Project Management – how important is it anyway?

Well, if you’re reading this, you were intrigued enough by the first installment of this blog to come back for more. Last time, I promised to fill you in on why Project Management is so important for customers and for the companies that provide it. The first lesson in effective project management is delivering on promises, so, here goes.

The Executive Summary:

Project Management is important for customers because it helps ensure they get exactly what they asked for—delivered on time and on budget.

Project Management is important for companies because it helps them organize workflow to maximize capacity. This affords the opportunity to take on more business at higher profit margins, all while increasing customer satisfaction.

I know – that’s boring, so let me use an example to illustrate…

Imagine you just retired and found the perfect piece of land in Montana to build your dream home on. While picturesque, lush, wooded, and secluded, it is 38 miles from the nearest electrical substation, county water, and sewer service.

Can you see the dilemma emerging?

How will this work? Do I need a windmill? Where will we get our water? Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea – doubt creeps in. Do you just move to Florida like everyone else?

You know where to start: breaking ground. You also have an idea that the project ends with an inhabitable structure that doesn’t require walking to the local stream to get water, or worse, an outhouse – bet that isn’t part of your dream. What separates you from your dream is all the work in-between.

Who is going to organize the thousands of details and tasks required to get this Project done? Who is going to monitor progress and ensure things are getting done on time and on budget. Who is going to administrate the contract between you and the builder to ensure both of you are treated fairly and the end result is what was agreed upon? Who is going to create the boundaries with you, the homeowner, so when you change your mind every five minutes there is a rational person talking sense to you tying everything back to the budget and the timeline? What processes and methods will they employ, and what budgeting and tracking tools will they use?

Do you expect that one of the numerous subcontractors working on the Project will be responsible for all of this? Will they manage themselves? Well – decide if you want to retire on that land or be buried on it, because if you don’t have someone acting as a Project Manager applying Project Management Tools and Techniques, that just may be what happens.

Ok – I realize that’s a little exaggerated, but anyone who’s had remodeling done or a house built gets the point.

When it comes to any Project, organization, coordination of efforts, and accuracy do not just magically happen; someone is behind it – that person is the Project Manager. And they are utilizing a vast array of tried and true Project Management tools, techniques and methodologies, along with perpetual analysis and reporting to keep the train on the rails.

I’ll end with this - Project Management is critically important to all facets of business because we live in a world that revolves around efficiency and the bottom-line. Project Management is all about doing things better, faster, and cheaper. Given the current state of the global economy, there has never been a more relevant time then now to reap the benefits of properly executed Project Management.

Check back in a few weeks - next time I’ll talk about how to determine what a Project actually is. 


-Steve K.

Someone You Can Count On...

When it all goes wrong--all at once--and you are in way over your head, you need to be able to rely on someone that you know will get the job done. A single point of contact. Someone who is competent and will execute according to what is necessary to get things back on track. Relationships like these are very hard to come by and are becoming more rare as the technology in our lives gets more complicated.

If a company could offer this type of individual service--a professional relationship that allows me to lean on one person for support, before, during, and after my purchase--they would have me as a customer forever. Lets run with that for a minute...

Being able to offer this "one-neck-to-choke" is nearly impossible these days. With broadening product lines and incredibly demanding timelines, it seems like one person just can't handle the entire spectrum. Some companies have totally given up on the idea altogether. It's too expensive. Furthermore, where do you find even one person that has the capacity to fulfill this role, let alone an entire team.

Well, it wasn't easy. But, we found them and we offer them to our customers every day. Our K-20 account managers master this task. Their passion is education and their gifting is in building and keeping relationships. Driven by their desire to take care of each customer's needs, they continue to improve the services we offer and forge new friendships.

Our unique company culture of customer centricity is understandably attractive to clients, but also has been the focal interest of so many talented professionals. Without giving too much away, this is how we do it: We care. We want to help you and grow to be that person that you can always count on. On an individual basis, we strive to cover every angle to ensure that everything goes according to plan. However, when crisis rears its ugly head, you can depend on us to be there for you.

The SALTO Virtual Network

Violence on school campuses around the nation has created an urgent need to find the best solution for protecting students and faculty. Because campuses have a constantly changing population of students, faculty and visitors, adequate access control—controlling who has access to building entrances and interior doors—becomes the linchpin of school safety. Access control systems can provide the structure and security to deter problems before they occur.

