DynEd eNews for Education

May, 2004
Issue #26

Meet Lance

Lance Knowles, Chief Courseware Developer and Co-founder of DynEd

Always hard at work designing multimedia English language learning courseware, or speaking to educators around the world, Lance Knowles is the co-founder and visionary behind DynEd.

Among the world's foremost experts on the development and use of multimedia ELT courseware, Lance's insights on language learning based on neuroscientific research, and his teacher training expertise, are widely sought. He has led the design of more than ten multimedia courses, including the world's first interactive language learning program on CD-ROM in 1987, and the award-winning course, New Dynamic English.

Used in over 70 countries worldwide, many of Lance's courses have been approved by national Ministries of Education, including France and Malaysia. His courses have won more than 30 major awards.

An experienced presenter, textbook author, and former director of the Language Institute of Japan (1979-86), Lance has led teacher-training seminars on multimedia for more than ten years in more than 14 countries. He has been a featured speaker at international conferences such as the Japan Association of Language Teachers, JALT-CALL, Pan-Asia TESOL, Beijing University, and the Korea Association of Foreign Languages Education. His current interests include the design of multimedia activities and learning paths to optimize language practice and long-term retention.

Have a Question? Ask Lance.
Lance would be happy to share his expertise with you. If you have any issues or questions involving multimedia ELT, CALL or effective English language learning in general, ask Lance! Lance welcomes your direct questions at asklance@dyned.com. Watch for a detailed response in the next issue of this DynEd eNewsletter.

Opportunities at DynEd

DynEd is hiring.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in joining DynEd's dynamic team, please check our web site for the latest job posting.

New Awards

Three 2004 BESSIE Awards for DynEd Courseware

(March 15, 2004) Burlingame, CA - ComputED Learning Center, San Diego's leading computer education resource, today announced that DynEd is a winner in its 10th Annual Best Educational Software Awards. Winners in the 2004 BESSIE Awards are:

ComputED's Best Educational Software Awards (BESSIES) are aimed at recognizing innovative and content-rich programs and web sites which provide parents and teachers with the technology tools to foster educational excellence.

The BESSIES have had the distinction of previously being co-sponsored by the CBS-affiliate in San Diego (KFMB-TV, Ch.8). Winners are selected from titles submitted by software publishers from around the world (a list of last year's winners is available). All submitted titles are made available to school districts, teachers, and the public through ComputED and the Educational Software Preview Service of San Diego Center for Educational Technology (a nonprofit organization).

To see the complete list of the 2004 winners, visit http://computedgazette.com.

DynEd's Advanced Listening Named Codie Awards Finalist, Postsecondary Education Instructional Solution

"DynEd is proud to be recognized amongst the many leaders in their fields," said Lance Knowles, President of DynEd. "Considering the intense competition this year, being named a Codie Awards finalist is a true honor. The distinction underscores DynEd's commitment to superior quality in English language learning methods and training."

Advanced Listening is a strategy-based listening course for advanced ESL/EFL learners. Its authentic video lectures from Stanford University help advanced learners develop high-level listening and note-taking skills. Timely topics include dealing with stress, genetic therapy, the Chinese economy, the history of slavery, the geology of volcanoes, and how to give a lecture.

A record high of over 800 nominations from more than 600 companies were submitted to the 2004 Codie Awards this year. The program - the only peer recognition of its kind in the software and information industry - showcases the software and digital content industry's finest products and services.

DynEd's Advanced Listening a 2004 Distinguished Achievement Award Finalist
The Association of Educational Publishers (AEP), a national, nonprofit professional organization for educational publishers, has announced that DynEd's Advanced Listening is a Finalist for the 2004 Distinguished Achievement Awards for Outstanding Educational Products in the Software - Educational category.

Winners will be announced at the 2004 Golden Lamp and Distinguished Achievement Awards Banquet on Tuesday, June 8, to be held in Alexandria, VA.

Being a Finalist is an honor that denotes excellence in the delivery of educational content through the use of new media. AEP judges - writers, editors, educators, all professionals in their fields - focus most on educational value, accuracy of concepts, and ability to sustain audience interest. Judges also evaluate originality and creativity, the creative use of technology, design integration, and ease of use.

Product Announcement

DynEd Introduces First English for True Beginners Ages 10 - 17
First English joins DynEd's line of research-based multimedia English learning courseware designed to ensure proficiency gains and long-term retention for all levels.

