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Take a quick look around your computer classroom.  You probably have “state-of-the-art” technology and equipment: powerful networked computers, sophisticated multimedia capabilities, and an expensive projection system.  Yet, with all this advanced equipment you still find yourself roaming the classroom to monitor trainees and clustering your students around one monitor to share an idea.  Likewise, your overhead projection system isn’t making your life any easier with special room lighting, continual convergence adjustments, and complaints from the back of the room about blocked viewing and not being able to see all the fine details being projected.

You ask yourself, “Why can’t I just remain at my desk and view everyone’s screen??  Why can’t I share any one of my student’s screen with the rest of the class?  Why can’t I step a trainee through a problem by remotely accessing their PC using my monitor, keyboard and mouse?  Why can’t I black out trainees’ monitors and freeze their keyboards and mice?

For many years, instructors just like yourself have been answering these questions by using the patented LINK Video Network System.  For these fortunate instructors, the LINK System is a dream come true – complete class control through a hardware system that is cost effective, provides years of excellent service and is extremely easy to use!

Now you can immediately interact with trainees when they need assistance.  If a specific problem occurs that is common to everyone, you can show this screen on everyone’s monitor for picture perfect viewing.  If anyone requires additional assistance you can work individually or in groups, again through one-touch operation.  One-touch allows you to “Blank” the trainee monitors and “Freeze” their keyboards and mice, guaranteeing their full and undivided attention!  One-touch will connect your keyboard and mouse to any trainee computer and enable you to operate the computer without leaving your podium.  All the benefits of using a video networking system is just one-touch away!

The LINK video networking system increases your training efficiency by dramatically decreasing the amount of wasted time repeating instructions and roaming the classroom.  The LINK System improves training quality by creating a real interactive training environment.

Backed by more than 30 years of experience in the classroom video networking industry, the LINK System is the most advanced hardware system on the market.  The system will accommodate video resolutions from the lowest resolutions to graphically intensive workstations with full multimedia capabilities.

The LINK System redefines the term user-friendly.  It truly is the most user-friendly class management system, both in ease of operation and installation.  Instructors will intuitively operate the LINK System the very first time they use it.  By keeping each command a one-touch operation, and allowing you to perform any feature anytime you wish, you will be able to master the LINK System commands within a five (5) minute period.  Once you begin using the LINK System you will find it almost unbearable to imagine teaching without it!

Applied Computer Systems, Inc. is not a newcomer to the computer classroom training field.  We have been in the training and education market for over 30 years, providing quality products to schools, universities, businesses, government and military entities.  You can learn more about our classroom video networking LINK Systems by contact us at 800-237-5465 or sales@acs-linksystems.com

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John Wright, an instructor at Bloomfield High School, was tasked with designing and building a CAD/CAM lab for Bloomfield’s Technology Department.  “We were looking for a management tool to enhance instruction and to allow the monitoring of students as they work.”

Mr. Wright researched software classroom management solutions first.  “We tried several network systems but found the intensive graphic requirements of the cad and 3D solid modeling software made the video response too slow.”  Later, Mr. Wright was fortunate enough to see the LINK System installed in a college.  “I saw the LINK used at a local college, that was all it took.  I knew I had to have it!”  Ultimately, Mr. Wright and his colleagues found the LINK System was the best solution for their CAD/CAM lab.

The LINK System is a computer classroom management system that offers instructor’s the ability to broadcast crystal clear demonstrations directly to each student’s screen.  Using the LINK System’s features, students are able to see all of the details of the CAD/CAM program no matter where they are seated in the classroom, contrary to classrooms that use only overhead projector.  “The ability to focus each student on their own screen during direct instruction is invaluable,” says Mr. Wright.  The proverbial “bad seat” is eliminated from the classroom.  In the event that an instructor prefers to use a projector, the LINK System works flawlessly with the existing equipment.  Not only can instructors broadcast their own desktop to the projection screen, they can project any student’s desktop to it as well.