However, traditional hard-keyed locks are inefficient and costly, requiring complicated systems of multiple locks and keys for different levels of access, as well as requiring the expensive and time-consuming re-keying of locks when a key is lost or stolen. In addition, it’s almost impossible to track who has accessed any door at any given time.

Electronic locks have addressed many of the problems of hard-keyed systems, but they present their own set of challenges: hard-wiring each door is often prohibitively expensive, and they still require door-to-door visits to re-program each door’s lock or to pull data on access. As a result, standard electronic locks are typically found only in corporate settings.

In response to the shortcomings of both systems, educational facilities across the globe, as well as security-conscious facilities such as Heathrow Airport in London, have turned to SALTO Systems for their unique solution to security needs. The SALTO Virtual Network offers all of the advantages of standard electronic locks, with increased efficiency and much lower overall costs. Users’ Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) cards, which communicate data over a series of online “hotspot” locks and offline electronic locks, link the network and transmit data back to the central terminal that maintains the network. This immediate communication means that lost or stolen cards can be deactivated and new cards activated instantaneously, doors can be locked or unlocked with the click of a button at the terminal, and audits of door access can be run in real time. If a visitor needs access to only certain doors, their card can be restricted to open only those doors. Access can even be restricted to a certain time limit, after which the card automatically becomes deactivated.

Because the interior door locks communicate wirelessly over the network, interior door locks do not require hard-wiring, which makes installation quick and inexpensive. Whereas a hard-wired electronic lock can cost between $3000 and $4000, the SALTO system costs approximately $750 per interior door. Because cards can be deleted from the system immediately, there is no need to re-key locks when a card is lost or stolen, or when a faculty member leaves, which saves schools’ money in the long term. The wireless nature of the system also allows enormous flexibility in coverage. A series of data relayers, in addition to the RFID cards, makes it possible to control access for any number of doors over any area of campus, no matter how large the size.

Kevin Shupenia, Chief Operating Officer of Logical Choice Technologies, explained why working with SALTO was such a natural fit. “With our teams installing equipment in schools on a regular basis, we’re well-versed in the challenges that schools face with security. I knew that the SALTO Virtual Network was something that schools would be enthusiastic about.”

For more information, visit www.logicalchoice.com.

- Brian B.

How Summer Killed the Projector

During the Summer break, it is easy to forget about projector maintenance. After all, very few people are in the building and most units are not being used. However, it is during these quiet Summer months, LCD projectors are most vulnerable to damage.

With no movement in the classroom and air conditioning units turned off, dust will gather on the top and inside of the projector. Dust will continue to amass all Summer long. When the projectors are finally turned on in the Fall, the small internal cooling systems will instantly choke on the accumulated dust. Often, air filters are left quite dirty at the end of the semester. The additional dust collected through the Summer dormancy finds its way past the filter and directly in contact with sensitive mirrors and lenses. This results in a hazy, distorted image as well as brightness and color degradation. In many cases, this can also damage the cooling fan and lead to overheating and a shorter lamp life. 

Most manufacturers consider damage caused by dust to be a maintenance issue, which is not covered under their warranty programs. In cases like these, they will charge for cleaning and repair.

Fortunately this scenario is easy to prevent, with a little help from your friends in Customer Care. 


Step one: clean your filter. We cannot stress this enough. Get up there and clean it. When in doubt, clean it out. There is no such thing as cleaning your filter too often. Before you start up your projector for the first time of the semester and before you say goodbye to it for vacation, clean the filter. OK...I think you get the picture. Clean your filter.


Step two: bag it before you go. You can protect the projector from dust by sealing a plastic bag around the whole unit. There is no need to dismount the projector for this. Most trash bags will work perfectly; just use masking tape to seal the bag and hold it in place.


Step three: clean your filter.


We hope this helps. Let us know what you think!


-Luke B.

Project Management – you’ve heard the term before but do you really know what it is?

Let’s start with the basics…the formal definition given by the Project Management Institute (PMI) is below (PMI is the organization responsible for creating and maintaining the global standard in Project Management methodology).

Project Management - “is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities in order to meet project requirements.”

(PMI*, Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), 4^th Edition, p. 6)

Now let’s put it in layman’s terms…when Project Management is applied correctly, it’s a lot like cooking a great meal. To do it well, you need to know what ingredients to add, how much of each, what temperature to set the oven or stove, how long to cook it, when to stir it, turn it,  or baste it, in conjunction with the correct timing to do so, and so on.  The cook did not just slop together whatever was lying around the kitchen; they took calculated steps at precise times to ensure the food tasted, looked, and smelled exactly as one would ideally expect it to.

