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There are many levels to SXSW, including the education vertical, which runs the first 4 days. EDU has a lot of tech for students, and a lot of cool ideas. The SXSW EDU Expo was going on today, and I got to check out the companies that participated. Some I already knew. For example, Beatbox (https://geekazine.com/news/beatbox-is-a-diy-drum-machine-in-a-cardboard-box/), which I interviewed at NAMM, and Catch Box (https://geekazine.com/podcast/catch-box-throwable-microphone-creates-engagement/) who I talked with last year.  Here are some of the companies I looked at during the EDU expo. 

Lovot

Pocket Points Rewards Being off your Phon (http://go.redirectingat.com/?id=20383X779049&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpocketpoints.com%2F&sref=rss)e

Of course, I didn’t have this issue when I was a teen, but we all want to simply bury our faces into our phones nowadays. Pocket Points helps put the phone down, with an award system for staying off your phone. 

Teachers can set up rewards for students. When they don’t check their phones in class (for example), they could be rewarded with pizza, movies, or more. 

This also can help curb other issues, such as text and driving. Making the student focus on school work.  

QBall is a Throwable Microphone in Class (http://go.redirectingat.com/?id=20383X779049&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buyqball.com%2F&sref=rss)

I found out something today. Some children might not be able to hear what is being discussed, therefore tuning it out. QBall is a throwable microphone that focuses in the classroom.

When someone has a question, the ball is thrown to them so they can ask it, and other can hear it. This makes participation more active, and allows everyone to hear what kids have to say. 

The wireless 2.4 GHz microphone can be taken out of the ball, and used as a presentation microphone. When it’s time for Q&A, insert it back in, and pass it around. 

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