Tag Archives: Learning

Education, Education Services, Education Software, Education Solutions, Educational System, eLearning, Teaching, Training, Tutorials

Learning management and collaboration platform for educators and trainers LiberCloud announces integration with Microsoft Office Online

Leave a comment

SAN FRANCISCO, 12-Jul-2016 — /EPR EDUCATION NEWS/ — LiberCloud, the cloud-based learning management system for instructors, trainers and educators, announces integration with Microsoft Office Online to better enable Microsoft PowerPoint slideshows as a delivery method for blended learning materials and to give the ability to incorporate existing PowerPoint content in new ways. Microsoft Corp. is making this possible with their Cloud Storage Partner Program, which enables cloud solution partners, such as LiberCloud, to create seamless integration with Office Online.

What’s New

LiberCloud’s existing learning content management solutions combine the best of instructor-led engagement, blended learning, and interactivity between instructors and students. This new release makes its platform even more flexible via seamless integration with PowerPoint Online so that users can create and store PowerPoint content directly within their existing LiberCloud authoring tools.

“We are very excited about LiberCloud’s integration with PowerPoint Online”, said Felice Curcelli, LiberCloud’s Co-founder & CEO. “It makes perfect sense because of the amount of content that teachers and trainers have already developed using either PowerPoint or PowerPoint look-alikes. It’s another step in our mission to make trainers and teachers more effective and students more engaged.”

How It Works

A slideshow in LiberCloud is a collection of learning assets that an author can combine in a slideshow for use in coursework and training classes. It helps instructors go beyond traditional slide decks and get more creative by incorporating other assets such as canvas slides, interactive tutorials, videos, assessments and polls.

An author typically embeds the slideshow in a LiberPage which is the building block within the platform for lesson plans, coursework and assignments.

Benefits

‘Blended Learning’ techniques are the trend for educators whether in school systems or corporate training environments, and LiberCloud’s enhancements are built to meet this demand. LiberCloud Slideshows with PowerPoint is an example of blended learning enablement and gives teachers and instructors flexibility to:

1. Share and reuse individual slides with ease. For example, if instructors want to incorporate PowerPoint charts or diagrams they’ve created in various lesson plans, they can add those native PowerPoint slides to new learning or instructional content. LiberCloud makes it easy to find individual slides and reuse them without duplicating content.

2. Brainstorm ideas with canvas-based slides via LiberCanvas, an app that lets users write and draw on a shared canvas as well as record content that can then be shared as videos. For example, instructors can give an individual or group assignment with a slideshow containing read-only background information along with canvas slides that they can write on and collaborate in real-time.

3. Engage students by combining PowerPoint slide decks with polls and assessments, to deliver during a slideshow and capture the results in real-time.

4. Make communication and feedback more personal and more effective by creating audio-visual annotations on individual slides.

“The integration of LiberCloud with PowerPoint Online creates new opportunities for teaching and learning for our joint users”, said Rob Howard, Director of Ecosystem, Microsoft. “Teachers will be able to leverage the native real-time co-authoring capabilities of PowerPoint Online and LiberCloud’s canvas-based collaboration and polls to increase student engagement.”

Integration with PowerPoint Online is a continuation of LiberCloud’s mission to give educators control and flexibility to deliver instruction material and assessments in a coherent and cohesive fashion. Visit their website for more information or to download the white paper Using LiberCloud Slideshows with PowerPoint in Instruction Materials.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Courses, Education, Education Services, eLearning, Lessons, Schools, Society

New Language Classes Begin April 21 at Maria Oliveira Language Learning Center in Pinole, CA

Leave a comment

Pinole, CA, March 27, 2015 — /EPR EDUCATION NEWS/ — Spring II term language classes begin April 21 at Maria Oliveira Language Learning Center, with a variety of affordable conversational language classes, online courses, Spanish for healthcare and social services professionals, and a new Special Topic Workshop series for conversational Spanish. Specializing in conversational Spanish and Portuguese, including European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese, the Language Learning Center also provides classes in French, Italian and English for Non-Native Speakers. Classes are primarily for adult learners, but there is also an after-school program for students between ages 7 and 11, with each term lasting for six weekly sessions.

