Back to school updates

Despite budget reductions that are seriously impacting INFOhio's ability to continue our traditional products and services, the following resources will help promote INFOhio to your colleagues and students.
	Core Collection username/password - INFOhio's username and password for 2009-2010 remains unchanged from last school year. If you need this information, contact your Information Technology Center or e-mail central@infohio.org. You are encouraged to distribute the username and password to members of your K-12 community, but please do not share it with wider audiences.
	INFOhio Toolkit revised for 2009-2010
	Our PowerPoint™ overview, Think INFOhio… 21st Century Tools Supporting 21st Century Learning, was updated in August. Visit the Toolkit's Slide Library for other presentations. [PPT 83 slides] The Core Collection flier in the Toolkit's Supply List lists those resources available for this school year. INFOhio will not have the funds to copy fliers for each Ohio educator. The Supply List page links to bookmarks, poster and student cards. Please use these materials to promote INFOhio to your customers. Looking for a convenient list of all the INFOhio changes for the new year? Check out the Toolkit's What's New for the 2009-2010 School Year. This page is updated throughout the school year, so add it to your favorites.
	Webinars - Learn how INFOhio can help you start the school year off right by attending the free webinar, What's New for Back to School. For a list of all our in-service sessions, visit Professional Development Opportunities.
	Core Collection cuts - SIRS Discoverer and SchoolRooms subscriptions end September 30, 2009. EBSCOhost and NewsBank Newspapers have lost components. For a complete list of reductions, read Theresa M. Fredericka's Budget Update.
	Price List 2009 has been revised to include building/district pricing for dropped Core Collection products. The List includes vendor contacts and ordering information. [PDF 6 pgs] The password is the same as used for the Core Collection this year; to receive a password, contact your Information Technology Center or e-mail central@infohio.org.
	SchoolRooms - Districts automated with INFOhio that wish to continue using SchoolRooms can purchase access at the substantially discounted rate for the 2009-2010 school year. See Price List 2009, for prices and ordering information. To help determine if SchoolRooms is appropriate for your students’ needs and your district’s financial realities, INFOhio has prepared a Web page, Is SchoolRooms Right for Your Students? The deadline to order SchoolRooms for this billing cycle is September 30, 2009.
	Office relocates - Along with other agencies, INFOhio's central office has moved to a state facility in downtown Columbus. See the left frame for the new address and phone number; the toll-free phone is unchanged. Our office houses three INFOhio staffers.

Linda E receives Spence White Award Linda Ehrnschwender, Media Services Liaison at the Lake Erie Educational Computer Association (LEECA), has been selected as the 2008 recipient of the INFOhio Spence White Service Award. The Award recognizes exemplary service provided to the INFOhio community by ITC personnel and is presented yearly by the INFOhio Governing Advisory Board. Read more... And on a related topic, the deadline for the INFOhio Hugh Durbin Leadership Award is September 30, 2009. The Durbin Award identifies potential new leaders and facilitates their participation in INFOhio sponsored activities. Past award recipients...

Research Project Calculator improved INFOhio's commitment to Preparing 21st Century Ohio Learners for Success is integral to our mission. Using open source software from University of Minnesota Libraries, INFOhio has published Version 2.0 of the Research Project Calculator. The RPC is a helpful tool that will assist students writing an essay or report, creating a PowerPoint presentation or producing a video. Provide a starting and due date for the project and the Calculator will help organize the assignment step by step, along with lots of helpful information. Be sure to check out the wealth of Teacher Resources now available in Ver. 2.0.

Important News, Stories and More Links Two 21st Century Skills Maps, Geography and Science, have been added to the Educator Resources page in our Preparing 21st Century Ohio Learners for Success section. The new maps join links for English and Social Studies, along with a wealth of other resources. INFOhio's involvement in this year's OELMA conference is progressing, with an exhibit and sessions during both days of the event. Visit INFOhio Sessions at the 2009 OELMA Annual Conference to learn more and to obtain session handouts.