Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/777465
EdTech Show Daily 2 9 Thursday, February 9, 2017 libraries with free reader apps for a vari- ety of mobile devices and desktop com- puters, and free content to start. MackinVIA has been recognized by Tech & Learning for the past two years as an ISTE Conference Best in Show Winner and their Award of Excellence as an out- standing technology education product in 2015 and 2016. These awards are valida- tion of the effort Mackin has put into making a supreme product for users in education. We also have a free funding source for schools and libraries called "Mackin Funds." Hundreds of schools utilize this program because it is a hassle-free, online donation program that allows schools to collect donations and spend 100 percent of the proceeds on any resource Mackin sells. ESD: What trends are you seeing in the library and classroom market? RH: Today's school library market is presently enduring the largest paradigm shift it has experienced since the intro- duction of the stand-alone online auto- mated catalog. PK-12 school libraries are being challenged to remain relevant in a world that is quickly transforming into a digital platform, and I believe that this is the biggest opportunity ever for school libraries and professional school librarians to showcase their importance and relevancy within the educational process. Teacher Librarians must seize the moment and take the lead as purvey- ors of knowledge and vital information sources and resources that will serve to accelerate and increase the ability of every classroom teacher and administra- tor to improve and enhance learning. Mackin (Cont'd. from p. 1) With the inclusion of Makerspaces with- in the classroom and library, Mackin is curating an expanding collection of print and digital Makerspace titles, along with kits and supplies to support this movement. ESD: How do you view your role as an educational resource vendor in today's market? RH: Our role is more crucial than ever as we provide schools and libraries with the most economical and versatile resources they need. Mackin has taken that involvement a step further with the formation of Transform Your School Library (TYSL). We have assembled an accomplished board of professionals who are fully engaged in providing support to librarians focused on transi- tioning their library to meet the educa- tional challenges of the future. Librarians looking for support and information can learn more at www.mackintysl.com. ESD: In addition to visiting the Mackin booth, how can people learn more about your company? RH: Visit our website at www.mackin.com for full information about Mackin or to start a live chat. Find us on Twitter, @Mackin_Talk and @MackinVIA, and on Facebook (Mackin Educational Resources). For additional questions, email us at mackin@mackin.com, or call us at 800.245.9540. Every phone call is always answered in person – 24 hours a day, every day. Visit Mackin at booth #1155. students to fill them. Many efforts are directed towards secondary schools, but research shows that introducing STEM early plays a key role in cognitive devel- opment and interest in the subjects later on. Elementary school teachers are paving the way to look for meaningful ways to bring STEM to life in their classrooms. Robotics in the Classroom In elementary school, students learn with their eyes and hands – drawing, molding and manipulating objects. They are start- ing the tough transition to learning by reading, and robots make it possible for them to work through problems visually and experiment with concepts they are learning. Ms. Dweck's students have designed mazes, produced geometric shapes, cal- culated perimeter, tested probability, composed music, recorded dialogue and even retraced the voyage of the Mayflower with Dash. "Millennials have been raised on technology," Dweck says. "They have no fear of it and are eager to jump right in and create. They are natural innovators who relish and need this creative platform." Many teachers who focus on inquiry-based learning try to integrate robotics into as many subject areas as possible. Robotics Competitions Last year, more than 1,000 teams coded Wonder Workshop (Cont'd. from p. 1) in the first ever nationwide robotics com- petition for elementary schools. The Wonder League Robotics Competition provides an in-depth and structured way to teach coding concepts while also edu- cating the whole child. Students deeply engage in robotics and coding, work in teams and gain confidence and resilience. The competition missions tie back to real-world applications – in Fall 2016, the theme will be Saving the Environment. "I learned to always include all of my teammates, because it isn't fair if nobody else gets a chance to do things, and we can finish anything on time if we just work together," says one eight-year- old student on the Wonder Dash team that finished third in the nation. "This opportunity helps students develop a respect for their own abilities. As students develop strategies to facili- tate