When asked which of the many features that the LINK System has is most useful to him, Mr. Wright said, “The ability to take control of the student station from the teacher station is important.  If a student has a question there is no need to go to that station.”  Using the LINK System’s intuitive touch interface, simply select a student station and their desktop is instantly displayed on the instructor’s monitor. Make an additional selection on the screen and you now have remote access to the student’s keyboard and mouse.  Mr. Wright continues “if you would like to use that student’s screen for helping or instructing other students you can transmit that individual student’s screen to all the other student stations.”  This collaborative teaching style eliminates the need to explain the same procedure to multiple students during the class period.  The LINK System will allow you to engage students more effectively, will save you instructional time, and will help to increase student comprehension.

Bloomfield Central School District purchased the most reliable classroom management system on the market.  “We have used the LINK System since 1999,” says Mr. Wright.  Since that time, the school updated the motherboard in the instructor’s LINK System equipment in 2004.  Incredibly, Bloomfield Central School District is still using the same LINK System equipment that was installed more than 15 years ago!  Due to the longevity of the LINK System, Applied Computer Systems, Inc. (ACS) has developed upgrade paths for customers.  Customers have the ability to use their original student equipment while upgrading their instructor’s equipment.  Later, when budgets allow for it, the student equipment can be upgraded as well.

When asked about his experience with ACS’s customer service, Mr. Wright expressed only praise.  “Excellent.  Their customer service is second to none!  They are prompt, and courteous.  If you call with a problem, they will do whatever it takes to solve that problem.”

Applied Computer Systems, Inc. does offer free onsite demonstrations of the LINK System.  The LINK System is used in computer classrooms to effectively enhance the teaching and learning process.  It improves retention rates and keeps students on task.  It is a cost-effective computer classroom management system built to last for many years.

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HISTORY

Ameren Corporation is among the nation’s largest investor-owned utility companies and is the parent holding company of Ameren Illinois and Ameren Missouri.  Currently Ameren employs approximately 8,500 individuals and provides energy services to approximately 2.4 million electric customers and 900,000 natural gas customers.  Their service area covers nearly 64,000 square miles in Illinois and Missouri.  Ameren generates its electricity using a variety of sources including coal, gas, solar, and nuclear power.

OBSTACLE

Michele Waller is the Senior Training Supervisor for the Instructional Systems Development at Ameren’s Callaway Energy Center.  Among her many tasks, she is responsible for all aspects of accreditation, administration, and initial and continuing training for her site’s location.  Ms. Waller coordinates the instructor curriculum and the oversight training committee at the Callaway site as well.

“For instructional purposes, the training department at the nuclear facility wanted an alternative method of utilizing media and PowerPoint in the classroom,” says Ms. Waller.  Ameren found that SoftLINK classroom management software met these goals and provided much more.  It makes sense that they came to Applied Computer Systems, Inc. (ACS) to help them solve their problem.  ACS had already been working with the Callaway site for more than a decade.  ACS originally installed a hardware LINK System at the site in 1996 which was fully functional up to the uninstall date of 2006, the year Callaway decided to migrate over to SoftLINK.  ACS has specialized in classroom management solutions since the early 1980’s and has become a preferred source for hardware and software computer class management products.

Another obstacle faced was the scope of the site’s training staff.  “Callaway has approximately 35 instructors who are constantly faced with providing new and creative methods of presentation.”  The solution that Ameren chose needed to be intuitive and easy to learn, two of SoftLINK’s key selling points.

SOFTLINK CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT SOLUTION

SoftLINK fits right in to Ameren’s media rich training environment.  During the daily training sessions, instructors typically broadcast their presentation directly to the student screens.  Not only does this provide the optimum viewing experience for the students but it also prevents anyone from straying from the subject matter.  “Keeping students involved in the presentation and making sure they are at the same point as the instructor” is key states Ms. Waller.

Often enough, instructors get frustrated knowing that the students are checking their email, looking at social media sites, or playing games while they are in class.  Ms. Waller tells us that SoftLINK has eliminated those worries.  “Instructors can maintain control of student computers during presentations and ensure that students are on track.”

