EPSON AMERICA S BRIGHTER FUTURES PROGRAM & RACE TO THE TOP

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1 EPSON AMERICA S BRIGHTER FUTURES PROGRAM & RACE TO THE TOP The Epson Brighter Futures program was developed to give educators the opportunity to make the most of their technology budget without purchasing requirements or minimums. Epson products deliver low cost of ownership, high performance and reliability, plus the features and functions that educators need most to support teaching and learning in the classroom, the computer lab, the auditorium, and anywhere students and educators engage in instruction. The Epson Brighter Futures program is available for all K-12 and Higher Education institutions and educators. Specific information regarding the program is located at: Funding and grant writing help for the purchasing of these Epson products is available on the Brighter Futures website on the Grant Templates page at The Epson product lines featured in this alignment are projectors, interactive projectors, document cameras, and sound enhancement systems. Projectors The world s best-selling projector manufacturer, Epson has affordable solutions that fit classrooms of all sizes and configurations, labs, libraries, or auditoriums. From the Value Projector line that offers the convenience of USB Plug n Play to the Advanced line that offer HDMI digital connectivity for media-rich instructional applications and network technology, all of the projectors offer built in closed captioning, audio options, optional wireless modules, and the clear, bright image quality that allows every student in the classroom to see critical content and detail. Interactive Projectors Before you needed a projector and an interactive whiteboard to create an interactive learning environment but now educators can easily make a table or a wall interactive with Epson BrightLink Interactive Projectors. All BrightLink models include a 16-watt speaker, wall or table mounts, options for wireless networking, and fully loaded projector technologies, making BrightLink a true all-in-one solution. The BrightLink Solo module transforms most existing projectors into high performance interactive instructional tools. Document Cameras Add excitement to any classroom with an Epson document camera by showing the entire class one experiment, microscope display, 3D model, or document. The cameras work with leading interactive whiteboards and their respective software to create videos, and view, capture, and edit images for later use. These document cameras are feature rich with built in LED lights that provide vivid color reproductions even in low light, split screens, USB Plug n Play convenience, XGA/WXGA/SXGA resolutions, up to 40x zoom, 30 frames-per-second video, and 5 megapixel sensors. Document cameras support differentiated instruction and just-in-time learning. Sound Enhancement System Epson s sound enhancement system offers 360 degree sound with antifeedback and built in noise reduction giving students, no matter where they are in the room, the best seat in the house. The system includes an infrared wireless microphone that provides improved vocal clarity and intelligibility allowing ELL students and students with disabilities to develop phonological awareness as well as 1

2 eliminating distractions and the frustration all students feel when they can t hear the teacher or their classmates. This system can easily be integrated with a new or existing ceiling mounted projector and utilizes the same remote control. The Epson America product line supports all Race to the Top objectives. This document provides an overview of the Race to the Top legislation along with the alignment of the Epson America products mentioned above with selected regulations of Race to the Top. Race to the Top, which may be abbreviated in various ways including RttT, RTTT, RTT and R2T is a program that was designed to advance reform in K-12 education through targeted initiatives in state and local school districts around four key assurance areas: Standards and assessments Data systems to inform instruction Great teachers and leaders Turning around lowest performing schools Additional goals include improving student achievement, closing achievement gaps, improving high school graduation rates, and ensuring post-secondary success. Race to the Top State Awardees in Phase 1 and Phase 2 are: Delaware, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia. Phase 3 will produce additional state awardees. RACE TO THE TOP OVERVIEW Grant Description Race to the Top Amount: $1,350,000,000 Phase 1 and Phase 2 $200,000,000 Phase 3 ed.gov/programs/ racetothetop/index. html Awards in Race to the Top will go to States that are leading the way with ambitious yet achievable plans for implementing coherent, compelling, and comprehensive education reform. Race to the Top winners will help trail-blaze effective reforms and provide examples for States and local school districts throughout the country to follow as they too are hard at work on reforms that can transform our schools for decades to come. Funds may be used for: curriculum, programs, assessment, professional development and teacher improvement, administration resources, and technology products and infrastructure. 2

