Premium Service Upgrade Offers Enhanced Features at Summer Conference

Qtopia, an online interactive learning platform, created by Qwizdom, with thousands of ready-to-use materials for K-8 students, announces Qtopia Plus, a premium version of the eLearning and gaming software.   The paid version builds on the free platform which launched earlier this year, adding elements to the highly successful game-based learning software, including state standards-aligned curriculum, additional learning tools, and increased reporting features.
“Qtopia Plus takes the fun, easy-to-use tools of the original version and makes them not only state specific, but student specific,” said Darin Beamish, CEO of Qwizdom. “Teachers can assess their student’s knowledge in particular areas and personalize their learning experience, offering standard- based lessons for each concept, so no time is wasted searching for alternate teaching material. Since Qtopia’s initial release in January 2011, the community has grown to over 10,000 educators in leading schools across the country and we look forward to expanding that number with the help of Qtopia Plus.”

Qtopia Plus offers increased customization, access to ReadySet State standards-aligned curriculum, additional games, animated avatars, supplementary lesson and answer explanations, and district-wide reporting capabilities. These features allow teachers and administrators to track student progress in real-time on assessments that align to the format, content, and difficulty of today’s high-stakes statewide exams.

“Students picked up the general use of the programs and systems quickly, usually within the first session,” said Bob Richardson, Instructional Technology Coordinator and teacher for Central Florida Leadership Academy. “Teachers learned a great deal through students’ experiences. Qtopia, and Qwizdom technology support has been immediate.

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, Qtopia is giving away a one year subscription to Qtopia Plus to 5 educators –  one each day beginning Monday May 2, through Friday May 6.

Qtopia Plus for educators provides access to additional reporting features, state-aligned curriculum,  unique avatars for student and teacher use, and other enhancements to support Qwizdom’s freemium online learning and gaming platform.

How to Play:
1. “Like” Qtopia on Facebook

2.  Post to Qtopia’s Wall one way in which your classroom/students would benefit from Qtopia Plus.

Prize:

One year subscription to Qtopia Plus.

The Details:

Contest runs from 12:01AM to 11:59 PM EST each day. Educators may enter one post per day. One winner will be chosen per day at random, May 2 – May 6 and announced the following day.

The giveaway is open to educators across America. (Please note that this promotion is not available to educators outside of the United States). Limit one prize per educator.

PUYALLUP, WA — 01/30/11 — Qtopia, a free online learning platform with thousands of ready-to-use practice materials, will be revealed at FETC. The online environment provides student access to educational activities from anywhere with internet access. The service was developed by Qwizdom and is available for immediate use at Qtopia.com

“Qtopia was created with the educator and learning process in mind. Ease of use and flexibility are not only key features but they were the cornerstone in our development process. What we have created is  an online community for students and teachers that make learning successful, measurable, and fun,” said Darin Beamish, CEO of Qwizdom.

Students can personalize their own account with customizable avatars, Qtopians, who grow with each student as they overcome challenges and earn rewards, encouraging student motivation. Educators can save time and paper when assigning homework and other activities that feature automatic grading, instant feedback, and data tracking. Online messaging and reporting tools make it easy for teachers to keep parents informed on their student’s progress and assignments.

Qtopia was piloted in January by a variety of instructors, including Technology Teacher Marty Harrington at Gray Elementary in Gray, Georgia. She noted, “With Qtopia, I have seen students that are typically unmotivated perform better while having fun and enjoying it.”

Qtopia access is free to educators and students. An extended version, Qtopia Plus, is in development and will feature increased customization, access to ReadySet State standards-aligned curriculum, additional games, animated avatars, supplementary lesson and answer explanations, and district-wide reporting .

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About Qtopia:

Qtopia is a new online learning platform for curriculum-based education where teachers create customized lesson plans and assignments that incorporate gaming into everyday lesson practice. Qtopia has been pilot tested by leading schools across the country and is a registered trademark of Qwizdom, Inc.