SoftLINK also provides instructors with the ability to block any application that exists on a workstation and the ability to block any number of websites or the web entirely.  “The added benefit of controlling the access to other software or websites while in class” is invaluable.  The first and foremost goal is to keep the students on task and on the topic at hand.

In addition to the exceptional features that are found in SoftLINK, ACS also provides toll-free support for all of their products.  Whenever an instructor has a question, they can simply call or email the customer support agents at ACS and they receive precise and prompt answers.  Ms. Waller says that “ACS is very helpful when dealing with questions and issues” that may arise.

Applied Computer Systems, Inc. offers free, live, online demonstrations of SoftLINK.  A full featured 30-day trial is also available for download.  SoftLINK is used in computer classrooms to effectively enhance the teaching and learning process. It improves retention rates and keeps students on task.

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Applied Computer Systems, Inc. has Audio Composite LINK Systems installed in dozens of classrooms at Goodfellow Air Force Base. These particular classrooms are used to train Cryptologic Linguists. A cryptologic linguist is responsible for detecting and recording foreign communications using signals equipment for the purpose of military intelligence. We are proud that the United States Air Force has chosen to use our classroom management system to help train our soldiers. Please watch the Air Force video to learn more about this unique military profession.

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Over the years, teachers have come to expect certain teaching aids to be in their classrooms.  Not so many years ago, teachers relied on blackboards and chalk to convey their lessons to their classes.  They also utilized pull-down maps and hanging diagrams to further enhance their students’ learning experience.  By the late 1950’s, schools began to use overhead projectors as an effective means to teach material to students.  It allowed teachers to present preprinted material to their class or to write directly onto re-usable plastic sheets using non-permanent ink.  By the 1990’s, schools started replacing chalk boards with white boards and then later, with smart boards.  They also began replacing overhead projectors with document cameras.

These same teaching tools have been used in computer classrooms for years as well.  However, none allowed the teacher to efficiently show a classroom full of students a computer screen.  This led to video projectors becoming a mainstay in computer classrooms.  With a video projector, teachers could now project their computer screen onto the projection screen, allowing the entire class to see what was being done on the instructor’s computer.  This was a huge improvement over all the prior techniques.  There are some major inconveniences that go along with video projectors.  First and foremost, visibility has always been an issue in the classroom.  Whether you are using a smart board, a document camera, or a video projector, not every student in the classroom will have a perfect view of the presented material.

So how can a teacher allow each and every student to have the best view in the class?  A classroom management solution offers a perfect front row view to each and every student.  How is that possible?  Take a teacher who uses a typical computer classroom equipped with a video projector as an example.  The teacher would project the instructor’s computer image to the screen at the front of the class.  Every student would be able to see the image, but to varying degrees of clarity.  There are many factors affecting how clear the image appears.  There is the viewing distance, the viewing angle, the ambient lighting, not to mention any obstructions that might be in the classroom.  Depending on the classroom layout, an obstruction could simply be a student that is just slightly taller than the student sitting behind them.

Compare the previous scenario to a computer classroom that uses a LINK Classroom Management System.  The teacher selects a button and the instructor’s image is broadcast directly to the students’ monitors.  There is no decrease in the video quality; the video is broadcast at exactly the same size as it appears on the instructor’s monitor.  Sometimes students can more easily associate with the information when it is presented on a normal sized screen and not a larger than life one.  Furthermore, the student can adjust the settings of their own monitor to obtain a view to their own liking.  The student’s view can never be blocked, the lighting in the classroom will never interfere with their view, and distance is no longer a problem!

Classroom management solutions allow for teachers to engage students in a way that no prior technology allowed for.  They now feel as though the information is being presented to them personally, on their own screen, directly in front of them.  What if you already have a video projector in the classroom?  It will work in conjunction with a LINK Classroom Management System, and if a projector is not present, a classroom management system is capable of doing much more for much less.