3 ALIGNMENT The following chart demonstrates the alignment of the Race to the Top statutes and regulations to the previously mentioned Epson products with particular reference to turning around low performing schools. The statutes and regulations are printed in blue followed by the alignment of the Epson products. Not all features cited may be found on all models. Model specifications are located on the Brighter Futures website or can be obtained from an Epson sales representative. ClassroomSolutions.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes#tabs=5 Comprehensive Approach to Education Reform Priority 1: Absolute Priority - The State, in collaboration with its participating LEAs, will use Race to the Top and other funds to increase student achievement, decrease the achievement gaps across student subgroups, and increase the rates at which students graduate from high school prepared for college and careers. Alignment: Race to the Top is designed to improve the education for all children but especially those in the lowest performing schools. Epson America s product line benefits all students including the educational needs of students who: Are in the nation s highest-poverty schools Have special learning considerations including gifted Are English Language Learners Are at risk for dropping out 1. Low Achieving Students Alignment: The features of Epson s product line increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of all students. Additionally, the features of the hardware support professional development for teachers to implement effective strategies. Below are features found within the product lines; however, not all features exist in all models. It is important to select the model with the features desired for a specific classroom. Projectors Epson projectors have been helping educators enlighten and inspire for years. The projectors are reliable, easy-to-use, and rugged enough to stand up to the rigors of classroom use. Selected benefits of Epson s projectors in the classroom are: For Students Engages and motivates students within the learning experience resulting in higher test scores Allows all students to see projected materials with bright, clear, vibrant colors and definition Provides opportunities for students to share their multi-media presentations 3

4 Encourages collaboration and sharing in the classroom Gives students access to out of the classroom experiences, for example, a NASA space encounter, trips to a foreign country, satellite imagery, Internet interactivity, and more For Teachers Offers video capabilities enabling teachers to change size, focus, aspect ratios, zoom function, and freeze ability, thereby improving the ability of all students to learn visually Delivers audio capabilities without requiring external speakers, thereby improving the ability of all students to hear, learn, and retain information Offers microphone input to help save the teacher s voice and allow more students to hear the lesson Includes closed-captioning Provides easy-to-use connectivity options including wireless, USB, and HDMI connectivity, to facilitate classroom use Provides LAN connectivity with remote monitoring via the school s IT network, which facilitates maintenance of the projectors by using networking capabilities and allowing one-switch remote turn-off capabilities for all projectors connected to the network Encourages professional collaboration with use of the LAN, to foster multiple classroom simultaneous access, and to support instruction to students who are homebound, hospital bound, suspended, expelled, and in other special circumstances Furnishes instructional prompts providing instructional aids in the form of predesigned line and graph pattern templates; thereby facilitating instruction Provides a broadcast system that augments school-wide announcements, event flyers, and other critical directions (digital signage) Interactive Projectors Replace interactive white boards in the classroom while offering the flexibility of maintaining their projector functionality. Interactive whiteboards provide flexibility, greater interactivity in the classroom, are highly engaging for the students, and enable students to acquire 21st Century skills. Selected benefits of the Epson s BrightLink Interactive Projectors in the classroom are: For Students Provides visual clues that enhance learning retention Engages and motivates students during the learning process Meets the needs of students with various learning styles through the use of multi-media 4

5 Allows students with learning disabilities to communicate their views more effectively utilizing multimedia instead of only pen and paper Allows students to actively participate in the lesson Increases student handwriting legibility Provides students with easy to use features - some students, especially younger students and students with fine motor skill issues find the keyboard and mouse on a traditional computer difficult to manipulate For Teachers Creates highly engaged, interactive classroom environments Offers flexibility and versatility Allows multimedia/multimodal presentations Allows lessons to be saved automatically for each class and enables teachers to upload each class to their intranet for later review by students as well for students who are homebound, hospital bound, suspended, expelled, and in other special circumstances Facilitates planning and resource development, generic subject slides can be customized for and during each class period Encourages professional collaboration Enables teachers to give reinforcement on the fly Document Cameras Document cameras add excitement to presentations, fostering just-in-time instruction, and promote the integration of real-world situations within the learning experience. Selected benefits of Epson s document cameras in the classroom are: Engages students in dynamic, interactive learning using authentic objects Fosters student s individual and group presentations and collaborative sharing Promotes student confidence and pride in his/her work and cultivates sharing with others Supports microscopic viewing from a student s individual desk eliminating taking turns at the microscope For Teachers Opens doors to support differentiated instruction and just-in-time learning 5