It’s no different with project management – there are specific steps and processes that must be utilized at specific times.  For instance, you have to get the right people in the room before you can gather requirements. You have to gather requirements before you can write the scope. The scope of the project must be written up before you can faithfully estimate the material and labor required to achieve your goals. Of Course, you have to estimate the material and labor to set the budget…and it goes on.

In essence, like cooking, Project Management is as much an art as it is a science. 

Hopefully this has sparked your interest.  Stay tuned for the next installment when we’ll cover what makes Project Management important for customers as well as providers.

- Steve K.

Conquer Illiteracy, Fight With Tools

Letters alive™ has been our pride and joy. Having the opportunity to design software using cutting edge technology is the dream of every young programmer. But, building something so revolutionary that fills a need in the foundation of our educational system--this has purpose. Kids need help.

Literacy has always been an issue. The mastery of which opens doors to new ideas and innovative thinking. If we can find a way to conquer illiteracy in our global community, imagine what lies ahead. 

We believe we have found a path toward this goal. By engaging students in a way that captivates their attention, we can defeat illiteracy. Integrating technology into a lesson is not enough, we needed to build from the ground up. We incorporated methods that work like phonics and flashcards, however, we started with the technology that we know will grab their attention. Most importantly, we used teachers and early reading experts to help design the curriculum. This is how we know it will be successful for your class and for your students.

ABC recently reported on Letters alive™. What an honor. Take a moment to see what they had to say. 

If you believe, like we do, that this will have a positive effect on the literacy rate in our youth, please join us in sharing this on whatever social media platform you subscribe to.

ABC News | Reading software that will change the way students learn to read - FOREVER http://t.co/CucgaHZ #LettersAlive

If you want to add this curriculum to your classroom, click here to visit our Web Store designed specifically for Educators.

Thank you for your support! 

Don’t be caught in the dark...

Nothing is worse than not having light when you need it. In today’s classrooms, we rely heavily on our technology. If the technology goes down, the classroom is crippled. Educators depend on their projectors for presentations. If the light bulb goes out, the projector is useless and the teacher’s lectures are interrupted and far less effective. 

To prevent this unfortunate occurrence, most projectors have been outfitted with a warning light. This light is connected to a timer and is designed to turn on when the projector lamp is approaching the end of its expected life. Since most projectors are mounted in the ceiling, it is difficult to read the labels describing the function of each indicator light. However, if you know where to look, you won’t have to climb a ladder just to identify your indicator lights.

The warning light on a Promethean projector is the yellow colored light next to the power indicator. If you see both a green and a yellow light next to each other, it is time obtain a replacement light bulb for the projector. You can buy replacement lamps by visiting our Web Store here.


- Luke B.

ISTE Convention in Philadelphia

The show has been a tremendous success. Our booth stays busy with activity throughout the day and there seems to be no end to the flow of people interested in learning more about the products we attest will exact change in the classroom. Our booth is both appealing and welcoming. Regardless of the fact that our location and orientation are less than ideal, we have been drawing large crowds and captivating their attentions with Letters alive. 


One would be hard pressed to find another exhibitor that has been able to gather and keep show attendees as effectively as we have. Our exhibit is 10 x 20. Not nearly enough room for large desks with comfortable seating--like some of the booths we compete with. We don't have promotional "events" or professional acts with choreographed dancers, singing and dancing to our company theme song. Yet, somehow, people are willing to forgo those comforts and entertainment and huddle together (10-15 minutes at a time!) to watch one person demonstrate what we DO have.


We have a product that has the potential to change everything. Educators see that. They are not only excited to discover what we have created, but, they want to participate in it's development. We receive suggestions like "You guys should work on Math and counting next" and "social sciences would really benefit from this type for interactivity." I even had a teacher tell me that she had a dream about Letters alive--that it was in book form and the characters leapt from the pages. 


Our passion for education and the reformation of classrooms through the proper implementation of technology is evident in everything we have done here. Between our success in demonstrating our product lines and the strengthening of our strategic relationships with our partners also attending ISTE, I am very proud to report that we are indeed "Taking the Hill."

Customer Care

“Thank you for contacting Customer Care. We’re here to help!”

Logical Choice Technologies’ Customer Care is your post-installation resource. Their Core mission is to provide customers, internal and external, with a single point of contact, dedicated to resolving LCT product and service related issues.

