Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/698895
E d Te ch S h o w D a i l y 1 7 M o n d a y, J u n e 2 7 , 2 0 1 6 LOOK TO OKI FOR SOLUTIONS TO CUT DOWN ON EXCESS PRINTING IN YOUR DISTRICT School Overview This public K-12 district in the Northeast educates more than 5,000 students and employs 800. The district is comprised of five elementary schools, a middle school and a high school, along with administra- tive offices. Problem IT was frustrated over the number of print jobs from students that went unclaimed, estimating it to be almost 25 percent of all student-initiated printing. In addition, the district struggled with centralized control of purchasing and consumables management, resulting in inconsistent budgeting and complaints of poor service levels with its previous provider. Solution OKI worked with the district to deter- mine its true costs and provided a best-in- breed approach to provide document out- put in its learning areas including labs, classrooms and libraries. The first step following the assessment was to remove all costly inkjet printers from learning areas. OKI installed the award-winning C610dn with PaperCut MF™ throughout the schools. This gave them the ability to release print and pick up their documents at any of the numerous centralized color printers throughout the school district. This overhaul provided cost savings by using PaperCut to monitor user output, automatically delete unre- leased prints and enforce duplex and mono printing. PaperCut also helped the district cut down on waste from unwant- ed printing, aligning with its green initia- tives. Through a managed print services contract with its local dealer, OKI helped alleviate the district's print management issues by providing a single invoice for straight-line budgeting by school, remote monitoring, automated consumables replacement and a vastly improved serv- ice delivery. What really drove the district's needs and made them go with OKI? The realization that the print delivery in the district was being provided by an inefficient and cost- prohibitive technology: inkjet; frustration over the poor service and support of their previous vendor; the need to cut costs and maintain budgets; the ability to provide a better document output delivery solution; and the desire to support district-wide green initiatives. To this day, the district remains a loyal and satisfied customer, operating OKI devices and solutions among its entire fleet. Talk to your local OKI repre- sentative today to find out how you can reduce excess printing and maximize cost savings in your district. For more information, visit www.okidata.com. ACTIVATE LEARNING WITH EXPLORING ROBOTICS An interview with Grant Plowman, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Exploring Robotics – a brand of Interactive Media Publishing. ESD: What does Exploring Robotics do? GP: We create programs for STEAM, Coding and CTE for K-12. We find robots that work well in education, and develop programs for them. We supply teachers with all the support, PD, cur- riculum, robots and class materials need- ed to successfully engage students in hands-on learning of coding and STEAM topics. ESD: What is your hottest product this year? GP: The exciting "Adept Amigobot Industrial Mobile Robot Certification Program" offers certification to high school students and prepares them for entry level positions after graduation; this has created a buzz of anticipation. Students gain exposure to advanced robotics training, potential jobs and learn real world skills for mobile robots like laser guidance systems. Administrators can't believe that the program offers real world applicability at such a reasonable price point, and enables smaller group sizes that ensure hands on engagement in every session. This program becomes the culmination of our current offerings of K-12 robot programs including Cubelets, Dash-Dot, Ozobot, Scribbler, Boe-Bot, Asuro and Bolide (humanoid robot). After learning Blockly, Scratch, Basic and Python cod- ing with our other robots, students use C with the AmigoBot. ESD: What else are you offering beyond the Certification Program for Mobile Robot Technicians? GP: We are unique in that we offer truly comprehen- sive robotic packages for K-12, including robots, support, accessories, PD and curriculum. Often our curriculum is student- directed, meaning it includes videos so they can progress at their own pace, and more importantly, this takes a large bur- den from the instructor. Also, our PD gives teachers the confidence and knowledge required to be successful. This means almost any teacher can teach our courses: science, math, tech- nology, computer science and media specialists. We offer ongoing technical and teacher support; in some instances we have come into the classroom over the Internet to assist and actually take over the instruction at a distance. This is rarely required, but teachers find it comforting that we will assist when needed. ESD: How do you engage students? GP: The fun robots do that. Our curriculum is all about teaching STEAM and coding topics. We call our programs the Trojan Horse of STEM as students learn coding along with math (like fractions and algebraic equa- tions) and science topics (like energy, force and motion), and suddenly realize that they like STEM and then look for more. We love seeing this engagement – especially with students that otherwise struggle with STEM top- ics. ESD: What do you like most about com- ing to ISTE? GP: We love having the opportunity to meet teachers and administrators and learn what they are doing and share our mutual objectives and how we may assist them in reaching their goals. They can enter our drawing to win a robot. For more information, stop by #625, visit www.exploringrobotics.com or call 541.535.5552. MEET LEGO MINDSTORMS EDUCATION EV3 MODEL DESIGNER An interview with Lee Magpili, LEGO ® MINDSTORMS ® Education EV3 Model Designer. ESD: Tell us about yourself and how you became a LEGO Education designer. LP: I was born in the Philippines, grew up in the Bronx in New York City and went to college at the University at Buffalo where I received a BS in Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering. After graduating, I worked in engi- neering for a little while but it wasn't for me. I always had a passion for LEGO, so I started working at LEGO Brand Retail in New York City. From there, I worked as a Robotics Instructor and FIRST LEGO League Coach and eventually, in 2010, I was asked to join LEGO Education at its Headquarters in Billund, Denmark as a Model Designer. It took a lot of belief and passion, and a little bit of hope and prayer, but I finally got my dream job. ESD: What is a typical day like in the life of a LEGO Education designer? LP: There is no typical day! Some days I'm just getting to build crazy stuff and dream, other days I am presenting my model or reviewing building instructions. Other days there are a lot of meetings or I might be traveling to conferences. ESD: What is your favorite thing about working at LEGO Education? LP: Getting a chance to see the effect of my work on kids at competitions and events is amazing. And the chance to meet and work with people who have built my childhood. ESD: What is the design process like? LP: We work with a Content Specialist or Curriculum Developer to create the right build, play and learning experience. Then we work with reviewers and building instruc- tion developers to see if what we cre- ated can be made. It takes many iter- ations, but the model eventually gets finished, all the parts checked and account- ed for and then the production process begins. ESD: What is your favorite LEGO Education product that you have designed and why? LP: My favorite product will always be my first model, the LEGO MIND- STORMS Education EV3 Core Set, released in 2013. It is truly my life's work. All of my work experience and knowledge up until that point went into that set and it is a true joy to see that so many kids and teachers are using the product. When I see it in a classroom, I say, 'that's MY robot!' ESD: What is your favorite part of LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3? LP: I believe it is truly endless. There are always so many new parts coming out year after year and so many new techniques; you can really make anything at any time. I think we have just barely scratched the surface of what LEGO MIND- STORMS Education EV3 can do. ESD: What advice do you have for aspir- ing LEGO Education designers? LP: Learn as much as you can, find the right books that will help you build and teach this stuff. Get out there and see what the kids are doing. Just watch them; watch them fiddle and figure out, see where they get frustrated and amazed. And practice. Practice this art, build something amazing because you can. The design work never really stops. Ideas come from everywhere, anywhere and anytime. So stay hungry to continue to create and that will get you so far. For more information, visit www.lego education.com, call 800.362.4308 or stop by booths #2707 and #4215.