Thinking Learning
Thinking Learning

Visit Follett Software at NSBA- Booth 717 for a Chance to win an IPad 2

April 20, 2012 · By Follett Software · 1 Comment

National School Boards Association
April 21-23, 2012 • Boston, MA
Visit us at Booth #717

While you’re at NSBA exploring the technologies that drive excellence, you’ll want to check out the latest solutions from Follett Software at booth 717. And you could be the lucky visitor who wins an iPad2!

Follett Software’s digitally-powered solutions can help you focus on what’s important—providing your students with the tools and best practices that support higher achievement. Here’s what you’ll see at booth 717:

•    Discover exciting new features with Destiny® 10.1 from the integration with Titlewave — the leading collection development and management tool — and Aspen — our industry-proven student data management system (SIS), to enhanced power search options in Destiny Asset Manager™ and more. This release is a must have for your school!
•    The new Destiny Quest® mobile app – lets you and your students remotely browse the library's catalog for titles or eBooks, place items on hold and much more, all through an Apple iOS or Android mobile device.
•    Aspen Curriculum & Learning- Integrates Curriculum Mapping, Learning Management and Instructional Resources into your student management platform and includes simple content search and discovery for teachers and students.

As our thanks, everyone who views a presentation at booth 717 will receive a special gift. Plus, you’ll be entered to win an iPad2!

We look forward to seeing you at NSBA Booth 717, April 21-23, 2012 in Boston.

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Aspen SIS brings schools from student data management to student achievement

April 03, 2012 · By Follett Software · No Comments

Stephen Lyle’s session, “From Student Information to Student Learning”, reviewed the features and benefits of Follett Software’s award winning SIS- Aspen. Aspen’s Curriculum and Learning and Special Education aspects make this robust system a must have for school districts. Its reporting capabilities along with the ability to provide parents and students with access to information were two factors in Mukilteo School District’s decision to migrate to Aspen’s SIS.

View the Presentation to learn more about Aspen SIS as live-tweeted during the 2012 New Leaf in Learning Conference.  You can download the conference presentation notes here.

Want to learn more about Aspen Curriculum and Learning?  Contact us and we will be happy to share how this platform can help your school.

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No CommentsTags: digital learning · Aspen SIS · new leaf in learning

Kevin Honeycutt's Story at New Leaf in Learning 2012

March 30, 2012 · By Follett Software · No Comments

When we returned to the office from the New Leaf in Learning Conference it was my intention to tell all of these stories as I had tweeted them via the @newleaflearning handle. When I sifted through the vast amount of tweets  and the lively conversation my predetermined plan was foiled.  There could be no better stories and no better way to tell the true conference action then through the vibe eminating from the tweets using the #nlil12 handle. 

Below you will find one such story of many we have yet to tell.  Kevin Honeycutt, a technology integration specialist at ESSDACK in Hutchinson, Kansas, was the Pre-Opening Keynote Speaker for the 2012 New Leaf in Learning Conference.  It was thrilling to live micro-blog this event, but it was just as exciting to watch the crowd engage with Kevin's down to earth style and humor as he touched on key points for educators, allowing humor and transparency to swirl among the conference attendees.

Here is the story of Kevin Honeycutt's Pre-Opening Keynote at the 2012 New Leaf in Learning Conference.

Rebecca Levinson, Manager, Online & Social Media

 

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Andrew Miller on Game Based Learning at #nlil12

March 29, 2012 · By Follett Software · No Comments

I was fortunate enough to present on Game-Based Learning at Follett’s New Leaf in Learning Conference, an annual practice that arms educators with tools and best practices to increase student engagement and achievement. Many sessions pushed the thinking of participants, but most inspiring were the key note speaking. One particular talk resonating with me and drew connections with the materials I present on Game-Based Learning.

Read more of Andrew Miller's post on Gamification at #NLIL12 here

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No CommentsTags: Follett Conference · gamification · new leaf in learning

A New Leaf in the Tree of Learning

March 27, 2012 · By Follett Software · No Comments

As an educator I could easily consider each of my students a tree.  We often use sayings of thank you for helping us grow and we draw a picture of a cute little flower.  I think that students are so much more than cute little flowers.  The trunk of the tree represents the student themselves, with the roots representing background knowledge and home life.  The leaves represent different individuals that come in and out of a student’s life.  This might be teachers, librarians, principals, bosses, janitors, cafeteria ladies, and the list could go on.  A tree goes through growing and changing, so does a student.   This description could also work with anyone that is growing and learning in their own sense.

It also represents a Fantastic conference with the Best name!