For more information, please visit www.qtopia.com or call 877-794-9366

Video Winner:
Gerald Kolbeck, technology coordinator at Lunalilo Elementary School, of Honolulu, HI, shared a video of his students expressing how they thought Qwizdom would make their daily lessons more fun using paper versions of the Q6 remote. This will be the first set of Qwizdom remotes for Lunalilo Elementary School. As the technology coordinator, Gerald, plans on keeping his Qwizdom suite stationary in the main computer lab so that multiple teachers can use it to assess their students and save time. “The kids and administration will be so excited. I can’t wait to tell them.”

View the video here.

Photo Winner:
Jessica Drake, a Family and Consumer Science teacher at Battle Ground High School, of Battle Ground, WA, submitted a series of photos of Qwizdom remotes made of various fruits and vegetables. Jessica, who currently shares a set of remotes with her department, uses them for test taking and review, as well as attendance. She plans on sharing the Qwizdom suite with the rest of her department. “The other teachers are really excited to have a second set of remotes.”

View her photos here.

Blog Winner:
Arwen Imai, eighth grade science and robotics teacher at Kipp 3D Academy, of Houston, TX, won the blog portion of the How Do You Q contest with a post of six different ways she Q’s. Kipp 3D Academy currently has one set of Q4 remotes for the whole school, which have to be reserved in advance. This limits Imai to utilizing the remotes about once a month. With the new remotes, Imai plans on using them daily for test review, comprehensive questions during lectures and during games so that students can quickly check their answers. Imai said “I was literally dancing around my house when I found out!”

View her blog post here.

To view all of the entries, visit howdoyouq.com.

May 10, 2010 – (PUYALLUP, WA)– Beginning today, May 10, through June 11, Qwizdom will be giving away over $2700 in interactive learning systems, curriculum and software across the nation through a Twitter Promotion, or “Tweetaway.” The company says it hopes to see the technology encourage teachers/administrators to create engaging classroom experiences that help students succeed.

How to win:
Follow @Qwizdom on Twitter…
Trivia questions will be posted to Twitter at 7PM EST on Thursdays and the first educator to reply to @Qwizdom with the correct response will win prizes of increasing value as the promotion continues.

Tweetaway prizes are as follows:
May 13 – Qwizdom connect with premium service
May 20 – Qwizdom connect with premium service
May 27 – Q7 tablet + WizTeach tools
June 3 – Q7 tablet + WizTeach tools
June 10 – Complete Classroom Set including 24 Q2 student remotes, a Q7 teacher tablet, Qwizdom Connect Software, and WizTeach tools

The “tweetaway” and giveaways are open to educators across America. (Please note that this promotion is not available to educators outside of the United States). Limit one prize per school, one prize per educator.
For more information on Qwizdom, visit www.qwizdom.com.

About Qwizdom, Inc.
Qwizdom provides integrated education technology solutions for thousands of schools throughout the U.S. and U.K. Striving to make learning both effective and engaging, Qwizdom offers the most advanced radio-frequency classroom response technology (patents pending), a complete software learning system, more than 150 interactive curriculum programs, and a digital learning network. Founded in 1984, Qwizdom has offices in the Seattle area, Cleveland, and the United Kingdom. For more information, please visit www.qwizdom.com.

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Media Contact:
Ian Bryan
828.242.1868
ianbryan@sensiblecity.com

AUSTIN, Texas – Most American educators are familiar with Qwizdom’s interactive classroom technology, but only those attending the Texas Computer Education Association Conference this February will have the unique opportunity to squeeze in hands-on time with the company’s newest hardware release – the Q6 student response system.

Available for pre-order in late march of this year, the Qwizdom Q6 Student Response System is unique in that it offers more opportunity for collaboration than with any previous system, including an easy-to-use keypad similar to a cell phone, text input and a larger LCD screen to view full responses. The small, ergonomic radio frequency remotes allow each student to communicate with the teacher from up to 328 feet away and are durability-tested to withstand the rigors of the classroom.

As the teacher presents questions on a screen, verbally, or by using paper-based activities, pupils enter responses with their remotes. The teacher‘s computer instantly receives the responses and records the results, allowing the freedom to easily manage and control the format and speed of the lesson. The instant response also allows the educator to gauge students’ overall comprehension or to zero in on a struggling pupil. In turn, a student is notified when their response has been received and can silently signal the teacher for help, easing the fear of judgment by peers or falling behind in class.