6 Promotes student-centered learning environments using real-world examples Supports various media to enrich the classroom experience, black and white paper printouts, transparencies, manipulatives, 3D objects, experiments, and video conferencing Encourages lesson and project capture including video and audio snapshots of a lesson Captures images and video to upload into a computer for use in multimedia projects, web pages, and school intranets Provides easy image rotation with 90 degree vertical and horizontal rotation to capture whiteboards and 3D objects, or place items in landscape or portrait views Allows the annotation and manipulation of information after the lesson Eliminates the time and cost of making transparencies or copies for the classroom as well as taking turns looking at one object Supports remote learning providing opportunities for collaborative learning with other professionals in different schools or regions For Parents Promotes parent interaction by sharing lessons with parents via the Internet Sound Enhancement System This audio enhancement system does not just raise the volume of sound, it enhances it by more evenly distributing voices, multimedia presentations, DVDs, and other sounds around a classroom at a comfortable volume level. Selected benefits of Epson s sound enhancement system in the classroom are: For Students Enables students to hear subtle high-frequency consonant sounds, such as F and P Increases the learning of all students because students learn more when they do not have to strain to hear Encourages students to pay close attention to learning activities and supports student engagement Helps to eliminate the distractions and frustrations students experience when they can t hear the voices of their teachers or classmates Allows teachers to modulate their speaking voice to the comfort of their students - voices raised to be heard over ambient noise can be upsetting to some students 6

7 Improves student test and comprehension scores Fosters accurate listening/mimicking skills for students with speech impairments or ELL students, essential to the development of language and communication skills Helps teach new vocabulary across the curriculum Supports student individual or group presentation skills, necessary to communicate ideas Builds student self-confidence because his/her concepts and opinions can be heard Connects to FM Assistive Listening Devices to improve hearing for students with hearing aids For Teachers Provides less strain on the teacher s voice, reducing the number of sick days related to voice concerns and/or fatigue Provides infrared wireless microphone to facilitate use in the classroom Enables teachers to more accurately hear and understand student perspectives Supports speakers that are angled downwards and provides coverage in four directions, ensuring all students are facing at least one speaker Allows lessons, activities, and pod casts to be recorded for review and sharing with absent and/or remote students Fades to ensure sound is evenly distributed for custom setup in each classroom as needed 2. Students with Disabilities Alignment: The benefits for all students also apply to students with disabilities. In addition, there are certain features that complement instruction for these students. These are: a) Visual Impairments: Epson s projectors and document cameras enhance the ability of students with visual impairments to explore and learn. Images can be manipulated to enhance the learning experience. According to Teaching and Learning Center of the Council of Exceptional Children, most students with visual impairments are able to use vision for some activities. Mentioned on this website are suggested adaptations for visually impaired learners. Epson projectors and document cameras have several of these suggested features. The adaptations are: High contrast in materials, usually best achieved by black on non-glare white background Color contrast or highlighting Even, steady lighting without glare 7

8 Use of low vision devices as prescribed by a low vision clinical evaluation such as the use of technological adaptations such as closed circuit televisions (CCTVs) or screen enlargement programs for computers. Microphone input for even sound across the classroom so the front of the room is not loud and the back of the room is not soft. Excerpted from: Impairments&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=37&ContentID=5625 b) Auditory Impairments: Along with closed-captioning capability in Epson s projectors, Epson provides features that support students with auditory impairments in the classroom. Peter H. Putman wrote a metaanalysis regarding sound reinforcement in the classroom entitled, Sound Reinforcement for Classrooms: A Clear Need with Clear Benefits. This report brings classroom auditory facts to the forefront of using technology to enhance education. These facts are: Students who have trouble hearing teachers also score lower on standardized tests. Over time, this can lead to negative attitudinal shifts that adversely impact classroom instruction A typical classroom size and its ambient noise levels are too much for the average teacher to overcome when using a normal speaking voice Students in K-6 with normal learning potential and minimal hearing loss earned significantly higher reading comprehension test scores within weeks of using a sound reinforcement system With sound reinforcement, classroom management was more effective, participation increased, and referrals to special education dropped by as much as 43% over a five-year period Teacher absences due to strained vocal chords were reduced from 15% to 2-3% of all absences within one year In an Oregon study, after adding sound reinforcement, students scored between 21% to 35% higher on standardized state literacy and skills assessment tests than previous to sound reinforcement implementation, and also demonstrated a 35% increase in fourth and fifth grade words-per-minute reading comprehension The complete meta-analysis can be requested from your Epson representative. Epson s sound enhancement systems provide a method for teachers to provide rich information in a calm way. Students can hear what is being said without teachers having to shout and vice versa. The sound enhancement systems help students pay attention and interactively engage within the school climate. c) Behavioral Interventions: Epson products promote positive behavior for all students and not just students identified as special education students. In general, the hardware adds an element of enrichment in classroom instruction which intrinsically motivates students and provides a feeling of satisfaction for the 8