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Comprehension is something that all teachers strive for.  Knowing that your class grasps the concepts and information that has been taught to them is an incredible feeling.  However, how can a teacher adequately gauge the class’ comprehension?  A teacher can ask a question verbally, have their students raise their hands, and then call on an individual to answer the question.  All too often, class participation is limited and only a select few attempt to answer the questions.  The teacher can ask the question and poll the class, asking them to raise their hands if they think the answer is answer “A”, “B”, or “C.”  Many times, students simply look to their fellow classmates and follow along with the majority answer.  Of course, there are also quizzes and tests, but at that point, students are expected to already know the material and if they don’t, their grades will suffer.  So how can a teacher get instant feedback from all of their students, feedback that is discrete and not public, that will allow them to see the class’ overall understanding?  Use one of Applied Computer Systems, Inc. (ACS) classroom management solutions!

ACS offers a variety of solutions that enable instructors to easily gauge their students’ comprehension during the course of their normal class.  Both ACS’s patented hardware, LINK Systems, and their software solution, SoftLINK, provide the means to survey students discretely.  How is this task accomplished?  The teacher simply types in a question to the Survey area of the software and then lists the possible choices.  When the survey question is sent out to the class, the students will be able to read the question, choose the response that they believe to be the correct answer, and submit their response to the teacher.  This survey or poll of the class will give the teacher instant feedback.  As students select their responses, the results update automatically on the teacher’s monitor.  They can see what percentage of the class selected each response.  They can also see how many students have answered and how many have yet to answer.  This private response method allows the teacher to get a true snapshot of the students’ comprehension.  Students who typically are not engaged during class will find it easier to participate and will answer questions.  They will no longer fear that they will be the focus of attention if they answer incorrectly.  Students will not be able to see how the other students are answering and will instead have to answer on their own accord.

Perhaps best of all, the results of these surveys can be shared with the class.  Many times students who do not understand the subject matter may just conclude that no one in the class knows it.  By giving the teacher the means to show a breakdown of the class, what percentage of the class selected each answer, students will now be able to better gauge how they are doing in comparison with their fellow classmates.  Often, this alone will engage students to work on learning the subject matter.

These tools allow teachers to clearly see the progress their class has made.  If the majority of the class answers correctly, the teacher can safely assume that the subject was covered completely and can move onto the next topic.  If the results are inconsistent, the teacher can review the material while it is still fresh in the students’ minds and further their overall comprehension.  This all leads to an increase in the material that can be covered during the class as well as improving overall grades for the students.

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Teachers must deal with the same distractions today as teachers of the past.  Perhaps they have an unruly student who constantly craves attention from his classmates or there are distractions in the hallway or outside the classroom which tempts your students to place their focus elsewhere.  In addition to these distractions, teachers today face the daunting task of eliminating electronic distractions.  Whether a student has a smart phone, an Ipod, a portable gaming device, or an mp3 player in their possession, all instructors have the chore of teaching their students and trying to keep them focused on the subject matter at hand.  Often enough, electronics are simply banned from the classroom, eliminating them entirely from the possible disruptions that can consume a class full of students.

Computer instructors, however, have a very unique training environment.  In many ways they can conduct class just as other teachers do.  They might utilize an overhead projector or a whiteboard or they may just lecture their class.  The major difference, however, is computer instructors cannot eliminate the temptations posed by electronics because the electronics are the sole focus of the class.

Quite often, instructors find that they must constantly navigate their classroom during their lesson so that they can monitor what their students are doing.  Teachers do not want their students to be browsing the web or working on another assignment while they are attending their class.  So how can an instructor ease this burden?  How can they cover more material and improve comprehension simultaneously?  Install SoftLINK on all of the computer lab’s workstations!  SoftLINK gives instructors the necessary tools to forego the old style of classroom monitoring and brings your class into a new age of digital teaching.

How will SoftLINK alleviate common computer classroom distractions?  SoftLINK gives the teacher an unprecedented view of their classroom, a view of each student’s monitor simultaneously!  SoftLINK’s Tutor Console features a thumbnail view that enables the instructor to quickly glance at the students’ progress and quickly determine if they are on task.  If a student is not on task, immediately gain their attention by locking their workstation.  Need to speak to the entire class without interruption?  Select Blank All and instantly gain every student’s attention as all of their monitors turn black.