Our Team

The Customer Care Team is comprised of Customer Experience Specialists from various backgrounds including: Computer Science, Technical Support, Product Management, Systems Engineering, Systems Administration, Communications, and LCT Installation Services. "Each member of our team is committed to getting the classroom up and running again 100%, as soon as possible," adds Redd Howe, an installer, turned Customer Care Representative. 

Making Contact

Contact Customer Care for all post-installation matters. The most effective way to reach them is by using the Web Form located online at www.logicalchoice.com/care. This form contains all of the information needed for the team to immediately begin driving the issue to resolution. Customer Care allocates a member of its team to focus on these web forms as they come in throughout the day.

You can also connect with Customer Care through email at customercare@logicalchoice.com or by calling 866-482-8937 between the hours of 8am to 8pm ET. Before sending an email or calling, it is important to have available all of the core information needed.

At a minimum:

·         Your Name, Phone Number and Email address

·         School Name and District

·         Room # where the issue is taking place

·         Serial # of Product (if applicable)

·         Case # (is available)

·         Description of the Issue and type of product involved

The LCT Family - Randy Self (Head Mushroom)

Some call it the Design Studio and some call it the Mushroom Farm, but, it's inmates are all unique individuals. Inside, it’s always dark. And, if you aren’t careful, you could find yourself in the crossfire of one of their impromptu Nerf wars.

The hours are long and the work is filled with strict deadlines and high-pressure projects, so, relieving stress with a soft Nerf bullet or a practical joke played on a co-worker is understandable and a welcome relief.

The head of this unique group, Randy Self, is a very talented Designer and Art Director. He is not only a visionary, but, also a hands-on, skilled craftsman--one of the originators of the Letters alive™ software that is putting Logical Choice on the cutting edge of educational augmented reality curriculum.

But how did someone like Randy come to be the “head mushroom in charge” in Logical Choice’s Mushroom Farm?

Randy’s degree in Media Arts and Animation from the Art Institute of Atlanta enabled this Sandy Springs, Georgia native to get a job with a special effects company in Lawrenceville, GA. All too often, that job led to a misunderstanding with area police. At 4 am, Randy and co-workers would stop by the local QT to buy a drink and a hotdog while covered in the blood (corn syrup and food coloring) used to make their ghoulish designs look like they were bleeding. The manufactured body parts in the trunk of his car did little to alleviate the concerns of the peace officers. When paychecks started arriving sporadically, Randy decided that as much as he enjoyed his job, he needed to find one with regular income.

Randy joined Logical Choice after the gaming company he worked for laid off its entire staff. The project they were working on, a MMO (Massive Multiplayer Online) game which had an educational focus was almost  complete when it fell victim to a lack of financial backing. He began his career here as an installer where he lasted a whole day and a half before being introduced to the Customer Care Team. It was in that environment where he introduced our CEO, Cynthia Kaye, to Augmented Reality which led to the creation of Letters alive™.

The influence of his mother, a photographer, and his father, an engineer, prepared him for the path that his career would take here at Logical Choice. “My mom is a creative person who sees things in a creative way and taught me to do that, too. And, my dad is a step-by-step engineer who taught me to follow the steps and work logically,” Randy shared. “He also taught me to use power tools and build things. I had no idea there were people like plumbers and electricians and builders that you paid until I was older because I thought every project was done by father and son.”

Randy shared a little about what makes this company special. “Honestly, I love this company. There are companies that say they are family oriented, but, it doesn’t really work that way. Here, it feels genuine. We joke with each other and people actually get it and don’t get offended. We really are a family.” 

With his unique set of skills, quick wit, and fun sense of humor, Randy is an office favorite. He sees a bright future for Letters alive™ and future augmented reality products and software. “We can go anywhere. As we start dealing with it, we see what it can do – what the potential really is. There are opportunities for infinite expansion,” according to Randy. 

With the Head Mushroom, Randy Self, (alias Randolf Seawolf thanks to a nickname from C.K.), the journey is never boring, always enlightening and full of lots of laughter and Nerf bullets.

-Lisa K.

21st Century Campus Security Technology

Security is a growing concern in schools across the country. Now, more than ever, parents and educators are forced to deal with the threat of violence, vandalism, theft, and unauthorized access on campus. New technology is available to help solve security issues so that teachers and students can concentrate on learning. We are going to take a few weeks to talk about what is available and how it can easily be implemented into your school.

