The Most Popular E-Textbooks – June 2018 Newsletter
Don’t Delay! Launch a Tech Implementation Plan for the New School Year Today!
With class rosters to upload and e-resources to connect, implementing new tech resources at the beginning of the year can be a daunting task. But we have great news, it’s not too late to set up an implementation plan!
Technology has not only changed how we teach, it’s also changed how we prepare for the school year. Classrooms use more devices and access more digital resources than ever.
Thinking about how your Identity Provider (IDP) or Student Information System (SIS) will talk to your applications and e-book platforms is a new concept and not something we used to worry about. The multiple digital resources, while a huge asset on the educational front, can be difficult to manage, especially at the start of the new year.
Here’s the key to a smooth launch: it’s all about the connector! Taking a minimal amount of time to select a connector application is well worth it. There are a variety of options online, ranging in cost from free to pricey. A connector application will do everything necessary to launch your new year, it’s designed to do the heavy “technology” lifting for you. When shopping for a connector make sure to have a list on hand of applications your school utilizes including your SIS, LMS and all of the digital textbook programs as well as any other critical programs
Choose the connector that that will best sync with your IDP or SIS and makes the most sense for your needs. There’s no need for an IT professional to set up this service. There are multiple connector applications available online that will suit your needs and will walk you through the setup process.
Wrap up your beginning of the year prep by testing the connection, making sure that your SIS is transmitting the correct roster data through the connector into the application. Next test the Single Sign-on capabilities from your IDP (which may also be your SIS) into the application. All of this should happen automatically. Do this now and you won’t need to think about it all summer. It will automatically sync the new roster data with your applications.
Don’t delay! Taking a few simple steps will not only prepare you for the next school year but also give you some peace of mind over this much deserved summer break.
Founder & CEO
Pearson Education is Making Big Changes
Pearson recently announced its intention to sell the K-12 Curriculum Business. This is a significant and monumental moment in the direction of education. Millions of students are used to using Pearson books in the classroom. Will you be affected when these books are no longer available?
Many schools are unaware of which books will be going away. Furthermore, many schools are not prepared for future of education. Massive publishers, such as Pearson, McGraw-Hill, and Houghton Mifflin have already begun positioning their businesses to shift into the digital age. Imprints for print publications are being shut down, sold off to small publishers or financial groups, or converted to digital software. This is the new reality!
Many teachers are relaxing on vacation right now for the summer, only to get a disturbing call that their English or Social Studies books are no longer available. Its not too late to avoid the pitfalls of a cancelled program or a forced shift to digital. If you do not prepare, the forced shift will cause chaos and stress not only for the school’s budgets, but also the teachers and students in the classroom. Waiting for the transition to come upon you, will lead to much higher costs in the long run. Be proactive! There is still time.
EdTech Software is well versed with the transitions occurring in the publishing world. Our curriculum specialists work closely with the publisher in order to offer a confident and smooth transition. Furthermore, EdTech can handle the curriculum transitions for you in its entirety, if necessary, so you don’t have to worry about anything. We will also train your teachers on the specific platforms for each publisher. When you get the notification that your content is no longer available, there is no need to stress if you are working with EdTech Software. Whether the teachers would like to stick with the same program, create their own content, learn about what’s new out there, our curriculum specialists can help in the review process, as well as the implementation of the new programs.
Getting ahead of the shift will give your school an advantage rather than being a victim of a change being forced upon you.
Blackbaud ConferenceJuly 25 – 27
EdTech will be at the Blackbaud Conference in Seattle this summer and, for a limited time, we are offering a show special: FREE Implementation of Blackbaud Connector to Pearson!
If you want to find out more, call us today at 844-501-7851 or click below.
Salesian High School
Salesian High School is a private, all-male Catholic school located in New Rochelle, New York. School Librarian Paul Zaccagnino managed the school’s digital implementation services, and expressed that finding an alternative to hardbound books was a priority. He said the school had concerns with how quickly textbooks were wearing out, as well as the fact that the books the students were carrying were simply too heavy.
Your Summer Will NOT Be Ruined!!
It’s this time of the year, when you have mixed feelings… Summer break is almost here, and that’s exciting! However, you are not looking forward to the daunting task of setting up PearsonEasyBridge.
Well, worry no more my friend – EdTech is here to help you take your summer back!
Our simple and very affordable Pearson EasyBridge implementation takes care of practically everything for you:
Take Your Summer Back!
Call us today at 844-501-7851 to learn more, or schedule a demo with our implementation experts, or click on the button below:
