One of the most common pieces of audio gear in every PreK-6 classroom is the multimedia player / recorder. While lots has been written about individual products, this series of articles has focused instead on different features and how they can help you in the class or outdoors. Taken together, they’ll hopefully provide you with a more complete overview of what’s possible.

• Play MP3 CDs With Ease
• Searching for Specific Content
• Making Digital Recordings with a Boombox
• Using the Performer Plus as a PA
• Enhance Learning by Recording
• Wireless Learning with Infrared Boomboxes
• Speed Learning by Slowing Down
• The Exterior Matters
• Using Boombox Outputs
• A Warranty Like No Other
• Encoding Digital Music

For more reading, visit the Future of Audio Series

Emerging classroom technologies are increasingly integrating the use of audio to help students. This collection of articles covers some of the most visible trends within classroom audio, both hardware and software.

1. The Future of Audio
2. Digital Audio Formats
3. Varying The Speed of the Digital Age
4. SD Cards
5. USB Driving Boomboxes

For more information about classroom media players, visit our series “An Intro to Boomboxes“

Califone announced the results today of an online survey asking administrators and educators about which kind of device are they most likely to connect headphones to in their classroom, computer lab, or library.

Held from January through May 6th, 2010, results from the online poll revealed that 76.3% respondents replied they were most likely to connect their headphones to a computer. Other results included:

• 13.2% reported they connect their headphones to an MP3 player
• 7.9% said to a boombox (or an attached jackbox)
• 2.6% of participants said they use with a gaming devices
• To a personal CD player 0%

The shift towards computer-based learning and other digitally generated recordings suggests movement away from the longstanding practice by teachers to use an analog classroom boombox as a (group) learning center. Whether integrating new media formats such as USB drives or SD cards, the future of classroom audio, particulalry with what headphones are connected to, appears to be headed in a digital direction.

Califone introduced its new slogan “The Sights & Sounds of Education.”

The updated phrase “Captures the legacy of the brand’s sixty three-year commitment to teachers and students while clarifying and expanding our current activities,” shared Tim Ridgway, the company’s VP of Marketing. It is the next progression from “The Sound of Education,” which had been the company’s slogan for the previous five years.

The refresh comes in response to teacher demand and acceptance of hardware solutions which Califone has recently introduced, specifically portable and installed PA gear, computer peripheral equipment, digitally based audio playback devices, student response systems, and document cameras. “When we consider these newer growth categories alongside our current product lines,” Ridgway continued, “they integrate a visual aspect that compliments our audio-oriented product base. Together, they represent a more accurate reflection of what today’s Califone is and we believe the new slogan captures that spirit.”

The new slogan has been integrated into a modified logo, which will be incorporated throughout the Califone website, the company’s print and online advertising, as well as its by resellers and their catalogs & websites.

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