Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/455119
E d Te c h S h o w D a i l y 9 W e d n e s d a y, F e b r u a r y 4 , 2 0 1 5 WHICH SYNCHRONIZED TIME SYSTEM IS BEST FOR YOUR SCHOOL? Time is everything in a school, and clocks that are synchronized to display the same, accurate time aren't just a con- venience. They ensure that students are where they are supposed to be, that teachers are covering the right subject matter for the right amount of time, and that everyone is moving through the building safely and efficiently. How is time synchronized? A synchronized timekeeping system ensures that all of the clocks in a school – wired, wireless, digital or analog – dis- play the same precise time. There are two main methods of achieving this. A wired timekeeping system has a master clock that is wired to each clock in a building and controls the displayed time to uphold synchronization. American Time clock options in the wired category include: AllSync Plus ® : This is an excellent option if you are running multiple clock systems. AllSync Plus adapts to the cor- rect clock correction protocol upon installation. Power over Ethernet (PoE) clocks: An energy-efficient clock that receives power and time updates from one cable connected to your Ethernet. No master clock, batteries or AC power is needed. A wireless system's clocks retrieve a time signal from GPS satel- lites, cell phone towers or the internet. A signal is sent to each wireless clock using a radio frequency. American Time clock options in the wireless cat- egory include: SiteSync IQ: The only hybrid clock sys- tem of its kind, it can integrate with both wireless and wired clock systems. It also allows you to operate bells, lights and more. Perfect for retrofits and new school construc- tion. Wi-Fi clocks are also wireless and are factory-set to work with your network time server, using your existing Wi-Fi network to keep the correct time. No master clock, additional infrastructure costs or equipment is needed. Whether wired or wireless clocks (or a combination of both), American Time's synchronized timekeeping systems auto- matically update for daylight saving time and come with a multi-year battery life, saving maintenance staff a significant amount of time adjusting and maintain- ing clocks. Keep Everyone in School on Time Clocks that display the same time can have a huge impact – negative or positive – on your school's operations. They improve punctu- ality, save maintenance staff time adjusting clocks, and keep everyone in the building moving efficiently and consistently. Make 2015 the year that you stop spending time on time, and get all of the clocks in your buildings – digital or analog, wired or wireless – synchronized. American Time also provides free, on- site clock audits. A clock expert visits your school to assess your existing time- keeping system and help you determine your current and future needs. For more information, visit www.atsclock.com, call 800.328.8996, email theclockexperts@atsclock.com or stop by booth #306. INCREASING ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH PROFICIENCY FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS The exponential growth in English Language Learner (ELL) enrollment is changing the dynamics of today's ele- mentary and middle school classrooms, even in states that had not seen large numbers of ELLs in the past. A growing number of ELLs are being educated in mainstream classrooms by teachers with- out the training or resources needed to effectively instruct them. Against this backdrop, while there have been improvements by ELLs in math scores, the achievement gap between ELL stu- dents and their non-ELL peers in grades 4 (25 points) and 8 (41 points) have essentially remained the same since 1996 (U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), selected years, 1996–2013 Mathematics Assessments, NAEP Data Explorer. See Digest of Education Statistics 2013). According to the National Center for Education Statistics which collects the data, 10 points is the equivalent of one grade level, which means that ELL stu- dents in Grade 8 are over four grades behind their peers. What are the reasons for these disparities? ELLs come to the elementary class- room with varying levels of English lan- guage proficiency, varying levels of math proficiency and a high need for individu- alized support. Also, because ELLs often lack sufficient academic math language in English (approximately 73 percent of ELLS in the U.S. speak Spanish at home), traditional assessment tests offer an incomplete view of a student's under- standing of math concepts (Batalova, Jeanne and Margie McHugh, 2010. Top Languages Spoken by English Language Learners Nationally and by State. Washington, DC. Migration Policy Institute). With schools under immense pres- sure to raise the academic proficiency of ELLs, it has become clear that differenti- ated elementary and middle