IN THIS ISSUE:

The Top 5 Reasons Your Organization Needs to Attend the 2006 MiCTA Spring Conference!

ANGEL Learning Announces Alliance with Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishing Group

Ucompass.com, Inc. Awarded Approved Status for Standalone eLMS solutions.

Two Midwest Based Technology Leaders Join Forces to Create Sensory Technologies

Thinking Visually When Presenting Virtually-Register Today for this free webinar from InterCall

Welcome New Members

Ucompass.com introduces Educaster

Tech Talk-Kevin Tanzillo

A Tale of Two WiMax Rollouts

Integrating Digital Content into the Classroom

Check out This Month’s Vendor Specials from Brodart, Coffman, Gateway, Tech Depot and Ucompass.com

The Top 5 Reasons Your Organization Needs to Attend the 2006 MiCTA Spring Conference!

-Learn to “Buy Smarter” and address your procurement needs

-Analysis of Wireless Technologies by John Barcomb of Sprint

-Network with colleagues in your field

-11 informational sessions covering current technology related issues

-2 chances to win a Gateway Laptop computer

Please click this link to get the latest info on the 2006 MICTA Spring Conference.

ANGEL Learning Announces Alliance with Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishing Group

Bedford , Freeman & Worth selects ANGEL Learning Management Suite as its eLearning platform.  

Indianapolis, Ind. – March 21, 2006 – ANGEL Learning, developer of simply, powerful ANGEL LMS 7, today announced that the Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishing Group, a confederation of three unique publishing houses each recognized throughout the education publishing world for superior text development and production, has partnered with ANGEL Learning to deliver electronic media services.

Each of the Bedford, Freeman & Worth publishing houses boasts a number of landmark books in its portfolio.  As the group moves to extend its technology applications it has developed an innovative vision for teaching and learning that requires a robust eLearning platform offered by a technology partner with an established record of innovation and customer collaboration. 

“Our challenge in selecting an e-learning platform was to also align with a partner that will work with us to accomplish our vision for publications marketing technology in newly creative ways.  We found that partner in ANGEL Learning,” said Reid Sherline, vice president, electronic media and publishing, Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishing Group, LLC.  “ANGEL Learning offers an exceptional eLearning platform in ANGEL LMS 7 and shares our understanding of the potential of electronic media services.”

ANGEL LMS 7 provides an exclusive symmetry of simplicity and power in an exceptionally open system.  Its balance of easy to use features with powerful capabilities is unique in the industry. ANGEL’s openness exemplifies ANGEL Learning’s commitment to collaborative design.

“Bedford, Freeman & Worth has an exciting, innovative vision for teaching and learning that can have a major impact on their customers,” said Christopher Clapp, president and CEO, ANGEL Learning.  “We are delighted to be part of that vision and we will work closely with them to deliver offerings that will bring the vision to life.” 

About ANGEL Learning

ANGEL Learning, Inc. develops and markets enterprise e-learning software.  Our flagship products are the ANGEL Learning Management Suite and the ANGEL ePortfolio system.  Our products have been honed by use – with millions of students and instructors served from K to corporate.  We enjoy a reputation for creating products with exceptional ease of use, excellent vision into learner progress, and for keeping our commitments.  Having emerged from the academy ourselves, our core values reflect those of our customers well.  ANGEL world headquarters is in Indianapolis, Indiana.  To learn more about the ANGEL difference, visit us at www.angellearning.com

Ucompass.com, Inc. Awarded Approved Status for Standalone eLMS solutions.

MiCTA and the ATAlliance are pleased to announce that Ucompass.com has been awarded Approved status by the MiCTA evaluation committee. This national agreement is currently available to all MICTA members for a period of three years, with an option for two additional one year renewal periods. Ucompass.com received the Approved Award for their Standalone eLMS products and services that are specifically tailored to institutions of all sizes and scopes. Feel free to check out the Ucompass.com homepage or contact any of the following representatives with your comments and questions.

Clancy DeLong
MiCTA Service Corporation
1-888-870-8677
cdelong@mictaservice.com

Edward Mansouri
Ucompass.com
850-297-1800 x 206
emansouri@ucompass.com

Two Midwest Based Technology Leaders Join Forces to Create Sensory Technologies

MiCTA is pleased to announce that Sensory Technologies has announced the acquisition of Video Images and the Sales Division of Markey's Audio/Visual, Inc. This transaction combines two Midwest business entities focused on the design and engineering of digital, audio and video technologies. “The new organization is positioned for rapid growth in Indianapolis and Indiana as well as other areas where either the Sales Division of Markey’s or Video Images previously had a presence, including Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin,” said Anne Sellers. Kevin Markey added, “This organization is well prepared to assist in the understanding and implementation of new technologies for companies throughout the Midwest.”