The device’s 1.8 × 1.5” LCD screen allows for up to 116 character input per transmission. Multiple mark, numeric, sequencing, rating scale, yes/no, fractional/decimal, multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions are all supported by the Q6. Battery life is a year on average.

Software used with Q6 remotes is both PC and Mac-friendly, integrating easily with PowerPoint® and Keynote®. Additionally, Qwizdom Connect software works with hundreds of thousands of pre-made curriculum resource slides.

Two ways to win:

1. Visit Qwizdom on the trade show floor…

Qwizdom can be found in booth #1423, a demonstration area, and in booth #2459, where conference attendees can spend hands-on time with WizTeach, software designed to allow teachers to choose tool combinations that cater to the subject they teach. Conference badges will be scanned at both booths, automatically entering attendees to win a Q7 tablet, a mini interactive portable whiteboard. Qwizdom representatives will demonstrate various education tools every hour, on the hour, in booth #1423. Participants will receive a Qwizdom Tshirt for attending and are encouraged to wear it around Austin and at the show. A tap on the shoulder from a Qwizdom representative means a free classroom set of Q2 remotes. Additional giveaways every hour include a Q7 Tablet, Premium/ReadySet curriculum and Connect software.

2. Follow @Qwizdom on Twitter…

During TCEA (Feb 8- 12), Qwizdom will ask its followers trivia question’s about the Q6 student response system, the company’s up-and-coming release. Prior to each trivia question, the company will tweet at least two hyperlink “hints” leading to where the answer may be found. (Think of it as an open-book test!) The first correct reply to @Qwizdom will win.

Tweetaway prizes are as follows:

Wednesday 2/10 – Set of 24 Q2 Student Response Remotes with a Q7 Tablet, Connect Software and WizTeach Tools.

Thursday 2/11 – Set of 24 Q2 Student Response Remotes with a Q7 Tablet, Connect Software, WizTeach Tools and Premium Service.

The “tweetaway” and giveaways are open to educators across America. (Please note that this promotion is not available to educators outside of the United States).

For more information on Qwizdom, visit www.qwizdom.com.

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About Qwizdom, Inc.

Qwizdom provides integrated education technology solutions for thousands of schools throughout the U.S. and U.K. Striving to make learning both effective and engaging, Qwizdom offers the most advanced radio-frequency classroom response technology (patents pending), a complete software learning system, more than 150 interactive curriculum programs, and a digital learning network. Founded in 1984, Qwizdom has offices in the Seattle area, Cleveland, and the United Kingdom. For more information, please visit www.qwizdom.com.

Media Contact
Ian Bryan
828.242.1868
ianbryan@sensiblecity.com

Attending FETC 2010?  At some point during your visit, you will find yourself in the audience of one of the fantastic presentations on educational technology.  This year several FETC presenters will have an extra interactive element to keep the audience engaged.  Qwizdom will be providing their Student Response System to a select group of presentations.  The idea is to provide an opportunity for the audience to give feedback and enliven their presentations.  The following is a list of presenters who will be taking part in this experience:

