software applications from anywhere in a conference room, classroom, or large meeting space. The tablets are lightweight and compact; yet provide ample workspace for efficient desktop and program navigation and input.Through a seamless integration with eBeam Scrapbook, the Inscribe 200e offers a unique dual input feature with the tablet and the Interactive Stylus. Also, while someone is drawing in Scrapbook with the tablet, someone at the board can simultaneously use full mouse-functionality to drag in images, edit strokes, or set up a shared meeting.

eBeam LiveWire, Simply connects the eBeam receiver to any PC via LiveWire and run eBeam software directly from the cable

SMART Board: Getting Smarter on ROI : Terry wason, Russia & India SMART Technologies

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April 6, 2009

“Notebook software is included with the purchase of a SMART Board and many other SMART products and it is offered in 44 languages, including Hindi.”

Tell us about the Interactive White Board technology produced by SMART Technologies.

SMART invented the Interactive White Board and sold the first SMART Board in 1991.

The SMART Board combines the simplicity of a White Board with the power of a computer. The board is touch-sensitive and connects to a computer and digital projector to allow a user to access and control any computer application or Internet resource by simply touching the board’s surface.

The SMART Board itself connects to a computer with a USB cable to send input information from the board and to draw the power it needs from the computer. When you connect a digital projector to your computer, you can project the computer image onto the SMART Board. SMART technology allows you to use your finger as a mouse or write overtop of applications with digital ink.

How is it beneficial for students?

There have been several studies that show, learning outcomes have improved with the use of Interactive White Boards and proper teaching techniques. The most notable studies have come from the University of Virginia, Becta (UK) and European Schoolnet. Anecdotally, many customers comment on gains in performance up to 15 percent.

In general, these studies show that use of Interactive White Boards

// improve student engagement,
// improve motivation and attendance,
// support different learning styles
and special needs,
// improve review and retention,
// improve teacher productivity.

What makes SMART IWBs different from other IWBs available in the market?

There are several factors that distinguish SMART Boards from others: SMART is and has always been the leading supplier of Interactive White Boards in the world. The latest independent research shows that SMART sells more Interactive White Boards than all our competitors combined a 53.2 percent product category share. Part of the reason for that continued leadership is that our SMART Boards are easy to use and include the award- inning Notebook software. And we recently announced a new feature: all new SMART Boards now aveTouch Recognition. When a pen is touched to the board, ink appears. When touched with a inger, the board automatically switches to touch mode and the finger acts like a mouse. When the eraser or a palm is used on the board, ink can be erased – all this without having to return the pen to the tray. In effect, this feature mimics the way someone would use a dry rase board or a chalkboard.

How have you calculated the feasibility of SMART IWBs in he Indian scenario? The SMART Board Interactive White Boards and the SMART Notebook ftware that comes with the boards can help close the digital divide by providing access to a 1st-century education. We have introduced e SMART Board V280, which is more sonably priced, but still comes with the powerful SMART Notebook software; it offers a viable option for areas of the world that wants the benefits of SMART’s awardwinning products at a more affordable cost.
Tell us about the SMART Notebook software.
SMART Notebook software is any easyto- use application that allows teachers to add interactivity to lessons through an array of powerful education tools and resources. The latest version of one of the most popular collaborative learning software products in the world now includes access to more than 100,000 new pieces of educational content and an updated teachers’ resource hub, which connects teachers to hundreds of lesson activities and offers tools that help them use Notebook oftware more effectively. Notebook software is included with the purchase of a SMART Board and many other SMART products and it is offered in 44 languages, including Hindi. Every school day, millions of teachers and students around the world experience the way Notebook software integrates seamlessly with the SMART Board. New features are regularly added, built on feedback provided by teachers and students. To give you an idea of the popularity of Notebook – in 2008, its English-language lesson activities, the Lesson Activity Toolkit for Notebook, and question sets for our Senteo interactive response system, were downloaded more than 1,500,000 times. Full versions of Notebook software are available for all three major operating systems – Linux, Windows and Mac. the effective use of classroom technology, and especially Interactive White Boards, results in significant improvements in student learning outcomes. In addition, many ducators and political leaders identify education as a key priority and driver of improved conomic environments. Preparing students for the 21st century technology-driven orkplace will help drive economic prosperity over the long term. Finally, IWBs in particular are among the most cost-effective investments to bring technology into a classroom in a way that reaches all students. At an affordable cost, a teacher can deliver engaging lessons to a hole class of students on a variety of subjects, in a variety of levels and learning styles, for any years. There are not many other purchases that provide better return on investment. MART is prepared to work with education officials in India to ensure as many teachers and tudents as possible have access to our classroom technology.