Secure Learning Environment

Today’s systems can incorporate 21^st Century Classroom Equipment into the security architecture. Features such as the Silent Alarm button, present on the ActivSound Pendant Microphone, allow teachers to have easy access to security functions, should the situation arise. A simple touch of the button located on the microphone alerts Campus authorities to a potential emergency and its location. Learn more about SAFE System: 

Other equipment, such as electronic locks, can keep unauthorized people out while instantly granting access to authorized personnel through the use of RFID keycards. The latest systems utilize wireless networking technology. This minimizes installation time and makes it possible to restrict access to a broader spectrum of physical locations. Lost keys can be immediately deactivated and new keys created which minimizes the risk of a security breach. More on Salto Systems:

Surveillance systems and network access video recorders afford greater protection and allow administrators and security personnel the ability to monitor activity remotely.  Here are more Surveillance solutions: 

Peace of Mind

Knowing their school systems are employing 21^st Century Campus Security Technology, parents will feel confident their children are protected. Educators can depend on these systems, as well, to guard their campus and their most precious responsibility: the students.

Teachers Cheer Letters alive™

Literacy professionals in attendance at the 55^th Annual Convention of the International Reading Association in Orlando were raving about Letters alive, the first classroom curriculum based on Augmented Reality technology. With the ultimate goal of teaching children to read, Letters alive allows students to interact with a kingdom of 26 entertaining, intelligent animals — each representing a letter in the alphabet — who virtually come alive in the hands of students. Here’s what some of the teachers who have used Letters alive have had to say:

“Letters alive is an amazing program!” —Rebecca, Pre-K Teacher

“The software is awesome! Very innovative and exciting!” —Janet, 17-year veteran kindergarten teacher

“The Letters alive curriculum is amazing! I love it!” —Jessica, Educational Consultant

“Letters Alive will undoubtedly aid in reading and developing comprehension. Great job, my fellow educators!!” —Robin, 21-year veteran 1^st-3^rd grade teacher

This groundbreaking supplemental curriculum is not only designed for pre-k and kindergarten classrooms, but it also targets specialized instruction within grades 1 - 5 for: ESL students (English as a second language), RTI students (Response to Intervention) and Special Needs students. Letters alive applies research-based, best practices of phonics curriculum, but in a way that has never been so engaging or so interactive for early learners.

The curriculum uses the same mind-blowing Augmented Reality technology implemented by the Imagineers at Walt Disney World. Accompanied by 94 Dolch sight word cards, the Letters alive creatures not only move and make sounds, but react intelligently as well. These animals not only possess the capacity to respond to students’ actions, but they also have the ability to answer their questions.

When the Letters alive cards are arranged to ask, “Can the frog swim?,” a projected image of Frankie Frog actually begins swimming! Next, have a child try “The frog can fly.” Then, Frankie will shake his head “No.” Let’s say a student puts down the cards to read, “The giraffe is red,” To the delight of your class, Gerdy turns from brown to red. By seeing the words in action, learning and retention becomes faster and stronger. As students encounter 3-dimensional characters like Gerdy Giraffe, Henry Horse or Frankie Frog, and see them respond to actions and questions, the students more quickly establish strong connections between the letters and the animals they represent. This includes understanding how letters sound phonetically and how they are used to form words. In addition, the students can easily learn the meanings of sight words and see how those words are used in sentences.

“Students learn best when you capture their imaginations,” said Cynthia Kaye, CEO of Logical Choice Technologies. “Then, they’ll not just be excited to learn; students will also be better able to retain and apply that knowledge. Letters alive directly involves students in what they’re learning on so many emotional levels. They get very involved in the learning process because the students want to see how the animals will react to the different sentences they build. As a result, it’s not just that the experience is effective and fun; it’s more effective because it’s fun.”

Letters alive provides a full school year of lesson plans that are aligned directly to the Common Core State Standards currently being adopted in 48 states. Augmented reality applications for educational purposes, like those utilized in Letters alive, hold the promise of immersing students in experiential learning environments—even at levels beyond early elementary—that were quite unimaginable until now.

To learn more about Letters alive, visit www.logicalchoice.com, or visit our web store at www.logicalchoicestore.com.


-Brian B.

The LCT Family - Charity Hutchings (Strategic Team)

When you meet Charity Hutchings you immediately sense that she is much more than your typical 22 year old.

A quiet, hard working young woman with a work ethic that few can match, Charity regularly defines and meets deadlines in her position as a Strategic Team Associate and Bid Specialist for Logical Choice.

