Thank you for everyone’s suggestions for our newsletter name. We had such creative responses; it was difficult to choose just one! We are happy to announce that our new name is The Larnyx, or more commonly known as the voice box. A.D.A.M.’s Larnyx will be your source for updates and news from A.D.A.M. – your education resource!

What’s New with A.D.A.M. A.D.A.M. is proud to announce that we recently acquired Taimma Communications, a provider of innovative e-learning medical education solutions that take an engaging, storyline approach of teaching about the body systems. By continuously incorporating new methods, concepts and technologies into its programs, Taimma provides its clients with one-of-a-kind interactive learning solutions that are unparalleled in the marketplace.   More Information   A.D.A.M. Continues to Expand and Improve Products While most of our customers may be thinking its business as usual for A.D.A.M., that couldn’t be further from the truth. With our new leadership team and the resources of Ebix, the entire A.D.A.M. team has been quietly developing new functionality and adding hundreds of new articles, and interactive HD videos to enhance the multimedia encyclopedia.     Three Benefits of Blended Learning Blended learning is one of the hottest trends in both K-12 and higher education. More than 90 percent of higher education instructors and administrators are already using blended learning strategies at their institutions, one recent survey found. And in 2009, more than three million K–12 students took an online course, with most of those in a blended environment, according to Innosight Institute. Read More The technology that fuels blended learning is evolving rapidly, and there is no universal approach to applying it. As such, blended learning can take on many shapes or forms, depending on the subject matter, teachers’ preferences and comfort with technology, and students' needs. Done well, it can give your students greater flexibility as well as the opportunity to explore material in a tailored way and in greater depth. Greater flexibility Blended learning enhances flexibility and convenience for students while improving learning outcomes. Also known as "hybrid" or "mixed-mode" learning, it incorporates the best features of face-to-face and online instruction. The online portion can provide your students with rich multimedia content anytime, anywhere the student has Internet access. Then, classroom time can be used to efficiently engage your students in interactive experiences with both you and their classmates. For example, you could share high-quality videos explaining how blood pressure is regulated and then have your students take their own blood pressure in class after running in place for a minute. Tailored models Heather Staker, senior research fellow for the Education Practice at Innosight Institute and the author of "The Rise of K-12 Blended Learning: Profiles of Emerging Models," has identified four main models of blended learning, which she shared in a recent interview with The Huffington Post: The Rotation model, the Flex model, the Self-Blend model and the Enriched-Virtual model. Staker predicts that a combination of Flex and Self-Blend will emerge as the ideal educational model. "[I]t most naturally puts students first so that all students can personalize and own their learning, which should mean more motivated students and more effective learning for all," she argues. One popular way to put that principle to work: formative assessments. For example, the quizzes provided with A.D.A.M. Inside Out allow students to easily test, reinforce and assess their comprehension of the material. Greater depth In a blended learning environment, knowledge isn’t limited to what you as an individual teacher can provide in your bricks-and-mortar classroom. With blended learning, students often work on in-depth, long-term projects in which they must motivate themselves to research a topic. Or as one student shared in an article for the National Association of Independent Schools on "Learning Differently — and Deeply: Reflections on a Blended Learning Class":   I took the initiative to investigate more into U.S. history because I actually liked learning about it in this class. As a result of my class project on the history of race and sports in the U.S., I became more interested in current events. I subscribed to daily email news updates from several newspapers, so I could be informed about what is happening in the world. I also think more critically about the news that’s being reported, rather than just accept it at face value. The lesson for schools seems clear: it’s OK to stray from the accepted standard of always having class in class. We still had class; we just didn’t spend all of our time actually in the classroom.   Such an approach can be applied to other disciplines, including the sciences. For example, A.D.A.M. Inside Out allows your students to explore the human body and health and wellness topics enabling them to pursue their interests in as great a detail as they like. While blended learning requires a shift in how both educators and students approach learning, many schools are clearly finding that the efforts are worth the while. To find out how A.D.A.M. can help you incorporate blended learning approaches, contact us today at 800.755.ADAM or adameducation@ebix.com.     Tips For Teachers No Funding? No Problem! A.D.A.M.’s Student Materials Adoption Program is a great way to integrate A.D.A.M. resources into your curriculum at no cost to your institution. Learn more by clicking here! Cadavers for Your Courses Dr. John Lucich of Butler University will be presenting at the 2012 STEMtech Conference in Kansas City, Missouri on October 30, 2012 at 2:30 PM. We are excited that he will be sharing his latest tips and tricks on how he has successfully integrated A.D.A.M. Interactive Anatomy into his curriculum utilizing tablet technology.       In partnership with Wall Monkeys, A.D.A.M. has created a new full-body systems wall decal that is available for immediate purchase. Available in four different sizes, now you can bring anatomy to life for your students this school year on your walls! The anatomical wall decal sticks to virtually every surface and can be moved 100 times or more. Get your wall decal today by clicking here. A.D.A.M. Lab Guides – Coming this Fall! A.D.A.M., Wolters Kluwer and Lippincott Williams & Wilkins have teamed up to produce a Lab Guide to complement A.D.A.M. Interactive Anatomy online. All-new full color graphics will be included to enhance the study and retention of anatomy and physiology. Stay tuned!         Upcoming Tradeshows 2012 NSTA Area Conference October 18-20, 2012 Louisville, KY iNACOL Virtual School Symposium October 21-24, 2012 New Orleans, LA 2012 STEMtech Conference October 28-31, 2012 Kansas City, MO