Source: 

Software & Online

KNOMADIX
(www.knomadix.com)

Knomadix introduced a customizable, interactive learning platform that converts static content such as PDFs and videos into fully interactive, dynamic content. This approach to teaching allows educators to create personalized lessons that integrate mobile devices into workflows and maximize the power of digital devices in today’s classrooms. District-level and school-level Instructional specialists, as well as teachers, can transform static PDF or video resources into engaging dynamic content such as interactive worksheets with instant feedback, automatic grading, and differentiated instruction; multimodal, gamified content; customized instructional videos with embedded activities and assessments; and virtual interactive manipulatives, including number board, geometry toolbox, and multimedia flashcards, that deepen student engagement.

ORMI
(www.ormi.exou.com)

EXO U announced the North American launch of Ormi, its new BYOD teaching platform. Ormi (meaning “momentum” in Greek) was designed to minimize steps and eliminate common interruptions experienced by teachers when attempting to integrate mobile devices into classroom lessons. Teachers and students (when given permission) can share content to individuals, groups, a central display, or the entire class. Students and teachers can also collaborate through group messaging and sharing. As an added bonus, setting up Ormi takes less than two minutes. The platform works with or without internet access and does not require upgrades to existing network infrastructure. Student devices remain tethered to the classes they are used in, so there is no need to reconnect and lose time at the start of every lesson or day. An activity manager enables teachers and students to immediately return to any class or content from the previous week.

Apps

BLOOMZ APP
(www.bloomz.net)

Bloomz introduced its mobile and Web app that connects teachers with today’s mobile and social-media-savvy parents. The app saves teachers time by integrating communication, coordination, and community-building tools—all in one easy-to-use app. Bloomz allows teachers to connect with parents by sharing photos and updates about the day’s activities, and can also send announcements for assignment due dates, reminders of registration deadlines, or alerts for urgent matters. Its integrated class calendar gives school communities one place where they can coordinate with parents, whether planning class activities, organizing field trips, or tracking parent-teacher conference signups. Bloomz also empowers parents to collaborate with each other, volunteer, and participate in these school activities.

Hardware

Promethean (www.prometheanworld.com/activwall) released the next generation of its ActivWall System. The widescreen surface of the new ActivWall product line is designed as a comprehensive collaborative learning solution, offering multi-touch interactivity, HD viewing, and dry-erase writing. Directly from the home screen, teachers can browse the Web, start a white-boarding session, and wirelessly connect to mirror their devices, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops to the surface. The ActivWall system includes a widescreen interactive surface, a DLP solid-state projector, built-in speakers, interactive software, and a wireless mirroring system.

Lightspeed Technologies (www.lightspeed-tek.com) released a new line of classroom audio solutions featuring Access Technology, designed for the full-access, collaborative classroom. The 955 Access component-based system supports whole-room instruction, while delivering clarity and even distribution of sound throughout the classroom. The Access Link lets teachers add wireless microphones to virtually any amplifier and speaker system, and works in any classroom configuration and at long distances. The third solution, Flexcat, is a two-way audio communication system designed for small-group instruction. It consists of a wireless microphone and earpiece for the teacher and multiple two-way audio pods equipped with a microphone and a speaker for each small student group.