The Strategic Team is an integral part of the life of LCT because it seeks out requests for proposals and bids by using services that assist in finding opportunities and it relies on LCT’s sales team to bring in bids. Bids in turn, become long term business and revenue for Logical Choice. So, the Strategic Team members are very important people at LCT.

A tight knit group including, Charity Hutchings, Keila Johnson, and Jeff Wilson and managed by Christine DeYoung, the Strategic Team meshes well with one another.

“I was hired originally to be Ronnie Bertucci’s assistant four years ago, but within two months I began to work for Christine,” Charity said.  “I love working for Christine. I wouldn’t want to work for anyone else because she’s a great boss. She’s understanding, patient, helpful, and she explains things. She taught me my most important lesson – that there is no “I” in TEAM.”

The Strategic team certainly works according to the no “I in TEAM rule”. It is one group that pitches in to help each other whenever there is a job to be done and they work hard to make each bid perfect and to gather all the information needed to demonstrate LCT’s best effort each and every time. They even get coffee together (at 3 pm every day!) and eat lunch together.

The most challenging part of Charity’s job is waiting on information to meet a deadline. “Bids are a very deadline driven area and it is hard to get everyone together to work on a bid when each person has so many other things to do,” Charity said.

But one of the things that Charity likes best about Logical Choice is that everyone here is nice and they don’t leave anyone out, “It’s a put-your-arms-around-each-other kind of place. LCT has ruined me for ever wanting to work anywhere else in corporate America,” Charity declared.

But Charity isn’t all work; she is also a trainer and accomplished rider and owner of a beautiful Appendix Quarter Horse, Mojo that she rides four to five times a week.

Born in North Carolina but growing up in Utah, Charity is part of a family of 6 brothers and both parents who all ride, not only horses but also bulls. This is a family who have made rodeo a way of life. Charity began riding at 7 years old on her horse, Tinkerbell, and knew she would do this for life.

When she graduated from High School at Faith Academy in Loganville, she immediately went to work for Michael Colvin, a world renowned trainer of American Quarter Horse Association horses.

Charity and her father rode for and trained with Michael Colvin until she met Kevin Shupenia, COO of Logical Choice, through the stable where she boards her horse, and he let her know about a job opportunity at LCT. She embarked on a career here and divided her time between her beloved horses and her work with the Strategic Team.

Three years ago, Charity’s time began to be taken up with a young man named Brandon Malcom, to whom she became engaged and plans to marry when a wedding date can be set. Brandon shares her love for horses and rodeo and is a former bull rider.

Charity is not your typical 22 year old, she’s a person with a lot of experience and talent to offer and we at Logical Choice Technologies are excited that happy trails led her to us.

Giving back to the Community - Gateway Homeless Shelter

Serving those in need is the duty of everyone who has been blessed with the means to give. We don't normally publish the acts of service that we perform for the community. But, every now and then I think it's important to let others know how vital it is to give back. What better way is there to do this than to lead by example?

Alicia and Lisa are two of the very hardworking employees here at Logical Choice. Their positions and the inherent pressure associated with their task-load would easily justify their absence from such benevolent activities as assisting at a homeless shelter. But, it didn't stop them. Their heart and compassion for others is inspiring.

After much prodding, Alicia agreed to share a letter about their experience:

Dear Cynthia,

Lisa K. and I joined in with the Ron Clark Academy last Saturday to work at the Gateway Homeless Shelter.  Needless to say, the day was amazing!  Housed in what used to be the Atlanta City Jail, the 3 top floors house men including veterans, mentally ill, and in-transition back into work.  They also have a separate small area for women and children.  The bottom floor was open and allows homeless to come in for clothes, food, showers, and if necessary, even sleeping on the floor.

Interacting with the people who came into the shelter tugs at your heart strings.  They were looking for people to talk to and listen to them, share a smile, and just be like everyone else.

We had the opportunity to participate by setting up a children’s area for the assembly of shoe boxes of necessities and fun for children, sorting and organizing the clothes closet, and serving over 400 people lunch.

What an amazing blessing it was to be involved in this project.  Looking forward to our next opportunity!

Thanks,

Alicia H.

If this cause speaks to you, make the time in your schedule to help out. To learn more about the Gateway Homeless Shelter go to www.gatewayctr.org/vision.html. 