“Our classes feature small groups of ten or fewer students so that there is more time for individual attention which, of course, leads to faster learning,” explains Maria Oliveira, director of Maria Oliveira Language Learning Center, located in Pinole, California. “We work closely with our students to guide them towards becoming bilingual, whether it is through a conversational language class, online options, or even our language classes for healthcare and social services professionals.”

New Conversational Spanish – Special Topic Workshops

New this term are special topic workshops for individuals who wish to focus on or review specific grammatical structures in the Spanish language to perfect overall communication skills. Through this workshop series, students can choose special topics like, Preterit and Imperfect Tense, English Accent Reduction, Reflexive Verbs and Pronouns, Spanish for Educational Settings, Spanish for Business Owners and Managers and more. These 2 hour special topic workshops provide students with the essential tools to expand comprehension and proper usage of the Spanish language.

The popular Conversational Spanish class for Healthcare and Social Service Professionals will be offered this term, which also provides the opportunity to earn continuing education units or CEU’s. The Healthcare Professionals class is a specialized and intensive course designed to enhance effective communication between patients and healthcare providers. For social services professionals and employees who interact with Spanish-speaking clients, the Spanish for Social Services Professionals class can improve communication with Spanish-speaking clients in screenings and interviews.

The Language Learning Center also offers online courses, workbooks, and CDs for students. These materials can supplement their classroom learning through study aids such as practice lessons, self-tests with interactive exercises, quizzes, and audio clips to review correct pronunciations.

Recognizing that individuals learn languages differently, there are a variety of other programs offered to meet students’ needs, such as one-on-one instruction; learning groups that meet weekly; and free social hours for students to practice their language skills with teachers, fellow students, and bilingual guests. Maria Oliveira Language Learning Center also has specialized English classes for non-native speakers, plus special classes on specific topics, such as classes on Spanish reflexive verbs and pronouns, for those students who need a review.

Register for Spring II Classes Now!

Students can register online, by phone, in person at our offices, or by mail. For more information, visit marialanguages.com

Maria Oliveira’s goal is to guide students towards becoming bilingual by teaching basic phrases and sentences that become usable in a very short period of time. This quick success builds confidence, which in turn makes the learning process enjoyable, productive and effective. Her special combinations of affordability, convenience, and an encouraging environment makes Maria Oliveira’s classes and programs the top choice for effective language learning.

Contact-Details: Maria Oliveira
Maria Oliveira Language Learning Center
510-223-3320
marialanguages.com

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

Education, Education Resources, Education Software, Education Solutions, Educational Products, Training, Tutorials

New iPad App Gets Children School-Ready

Leave a comment

Parents are preparing to send their children off to school for the first time. An Australian Mother of two has developed a way to give children entering school in this technological age a head start by creating an educational iPad app.

Rebecca Monument said that she, like most parents were aware that basic literacy skills developed in the home long before a child starts school.

“I created the app because I wanted to give my children the best of every possible opportunity,” said Ms Monument. “I was worried as my kids weren’t learning the correct way to write the alphabet, that they would have to re-learn it when they started school.”

After the application was released in October this year Ms Monument approached a local teacher for feedback. Ms Tanya Burton from Whitehouse Primary School in Australia agrees that Writeforschool is a resourceful learning tool for young children, and that the app that will complement the introduction of iPads into the prep classrooms in 2013.

“The application combines many features that other similar writing applications fail to deliver, like a variety of accents and a choice of the writing fonts taught in Australian schools” Ms Burton notes. “The large number of fonts back up what is taught in the school curriculum; it not only includes letters and numbers but blends of letters.”

The idea came to Ms Monument and she began developing the iPad application Writeforschool after her children, aged five and six began taking great interest in playing the games on her iPad.

“I thought if I could make educational game for my children, they could begin to learn to write in the cursive they are taught at their school the correct way,” Ms Monument explained. “My children love the app and its exciting graphics that can be completely personalised.”

