ExploreLearning News

Gizmos nominated as CODiE Award Finalists in 2 Categories

For the fifth straight year, ExploreLearning Gizmos have been nominated as finalists in the annual SIIA CODiE Awards--- for Best K-12 Instructional Solution and Best Science Instructional Solution. It's a significant achievement!

Gizmos were selected from many high-caliber products as one of the best in the educational software and information industry. 327 products were nominated for education category awards and all went through an intensive review by subject matter experts, analysts, journalists, and others with deep experience in the fields.

“This is the twenty‐fifth year we have recognized excellence in the software, education and information industries through the CODiE Awards program,” noted Ken Wasch, President of SIIA. “In this economic climate, companies are doing even more to innovate. ExploreLearning has demonstrated a commitment to innovation and quality that is reflected in their selection as a finalist for the CODiE Awards. I am pleased and proud to have them listed among the candidates, and I wish them the best in the final round of voting.”

Review the full list of 2010 CODiE Award Finalists. Winners will be announced in May.

 

 

Updated Gizmos highlight genetics and evolution

Five Gizmos have been updated with new curriculum materials as a part of our ongoing project. Several of these Gizmos focus on the intersection of evolution and genetics:

Evolution: Natural and Artificial Selection

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

Microevolution

DNA Fingerprint Analysis

Human Evolution - Skull Analysis

Please note that the DNA Fingerprint Analysis Gizmo was recently modified by shifting the codons that code for each trait. 

We hope you enjoy using our expanded curriculum materials!

Updated Help Center navigation

We've updated the look of our Help Center and changed how it's organized.

Some of the updates you may notice include:

• New topic pages to help organize existing help
• Help movies integrated with text help
• New Search field - searches the Help Center only
• A handful of new help entries related to recent changes (such as Community Features)

Check it out!  We hope this makes things a little nicer, clearer, and easier to use.

Ontario Certified Trainer, Positions Available

ExploreLearning is seeking experienced science and math educators interested in joining a network of teacher-trainers conducting professional development for Ontario school boards. Prior classroom experience with Gizmos is ideal. This is an occasional, contract position with remuneration on a per diem basis.

Additional information about this position can be found on the ExploreLearning Employment Page .

Regional PD Manager (Math) Needed

ExploreLearning is looking for a Regional Professional Development Manager.  Interested candidates should be highly-qualified mathematics educators who have managerial and teacher training experience.  Prior experience with Gizmos would be a definite plus.  The Regional Professional Development Manager will be a full-time field member of ExploreLearning's PD Team.

This new position will be filled as soon as the right person is identified.

Additional information about this position can be found on the ExploreLearning Employment Page .

Arkansas Chooses Gizmos for Middle Schools State-wide

Middle schools across Arkansas now will have the opportunity to use Gizmos! ExploreLearning is partnering with all Arkansas Educational Cooperatives on the project, which has been funded by an Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) award from the Arkansas Department of Education.

“Gizmos will give grade 6-8 students across Arkansas the ability to explore, experiment with and visualize math and science concepts as they learn,” said Teresa Chance, Project Director for the EETT grant's Gizmo implementation.

ExploreLearning looks forward to working closely with the Cooperatives, STEM Centers, and the Arkansas DOE to help fulfill their vision for enhanced math and science instruction across the state.

For more information on this exciting project, read the full press release, read the recent article in THE Journal, or contact ExploreLearning.

ExploreLearning at FETC

If you are at FETC in Orlando, stop by our booth #945 to meet our Florida team and take part in a Gizmo demo, today through Saturday. Also plan on attending an on-program presentation featuring Gizmos on Friday at 3:10pm, called "Understanding and Using Technology in Science and Math Classrooms” (Session ID 274). Mention this announcement and take home a FREE Gizmos water bottle, or other Gizmo goodie!

Science Gizmo curriculum project reaches the halfway mark

Five more science Gizmos have been enhanced with expanded curriculum materials. Each of these Gizmos now includes a Student worksheet, answer key, teacher guide, and vocabulary page:

Solar System Explorer

Effect of Environment on New Life Form

Additive Colors

Subtractive Colors

Air Track

This set brings our total for the year to 75, half of our total collection of science Gizmos. Look for more enhanced curriculum in 2010!

Weather, Density, and Disease featured in freshly enhanced Gizmos

As the end of 2009 approaches, we are nearly halfway through our science curriculum enhancement project. Five more Gizmos are now equipped with Student Explorations, Answer Keys, Teacher Guides, and Vocabulary Sheets:

Coastal Winds and Clouds

Weather Maps

Hurricane Motion

Density via Comparison

Disease Spread

If you prefer your temperatures in Celsius and your wind speeds in km/hour, you can use our metric versions of our three weather Gizmos:

Coastal Winds and Clouds

Weather Maps

Hurricane Motion

ExploreLearning seeks new Director of Professional Development

ExploreLearning is searching for an experienced and dynamic leader for its rapidly growing training and professional development program.  

Primary duties:

• Provide leadership for the successful implementation of ExploreLearning Gizmos in customer districts across North America.
• Manage a talented and growing team of full-time professional developers and per diem trainers.   Recruit and train new team members, as needed.
•  Develop and manage the Professional Development Department budget.
• Design augmentations to the company’s current professional development programming that will increase teacher usage and student success with ExploreLearning products.
• Work with sales team and major customers to plan successful implementations of ExploreLearning products.
• Deliver compelling presentations on Gizmos, the research literature regarding simulations, and best practices for implementation.

Required qualifications and skills:

• Masters degree or higher in math or science education related field.  Ph.D. preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of best practices in the use of simulations for classroom instruction.
• Proven ability to lead a professional development program or organization.
• 7+ years of delivering professional development to math and/or science educators.
• 5+ years of supervisory experience.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Ability to travel (up to 50%).

 

This position reports directly to the head of ExploreLearning and is based at the company’s headquarters in historic downtown Charlottesville, Virginia.

 

Apply for this position