the learning process, they experi- enced growth in their meta-cognitive skills, too. Introduction to coding and robotics is as relevant to our world as learning to write. Today's learner should experience opportunities to practice coding and robotics in the classroom from an early age. This foundation will serve them as learners, digital citizens and world leaders," Ms. Dweck remarks. Visit Wonder Workshop at booth #1948. For information on Wonder Workshop's next robotics competition, sign up at clubs.makewonder.com. height work surfaces, commercial furni- ture grade writing surfaces and sound options, I/R-friendly acrylic or security steel doors, no-tip bases and no-pinch adjustable shelves are a few of the fea- tures built in, creating multi-function, school-safe furniture. The products are engineered with rack or freestanding component areas, wire and cable man- agement channels, strategically placed knock-outs, grommets and access panels for easy installation. The Focus Desk Series Mobile Sit/Stand Desks that students can adjust with just one hand – no tools or electricity required. Models available for kindergarten through college students. Power Center Series Mobile Charge Carts, Charge Sync Carts or Deluxe Charge/Sync Carts with Firewire cables feature an extra large high pressure laminate top, 5-inch casters and a storage drawer. It is UL Tip Tested and safe for your classroom. Assembled Many Marvel products arrive completely assembled, ready to use or require mini- mal assembly at your facility, saving time and money. Furniture Grade Quality and Durability The Marvel Focus Desk and Marvel Vizion products feature the same high pressure laminate tops and heavy duty steel construction that it provides in its Marvel (Cont'd. from p. 1) commercial furniture lines. Many Marvel products carry a Lifetime Warranty. Safety – UL Listed Marvel has just been recognized by United Laboratories as a 20 year certified member of the ISO program and is cur- rently ISO 9001:2008 certified by ULDQS Inc, the most difficult accredita- tion, the most difficult standard to attain and retain. All Marvel product passes and is listed for the appropriate UL Standard. GREENGUARD Certified The Marvel Group, Inc. is proud of its ongoing commitment to responsible environmental policies and manufactur- ing processes. Safeguarding the earth's vital resources through conservation, technology application and progressive emission controls is a responsibility embodied in its manufacturing, sourcing and marketing practices. These efforts and a corporate culture of responsible stewardship give its associates and cus- tomers the reassurance they demand in partnering with an environmentally responsible company. Do you need help with your floorplan? Marvel's Interior Design and Space Planning Experts will help you make the best choices for your classroom. Visit Marvel at booth #107. Go to www.marvelvizion.com to view the entire line of Marvel Vizion products, and go to www.marvelgroup.com for Marvel's Full Office Product line. The Focus Desk line can be seen at www.marvelfocusdesk.com. SORRY – YOU CAN'T ENTER THIS EXHIBIT WITHOUT A PASSWORD Imagine if you could only enter an exhib- it at TCEA by saying the correct pass- word to get in. That's 400-plus pass- words just so that you can get access to products and services, many of which you've already paid for. If this seems unrealistic, unsustainable and unfriendly to educators, you're right. Why then, are we willing to be this unfriendly to teach- ers and students in their digital learning environments? Educators are prevented from unlocking the full potential of digital education because they don't have easy, reliable access. Websites, reference sites, learning games, streaming video, source materials, files, presentations, manage- ment systems. Each and every one needs a username and password. That's too much to ask of our teachers and students, who want to spend time teaching and learning, not entering usernames and passwords. There's a better way to ensure that teachers and students have access to the digital learning resources they need, on the devices they prefer. It's called ClassLink. This technology empowers students and teach- ers with instant access to their learning resources. ClassLink OneClick includes a library of more than 5,000 single sign- on apps and instant links to file folders at school and on Google, Office 365 and Dropbox cloud drives. ClassLink OneRoster easily and securely delivers class rosters to any publisher using open technology standards. ClassLink Analytics gives decision makers the usage data they need. Accessible from any com- puter, tablet or smart- phone, ClassLink is ideal for 1-to-1 and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) ini- tiatives. As you walk the floor during TCEA and freely move from one exhibit to another, consider how nice it would be if you could do the same with your digital learning. Stop by the ClassLink booth to see how. And no, you don't need a pass- word to get in. Visit ClassLink at booth #2326.