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EdTech Show Daily Thursday, February 9, 2017 4 TURN AN ORDINARY WHITEBOARD INTO AN INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARD WITH MIMIOTEACH MimioTeach makes interactive learning easy and practical. The Mimio Interactive Whiteboard Solution, MimioTeach, transforms existing white- boards into interactive whiteboards. While other interactive whiteboards require an installation of an actual board, MimioTeach is a bar that is placed on an existing wall or board and interacts with a projected computer image. The MimioTeach bar uses infrared and ultra- sound technology to communicate with a stylus pen. Because the MimioTeach can adhere to any whiteboard, teachers do not have to give up their whiteboard space and can still use the area for teaching when the MimioTeach is not in use. Doug Pennekamp, Chief Executive Officer of Education 2000, a Trusted Boxlight Mimio Partner, says that tech- nology should not get in the way of instruction. "MimioTeach is easy to integrate into everyday classroom les- sons and activities," Pennekamp said. "Teachers should be able to easily work with technology, but often teachers find themselves working around technolo- gy." Since the MimioTeach adheres to a regular whiteboard, the dry-erase marker is still a valuable tool. "With the MimioTeach teachers can still walk up to their whiteboards and use a dry-erase marker without worrying about damag- ing an expensive interactive whiteboard," Pennekamp said. "Sometimes it is more efficient and convenient to take a dry- erase marker to write on the board or point something out than it is to go through all the steps with the interactive whiteboard tools to highlight, underline and erase something." Education 2000 realizes that schools often have tight budgets. "One of the things I really emphasize to schools is that the MimioTeach interactive white- board solution will do the same thing as other interactive whiteboards, but for a more affordable price," Pennekamp said. "The lower cost allows schools and dis- tricts to buy more and can therefore impact more students." Schools can also save money on installation fees with the MimioTeach. Installation for the MimioTeach is sim- ple; it is ready to use straight out of the box and can be installed by the teacher. The MimioTeach is easily placed on a magnetic white- board with built-in magnets. If the board where the MimioTeach will be used is not magnetic, magnetic plates are included that can be attached to the board or wall. Along with the built-in magnetic strips, the MimioTeach is compact in size and lightweight, making it easy to use in multiple locations. "The MimioTeach is portable and can be moved easily from classroom to class- room if needed," Pennekamp said. "The MimioTeach works with any projector and the interactive space can get larger or smaller depending on the projected image. MimioTeach does not take up a lot of space in a classroom, and there are no legs or stand for students or teachers to trip over. When schools realize the benefits of the MimioTeach along with the more affordable price when com- pared to other interactive whiteboards and displays, the MimioTeach becomes the ultimate interactive whiteboard solu- tion." Contact your local Boxlight Mimio Trusted Partner, Education 2000, to learn more. For more information, visit booth #831, call 713.683.8061 or go to www.edu2000plus.com. NEPRIS BRINGS VIRTUAL INDUSTRY EXPERTS TO YOUR CLASSROOM There are millions of professionals with diverse backgrounds and exciting careers who can bring relevance into the class- room and expose students to careers through skills-based learning. However, teachers don't have the expansive net- work of global connections in the corpo- rate world to connect with these role models when they're needed. Today's teachers overcome the lim- its of time and distance by connecting with STEAM professionals virtually with Nepris. Through these live sessions, stu- dents can personally engage with the industry expert discussing their career, past education, life-long passions or sim- ply providing real-world relevance to the current lesson plan. These professionals open students' eyes to careers and work they never even knew existed, while bringing classroom instruction to life by showing students how their classroom learning is applied outside of school. As Kenny Kaye Hudson, Assistant Superintendent of Special Programs at Royse City ISD in Texas, explains, "One of our driving questions for our students is, how do we help them understand what the real world is like? We live in Royse City, and we've got children who have never been outside of Royse City. One of the things I love about using Nepris is that it opened up the