Thinking Smarter (formerly eToolsAlert) June 2010

Do you want to THINK SMARTER?  Do you want to work SMARTER, NOT HARDER?  Our new monthly newsletter is designed to help you make minutes count. It is our new commitment to you.  Organizing your data and giving it back to you in a format that empowers you to make an informed decision.  Let's start THINKING SMARTER together! Case Study Spotlight: Anne Arundel Community College and SmarterMeasure In late 2009, Dr. Martha A. Smith, president of Anne Arundel Community College, announced plans to help its students be more successful in reaching their educational goals.  Part of that plan consisted of implementing a first-semester experience that included SmarterMeasure Learning Readiness Indicator.  The Virtual Campus at Anne Arundel uses SmarterMeasure to help their students make an informed decision if online education is right for them.  In addition, the learning style results are used to help students understand how they can learn best using their preferred learning style.  To read the complete case study click here.  SmarterProctors Wants You! The month of June marked the beginning of our SmarterProctors campaign.  SmarterProctors (formerly known as TestProctors.com) is a database of individuals who are available to proctor high stakes exams (currently in beta version).  With all 50 states represented, our database is growing daily.  This Fall we hope to open it up for students and schools to search from and find neutral, local proctors to administer exams.  The site will provide a secure payment process so no money changes hands at the time of the test.  If you would like to create a FREE profile click here.  If you are interested in learning more about SmarterProctors contact our sales team at sales@SmarterServices.com. FREE Webinar-Tools for Scaling your Distance Learning Program Thursday, June 24th, 2:30-3:30 pm CST Are you facing challenges in your distance learning program?  Are you interested in learning more about measuring student readiness?  Do you struggle with finding qualified online faculty?  Would you like to know more about how to automate your end of course data?  Is testing integrity an issue at your school or organization?  Join us on Thursday, June 24th, 2:30-3:30 pm central for the SmarterServices webinar and learn more about solutions to your challenges. If time allows we will also be asking for input about ways your school has overcome these challenges.  Register today for this FREE summer webinar!    Case Studies Are you currently using one or more of our products?  Would you like your school to be in the "spotlight"?  Beginning next month in our quarterly newsletter "SmarterServices", we will be highlighting a school that has agreed to participate in a case study.  We have selected a few schools thus far but are still looking for additional schools to spotlight.  Case studies are important because they give the school free advertising and also provide ideas to other users about how they can improve implementation of our services.  If you are interested, please contact our VP of Marketing & Operations, Julie Owen, at julie@SmarterServices.com.  Some schools may be concerned about " unauthorized endorsements".  However, our case studies are written to report the factual account of your school using our product and are not solely meant to advertise a school's endorsement of the product.  The process is easy and begins with a basic questionnaire.  The final case study is approved by all parties and will be published in various locations including web, print, and collateral.

New Features in July Do you read our quarterly newsletter?  It will be going out next month and we have several product enhancements to announce so be sure and watch for it mid July.  You'll be pleased as we continue to increase our speed, efficiency, and commit to the evolution of our services.  Become our fan on Facebook If you want to get updates on all the exciting things that are happening at SmarterServices, click here to become our fan! Do you Tweet? If you want to learn about what's going on with SmarterServices first, follow us on Twitter. SmarterMeasure Training Series Do you need some training on the administrative features of SmarterMeasure?  We provide bi-monthly 30 minute - FREE training sessions to all current clients.  To view a calendar of opportunities and register, click here.

Thinking Smarter eNews

SmarterServices presents "Tools for Scaling your Distance Learning Program". Are you facing challenges in your distance learning program?  Are you interested in learning more about measuring student readiness?  Do you struggle with finding qualified online faculty?  Would you like to know more about how to automate your end of course data?  Is testing integrity an issue at your school or organization?  Join us for the SmarterServices webinar and learn more about solutions to your challenges. If time allows we will also be asking for input about ways your school has overcome these challenges.

Thursday, June 24, 2010, 2:30-3:30 PM

To register click here.  After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

FREE Summer Webinar - Register Today

Ed Map certainly thinks so!  In a recent webinar series sponsored by Ed Map and Imagine America Foundation the important role of "community" and how it connects to higher education is highlighted.  Session 2, Community as a Retention Tool, spotlights case studies from Community Care College, Oklahoma Technical College, and Clary Sage College, and how they are using community as a strong retention tool.  Using old fashioned hand-written notes, providing online support groups, and taking a genuine human interest in the students, the schools have created a community that improves retention through establishing strong needs-based relationships.  In a busy world where number identifiers are becoming increasingly popular, the human touch proves to be the key. 

To view the webinar Community as a Retention Tool click here.

ED MAP is an educational-content management company whose unique market insights and perspectives separate it from traditional academic bookstores. We leverage extensive relationships with academic publishers and educational institutions to create, acquire, store, deliver and monetize content for educational markets. ED MAP provides guidance and assistance for selection, editorial, production, logistics and customization activities to our clients, including proprietary and career colleges, K-12 online programs and institutions, traditional and multi-campus systems, continuing education and professional associations.

Can Community Help Retention?

Challenged with meeting the expectations of their 21st century learners, teachers are constantly trying to find ways to make their instruction more engaging in order to ultimately increase student achievement. Districts are also striving to increase teacher efficiency through organizational and planning tools, including aligning content with state learning standards. For ideas of what you can do, watch this webinar called New Perspectives on Engaging Students and Teachers In the Classroom and Beyond-2010.  The webinar is sponsored by Blackboard and features panelists Robert Leo, Model Schools Coordinator, Central New York Regional Information Center, Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES, Jed Friedrichsen, CAO, blendedschools.net and Pam Willingham, Teacher on Assignment, Volusia County Schools.

Engaging Students and Teachers in the Classroom

This week, try to find some time and register for a free webinar.  What better time to get some professional training than National Distance Learning Week?

NDLW FREE Webinars