This joining of Sensory Technologies and an Endorsed MiCTA Vendor, Video Images, will mean that more members across the Midwest will be able to take advantage of MiCTA pricing for Video Integration Solutions. The current contract will not be affected; the terms and dates are still the same however Sensory Images will now be able to assist MiCTA members in a more diverse geographic area. If you have any questions on the coming together of Sensory Technologies and Video Images feel free to call any of the contacts listed below.

Derek Paquin
Sensory Technologies
317-347-5252
317-347-5262 (fax)
dpaquin@sensorytechnologies.com

Jay VanDuzen
Director of Member Services
586-360-8421
jvanduzen@mictaservice.com

Thinking Visually When Presenting Virtually-A Free Webinar from InterCall
With Janine Kurnoff, Principal & Founder, The Presentation Company, LLC

Don't lose another opportunity to engage your audience, build credibility and generate results. Avoid what "not to do" and learn "what to do" when presenting in a virtual environment.  Learn what it takes to visuallyconnect and virtuallycommunicate with your audience - online.

During this interactive web seminar, you will learn how to:

1. Create an “online experience” by leveraging specific features in PowerPoint and Live Meeting that will increase audience interaction and save you time
2. Transform bullets into powerful visual messages
3. Build non-linear presentations that provide a “contextual framework” for your audience and address “on the fly” needs

So please be sure to join us:
Wednesday, April 26 at 1:00pm Eastern, 12:00pm Central, 10:00am Pacific

Please click this hyperlink to register for the free webinar- Thinking Visually When Presenting Virtually

Welcome New Members

February

Ashford University
Boulder County
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County
Central Georgian Technical College
City of Port Orange
McHenry County College
Municipal Comm. Utility of City of Cedar Falls
Northwest Community Correction Center
Platte Valley School
Saint Mary's College
Saint Michael Lutheran Church and School
Sandhills Community College
Unified Fire Authority
Utah's Administrative Office of the Courts
Wayne Mediation Center
Whitman Hospital and Medical Center

March

Arkansas Education Television Network
Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center WA
City of Coral Gables
CollegeAmerica Services/Independence University
Corporation for Education Network Initiative in CA
Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority
Iowa Foundation for Medical Care
North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC)
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Port of Seattle
Project Rehab
Puget Sound Blood Center
Shriners of North America
Sweetwater School District #2, WY
Utah Transit Authority
Volunteers of America

Reputation Services Help Wage War on Spam

OK, by a show of hands, how many of you hate spam (the junk e-mail, not the tasty and much-maligned food product)? Well, it appears to be unanimous! Since we're all of the same mindset about this, you'll be glad to know that organizations are moving toward a way to fight this electronic sewage through something called "reputation services."

This particular technique is designed to analyze the behavior of the e-mail sender, not the content of the message, the more typical approach. As you are all probably well aware, much of the antispam battle is waged against key words either within the subject line or the body of the message. Unfortunately, if these systems are not properly tuned, they can sideline legitimate e-mails while still letting the garbage through.

Maybe someone has a legitimate reason to send you something about mortgages or watches or your PayPal account, but if the anti-spam software your institution has in place is typically vigilant, the legitimate message will be shot down with all the others.

We've all probably been victims, either at the sending or receiving end, of overachieving spam filters, even when there are no obvious reasons why. That is an unfortunate side effect of the strong anti-spam medicine we're forced to apply. With reputation services this should, we can hope, become much less of an issue.

Specific implementations of reputation services vary by software vendor, but essentially, they profile the sender's behavior and assess the probability of a given message being legitimate or not. The factors they weigh are whether an unreasonably high volume of messages come from the same IP address, if the IP address does not accept return mail, whether the originating country is a particularly profuse spamming source, or the sender has been using the IP address for a very short time.

Once an e-mail has been deemed spam by the reputation service, it can drop the message before it ever reaches the e-mail server, or can be filtered, depending on the organization's preferences.

For instance, if one sender is trying to get a large number of messages through, but that sender's reputation is iffy, maybe a portion of the messages would be allowed through. The rest would get a "busy server error" message. Legitimate mail servers will try again to re-send the messages, but a spammer's zombie mail server wouldn't.

