The Buzz

Gizmos A Big Part of STEM Education

    ExploreLearning was featured in the July 2008 issue of T.H.E. Journal as a part of one district's efforts to improve STEM education. In an article entitled "High Schools: An Equation That Works," author Mary Ann Wolf discusses ways to make STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) more interesting to students by combining technology with engaging instructional practices. Technology administrators in several districts were asked about what has worked for them in reaching students more effectively in this area. In Forsyth County, Georgia, ExploreLearning was cited as a key to success in STEM education. Here is an excerpt from the article:

Bailey Mitchell, chief technology officer of Forsyth County Schools (GA), has worked with other officials in his district to implement technology tools and resources supported by ongoing professional development to produce compelling STEM instruction. Teachers in Forsyth have embraced the rich collection of digital content provided by ExploreLearning, a catalog of modular, interactive simulations in math and science that the company calls Gizmos.

'The results have been promising, with students developing a deep and lasting understanding of key concepts in math and science through inquiry and exploration,' Mitchell says.

He explains that using technology compels students to draw on higher-level thinking skills and makes the basic ability to recall information secondary. 'As students create their learning communities using Web 2.0 tools, being able to recall factual information becomes less important than being able to evaluate and synthesize information. These students are achieving on state tests, but are also learning critical 21st-century skills.'

To read the full article in T.H.E. journal, click here: http://www.thejournal.com/articles/22920_1

The Journal is dedicated to improving and advancing the learning process through the use of technology. Launched in 1972, T.H.E. Journal was the first magazine to cover education technology. With a circulation of 90,000 qualified readers, T.H.E. is the largest circulated education technology monthly publication.

Gizmos Help Student Scores on VA State Tests

We received this great feedback on recent state test scores from a veteran middle school science teacher:

"I wanted to pass on to you my Virginia Science SOL (Standards of Learning) results. I credit my fantastic results to Gizmos and to my classroom performance system. I had 73.5% of my special needs kids pass the test!!!!! Not to be outdone I had 44 pass advance and 5 perfect scores out of 117 students testing! You would think I would stop being amazed at how well your programs work but I still get amazed every week when we use Gizmos. I have the computers signed out every week and we do at least one Gizmo a week and they students do not tire of it. They come in and chant, "Gizmo day, Gizmo day!"

Kris Campesi, Middle School Science Teacher
Stafford County, VA

Check out some of the Gizmos that Kris has used with her 7th grade students: Food Chain, Chicken Genetics, and Mouse Genetics (One Trait).

Attend an "Introduction to ExploreLearning Gizmos" webinar this summer

If you are new to ExploreLearning, or are taking a free trial, learn more about the power of Gizmos by attending a one-hour webinar. We are offering informative, introductory webinars throughout the summer for current and future customers. To register for one of these free sessions, click on the link below for a session that is convenient:

Monday, July 14, 2008, 3:00-4:00 pm Eastern time:      
http://explorelearning.na3.acrobat.com/ite/event/registration.html

Monday, July 28, 2008, 3:00-4:00 pm Eastern time:         
http://explorelearning.na3.acrobat.com/ite2/event/registration.html

Monday, August 11, 2008, 3:00-4:00 pm Eastern time:         
http://explorelearning.na3.acrobat.com/ite3/event/registration.html

Monday, August 25, 2008, 3:00-4:00 pm Eastern time:         
http://explorelearning.na3.acrobat.com/ite4/event/registration.html

For more information on our webinars, please contact support@explorelearning.com

ExploreLearning Office Closed on July 4th

In observance of Independence Day, the ExploreLearning offices will be closing at 3pm on Thursday July 3, 2008.

Our offices will reopen on at 8:30am on Monday July 7, 2008.

Shockwave (for Director) Plug-in

In recent months Adobe has updated the Shockwave plugin to version 11. This is to enabled MacIntels to run Gizmos without having to use Rosetta mode (a good thing!).

Recently the plugin has stopped functioning on older Macs (PowerPC Macintosh), and we have reported this issue to Adobe and they are aware of it.

If you are on a Mac and Gizmos will not properly load, please drop a line to customer support (support@explorelearning.com) and let us know. We have put together some documentation that will help people with older Macs get version 10 of the plugin running on your computer so you can enjoy the Gizmos.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause in the near future. We are hoping that Adobe will get the plugin fixed in the next few weeks.

Note: For MacIntels version 11 of the plugin is working without any known problems. We are also working on updating our help page related to plugin issues.

Update: Adobe updated the plugin this morning (June 27, 2008) so Shockwave 11 works properly on PowerPC Macs.

Gizmos Cited as Effective Educational Technology Tools

ExploreLearning Gizmos have been discussed in two recent best-selling educational books, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works, from the Association of Superintendents and Curriculum Directors (ASCD) and Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL), and Technology in the Secondary Science Classroom, from the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).

According to Howard Pitler, Ed.D., Senior Director for Curriculum and Instruction at Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) and lead author of Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works, ExploreLearning's Gizmos are an effective and engaging way to move students to inquiry science and math. We show examples in the book of a number of the nine categories of effective instructional strategies that are truly enhanced by this excellent resource.