Instructors are regularly concerned with administering tests in computer labs as well.  With computers, students can easily Google the subject matter and find the answer on the web.  How can an instructor administer a test and be certain that students are not searching the web for the answers?  SoftLINK solves this problem too.  SoftLINK’s internet tab gives instructors the ability to define what websites students have access to.  If students only need access to a single website, limit their access to that specific website by adding it to the Approved Website list.  Do you need to keep students off of social media websites like Facebook and Youtube?  Add those distracting websites to the Restricted Websites list.  Do you want to prevent your class from having web access entirely?  Select Restrict All and the entire class will be denied access to all websites!

Imagine the amount of time teachers can save by eliminating the distractions in their classrooms.  That saved time will translate into a substantial increase in class material that is covered.  With these benefits alone, why not evaluate SoftLINK and see how it can improve your teaching environment.  You will find that SoftLINK is well worth the investment!

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Do you teach in a LINUX or MAC based computer classroom?  Are you having a difficult time finding a software package that allows you to monitor and manage the student’s computer activity from your laptop?

With over 40 years of experience and knowledge Applied Computer Systems, Inc. (ACS) is an industry leader in providing computer classroom management solutions for PC, Linux and Mac based computer classes.

ACS talks with many instructors and computer technicians throughout the United States.  Many stress their main reason for needing such a software monitoring package is to simply view their classes’ computer activity from their desk or iPad.   In addition, the instructor would like to manage their student’s internet access during lectures.

ACS’s computer monitoring software allows teachers to effectively teach by centrally instructing students from their computer.  Instructors can begin class by registering students’ attendance, easily transfer files between their computer and the students, and send an important message directly to the student’s screens.

Once you have provided instruction for the students to begin working on their computers you will then need the ability to see if they are staying on task.  In today’s classrooms it is important for teachers to allow students the ability to surf the web to gain additional knowledge and information.  The internet is another avenue for educational material and provides infinite resources.  On the other hand the internet can also be a diversion causing the student’s to be easily distracted.

ACS’s software keeps students on task and eliminates distractions by non-related websites or instant messages.  The teacher can monitor all students’ internet use from his podium or while walking throughout the classroom.  ACS’s software shows the instructor which students are on the internet, what websites are running, and allows the teacher to set website blocks or approvals.  In addition, the teacher can block the internet access completely ensuring his students no longer have the capability to search for answers online during a test.  ACS provides all the features necessary to easily manage the internet during class.

This software package is the ideal tool for anyone who teaches in a computer lab.  You have the ability to monitor and control any or all the computers in the classroom, throughout the building or across campus.  With these intuitive features you will see an improvement in your student’s retention rates, test scores and keeping students on task and focused.

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A classroom management solution is not simply about providing the right tools for the instructor who teaches in a computer class.  Equally important are the tools needed to make sure all computers in the school can be remotely managed and maintained so they are always available for teaching.

Wouldn’t it be great to have one complete software package which provided both computer classroom management and a full-featured tech console?

It is great.  Applied Computer Systems, Inc. offers SoftLINK classroom management software which also includes a powerful tech console at no additional fee.  That’s right you heard correctly.  SoftLINK includes a tech console at no extra cost.

What a relief we hear from schools who are constantly seeing budgets shrink.  The information technology department is continually asked to accomplish more with less. Teachers expect their problem to be fixed promptly as they need their computers up and running now.  The tech support issues continue to rise as the support staff tries to keep up.

Why pay the annual maintenance costs to maintain several software packages when SoftLINK can provide all of the computer class instruction, monitoring and management tools needed, plus the tech console features in one powerful easy-to-use solution?

SoftLINK provides a dedicated technician console designed specifically for those who are responsible for the updating and managing the organizations computers.  Computer technicians will find great value with the ability to view all computers across the campus right from their monitor.  SoftLINK can remotely access the computers to power them on and off, remotely log-in and reboot the PCs, if needed.  The technology department can generate a full hardware and software inventory for each PC, remotely manage services and processes, and deliver files to selected computers in a single action.