A New Leaf in the Tree of Learning continued here

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1st Day of the New Leaf in Learning Conference

March 24, 2012 · By Follett Software · No Comments

Yesterday I noted that I left my home town to get to the airport at 4AM…. Here it is a day later at 4PM and my, what a day can bring!
So much learning…my brain is beginning to burst. I’ve wanted to use Destiny Quest as the student portal into many new ways of searching but didn’t really think through how to best accomplish it. I hate to admit this, but kids at my school, when given a report to do just don’t search for books. [I don’t reckon that that is at all unique, yes?.] It’s ‘hit the ‘net’ for just about every information problem they have.

Read more on the New Leaf in Learning Conference Blog

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Embrace Digital Learning. The Follett 3600 Interactive Whiteboard is Here

March 02, 2012 · By Follett Software · No Comments

The Journey of Engagement

The Follett 3600 Interactive Whiteboard System is the newest addition to our line of hardware products to increase student achievement.  Follett 3600 Interactive Whiteboard is the most durable Interactive Whiteboard on the educational technology market. 

Through our partnership with Polyvision we are able to bring Follett customers the first three-in-one interactive whiteboard solution.  This Interactive whiteboard gives librarians and teachers a flexible, versatile tool that keeps pace with the demands of today’s students.

How do you increase student participation and engagement?

The responsibility to teach and inspire students is an awesome and sometimes daunting task. Your days begin and end with the challenges of common core, absenteeism, administrative paperwork, dwindling resources, family connections, and students who are increasingly bored with static curriculum lessons.

Your classrooms and libraries abound with a variety of children who you are tasked to capture their attention.  Add current gaming and tech toys to the mix and how can you expect to hold your students attention with educational tools that they can’t relate to nor are natural to these digital natives ? How can you inspire creativity within the boundaries of your school?

YOU CAN CREATE HIGH-TECH MULTIMEDIA, MULTISENSORY LESSON PLANS THAT ENGAGE YOUR STUDENTS WITH THE RIGHT DIGITAL TOOLS.

You can use the Follett 3600 Interactive Whiteboard to:

  • Make literacy fun by displaying and reading ebooks.
  • Consume digital content by watching videos to reinforce lessons.
  • Collaborate with classrooms worldwide via skype.
  • Take virtual field trips.
  • Create lab simulations.
  • Compose and play music amplified through the board with the use of the Follet 3600 IWB Sound.
  • Make geography interactive by using Google Earth.
  • Reinforce math concepts through math games.
  • Use interactive timelines to review historical events.
  • Turn posters and presentations into dynamic multimedia displays of work.

You can enhance your teaching palette with compelling activities and lesson development tools that inspire students on all levels by launching Follett Software products right from your IWB:


•    Destiny®- Launch One Search™ or Destiny Quest®
•    Digital content- Launch WebPath Express™ or other digital content solutions
•    Aspen- Launch the System Administration module and take attendance.

Learn more about the Follett 3600 Interactive Whiteboard

We are happy to continue to provide engaging and meaningful solutions that enable digital learning to educators.  Please visit Follettsoftware.com to learn more about the Follett 3600 Interactive Whiteboard solutions.

Come play with the Follett 3600 Interactive Whiteboard during the New Leaf in Learning Conference.  We'll be hosting games using the Follet 3600 IWB that you can emulate in your library or classroom.

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No CommentsTags: digital learning · Follett 3600 IWB · Follett Conference · Interactive Whiteboards · NewLeafInLearning

Digital Storytelling in the Classroom

March 01, 2012 · By Follett Software · No Comments

If you missed the Talk on Twitter with Andrea Keller and Lori Feldman you can still view the dialogue in our story below.

[View the story "Digital Storytelling in the Classroom" on Storify]

Here is the impressive list of resources shared during the Twitter talk:

Join us for more engaging #edtech conversation by  joining us at the New Leaf in Learning Conference.

Don't miss the next Talk on Twitter with New Leaf in Learning Speaker Tiffany Whitehead.

 

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Join Us Tuesdays on Twitter for Talks with New Leaf in Learning Conference Presenters

February 28, 2012 · By Follett Software · No Comments

We are less than 30 days away from the New Leaf in Learning premier educational technology conference.  On March 21st K-12 education professionals will convene to learn from thought leaders in the industry on topics ranging from Digital Learning, EBooks, BYOD, Social Media and more.


If you haven’t yet registered for the New Leaf in Learning Conference here’s your chance to get a sneak peak at what you will experience by coming to our event.