Tell us about your journey so far nd your roles and responsibilities in your present capacity.
I was born and raised in ndia. I worked in the telecommunications industry in India for nearly ten years before I igrated to Calgary, Canada in 2000. I worked for a Calgary based company – called Wi-LAN nc, a wireless equipment manufacturer and a pioneer in WIMAX technology. I joined SMART n April 2006 as their International Channel Manager or Central and Eastern Europe. I have lso handled Asia Pacific region at SMART and since the summer of 2008 I have been responsible for India and South Asia as well. In the near future I foresee myself focusing all my ime on India and South Asia.\\

Hitachi StarBoard: A Durable Fullback : Tarun Jain, Hitachi

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April 5, 2009

It is just a matter of time before Interactive White Boards get perceived as a classroom imperative. There is a lot of scope for consumer education in India, says, Tarun Jain, Country Head, Hitachi Home Electronics Asia (S) Pte. Ltd.,Singapore.

Do you think Interactive White Board is a feasible option keeping in view India’s education scenario and its vast inadequacies?

Market research indicates that India is one of the hottest markets for interactive-whiteboard technology. Hitachi’s interactive whiteboards, the StarBoard Series has been received very well in India due to its versatile and user friendly software as well as engaging multimedia capabilities. Educational institutes that have deployed our technology have witnessed clearly visible enhancement in quality of student-teacher engagement and productivity. Most importantly, Hitachi StarBoards are very high on durability which usually proves to be the Achilles heel of most Interactive White Boards.

How advanced is the Starboard FX Series compared to other brands in the market? How does it seek to revolutionise the learning environment?

The strengths of the StarBoard FX Series lie in its durability, ease of use and feature-rich software. For example, even if the StarBoard gets dented for any reason, it will continue to work as the StarBoard, which does not have wires embedded on the board itself. The DuoBoard that we have just launched enhances ease of use by making it possible to write on the board using the finger or any other object, in addition to the digital pen. There are also many interesting features of the StarBoard software that uniquely make teaching as well as learning an engaging experience.

In what ways does the Wireless Tablet add on to the interactivity of a Starboard?

With the wireless Hitachi BT-2G Bluetooth tablet students and teachers can work on the board from anywhere in the classroom or while moving around in the classroom. It essentially offers the convenience of teaching or presenting from anywhere in the classroom. This helps significantly increase student-teacher interactivity, as well as enhancing the engagement of the students with the subject matter on the board.

Why is there a segmentation between Hitachi’s K-12 solutions and solutions for higher education?

This segmentation comes from the nature of teaching classrooms. In the case of classrooms for K-12, we’re promoting FX-Series, instead of the normal white/black board. In case of higher education places like universities, we’re promoting T-17SXLG for the auditorium or lecture hall.

What does the Cambridge-Hitachi joint venture seek to achieve?

Hitachi has allied with distributors based on their expertise. HCL distributes HITACHI StarBoards to the government sector, while there are other distributors who are supplying to the corporates and private educational institutes.

Do you think the Indian market is matured enough to accept technological innovations like White Boards, tablets, etc. What is your forecast for 2009, given a global slowdown?

India is one of the fastest growing markets for Interactive White Board technology in India and Hitachi is bullish about it. Our sales indicate that the recession has not dented demand. The government sector is going strong. Since education has inelastic demand, our sales from the education sector have also not been dented. Of course, there is still a lot of scope for consumer education in India, but we feel that as educational institutes in India are getting more technology savvy, it is just a matter of time before Interactive White Boards get perceived as a classroom imperative, rather than a luxury. We look forward to maintaining our growth momentum in 2009.

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