THE Journal 2016 Readers' Choice Awards

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Our tech-savvy readers name their favorite technologies in dozens of categories, from flipped learning software to tablets and convertible laptops.

Educators and staff who work in schools and districts are a busy group. When they're not keeping kids on track, communicating with parents or cultivating their own skills, somehow they're expected to stay on top of technology that can help them do all of those jobs better. With that in mind THE Journal offers its second-annual Readers' Choice Awards. We went out to our readership and requested their votes in numerous categories. People told us about their favorite products — from 3D printers to anti-virus to assessment and augmented reality headsets to student information systems to videoconferencing and wireless access points.

Top 10 Favorite Technologies Currently Used

We also asked readers in an open-ended question to share their three favorite technologies they currently use in their capacity as education professionals. We added those choices up, figured out which ones garnered the largest number of votes and ranked them by count. Two companies kept popping up: Apple, for its hardware, and Google, for its software. After those choices, people expressed their affection for interactive whiteboards, literacy education technology company Lexia, and, more broadly, having as many computing devices in the classroom as possible. Multiple companies were named that also showed up as winners in other categories — with two exceptions. Mimio Boxlight sells all products interactive — whiteboards, touch boards, projectors, flat panels, ink capture and software. Edsby offers an online learning management system with data reporting and analytics.

Interactive whiteboards, particularly from Promethean

Best Interactive Whiteboard, Display, Flat Panel or Kiosk

As was true with the previous category, this one also perfectly matches last year's results. Even as projection technology is merging and expanding, the votes mostly went to platinum winner Smart Technologies, which long ago outgrew its interactive whiteboard roots to produce interactive displays, learning software and dry-erase whiteboards whose contents can be saved and shared. Promethean took gold with its popular collection of interactive whiteboards, walls and tables. Epson, silver winner, doesn't offer a whiteboard per se; but then again, with its interactive projector technology BrightLink in place, who needs one?

• Gold: Promethean

Best Classroom Audio Distribution/Sound Enhancement System Maker

Few would question the need for audio technology in a college classroom. So we're a bit boggled by how few K-12 classrooms provide the same gear. After all, audio and sound enhancement products can help the teacher preserve his or her voice when classroom interactivity is at its loudest (and most rewarding) level. Three of four winners showed up in last year's tally, although in different orders. First comes Lightspeed Technologies in platinum position with its multimedia hub for amplifying audio. Smart, succeeding with gold, offers a couple of classroom amplification systems that integrate with its interactive whiteboards. Silver was a tie between Califone, which specializes in the "sounds of education," and FrontRow, which accommodates all kinds of important sound in the school building: intercoms, paging bells, mass notification, classroom audio, lesson sharing and audiovisual controls.

• Platinum: Lightspeed Technologies

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