Ms Monument hopes that her application is able to help as many young children as possible get a head start for this school year.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

Coaching, Education, Education Resources, Education Services, Education Solutions, Educational Fundraising, Educational Products, Educational System, Lessons, Society

The Learning Genome Project unveils a new solution to personalized education through crowd sourcing

Educator Kelly Tenkely invites educators, parents and investors around the world to join in personalizing education.

Due to an increased disenfranchisement with the education system, Colorado educator, Kelly Tenkely, recognized the need for a product that would honor the uniqueness of children by personalizing learning. Kelly created the Learning Genome Project to fulfill this need.

“Every child deserves to be met right where they are in learning, rather than expected to fit a one-size-fits-all solution. In our society, we have managed to customize everything from ringtones to coffee, why should learning be different?” Said the Learning Genome Project creator, Kelly Tenkely.

The Learning Genome makes personalized learning available to children around the world by:
* Gathering information about an individual child including: their unique interests/passions, learning style preferences, multiple intelligence strengths, brain dominance, and maturation level.
* Crowdsourcing the tagging of both free, as well as premium, education resources and curriculum with hundreds of learning attributes (the ‘genes’ of learning).
* Matching resources and curriculum to students, recommending the materials that best meet their needs and creating a custom learning map for each child.
* Utilizing an open API so that schools, parents, and districts can build additional functionality to meet their specific needs.

This is the Learning Genome Project’s free “hub” that makes personalized learning available to every child.

Said Kelly, “Every child, regardless of their economic situation, deserves an education that is tailored to them. Society benefits when we help kids learn how to best utilize their unique gifts and passions.”

Premium features of the Learning Genome Project will include:
* A student information system
* An e-portfolio
* A teacher and student planner
* Blogging tools
* An e-learning center
* An individual learning map for each child

The premium features will work seamlessly with the Learning Genome hub giving students, teachers, and parents a complete solution to personalized learning.

The Learning Genome Project is seeking crowd-sourced funding through Indiegogo and will use the $85,000 raised to begin programming. The project has 45 days to raise the funds and can be found here: http://www.indiegogo.com/thelearninggenomeproject?c=home&a=1232629

In addition to her work on the Learning Genome Project, Kelly Tenkely is an educator, a prolific education blogger, and created a new educational model. This model is put into practice at Anastasis Academy, a school that Kelly co-founded that is just beginning its 2nd year in operation.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

Colleges, Education, Education Resources, eLearning, Knowledge, Science, Student, Webinars

Texas Students To Receive State-Of-The-Art Supplemental Science Learning Materials

Leave a comment

Students from 5th through 12th grade will, this school year, have internet learning assistance to improve their science grades.

In June, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) had panels of assessors reviewing internet learning submissions from a number of companies. The subject matter review experts on these panels determined which submissions were compliant with the new science Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) statements, which include 5th through 8th grade as well as high school Biology, Chemistry, Physics and IPC. Following the reviews the Commissioner, Robert Scott, recommended a list for adoption by the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE). On July 22, 2011 the SBOE voted to adopt a number of submissions. From the adopted list, schools can elect to purchase access to the software that they feel will suit their students best.

For students, these interactive learning programs will include; virtual experiments, animated simulations and instantly marked assessments, all designed to motivate students to explore the world of science.

In the present economic climate it must be good news that this dynamic learning material is available to Texas students at a fraction of the cost of traditional textbooks.

One of the systems adopted has been created by Texas entrepreneur, Tim Brown.

Tim, the President of Technical Laboratory Systems, has funded a partnership between his Texas-based team and a world leading company in the design of e-learning materials, to produce learning programs for all eight grade levels that are totally compliant with the new science TEKS*.

It is Tim’s opinion that this new TEA initiative creates a real possibility that more Texas students will succeed in school science and then choose to follow careers in science, technology or engineering.

Tim says;

“As a provider of technical education equipment to Texas schools and colleges for more than thirty years, I have been saddened to see the decline in the number of quality students opting for careers in technology and engineering. Middle and High School science is the bedrock for college studies in science, technology and engineering. Science teachers, who do their utmost to motivate students, will find that difficult task so much easier with this software. It was a logical step for me to invest in new technology to improve the prospects of our young students. Here in Texas we have world leading companies in all the technological areas, if we cannot provide them with the skilled and innovative workforce that they require, they will be forced to go elsewhere.”