9 teacher. Each of the products encourage more classroom time devoted to discussions and the thought process and as a result, teachers obtain a better understanding of the students thought process. An improved visual and auditory experience by the students supports positive behavioral interventions. 3. Limited English Proficient Student Alignment: Epson s sound enhancement systems provide features that complement the teaching and learning of students who are limited English proficient. 4. Other Student s Alignment: Epson s product lines serve all students, including students who are homeless, homebound, hospital bound, suspended, or expelled by using: 1) projectors with LAN connectivity that has remote monitoring via the school s IT network and 2) document cameras that can record lesson instruction, project presentations, and other activities. Emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Priority 2: To meet this priority, the State s application must have a high-quality plan to address the need to (i) offer a rigorous course of study in mathematics, the sciences, technology, and engineering; (ii) cooperate with industry experts, museums, universities, research centers, or other STEM-capable community partners to prepare and assist teachers in integrating STEM content across grades and disciplines, in promoting effective and relevant instruction, and in offering applied learning opportunities for students; and (iii) prepare more students for advanced study and careers in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including addressing the needs of underrepresented groups and of women and girls in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Alignment: Epson champions the use and integration of technology-based supports and interventions as part of the instructional program promoting school-wide reform and ensuring the access of children to effective, scientifically-based instructional strategies and challenging academic content. The following research study provides an example of best practices which Epson supports. Technology Research (Technology in Classroom) Another study, Changing How and What Children Learn in School with Computer-based Technologies, Roschelle, Pea, Hoadley, Gordin, & Means (2000) identified four fundamental characteristics of how technology enhances both what and how children learn in the classroom. They are: 1) active engagement, 2) participation in groups, 3) frequent interaction and feedback, and 4) connections to real-world contexts. The study also indicates that use of technology is more effective as a learning tool when embedded in a broader education reform movement that includes improvements in teacher training, curriculum, student assessment, and a school s capacity for change. Epson projectors, document cameras, and sound enhancement systems encourage active engagement in the classroom, foster participation in group activities ranging from presentations to problem-solving, enable frequent interaction and feedback in an exciting and motivational atmosphere, and promote the use of real-world context in integrated lessons and activities utilizing 21st century skills. 9

10 Universal Design/Section 508 Support: Epson America s products are designed with universal design principles and assistive technology in mind. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act is a U.S. federal regulation that establishes general guidelines for the purchase of IT products and services by federal agencies. It requires that federal agencies ensure that technology they develop, maintain, procure, and use is accessible to persons with disabilities. Epson supports the efforts of the federal government in making technology accessible for people with disabilities and is committed to assisting government customers to conform to Section 508. For additional information contact Epson America at: Go-Epson or go to the website at: UseBVCookie=yes Examples: Section 508 Support Features Criteria Sections Video and Multimedia Products (d) Where audio information is important for the use of a product, at least one mode of operation and information retrieval shall be provided in an enhanced auditory fashion, or support for assistive hearing devices shall be provided. (f) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require fine motor control or simultaneous actions and that is operable with limited reach and strength shall be provided. Document Camera (b) Applications shall not disrupt or disable activated features of other products that are identified as accessibility features, where those features are developed and documented according to industry standards. Applications also shall not disrupt or disable activated features of any OS that are identified as accessibility features where the application programming interface for those accessibility features has been documented by the manufacturer of the OS and is available to the product developer. (a) Product support documentation provided to end-users shall be made available in alternate formats upon request, at no additional charge. Supporting Features Support - There are no auditory messages, sounds, etc. that the user must hear to operate this projector. Support - Control buttons are clearly labeled and easily accessible. The projectors are easily positioned so they can be viewed by all potential users. Control buttons are easily operated, requiring less than 5 pounds of force to actuate; are operational with only one hand; and do not require fine motor skills or bending. There is nothing in the product that will cause disruption or disable activated features of the other products or of the operating system that are accessibility features. Overall compliance with minor limitations. PDF format For additional information contact Epson America at: Go-Epson or go to the website at: 10