Get To Know Your 21st Century Classroom – Part 9: Training and Professional Development

We have talked about many of the new and exciting tools that are available to the 21^st Century Classroom. Hopefully this series has helped stir an interest in learning more about the capabilities and possibilities made available by educational technology. Our final suggestion before we can close this series is that the best way to get the most out of your 21^st century classroom is to be trained by professionals.

21^st Century Classroom – 101

Our classes are taught by former Educators who have been certified as instructors for our equipment. We offer a two part class, Core Essentials Part 1 & Core Essentials Part 2, which focuses on the fundamental use and inclusion of digital equipment into the daily lesson plan. Student-Educators are trained on hardware and software relevant to the products installed into their specific rooms. Teachers are also given a first glimpse into the digital resource libraries available online and introduced to their utility. A portion of the class is devoted toward explaining the software necessary for creating digital lesson plans and flipcharts.

The Next Level

Beyond the Essentials further explores the robust education software and builds on the skills learned in Core Essentials. Instructors cover additional features of the programs and how to integrate files from other sources into the curriculum.

Additional classes are also available to learn more about Student Response Systems and Training Certification, among others.

Thank you for being a part of this series. If you have any suggestions for products you would like covered in our “Tip of the Week” section, please comment below.

The LCT Family - Cindy Dyer (Inside Sales)

If you go back into the “sales pit” area where our Inside Sales team resides, you might miss Cindy Dyer. She’s not going to draw attention to herself and you will have to look for her. The immaculately clean, organized desk will give her away because there is no place for clutter near Cindy.

Cindy is a member of the Insides Sales Team but operates more as post-sales support by entering orders, answering questions and being a point of contact for anyone who has a change, addition or special instructions to an order. So, when I say her desk is neat, that speaks volumes for her organizational skills. Coming from someone who rarely remembers the color of my desk for the myriad papers blanketing it on a daily basis, I admire the ability to keep it all organized and neat. But then, Cindy has a long history of working in an administrative capacity for various organizations and knows how to stay focused.

When the company she was working for in Carrollton, GA laid off their employees, Cindy was looking for a job nearby, but she soon decided to expand her search and almost immediately, her resume sent to Logical Choice was noticed and she came in to interview. She enjoyed the interview and the people so much at LCT that she offered to relocate to work here and an offer was made to her on the spot. Even though she had another offer, she chose Logical Choice because she could sense the family-like atmosphere and wanted that above the stiff corporate culture of the other position.

The night Cindy came home to tell her family she had accepted a job with Logical Choice, her daughter, Katie, then in first grade, immediately told her that she had a Promethean Interactive Whiteboard in her classroom and she explained how it worked to her mom. Cindy knew then that the products were special and the company was, too.

At first she traveled 70 miles each way until she found a home close to Logical Choice and now resides just 7 miles from the corporate headquarters. “It was worth it to commute to this job,” Cindy said, “I thank God every day for this job and this great company.”  Cindy likes this company so much that she has encouraged friends and family to apply for available positions and a few have been hired.

Originally from Tampa, Florida, Cindy moved to Dallas, Georgia as a young girl and was raised there until her middle school years when she returned to Tampa and graduated.

She has a 24 year old married daughter, Krista, who has one 4 year old son and is expecting a daughter in mid May. Cindy also has Katie, the now 10 year old daughter who helped to teach her mom about Promethean products at the very beginning. Cindy married her husband, Shawn in 2009 and said that “it took 40 years to find her “soul mate”, but they are madly in love and so happy.”

Cindy’s family is very important to her and that is why she loves Logical Choice so much. “This is the only place I’ve ever worked where I didn’t feel pressured to choose between work and family because they understand the importance of family. No amount of money could make me leave this company,” Cindy said. That is unless she could make a living playing Sudoku, at which she excels; then she might consider it, but the job market for Sudoku whizzes is pretty slim these days so I guess LCT is doubly lucky.

Another reason she loves her job comes from the satisfaction of receiving phone calls like the one she got a year or so ago when a teacher called to express her excitement over getting Promethean Learner Response Systems for the entire class. Cindy wasn’t aware, but the teacher had her on speaker phone with her class of 30 first graders listening in. She wanted to see if she could get the ActiVotes shipped quickly and Cindy offered to see what she could do to expedite matters. The teacher was gracious and grateful and she asked the class, “What do we say to Miss Cindy, class?” and 30 little voices chimed in with “Thank you, Miss Cindy!”