school math programs are needed to sup- port teachers and address the challenges facing ELLs so they can achieve math proficiency. One way of differentiating instruc- tion is through adaptive math learning programs. Solutions such as these can help ELLs at every level of English lan- guage proficiency develop conceptual understanding and procedural fluency. A program that offers differentiated instruc- tion and is based on a fine-grained assessment of each student's comprehen- sion level will ensure ELLs are working at an appropriate level of difficulty for their individual level of proficiency and understanding. A curriculum that pro- motes independent learning in an engag- ing and rewarding environment will encourage ELLs to persist, practice and explore new concepts. Visual compre- hensive progress monitoring and report- ing for educators will ensure teachers have detailed information on ELL com- prehension and progress to inform instruction and inter- vention strategies. The majori- ty of ELLs in the U.S. speak Spanish, and research shows that bilingual math instruction can speed the acquisition of both language and math skills for these students (Garcia, Ofelia, Kleifgen, Jo Anne, and Falchi, Lorraine (January 2008.) From English Language Learners to Emergent Bilinguals. A Research Initiative of the Campaign for Educational Equity. Teachers College, Columbia University). The application of an adaptive and differentiated elementary and middle school math program is especially bene- ficial to teachers working with ELLs in mainstream classrooms. For Spanish- speaking ELL students, the ability to use both English and Spanish can increase comprehension even more quickly as they work independently – helping to close the math achievement gap. Learn how DreamBox ® Learning for K-8 Math in English and Spanish can supple- ment your classroom instruction and support ELLs at booth #2342, or visit www.dreambox.com to request a demo. INTRODUCING ELMO ELITE P2MP MAX, ELMO'S NEW WIRELESS SOLUTION AND THE BRAND-NEW TT-12ID ELMO Company Ltd., a leader in educa- tion technology for more than 90 years, is pleased to announce a new data sharing wireless system for today's continuously evolving classroom and technology. The NEW ELMO elite P2MP Max solution merges traditional, live teaching material with digital content and distributes les- sons in real-time to every student in a 1:1 classroom environment. Educators can now integrate every piece of technology from the ELMO document camera to iPads and Android tablets and smart- phones easier than ever. ELMO elite P2MP Max displays the ELMO image on up to 40 devices and is great for a large classroom. ELMO elite P2MP Max does not require an internet connection and creates its own Wi-Fi net- work. This removes the students' ability to access other Wi-Fi connections, ensur- ing all students and audience members will be on task and focused on the lesson. The viewers can only see what the instructor wants them to see and the host computer is notified when a viewer has closed the Circle Viewer App. ELMO Elite P2MP Max allows the instructor to hand over control to a stu- dent for interactive learning. The Circle Viewer App is available to download for client devices from iTunes and Google Play. ELMO Elite P2MP is also available in smaller systems depending upon class size. ELMO elite P2MP Plus reaches up to 10 devices and ELMO elite P2MP Lite reaches up to five devices. These systems are great for smaller intimate classes and meetings. ELMO is also pleased to announce a new addition to the ELMO Classroom Solutions family, the TT-12iD Interactive Document Camera. The new TT-12iD now has an HDMI input, which allows users to connect the HDMI output from their computer for seamless switching between their camera and their computer display. The TT-12iD has the capability to save live images, playback saved images, pause live images and record time lapse video. When its 12x optical zoom is combined with its 8x digital zoom, images can be enlarged up to 96x, allowing users to see the tiniest details. The TT-12iD can also be integrated with ELMO's CRA-1 Wireless Tablet and ELMO's Student Response System. The CRA-1 Wireless Tablet allows users to annotate on live images and conduct les- sons while walking around the classroom and interacting with his or her students. When a computer is used, the teacher has unlimited possibilities with ELMO's Image Mate Accent for SRS software. Image Mate Accent for SRS allows for the integration of ELMO's Student Response System. ELMO's Student Response System allows teachers to quiz students in real time to receive instant feedback from each student, while keep- ing students engaged and focused throughout the lesson. Visit booth #1435 to learn more about the new ELMO elite P2MP and ELMO's Classroom Solutions. For more information, visit www.elmousa .com, call 800.947.3566, email elmo@elmo usa.com or stop by booth #1435.