There are several providers of reputation services software that you can contact to find out more about how well these systems work and whether this approach is one you want to explore. With spammers and phishers becoming more and more sophisticated, and always probing different areas of weakness, it requires new ways to counter them. Perhaps reputation services will help organizations and users reclaim, at least in part, an untainted inbox.

Kevin Tanzillo writes for DUX Public Relations. He has been kind enough to share his work with MiCTA and ACUTA eNews. If there are specific topics you would like to see covered in the next Tech Talk, please let him know via e-mail a t kevin@duxpr.com.

The case for fixed wireless broadband is clear but the merits of the mobile version are debatable

A lot has been written about WiMax technology recently, but it’s important to remember that there are two types of this wireless broadband technology. Both have different roadmaps, applications and chances of short- and long-term success.

The fixed wireless version is available and on the brink of widespread deployment in the UK, where a viable business case for using it has been identified. The mobile version is a different story, irrespective of what Intel says. The remainder of this PC magazine news article can be seen by clicking this hyperlink.

eSchool News.com presents ...
Integrating Digital Content Into The Classroom

For today's educators, digital resources--such as web sites, video clips, or online library materials--provide powerful tools to supplement instruction. When used correctly, these resources can open students' eyes to new perspectives on the curriculum and awaken an interest in learning that will stay with students for their entire lives.

Yet, despite the availability of these resources and the promise they hold for education, teachers and students still are not using them to their full potential. A number of barriers exist that prevent the more widespread use of digital materials to supplement instruction. For starters, teachers seldom have time to find high-quality resources that align with the subject matter and state standard they are teaching to; they often lack the training to integrate these resources effectively into their instruction; and the technology infrastructure in many classrooms is not conducive to this kind of learning.

The good news is, there are solutions to these challenges. In this Educators' Resource Center, made possible by the generous support of Questia Media Inc., we've compiled the best stories, columns, reports, and resources we've published over the years on integrating supplemental digital materials into instruction. We've assembled these resources here in one convenient place to help you overcome these challenges in your own schools--and transform teaching and learning in the process. --The Editors

Check Out This Month’s Vendor Specials

Computer Workstations – 20% Off!  

Make more Efficient Use of Space with State-of-the-Art Computer Workstations from Brodart!

Brodart leads the competition with all the top names in computer furniture technology – Balt ®, Smith System, Bretford, Paragon, Achieva and Luxor! We’re proud to offer our customers the latest in cutting-edge technology, including flat screen work centers, recessed monitor workstations, mobile stations and lab tables in every space-saving configuration you can imagine. Whether you’re shopping for business, school or library, you’ll find the computer workstation to suit your needs and your budget. And that includes the latest accessories – from CPU holders to storage racks to pullout keyboard trays.

See our complete selection of top quality computer workstations on pages 811 to 837 in our 2006 catalog, or go online at www.shopbrodart.com.

For more information on products and services for MiCTA members from Brodart:

Call: 1-800-233-8467 ext. 4338
Click: www.shopbrodart.com/pricing/micta/
Fax: 1-800-578-1064
E-Mail: supplies.quotes@brodart.com

COFFMAN ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IS PLEASED TO OFFER A GENERATOR SPECIAL TO MiCTA MEMBERS

The Honda EU2000i is the most popular portable generator in the U.S.  This generator offers:

• 2000 Watts of quiet power – sound output below the level of normal human speech.
• Inverter Technology provides an extremely clean power wave – ideal for sensitive electronic equipment like computers.
• Simultaneous AC/DC use.
• Two generators can be paralleled to double the output.
• Load dependent throttle – only runs at the speed required to deliver needed power.
• Lightweight and Portable – 46 lbs.

For the month of April, MiCTA Members and their employees can purchase this generator (MSRP - $1,079.95) for $869.00!  This price includes free shipping to anywhere in the Continental Unites States.  You can see this generator at: http://www.steadypower.com/catalog/honda_eu2000.php?osCsid=e41645b99ca2edbe7ce247cb3aefc3f0

To order please call Toll Free (888) 331-5344.  Be sure to mention the MiCTA April special when ordering.

