Here, There and Everywhere: More Conferences!

I've hardly been in the office for the past few weeks because of all the conferences we got to attend. I love doing these things - they're a great way to meet customers, make friends, and discover business liaisons that would be otherwise inconceivable.

In late February DriversEd.com attended the CCSA (California Charter School Association) Conference in Sacramento. This was a lot of fun: the theme of the conference was the birthday of Dr. Seuss, so there were plenty of beloved characters from my childhood, like the Cat in the Hat and that goofy-looking elephant.

This was our first time being immersed in the charter school world and and it was a pretty educational experience. I got to learn what problems are facing public education today, and what solutions are present that may solve them. One thing I noticed about many charter school teachers was that, far from expressing cynicism about their positions as longtime educators (my own grade school teachers could provide soul-burning anecdotes), they are very passionate and excited about what they do.

Charter school culture is close-knit, and innovative, still overwhelmingly electric at close proximity - it's a new frontier for educators seeking a new answer. I loved that they were open to incorporating the DriversEd.com driver education solution into their curricula - it's a perfect match for them and for us.

Check out the nifty conference photos:

The DriversEd.com Mini Cooper. Guess who got to drive it into the exhibit hall? ME! ME ME ME!

Nerissa and I standing at the booth. As you can see, our mascot Kelly is in the background.

All those orange things on the table are the safety awareness wristbands, which say "I Am Not a Statistic." You can check out our safety campaign at www.NotaStat.com. Turn in a story - get a wristband!

Our beloved CEO Isaak (at left, in case you wondered) dropped in one day to see how we were doing. Please ignore the totally confused expressions on our faces. When this picture was taken, he was saying wonderful things like, "This booth is the coolest ever! And by the way, you guys rock my socks off."

No, I'm lying. He was probably just asking, "How many pages is this packet I'm holding?"

Last week we went to Las Vegas for a School Administrator Symposium managed by EducationEvents.com. We had a grand time (it was Las Vegas - and during March Madness!) and we met some quirky tech and administrative people. I wish I had some pictures for that one but I don't. I visited the Hard Rock Cafe for the first time, which was neat. As a marketer I am easily bought with good service and a little bit of kitsch. It never fails.

'Til next time,

Angela Joy Natividad - The Maven, the Mystery, the Minx behind Marketing

Big News If You Live in Santa Clara County (California)

Starting April 1, 2006 DriversEd.com will be the exclusive traffic school provider for the Santa Clara County Superior Court. DriversEd.com will offer traffic school in classrooms throughout Santa Clara County on a convenient schedule, as well as online traffic school accessible 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

While receiving a ticket is never a happy occasion, at least Santa Clara County residents will know that they now have the most convenient traffic school option available.

If you are cited with a moving violation in Santa Clara County and obtain permission to attend traffic school, you will have 90 days to complete a traffic school course. Starting April 1st, the Santa Clara County Superior Court will only accept Sunset Traffic Academy Certificates of Completion (sent after finishing our in-class course) or Certificates of Completion from the DriversEd.com online traffic school course.

This should make a few people feel safer about driving in Northern California.

Driver Education Video Games: A Help to Reduce Collision Statistics?

A game developer in the U.K. recently designed a game that puts users behind-the-wheel and simulates the driving experience. There is nothing new about this form of technology; driving games have been around for years. But the main intent of the developers of the new game, the design agency Splinter and computer simulation specialists Lateral Visions, was to us the game as a driver education tool and to teach teens the risks of reckless driving. The interactive drivers experience the full effect of handling, and potentially crashing, a vehicle.

Although some may scoff at this approach, many have learned to enhance driving skills via games. Professional race car drivers often use computer games to get a feel for a new track. The risk is considerably less while the sensation of driving is similar to what a driver experiences while circling the track.

However, regardless of how prepared a driver may think he or she is after practicing on a computer, real-life is different. The risks are higher and the conditions more varied. Drivers shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking that simulated driving practice is 100% equal to actual road experience.

For more information about driver’s education or to try one version of an online drivers education game, check out DriversEd.com.