(March 15, 2004) Burlingame, CA - DynEd International Inc., a leading developer of multimedia English learning software solutions, today announced the availability of First English, a true beginning course designed for ages 10 through 17. Based on DynEd's research-supported approach that promotes effective, long-term learning, First English develops listening, speaking, grammar, reading and writing skills presented in a spiral syllabus.

The communicative focus of First English is on school life and the classroom. Each unit contains Listening, Dialog, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Letters & Numbers lessons, which provide optimal language input supported by a unique use of icons and comprehension exercises. Learning aids include Speech Record-Playback, multilingual Glossary, on-demand text support, translation for selected languages, and quizzes.

According to Lance Knowles, "First English is ideal for beginners because it provides a solid framework that supports the ongoing development of successful English learning in a school context. The practice activities in the course, when done regularly, facilitate optimal learning gains and long-term retention."

A comprehensive Instructor's Guide provides a scope and sequence, suggestions for classroom activities, and teacher hand-out sheets. DynEd's built-in management tool, the award-winning Records Manager, allows teachers to monitor student progress and provide targeted intervention. Extensive testing is offered with the Placement Test and Mastery Tests. Teacher training and technical support are available.

First English adheres to a teacher-managed approach designed by experienced educators. To help teachers maximize results, DynEd offers professional development that includes how to coach students to achieve their fullest potential using the course.

First English rounds out DynEd's award-winning multimedia English learning solution addressing the needs of learners ages four through adult and all proficiency levels. First English also prepares students to succeed in DynEd's follow-on course, English for Success, with its intensified focus on English used in academic areas such as science, geometry, mathematics, history, etc.

First English is currently shipping. For pricing and ordering information, contact 1 (800) 765-4375 ex. 114 or send email to info@dyned.com

Teacher Guide Update
Starting with Installation Disc version 1.9c, all relevant Teacher Guides are now accessible from the "Help/Documentation" menu in the Records Manager. You no longer need to hassle with the Instructor's CD. Students cannot access the encrypted Teacher Guides.

Intelligent Tutor Featured Now on All DynEd's Primary School Courses
Users of First English, English for Success, and Let's Go can now benefit from Intelligent Tutor, DynEd's special feature that indicates where students need to spend more time practicing in each program.

Intelligent Tutor is also now available in the Placement Test Kids, where it indicates at which level a student should be enrolled in Let's Go.

To start assessing the effectiveness of your students' study patterns now, install the Installation Disc and follow these easy instructions:

1. Make sure no one else is using the DynEd programs.
2. If you're on a networked installation, be sure to sit at a client computer ' not at the server itself.
3. Connect to the Internet.
4. Double click the "UpToDate" application in the DynEd directory.
5. Highlight these 3 items: "Launcher Application", "Multimedia Engine", and "Records Manager." Ignore if it says that all of the items are already up-to-date.
6. Click "Download." Wait.
7. Click "Quit." Done!

Market Update

International Conferences

DynEd set up shop at the 38th Annual Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Convention and Exhibition.

(March 31 - April 3, 2004) Long Beach, California - First English, DynEd's multimedia course for true beginners ages 10 through 17, formally debuted at the 38th Annual TESOL Exhibition. The booth, with its new graphical makeover, updated signage and high tech tile flooring, presented a warm welcome to the 6,800 registrants at the exhibition.

Among the DynEd staff there to greet booth visitors were two relative newcomers to TESOL: Lance Knowles, president of DynEd, and Emili Maeda, on her very first visit to the U.S. from DynEd Japan's Tokyo sales office.

Established over 16 years ago, DynEd has lots of old friends - and many new ones - who stopped by to say hello. The redesigned School Education Solutions Brochure, and First English live course demos, along with DynEd's many other multimedia courses, made for a lively experience.

With one more successful TESOL behind us, it's on to San Antonio, Texas for 2005. See you there!

DynEd in the U.S.

DynEd Correlations to U.S. National and State Standards Coming to Web Site
Correlations of DynEd's English learning content to U.S. national and several key state educational standards have been completed for the core school solution courses: Let's Go, First English, English for Success, and New Dynamic English.

Available soon on our web site, watch for standards correlations including:

• ELD Standards for California
• Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for ESL
• English Language Proficiency Standards for Virginia
• Florida Language Arts through ESOL
• Arizona Academic Standards

In addition, a content correlation is available for users of High Point, a standards-based reading/language arts textbook published by Hampton-Brown.