That is the moment she knew that what we do here makes a difference in real lives and she fell in love with Logical Choice all over again. And her dedication to her job and to making sure that orders are processed and questions are answered is why we say, “Thank you Miss Cindy!”


-Lisa K.

Get To Know Your 21st Century Classroom – Part 8: Presentation Software

Now that we have discussed some of the hardware that is available in the 21^st Century Classroom, we should talk about the wide range of software options. Software can be powerful and robust or as minimally invasive and utilitarian as the instructor desires.

The Basics

Since the 21^st Century Classroom is designed around the ability to present information through a broad spectrum of interfaces, the software can get pretty complex. However, it doesn’t need to be. Simple functions like projecting a document, showing a movie, and browsing the internet can be handled through most computer operating systems. Furthermore, the interactive white board, in conjunction with the projector, act as a very large touch screen. So, navigating these types of programs with the pen should come naturally within a few minutes.

Interactive Lesson Plans

To develop and present effective lesson plans using the 21^st Century Classroom Equipment, the educator will need presentation software. Programs like Microsoft Paint or PowerPoint are useful but offer limited flexibility. Promethean’s ActivInspire is packaged with the ActivBoards (and is available separately) and allows the educator to create dynamic Flip Charts. Essentially, the teacher can draw/write directly onto the board (similar to Paint) and then flip to the next slide (similar to PowerPoint). This can be performed prior to the presentation or directly in front of the class.

Other functions available through software like ActivInspire are the ability to control Learner Response Systems and import media into the lesson plan. There are a myriad of other document creation tools at the instructor’s disposal.

Cutting-Edge Educational Software

Logical Choice Technologies is pioneering the use of augmented reality (AR) in the 21^st Century Classroom. The Letters alive™ pilot program represents a new way to engage students in reading and language arts. This is the first wave of new interactive software that will become available in May 2011.

Next week: We will wrap up this series.

The LCT Family - Karen Braxton

Bubbly and enthusiastic…those two words come to mind when you first meet Karen Braxton.

As the Manager of Logical Choice’s Educational Group, Karen Braxton brings a lot to the table. Her previous jobs with an interior door company and as a member of an Ebay and Overstock.com auction management company enabled her to become an expert at implementing Salesforce databases. Now, her abilities have been given full bloom in a ground floor opportunity provided to her when Logical Choice decided to create a team that prospects and assists outside sales in scheduling demos and building business.

“One door closed and another one opened for me at Logical Choice,” Karen said. “And I was able to use the skills I had in developing Salesforce databases.”

Karen has a wealth of knowledge in providing direction on how to best utilize Salesforce and she customizes it to benefit the team. Because of the expansion of Logical Choice’s Promethean partnership footprint to encompass the nation, Karen sees even more potential for future growth.

“Each of my team members has several reps to assist. Last year we had an incredible success rate by booking almost 800 demos. The more the team grows and our company grows, the clearer it will become to see the impact we create on sales”, Karen said. “Our business has such a long sales cycle, so seeing that impact is very rewarding”, she said.

What drew such a dynamic and obviously talented person to Logical Choice? “I loved that it was woman owned. I am a strong believer in the empowerment of women”.  Having gone to a women’s college in her home state of Virginia, Karen feels that the enthusiasm she observed during her interview process by those who conducted the interviews and their obvious love and passion for the company, made an impact on her decision to join the team. She, in turn, demonstrates that same passion for her job and it has rubbed off on the equally talented team she has assembled. Karen’s department has a zero turnover rate and she is proud of their retention rate. “We truly have a family-like camaraderie and we work hard and play hard, but we do eat a lot”, she joked. “Every picture of our group shows us eating something.”

That family theme runs deep with Karen who was originally born in New York and is of Dominican descent. Karen is engaged to be married and she has two children, a 13 year old daughter, Madeline and a 19 year old son, Zachary. She also has a rare combination of dogs who are a huge part of her family: Jake, a Peekapoo; Chi-Chi, a Chorkie (Chihuahua/Yorkie mix); and Chia, a Chorkie-Morkie (Chihuahua/Yorkie and Maltese/Yorkie mix).

Karen is a warm, nurturing person with a strong personal faith. The family atmosphere here at LCT drew her in and made her feel welcome.

When she’s not cooking, running or enjoying a day of beauty or shopping, she is busy caring for her family, her Educational Group team and Logical Choice.

We are so glad that Logical Choice Technologies’ door was open for such an amazing addition to our family.


-Lisa K.