world. It really did. It opened it up so that we can bring in anybody from anywhere and really pique the interest of the kids." Royse City students have now virtually connected with geologists, NASA scien- tists, Samsung engineers, botanists from Scotland and even embalmers. Teachers are connecting their class- rooms with employees from AT&T, the Department of Defense, FritoLay, General Motors, NASA, OtterBox, Procter & Gamble and Samsung, so stu- dents can participate in mock-interviews, resume prep, career-exploration, live sci- ence experiments, project mentorship/evaluation, virtual tours of manufacturing plants and more. With topics from aerial mapping and fashion design to water scarcity and zoology, stu- dents will never again ask, 'why do I have to learn this?' Teachers can sign up for free at www.nepris.com to browse its video library with more than 2,000 recorded sessions, request a live industry expert or simply join an industry offered session. Visit Nepris at booth #211. AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION NOT AFFILIATED WITH TCEA Kimberly Oser Publisher Jules Denton Senior Associate Publisher Carlos Velasquez Associate Publisher Lorrie Baumann Editorial Director Jeanie Catron JoEllen Lowry Karrie Welborn Associate Editors Yasmine Brown Jonathan Schieffer Graphic Designers Caitlyn McGrath • Sarah Glenn Customer Service Managers Stacy Davis • Steven Taylor • Hannah Stefanovich Show Logistics & Distribution John Pechota Sales Floor Manager Marcos Morhaim Senior Account Manager Adrian Chacon • Cami Jimenez Account Managers Tara Neal Director of Operations Enrico Cecchi European Sales EdTech Show Daily is published by Oser Communications Group ©2017 All rights reserved. Executive and editorial offices at: 1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85715 520.721.1300/Fax: 520.721.6300 European offices located at Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini, 11, 50125 Florence, Italy www.osercommunicationsgroup.com Lee M. Oser Founder COSTLY MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN LOOKING FOR A CART OR LOCKER An interview with Brian Kutchma, Vice President of Education Technology, Black Box. ESD: What are the common mistakes schools make when buying charging and storage solutions for 1:1? BK: Assuming a cart is a cart is a cart. Charging carts vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Differences are visible from construction and design to more in depth features and functionality. One really needs to take the time to learn, understand and fully evaluate the differ- ences before making an informed long- term decision. ESD: Why is it important to think long term for a charging cart? BK: You shouldn't base a purchasing decision only on the e-learning devices you have now or will soon purchase. Think further down the road. Consider what will happen in three or four years when you want to update your technolo- gy. What will the form factor of that next device look like? The cart or lock- er that you choose should have the flex- ibility and design that either allows shelves to adjust or comes with shelves that provide adequate headroom should your device of choice be larger in the future. ESD: Is a charging cart warranty some- thing users should consider? BK: Absolutely. Some manufac- turers offer very limited war- ranties, while others offer very comprehensive lifetime war- ranties. Read the fine print. What is covered and what isn't? Limited liability workmanship- only warranties don't cover the same things as all-inclusive warranties. ESD: What other cart specifications are important to consider for cost savings? BK: The design of the cart. Being that these solutions are in the classroom, a safe design is extremely important. There is no price tag to keeping children safe in the classroom. When evaluating, look to see if the charging/storage solution has pinch points, launch points or tripping points. External hinges, large stabiliza- tion feet and pullout drawers are all potential hazards in schools. Also, how is the cart constructed? Light carts easily tip when force is applied to the open door. I suggest a durable, 100 per- cent steel cart that can withstand applied weight. One should also keep in mind that swinging doors can serve as a carnival ride in the classroom. Options are available for sliding doors. ESD: What other mistakes have you seen schools make when choosing 1:1 solu- tions? BK: Not clearly specifying cable man- agement, forgetting mobility, not understanding power draws, not con- sidering cart assembly and forgetting about delivery costs. Make sure to avoid these mistakes when evaluating 1:1 solutions. For more information, visit booth #327, go to www.blackbox.com/tabletcarts or call 877.877.2269.