Gateway M250E

System Quote

Part Number: 1008469
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional Edition (SP2)
Operating System Software Backup Media: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional (SP2) Backup CD
Drivers Backup Media: M250 Drivers and Applications CD
Application Software: Microsoft® Works 8.0
Security Software: Norton AntiVirus 90 day introductory offer
Processor:Intel® Pentium® M Processor 740 (1.73GHz, 533MHz FSB, 2MB L2 cache) (limited time promotion)
Memory:512MB 533MHz DDR2 SDRAM (2-256MB modules)
Hard Drive: 40GB 5400rpm Ultra ATA hard drive
Floppy Drive: 6-in-1 media card reader (Memory Stick®, Memory Stick Pro®, MultiMediaCard™, Secure Digital™, Mini Secure Digital®, RS-MultiMediaCard™)
Optical Drive:Integrated 24x/10x/24x CD-RW / 8x DVD combo
Expansion Slots: One type II PC card slot
External Ports: (3) USB 2.0, VGA, IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
Recycling Fee: My order is not shipping to California - no recycling fee required
Screen: 14" Widescreen XGA TFT Active Matrix (1280 x 768 max. resolution)
Video: Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900
Keyboard and Mouse: Full-Size Keyboard and EZ Pad® Pointing Device
Multimedia Package: Integrated sound and stereo speakers, headphone/speaker jack, and mic jacks
Speakers: External speakers not selected
Battery: Primary 6-cell Lithium ion battery with AC pack and 1 yr. limited battery warranty
Modem: Integrated V.92 56K modem
Network Adapter: Integrated Broadcom® 10/100/1000 Ethernet Adapter
Integrated Wireless Networking Adapter: Integrated 802.11b/g wireless networking card
Extended Service Plan Including Limited Warranty: Notebook Value Service Plan -- 4 year part/labor/no on-site/4 year technical support
Additional Software: Adobe® Acrobat Reader® 7.0
Carrying Case: Targus Mobile Professional Case

System Quantity: 1
Discounted Price (including S&H): US $1,199.00
Delivered Price (including S&H): US $1,199.00 AS LOW AS: $35.37/mo On Approved Credit
Based on Fair Market Value 48 Months and 0 Deposit Lease

Comments:

When placing your order, please attach this quote to your purchase order.
A copy of this quote will be held for a period of 90 days after 03/21/2006

Quote subject to terms of current Agreement signed by you and Gateway, or absent Agreement, to Gateway’s Standard Terms of Sale and applicable product and services warranties which are available by visiting gateway.com or calling 1-800-846-2000 for a free copy. Service agreements are issued and performed by third parties. May not be available in all locations. Accidental Damage Protection not available in all states. Phone charges may apply for tech support. If purchased, on-site service technician will be sent if necessary, following phone-based troubleshooting. Availability varies. Other conditions apply. YOU WILL BE CHARGED SHIPPING AND HANDLING OR RESTOCKING FEES TO RETURN PRODUCTS. All offers valid in US only and are subject to change without notice or obligation. Quoted product only available through Gateway.com or by calling 1-800-846-2000. Prices exclude shipping, handling, and taxes unless otherwise stated. FINANCE/LEASE CUSTOMERS: Financing and leasing provided by independent lenders to qualified US residents only. REBATE OFFERS: For more information about rebate offers, log onto http://www.gateway.com/rebate or call 1-800-846-4208. © 2005 Gateway, Inc. All rights reserved. Trademarks used here in are trademarks or registered trademarks of Gateway, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. See important Microsoft activation requirements at http://www.gateway.com/ms-req

Introducing Educaster from Ucompass.com

Ucompass.com introduced a smart, fast and easy way to add sound and video to your classrooms. Check out this link highlighting this new service from Ucompass.com or call any of our company representatives.

Ed Mansouri
www.ucompass.com
850-297-1800 x 206
850-553-9252 (fax)
emansouri@ucompass.com

Clancy DeLong
VP Vendor Programs
www.MiCTA.org
888-870-8677 Ext 203
989-772-3239 (fax)
cdelong@micta.org

Playing safe is probably the most unsafe thing in the world. You cannot stand still. You must go forward.

-Robert Collier

Just For Fun

What tourist attraction can you find at Lake Havasu City?

1. London Bridge
2. Gateway Arch
3. Stanley Park
4. Bridge of Sighs

The sun is mainly composed of?

1. Hydrogen and Helium
2. Hydrogen and Oxygen
3. Oxygen and Ammonia
4. Methane and Hydrogen

This Greek goddess is wife of Zeus, and protectress of marriage, children and the home...

1. Athena
2. Hera
3. Artemis
4. Aphrodite

A cheval is used for?

1. To gaze at your reflection
2. Putting flowers in
3. As a footstool
4. Putting the baby to bed

For answers to "Just for Fun", please visit the Members' homepage.

PREVIOUS MICTA ALERTS

• March 2006

• February 2006

• January 2006

Alert Index