Academics have lobbied hard for our policymakers to address the state’s declining SAT scores and maybe their message is being heard. Perhaps this new initiative by the TEA will go some way to ease the concerns of many in Texas, that the present financial constraints will damage the prospects for our schoolchildren.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

Education, Education Resources, Education Services, Education Software, Education Solutions, Educational Products, Educational System, eLearning, Exams, Student, Teacher, Tests

Avant Assessment leaders’ experience on national language standards and assessment committees will support U.S. interests at the international level

Leave a comment

Avant Assessment CEO Mike Patterson has been appointed to lead U.S. delegates to the International Standards Organization TC232/WG2 (learning services for non-formal education and training technical committee workgroup focused on language learning services) meetings in Beijing, China this week.

Workgroup delegates to ISO TC232/WG2 represent over a dozen countries and have the task of ensuring that the views and positions of their country are known and understood by the committee. The goal of the international committee is to develop consensus and an international standard for providers of language learning services in the non-formal sector (outside the mainstream school and higher education curriculum).

Mike and Avant Vice President of Research and Assessment, Paul Tucker, have participated in three previous international meetings and have been delegates to the workgroup since its inception. Both bring critical experience to the U.S. delegation having served on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) Testing Committee which is a network of Federal, academic, private business and NGO language specialists and managers who share a common goal of improving the nation’s capacity to learn, teach and effectively use foreign languages in the national interests.

Additionally, Paul Tucker served as the Lead Writer for the ASTM Standards of Practice for language education and now chairs the testing subcommittee (F43.04) which is looking at differentiating standards per testing purpose. Mike Patterson served as a committee member at the U.S. Department of Education National Educational Technology Planning Sessions in 2003 and 2004, and has been actively involved with SIIA, CoSN, SIF, Software Association of Oregon and other industry organizations where he has served as a presenter and panelist at national and regional conferences.

“It is an honor to represent the interests of our country in the field of language acquisition” says Mike Patterson, Avant’s CEO. “As a country, we are a leader in developing thorough and rigorous standards on language training. It is important to the future of global communication that international standards meet or exceed those same standards. I look forward to these experiences working with colleagues from around the world on common goals. They are as rewarding as they are educational and challenging.”

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

Colleges, Courses, Education, Education Resources, Education Services, Education Solutions, Educational Products, Educational System, Exams, K 12, Knowledge, Math, Schools, Student, Tests

Peoples Education Measuring Up Worktexts for Mathematics Match the Latest NYS Test

Leave a comment

Peoples Education, a leading provider of supplemental educational material for the K–12 school market, is pleased to announce the relaunch of Measuring Up® to the New York State Learning Standards for Mathematics, Grades 3–8. These worktexts address recent changes to the Grade 3–8 Mathematics Testing Program and include special May/June Review lessons from the prior year to prepare students for the NYS Test.

“Peoples Education has a history of responding to New York educators’ needs promptly and with high-quality NYS Learning Standards and NYS Test–customized content,” commented Brian T. Beckwith, the company’s president and CEO. “These revised worktexts will help build students’ test-taking confidence and ensure standards mastery.”

The Measuring Up® Mathematics program can be incorporated into any year-round curriculum, or in areas where students need extra instructional support. Measuring Up® lessons can be selected as intervention for an entire class, small groups, or individuals.

“The instructors at Mechanicville Middle School have successfully used the Measuring Up® series to accommodate various classroom situations,” commented Maria Fusco, a retired Mechanicville Middle School teacher. “The versatility of the materials and alignment to state standards allows the instructor and the students to manage the skills that have either been mastered or need further attention.”

The complete Measuring Up® program includes instructional worktexts and Diagnostic Practice Tests, which are sold separately. Measuring Up Express® for the NYS Test, which debuted in spring 2010 and focuses on the tested NYS Learning Standards, is also available separately. This diagnose-prescribe-instruct model in the Measuring Up® program has helped over 1.4 million New York students master the NYS Learning Standards and boost their test-taking confidence.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases