Google, Apple, and Lexia Top Technologies for Educators in 2017

(IRVINE, CA, October 30, 2017) — THE Journal, the leading K–12 education technology magazine, today announces the winners of its third-annual Readers' Choice Awards program.

For THE Journal's annual Readers' Choice Awards, education technology professionals voted for the software, hardware, and services they consider most vital to the job of educating and supporting America's 50 million K–12 students.

"More than 1,400 education technology professionals, including IT staff and educators, spoke out about the tools they think have the most positive impact on the mission of education," says David Nagel, editor-in-chief of THE Journal and editorial director for 1105 Media's Education Group. "All of the winners deserve high praise for their work in K–12 education and the impact they've had on teaching and learning, and we congratulate them for being selected by the teachers, administrators, and technology staff they serve so well."

2017's Top Overall Winners
When asked an open-ended question, "What are your three favorite technologies that you currently use in your capacity as an education professional?" the top individual products were:

• Platinum: Google G Suite for Education
• Gold: Apple iPad
• Silver: Lexia Core5

The top product categories were:

• Platinum: Mobile devices (led by Chromebooks and iPads)
• Gold: Interactive whiteboards/displays/projectors
• Silver (TIE):
  • E-learning/learning management systems
  • Reading software

When asked an open-ended question, "What's the most valuable product your school or district added this year?" the individual product winners were:

• Platinum: Lexia Core5
• Gold: Google Chromebooks
• Silver: Google G Suite for Education

The top product categories picked by readers were:

• Platinum: Mobile devices (led by Google Chromebooks and Apple iPads)
• Gold: Reading software (Led by Lexia)
• Silver: Learning management systems (led by Instructure Canvas and Schoology)

2017's Readers' Choice Award Category Winners:
(Note: Where no gold or silver winners are listed, all other nominees aside from the platinum and/or gold winners tied with a negligible number of votes.)
Best Reading Program

• Platinum: Lexia Learning Core5

 
Best Math Program

• Platinum: IXL Math
• Gold: DreamBox

Best Science Program

• Platinum: Discovery Education Techbook
• Gold: Mystery Science
• Silver: FOSS

 
Best Robotics System/Curriculum

• Platinum: LEGO
• Gold (TIE):
  • Wonder Workshop
  • Vex

 
Best Coding Tool/Curriculum

• Platinum: Code.org
• Gold: Scratch

Best Assessment

• Platinum: NWEA MAP

 
Favorite Learning Management Systems, Course Management Systems & E-Learning Platforms

• Platinum: Google Classroom
• Gold: Schoology
• Silver: Instructure Canvas

 
Favorite 3D Printer (by Brand)

• Platinum: Makerbot
• Gold (TIE):
  • Dremel
  • FlashForge
• Silver: ROBO 3D

Favorite Education Networks/Professional Communities/Professional Development Systems

• Platinum: Twitter
• Gold: Discovery Educator Network
• Silver: LinkedIn

 
Favorite Adaptive/Personalized Learning Tool

• Platinum: Lexia Learning
• Gold: Renaissance
• Silver: MobyMax

 
Favorite E-Portfolio

• Platinum: Moodle
• Gold: Blackboard Learn
• Silver (TIE):
  • Instructure Canvas
  • Google G Suite for Education

 
Favorite Interventions & Remediation Software

• Platinum: MobyMax
• Gold: STAR Reading & Early Literacy
• Silver: i-Ready Diagnostic and Instruction, Math

 
Favorite "Other" Education Tool

• Platinum: Khan Academy
• Gold: Discovery Education Streaming Plus
• Silver: Discovery Education Science Techbook

 
Favorite Student Response Systems & Classroom Clickers

• Platinum: Kahoot!
• Gold: Promethean
• Silver (TIE):
  • Poll Everywhere
  • Socratic

 
Favorite Collaboration Tool

• Platinum: Google G Suite for Education
• Gold: Microsoft 365 for Education
• Silver: Nearpod

 
Favorite Classroom Management, Culture, or Student Success System

• Platinum: ClassDojo
• Gold: PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports)
• Silver: Google Cast for Education

 
Favorite Student Information Systems & Data Management Tool

• Platinum: PowerSchool
• Gold (TIE):
  • Infinite Campus
  • Skyward
• Silver: Edmodo Sync

 
Favorite Lecture Capture/Screen Recording

• Platinum: Screencast-o-matic
• Gold (TIE):
  • Adobe Presenter
  • TechSmith Camtasia
• Silver: TechSmith Snagit

 
Favorite Document Camera (by Brand)

• Platinum: Elmo USA
• Gold: Epson DC series
• Silver: SMART Technologies

 
Favorite Projector (by Brand)

• Platinum: Epson
• Gold: Sony
• Silver: Hitachi

 
Favorite Interactive Whiteboard, Display, Flat Panel, or Kiosk (by Brand)

• Platinum: SMART Technologies
• Gold: Promethean
• Silver: Mimio

 
Favorite Videoconferencing & Web Conferencing Tool

• Platinum: Google Hangouts
• Gold: Microsoft Skype in the Classroom
• Silver: Zoom

 
Favorite Virtual Classroom/Meeting Software

• Platinum: Google Hangouts
• Gold: GoToMeeting
• Silver: Microsoft Skype in the Classroom

 
Favorite Classroom Audio Distribution/Sound Enhancement System (by Brand)

• Platinum: Lightspeed Technologies
• Gold: Smart Audio
• Silver: Califone

 
Top Educational Game or Gamified Learning Tool

• Platinum: Kahoot
• Gold: Microsoft Minecraft
• Silver: Prodigy Math

 
Top Game not Necessarily Designed for Education but Used as a Part of Instruction at Your Institution

• Platinum: Microsoft Minecraft

 
Favorite Virtual/Augmented Reality Headset or Hardware System

• Platinum: Google Cardboard
• Gold: Samsung Gear VR
• Silver: Sony PlayStation VR

 
Favorite Virtual/Augmented Reality Software/System

• Platinum: Aurasma
• Gold: PBS Lunch Rush!
• Silver: Chromville

 
Favorite Gaming Platform

• Platinum: Apple iOS (iPhone/iPad)
• Gold: Sony PlayStation
• Silver: Microsoft Xbox

 
Favorite Classroom Presentation Software

• Platinum: Google Slides
• Gold: Microsoft PowerPoint
• Silver: Prezi

 
Office/Productivity Suite

• Platinum: Google G Suite
• Gold: Microsoft Office 365
• Silver: Apple iWork

 
Favorite Multimedia Authoring Suites & Creative Software

• Platinum: Adobe Creative Cloud
• Gold: Apple Creativity Apps
• Silver: Ubuntu Studio

 
Favorite E-Learning Authoring Tool

• Platinum: Google G Suite
• Gold: Camtasia Studio
• Silver: Adobe Creative Cloud

 
Favorite Media Tablet (by Brand)

• Platinum: Apple
• Gold: Google
• Silver: Samsung

 
Favorite Chromebook (by Brand)

• Platinum: Google
• Gold (TIE):
  • HP
  • Dell
• Silver: Lenovo

 
Favorite Windows Tablet (by Brand)

• Platinum: Microsoft
• Gold: Dell
• Silver: HP

 
Favorite Convertible Notebook/2-in-1 Notebook (by Brand)

• Platinum: Dell
• Gold: HP
• Silver: Lenovo

 
Favorite Education Notebook (by Brand)

• Platinum: Apple
• Gold: Dell
• Silver: HP

 
Favorite Virtual Desktops and Thin Clients

• Platinum: Lenovo ThinkCentre line
• Gold (TIE):
  • HP Thin Client Solutions
  • VMware
• Silver: Dell Wyse

 
Favorite Wireless Access Point or Hotspot (by Brand)

• Platinum: Cisco
• Gold: Netgear
• Silver: Extreme Networks

 
Favorite Network or WiFi Management, Analysis, and Monitoring Tool (by Brand)

• Platinum: Microsoft
• Gold: Cisco
• Silver: Extreme Networks

 
Favorite Mobile Device Management Solution (by Brand)

• Platinum: Google
• Gold: AT&T
• Silver: JAMF

 
Favorite Anonymous Reporting Tool

• Platinum: MySafeSchool
• Gold: CyberBully Hotline
• Silver: Anonymous Alerts

 
Favorite Emergency Notification System

• Platinum: SchoolMessenger
• Gold: School Alert
• Silver: K12 Alerts

 
Favorite Firewall Software

• Platinum: Norton 360
• Gold: Kaspersky
• Silver: Windows Firewall

 
Favorite Firewall Hardware/Appliance (by Brand)

• Platinum: McAfee
• Gold: Cisco

 
Top Anti-Virus Tool (by Brand)

• Platinum: Norton
• Gold: McAfee
• Silver: AVG

 
Favorite Classroom Furnishings and Charging Carts (by Brand)

• Platinum: Steelcase
• Gold: Bretford
• Silver: Childcraft

Detailed winner profiles will be featured on THEJournal.com and will appear in the October/November issue of THE Journal, which ships today. 

About THE Journal
THE Journal is the premier resource for K–12 senior-level district and school administrators, IT administration, and instructional technologists who make decisions and influence technology purchases for their districts, schools and classrooms.

About 1105 Media Education Group
The 1105 Education Group, a division of 1105 Media Inc., provides information, insight, and analysis to the education sector, focusing on information and instructional technology. Our content platforms for our core properties (THE Journal, Campus Technology and STEAM Universe) include print, digital, online, newsletters, events, and a broad spectrum of marketing services.

Posted on October 30, 2017 at 1:19 PM