FETC Presenter Schedule

January 14

Thursday

9:15 – 10:10am

Hunter Menning

Perfect Teaching Solutions from a National Teacher of the Year

Room: W304A

Capacity: 200

Diane Tinucci

Phone-a-Friend: Educational Videoconferencing is the Answer

Room: W304D

Capacity: 200

Al Mizell

Distance Learning: Professional Development and Networking

Room: W304E

Capacity: 200

Boni Hamilton

Teaching Research that Lasts

Room: W311F

Capacity: 200

10:35 – 11:30am

Brad Fountain

The Needed Virus: How to Spread 21^st Teaching for 21^st Century Students

Room: W311B

Capacity: 200

12:30 – 1:25pm

Rushton Hurley

Digital Video for the Intimidated or Skeptical

Room: W311F

Capacity: 200

1:50 – 2:45pm

Sandra Wozniak

Yourtake: An Online Collaborative Tool to Teach 21^st Century Skills

Room: W311B

Capacity: 200

Richard Jeter

Tech Tools for Teachers on a Tight Budget

Room: W311D

Capacity: 200

3:10 – 4:05pm

Joel Gluck

Proficiency-based Graduation Requirements and the Electronic Portfolio

Room: W304C

Capacity: 200

4:30 – 5:25pm

Rushton Hurley

Hordes of Free Tools from a Google Certified Teacher

Room: W414CD

Capacity: 400

Janet Bryson

Been There, Done That and Still Not Ready for Algebra

Room: W304C

Capacity: 200

John Ross

eCoaching: Connecting Educators through Technology

Room: W304G

Capacity: 200

Michelle Scribner-MacLean

Creating a Successful Online Learning Community

Room: W311F

Capacity: 200

January 15

Friday

9:15 – 10:10am

Megan Allen

“Popcasting!” Using Podcasts and Pop Culture to Motivate and Inspire Learners

Room: W414AB

Capacity: 400

Debra Berlin

Raising Reading Achievement in a Technological Age: Online and Off!

Room: W311B

Capacity: 200

10:35 – 11:30am

Bill Murphy

High/Low Tech for Students with Severe Disabilities in the Classroom

Room: W303AB

Capacity: 200

Roberta Hammett

Future Teachers and 9^th Graders Collaborate: Digital Representations

Room: W311H

Capacity: 200

12:30 – 1:25pm

Mark Clemente

Using Modeling and Simulation Tools to Teach Math and Science

Room: W304G

Capacity: 200

1:50 – 2:45pm

Chris Ward

SMS: Cell Phones and VoIP in the Classroom Curriculum

Room: W304E

Capacity: 200

Kristie Taylor

To Thinkfinity and Beyond!

Room: W304F

Capacity: 200

Sue Kraul

From 0 to 60 in Three Years… NO Technology to LOTS of Technology!

Room: W311C

Capacity: 200

Qwizdom will kick off the Florida Education Technology Conference (FETC) by giving and “tweeting away” over $30,000.00 in student response systems and software to educators attending FETC and across the nation. The company says it hopes to see the technology encourage teachers to ring in 2010 with interactive, engaging classroom experiences which help students to succeed.

Two ways to win:

1. Visit Qwizdom on the trade show floor…

Qwizdom can be found in booth 515, a demonstration area, and in booth 438, where conference attendees can spend hands-on time with the Q7 tablet, a mini interactive portable whiteboard. Conference badges will be scanned at both booths, automatically entering attendees to win Q7 of their own. Qwizdom representatives will demonstrate various education tools every hour, on the hour, in booth 515 and participants will receive a Qwizdom Tshirt for attending. Wearing the T-shirt is another way to win. A tap on the shoulder from a Qwizdom representative means a free classroom set of Q2 remotes. Also up for grabs every hour is a Q7 Tablet, Premium Service and Connect software.

2. Follow @Qwizdom on Twitter…

During the Florida Educational Technology Conference (Jan 12- 15), Qwizdom will ask its followers basic trivia questions. Prior to each trivia question, the company will tweet at least two hyperlink “hints” leading to where the answer may be found. (Think of it as an open-book test!) The first correct response made in reply to @Qwizdom will win.

Tweetaway prizes are as follows:

Thursday 1/14 – Set of 24 Q2 Student Response Remotes with a Q7 Tablet, Connect Software and WizTeach Tools.

Friday 1/15 – Set of 24 Q2 Student Response Remotes with a Q7 Tablet, Connect Software, WizTeach Tools and Premium Service.

The “tweetaway” and giveaways are open to teachers across America. (Please note that this promotion is not available to educators outside of the United States).

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About Qwizdom, Inc.
Qwizdom provides integrated education technology solutions for thousands of schools throughout the U.S. and U.K. Striving to make learning both effective and engaging, Qwizdom offers the most advanced radio-frequency classroom response technology (patents pending), a complete software learning system, more than 150 interactive curriculum programs, and a digital learning network. Founded in 1984, Qwizdom has offices in the Seattle area, Cleveland, and the United Kingdom. For more information, please visit www.qwizdom.com.

Media Contact
Ian Bryan
828.242.1868
ianbryan@sensiblecity.com

Untitled from SensibleCity on Vimeo.

Principal: “I’ve never seen kids so excited about learning. They are being competitive, especially our 8th Graders, who, when it comes to Qwizdom, they get excited. They are learning. They are in their teams.”