If you would like to access DynEd's standards correlations now, contact sales@dyned.com.

Large U.S. DynEd District Installation in the U.S.
January 12, 2004 - DynEd has installed English for Success (EFS) and Let's Go in the Milpitas Unified School District (MUSD). Milpitas Unified School District lies in the northeastern region of Santa Clara County in the heart of California's Silicon Valley. 50 different languages and 20 different dialects are spoken amongst the nearly 10,000 students enrolled in the district's 14 schools.

Shared over MUSD's fiber optic network, the EFS installation will serve English learners in the district's high school and both middle schools. The LG installation will serve English learners in all nine of the district's elementary schools, making the installation one of the largest multiple DynEd user-districts in the United States.

"The relationship with Milpitas USD has grown quite strong over the last few months," said Colby Erickson, SF Bay Area Account Executive who made it all happen, "and I'm looking forward to seeing their progress. This has been a great project for everyone - from proposal, to installation, to training. Milpitas USD is well on its way to becoming a DynEd District of Excellence."

2004 Summit Meetings
DynEd U.S. ELL Technology Summit Series Offer Forum for Discussing Effective Integration of DynEd Courseware into the ELL Classroom

Building on momentum generated in Northern California in late 2003, DynEd North America continues its ELL Technology Summit Series this spring across the U.S. With Summits already scheduled in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles County, Nebraska, Arizona, and soon in Colorado, Washington, DC, Texas, Florida, and New York, we are coming out to meet with educators face-to-face, coast-to-coast.

Hosted in small, interesting venues such as the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, CA, and Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, local English language educators and DynEd representatives gather in small groups for a discussion of the effective integration of DynEd courseware into the ELL classroom, followed by lunch. These Summits are focused, informative, and - as guests always exclaim - fun.

Interested in being a guest at an upcoming DynEd ELL Technology Summit?

Check the DynEd events calendar for future dates and locations near you. Summit attendance is by invitation only, so contact Steven Kearney, North American Sales Manager, for more information.

DynEd in Asia

DynEd Business Partner Opens Seventh School in Hangzhou

Web International school owners and managers gathered for the recent opening of Web's seventh English language school in Hangzhou, China. Sheila Yu, vice president of Web International, stands second from the left in the first row. DynEd China's Mike Morrow is back row, third from the right.

(Hangzhou, China) February 25th - Web International has opened a second school in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, a two-hour drive from Shanghai. The new school marks the seventh in the Web network, which spreads through China's fast-growing Yangtze River Delta region. Hangzhou is one of China's oldest and most cultured cities, a former imperial capital famous for its poetry, silk and, recently, mobile phones.

Web International's flagship school in Shanghai has recently extended its DynEd license and installed an additional 200 machines to support increasing demand.

Dr. Feng Feng Joins DynEd China
(Beijing, China) February 23, 2004 - DynEd China's team in Beijing welcomes Dr. Feng Feng (Lisa). She will lead the development of DynEd China's new Teacher Training Curriculum and Teacher Support Environment. She will also act as Project Manager for this and other Beijing development projects.

Newsbytes from DynEd Asia

• All 27 teacher training colleges in Malaysia have recently installed DynEd courseware to help raise the level of spoken English among pre-service teachers throughout the country.
  
  
• A DynEd channel partner in Beijing, Stanford English, recently won a contract to start training IBM managers in Beijing.
  
  
• DynEd's distributor in New Zealand, Dynamic World Technologies, Ltd. (formerly Powerhouse Systems) has recently signed up and installed two additional language school customers for DynEd, Auckland Business School in Christchurch and English Fluency Tuition, Ltd. in Hamilton.
  
  
• To keep pace with DynEd China's tremendous growth, our team in Beijing has hired three new people, with more planned in the coming months.
  
  

About DynEd International

DynEd is a leading developer of multimedia English learning solutions for pre-K through adults. DynEd's award-winning solutions help learners worldwide to achieve English proficiency in schools, businesses, training organizations, and government agencies. DynEd content is approved by the Ministries of Education in Malaysia, France, Italy, Korea, Thailand and Greece; and correlates to national and state learning standards in the U.S. Corporate headquarters are located at 1350 Bayshore Hwy, Suite 850, Burlingame, CA 94010; telephone 800.765.4375 and fax 650.375.7017; www.dyned.com. Global offices are located in Japan, Hong Kong, China, U.K., France, and U.S.A. DynEd reaches over 70 countries through an extensive authorized channel partner network.