Join Us Tuesdays on Twitter
For the next three Tuesdays a speaker from the New Leaf in Learning Conference will be on hand to answer your questions on topics relevant to their sessions at the conference. 
Each Talk session on Twitter will be in the form of an interview. We encourage you to also send questions to our interviewees and mark them with our hashtags:  #NLIL12, #NLILchat, or #NLIL2012. 

The conference Twitter handle that we will interview from is http://twitter.com/newleaflearning.

Check out our schedule below:

Tuesday, February 28, 2012- 8 p.m.
Digital Storytelling for the Multi-Ability Classroom
Do you really need a story to use digital storytelling?
Andrea Keller and Lori Feldman, presenters at Follett's New Leaf in Learning Conference, will be available to answer your questions on Twitter.  Join the conversation.

Follow these Twitter Handles to join our Talk on Twitter-
•    New Leaf in Learning- @newleaflearning
•    Andrea Keller- @akbusybee
•    Lori Feldman- @ lfeld52


Tuesday, March 6, 2012- 8 a.m.
Next Generation Librarian— Tiffany Whitehead

How important are positive digital identities and digital citizenship to your students and teachers?
At our New Leaf in Learning conference in March, Tiffany Whitehead will show you ways that you can turn your library into a learning center without walls or borders.  Tiffany will be available to answer questions and share information on Twitter during our Tuesday Twitter talk session. 

Follow these Twitter Handles to join our Talk on Twitter-
•    New Leaf in Learning- @newleaflearning
•    Tiffany Whitehead- @librarian_tiff

Tuesday March 13, 2012- 8 a.m.Game-Based Learning- Andrew Miller               

How can you use game based learning to increase student engagement?

Andrew Miller, educational advocate and consultant (and ASCD and Edutopia blogger) will be presenting a fascinating session at the New Leaf in Learning Conference to help you learn the levels of implementations of Game-Based Learning. Tweet your questions to Andrew and he will respond.

Follow these Twitter Handles to join our Talk on Twitter-
•    New Leaf in Learning- @newleaflearning
•    Andrew Miller- @betamiller

Join Follett as we host Talks with Educational Expert on Twitter.  If you like what you are hearing, join us at the New Leaf in Learning Conference, March 21-23rd at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel by registering here.

Rebecca Levinson, Online & Social Media Marketing Manager

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No CommentsTags: digital learning · Educational Leadership · educational technology conference · Follett Conference · new leaf in learning

Get your Classroom Questions answered by Paul Sanfrancesco Wed. February 22nd on our New Leaf in Learning Facebook Page

February 20, 2012 · By Follett Software · No Comments

Every Wednesday in February Follet Chats with Educational Experts on Facebook

Every Wednesday in February we are hosting a series of chats on our New Leaf in Learning Facebook Page that allow educators and librarians to interact with our speakers simply by “liking” our page on Facebook and joining the conversation.


Starting at 8 a.m. you can look forward to a 30 minute interview with our renowned industry speakers.  The speaker for that day will be available from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. CST to answer your questions related to the topic for that day.  Get a taste of our New Leaf in Learning Conference sessions by joining us for these chats on Facebook.


Paul Sanfrancesco, Garnet Valley School District, PA will join us this Wed. February 22nd, 2012
Paul Sanfrancesco will be joining us at 8 a.m. CST this Wednesday to discuss technology tools for teachers and how districts can construct their own technology training programs.  Paul will be presenting two sessions at our New Leaf in Learning Conference titled, “Training Teachers on the Use of New Technology” and “Technology in Schools:  A Teacher’s Privilege and Responsibility”.  Paul is the Director of Technology at Garnet Valley School District in PA where they have created a Technology Academy for Teachers.  We will be chatting with Paul about his school district’s creation and implementation of their Technology Academy.

Want to learn more about how a district creates a vision for staff development with technology? 

Get a taste for Paul Sanfrancesco’s session by joining us this Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012, from 8-6 p.m. CST on the New Leaf in Learning Facebook Page.  Have a peer interested in creating strategies that integrate technology and curriculum in the classroom? 
Invite them to our chat on Wednesday.

•    Stay tuned in to New Leaf in Learning Conference news and follow our stream on Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/newleaflearning
•    Join us for Expert Chats every Wednesday in February on our New Leaf in Learning Facebook Page- http://www.facebook.com/newleafinlearning
•    Commit to learning by attending our educational technology conference- http://www.newleafinlearning.com.

Feel free to share the above links on your Facebook Page, Twitter account, or blog.  We look forward to seeing you this Wednesday on our conference Facebook page.

Rebecca Levinson, Online & Social Media Marketing Manager

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No CommentsTags: educational technology conference · new leaf in learning · NewLeafInLearning