June 2012 ERAC Update (2nd Edition)

Deadlines

• FrontRow – expires June 30, 2012
• SOCAN – expires June 30, 2012
• eTeachables from Sublime Learning – short-term offer expires June 30, 2012
• Orca Books – 3 Titles – short-term offer expires August 31, 2012

New For You

Bundle Up with the *NEW* BC Digital Classroom for Fall

The new BC Digital Classroom has been created with bundle options to enhance your use of digital learning resources for both students and teachers. You can continue to keep your regular ERAC Database Bundle (includes resources from EBSCO, Gale and World Book) but you can also expand it at a great price! Consider including a NEW Canadian or Video bundle or both! The Canadian Bundle includes expanded CBC titles, both in English and French, as well as Encyclopedia BC, LegalEze, NFB and two products from MediaSmarts. The Video Bundle includes great streaming resources from Access Learning and Learn360. So take a look at our new BC Digital Classroom for all grade levels, all subjects, and which include professional resources and support materials for teachers. Start your planning now for next year and fill out our School District Commitment to Purchase Form before July 31st! You must be signed in in order to access the form as well as pricing information.

Virus Be Gone

All your hard work can be for naught if corrupted by a virus. Make sure you're protected with a product like AVG. ERAC has recently renewed this agreement, offering discounts for licensing, maintenance renewals and support for 2-year terms. AVG provides anti-virus, anti-malware and spyware solutions. Check out the detailed descriptions and features/functions of the AVG products under this agreement by signing in to your account.

Have Fun while Reading with Tumblebooks

Reading doesn't need to be boring. Spice it up for students through the use of the TumbleBookLibrary! This recently renewed agreement provides ERAC members with an online collection of animated, talking picture books through TumbleBooks. By adding animation, sound, music and narration to existing picture books, students are engaged in reading in a format they enjoy. This offer is extended to August 31, 2013 and full details including pricing can be seen once you sign in.

ERAC in the Classroom

3 Apps Highlighted of the 30 Newly Reviewed!

There are so many ways to engage students and now we have 30 more! Let’s check out three of our picks. Try out the Anatomy Lite app which is about basic Human Anatomy. It contains 50+ diagrams of the major body systems and is for use for a Biology 12 student. Or check out the eTutor app. This app helps students practice Math word problems. There are visual solutions shown and twenty word problems on simple arithmetic for grades 1-2 students. Other grades are addressed in the 99 cent upgrade paks. I Like Books is an app containing 37 stories including photos. Words highlight as they're read. Great for ESL. So don't miss out, our collection is growing and all apps are evaluated and recommended by BC educators! We'll be reviewing the collection for updates and new apps for the new school year. Feel free to provide your own rating!

Stay Safe with MediaSmarts

Safe usage of social media and the internet is extremely important for students, but it's hard for educators to stay on top of every new resource. To help educators get a grasp on internet safety and social media skills, ERAC has provided the popular MediaSmarts resources as part of its Canadian bundle. You can now access "Passport to the Internet" and "My World" through the Canadian bundle by adding the bundle to your ERAC Database subscription (part of the new BC Digital Classroom). You'll also receive additional access to well-known resources. Check it out!

In the Works

150 Reasons to Check Out the ERAC Collection in the Fall

While some of you will be enjoying holidays over the summer, ERAC plans on reviewing approximately 150 novels for our resource collection. We will have 72 ERAC trained and qualified novel evaluators providing input and final approval of the possible novels. Many teachers have asked for these novels to be reviewed, and many of the novels are award winners. They range in suitability for Grades 2-12 and include both English and French titles. Check out the list of newly selected titles in the fall!

Did You Know?

IT4K12 an Event to Remember

The IT4K12 event may be over, but people are STILL talking about it! Great presentations engaged the audience and provided insight and direction. Sponsors enjoyed seeking out solutions and answers for participants and some great prizes were awarded. We are presently obtaining presentations and will be posting them along with photos and comments. Plans are already underway for next year, and we are presently re-configuring the IT4K12.org website. As we firm things up (including possible dates) we'll be sure to let you know. For now, 'like' us on Facebook and check out some photos.

Search ERAC to Find what You Need!

Our general website search is available! Just click on the "Search ERAC" text under your sign-in on the homepage and you'll be able to find anything on ERAC's website. So if you need it quick, check it out here.

Farewell Note from Executive Director Judy Dallas

As I complete my four years with ERAC I look back and know that as an organization we have come a long way. ERAC is constantly trying to ensure that members receive value from their membership fees and that each of our deals is pointing schools and classrooms in new directions. We rely on you, our contacts and members, to bring us new ideas and products. Together we can continue to make BC schools the best place to learn. I have enjoyed my time with ERAC and know that it will continue in new and exciting ways under the leadership of the new Executive Director, George Ambeault. Good luck to you all and hope that you have a restful and rejuvenating summer.

You Asked Us

Many of you asked through the IT4K12 evaluation forms if we plan on making the IT4K12 event an annual event, and we can happily say "Yes!". The feedback was overwhelmingly positive with many comments made that this has been needed for a long time. We're glad we were able to be the first to conceptualize and implement this event. We'll be looking at June again next year and will keep you apprised of dates, registration, etc. Watch for photos, comments and presentations that will be posted on our event page as well as on Facebook.

TWEET REPEAT

Some past tweets you may have missed:

June 15 - Check out new blogpost in ERAC4U on using resources from MediaSmarts (formerly MediaAwareness Network) http://eraccommons.ca

June 13 - Photos from #it4k12 will be posted on our Facebook page over the next few days - be sure to 'like' us! http://www.facebook.com/bcerac

June 12 - Receive relevant communications to your role by registering an account on the ERAC website http://www.bcerac.ca/register

Are you following us on Twitter? You can find us at www.twitter.com/bcerac

Did you know we're on Facebook too? Why not recommend and like us and get in on the conversation!

Your feedback is important to us – let us know how we're doing with this short 1 minute survey: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/828765/ERAC-Feedback