SoftLINK includes all the features necessary to provide direct technical assistance to any computer user needing help.  Strengthen communication between tech support and teachers with online chats when needing immediate assistance.  The staff can broadcast a message to selected groups or all users in seconds.  Time is always of the essence and with the ability to distribute files and folders to designated PCs, launch a command prompt from the remote system on your PC, and edit the registry of a remote system are huge time savers.  Plus SoftLINK offers powerful resources that will allow the IT staff to apply a school-wide set of internet and application restrictions that are “always on”.

In addition, lab technicians can control a USB, CD/DVD or printer with SoftLINK. Schools can save resources by limiting the printer usage by number of pages printed per day, prevent students from printing randomly and require teacher’s authorization before a student may print.  Also, prevent data from being copied to or from a USB storage device or a DVD device.

SoftLINK is the ideal classroom management solution. Not only does it provide instructors with a means of being able to monitor and instruct their class, but it also includes the powerful support features for the network managers.

Save your school money and make them aware of SoftLINK’s capabilities.  If you are currently using multiple solutions to accomplish what SoftLINK has to offer, re-evaluate your current strategy and see how SoftLINK can save your school money.

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As more and more computers are being integrated into the classroom, a teacher’s job is becoming increasingly difficult.  Not only do they have to deal with the distractions that already exist in the classroom, but now they have to keep the student’s focused and eliminate the distractions commonly associated with a computer class.

Is a teacher truly capable of maintaining control of a classroom while simultaneously knowing what is being accessed on the student’s computers?  Alone, probably not, but with a computer management software package, such as SoftLINK definitely!

SoftLINK helps ease the teacher’s burden by giving them access and control over their students’ computers.  If you want to make sure that the students are looking at you and not their monitors, simply use the attention button to blank their screens.  You can even lock their keyboards and mice, if needed.  By giving the teacher this unprecedented control, the teacher is now able to painlessly gain the students’ attention, keep the students on task, and interact effortlessly with the students.

In addition, a teacher can keep the students on task by setting up some policies regarding the applications they are allowed to run and the websites they are allowed to view.  Using the intuitive interface, a teacher can disable any number of applications in addition to limiting the students’ web access to predefined sites.

The interaction that SoftLINK allows between the teacher and student will also increase the students’ comprehension and retention rates.  To explain the increase in comprehension and retention, let us take a look a common scenario in a computer classroom.  The teacher is explaining how to use a program but a student does not understand a concept and is afraid to ask the teacher a question.  Using SoftLINK, the student is able to alert the teacher electronically when she has a question.  The question is displayed as a private message on the teacher’s computer, so that a student can ask questions without fear of criticism from their peers.  By selecting the student’s “Help Request,” the instructor immediately sees the student’s screen and is able to guide her in the proper direction.  Perhaps this is a common question among the students and the teacher would prefer to explain it to everyone at once.  The teacher can show his screen to every monitor in the classroom simultaneously and every student will have a perfect view at their own desk.  The teacher, wanting to ensure that everyone truly understands the concept now, issues an electronic survey to the students.  A question, that he just composed and multiple responses, also determined by the teacher, appears on each student’s screen.  As each student selects an answer, the teacher gets instant feedback and is able to determine if more time is required for the subject or if the next topic can be addressed.  Also, the teacher can create an electronic journal with each class session, allowing both the teacher and students to store notes, screenshots, and other data into a PDF file that can be viewed at their leisure.

SoftLINK works for virtually any environment.  If you are involved in the education process of K-12, college students, corporate employees, or military personnel, you will find using a classroom management solution a win-win situation.   There is even a built-in Tech Console that the IT staff will instantly fall in love with.  Regardless of whether a teacher is experiencing problems with students viewing inappropriate websites, chatting online, or simply not following along with the class, SoftLINK provides the tools to eliminate these daily frustrations and more.

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