Randy Bell, Associate Professor in the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia and co-editor of Technology in the Secondary Science Classroom notes, We included ExploreLearning Gizmos as examples because they embody what research points to as characteristics of effective simulations. Gizmos are content focused, they encourage inquiry instruction and they actively engage students in learning. These features are very well aligned with the findings of more than two decades of research on the effective uses of computer simulations in science instruction.

We are honored to be included as examples of effective educational technology in these books!

Read the entire Press Release here.

Gizmos Are Creating a Buzz in Canada too.

We recently received this testimonial from a new Gizmo fan in the Prince Edward School District Board in Ontario, Canada:

"I have just spent a very enjoyable and worthwhile amount of time exploring "Gizmos", which I understand has been recently licensed in Ontario by OSAPAC. I recall seeing your sales rep about this at NCTM in Richmond, VA last October, and in my summary report to management indicating it was one of the only worthwhile applications we should explore further.

I must confess that my positive remarks at that time were understated. After using the simulations and seeing the high-quality videos you have, I am even more convinced that you have an outstanding product. And speaking as our office's resident curmudgeon, I seldom give out that kind of praise.

Thanks for making such a high-quality item."

William S. Lundy
I.T.S. Department, Mathematical Literacy/SMART Board Lead, The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board

Thanks for this endorsement of Gizmos, Bill!

ExploreLearning Wins Award

We are pleased to announce that ExploreLearning was awarded the Association of Educational Publishers' Distinguished Achievement Award in the Mathematics Instruction/Website category.

For 38 years, the Distinguished Achievement Awards have honored the diversity and quality of supplemental publishing products made for the home and school. In 2004, the AEP expanded the categories to reflect the growth of electronic publishing and the expanding educational publishing industry. Additional information can be found at the AEP Awards website.

A special thanks to the AEP, who made the awards banquet a fabulous event, and gave us the chance to meet with many people devoted to education.

Shown in the photo from left to right are William, Raman (that is me!), Julia, and Dan. Since Dan is our main "math guy" he got to go up on stage to receive the award earlier in the evening.

Official Press Release

Gizmos: “The best computer program I have ever seen to use in math classrooms”

We just received this praise from a 7th grade Math teacher in Greenwich, CT, who helped evaluate Gizmos for her district’s middle schools.

“I just wanted to follow up about the Gizmo program we've been able to try through ExploreLearning.com. It works great as a classroom tool with the Smartboard, which I've finally got up and running…The students are so excited when they get to use Gizmos, which makes them excited about learning.  The correlation to the Connected Math books is amazing. There has been a worthwhile Gizmo for every Investigation since we've had the opportunity to use the program. Using the Exploration Guide for each Gizmo, I have created Activity Packets for the students to complete. These Exploration Guides are very well put together and directly correlate with topics being discussed in class. This is the best computer program I have seen to use in math classrooms. The students get to see real simulations that they read about in the books.  It gives real life problem-solving a whole new meaning to them.  It is so helpful for students who have a hard time with visualization. 

    Since I've started using them with the students, I refer to the Gizmos as I'm teaching.  I have even had a student mention a Gizmo in extra help, …and she was immediately able to relate it to the problem she was working on.  I really feel that it expands critical thinking skills and helps [students] connect and extend their understanding.

    The Assessment Questions provided with each Gizmo are excellent. They are often similar to CMT (Connecticut Math Test) multiple-choice questions, which is great practice for the students.  I love being able to see how the students did and where they need more instruction.  I have only used the assessment questions when I have taken the students to the computer lab, but they can easily be assigned as homework.  I have accessed the site from home and it would not be a problem for students to do so. The results that are provided for the teacher are great instant feedback. I honestly would give anything to be able to use this in my classroom next year.
    I looked over the Gizmos that correlate with the other books I cover in my classes and my mind is already forming plans to incorporate them in my teaching plans…This is the most passionate and excited I have ever been about a new teaching tool.”

                                                                                                    --- Emily Carter, Greenwich, CT

Gizmos as part of Classrooms for the Future

The Classrooms for the Future initiative provides funds for schools in Pennsylvania to purchase state-of-the-art resources for teachers to more effectively educate and prepare students to compete in the ever-expanding high-tech global marketplace. Under this initiative, one Pennsylvania high school, in Millcreek Township, is using Gizmos as a great resource for improving student learning in science.

"My AP students found the Bohr Model Gizmos to be really helpful and a very useful tool to visualize the electrons bombarding the nucleus and the energy that is absorbed or emitted.  My Applications of Chemistry students found the Element Builder Gizmo fun and a unique visual with moving parts to see the atoms."                        

                                            Julie DeWoody, High School Science Teacher, Millcreek Township, PA

Julie also participated in a video segment showcasing the success she's had using Gizmos in her AP Chemistry class. Watch this video and see about how Julie has made a difference for her students with Gizmos.

Check out these high school Chemistry Gizmos and many others for yourself: Bohr Model: Introduction, Bohr Model of Hydrogen, Element Builder