State-of-the-art Missouri School Goes Digital With High-tech, Interactive Learning Environment
Elementary school installs Rear Projection SMART Board 2000i interactive whiteboards in every classroom
Calgary, AB – October 4, 2004 – SMART Technologies Inc. announces the installation of 26 Rear Projection SMART Board™ 2000i interactive whiteboards, one in every classroom, at the new, high-tech Maplewood-Richmond Heights (MRH) Elementary School in St. Louis, Missouri. The 2000i is the main teaching tool at the school, which serves nearly 400 students in grades two through six, with a student-teacher ratio of 14:1. This schoolwide installation fulfills the school's 2003 stated direction to standardize on SMART's products, part of the district's comprehensive plan to equip all of its schools with leading-edge education technology. To assist with the purchase of the SMART Board interactive whiteboards, the district received a grant from the SMARTer Kids™ Foundation (www.smarterkids.org).
MRH chose the 2000i because it met the district's need for equipping its learning spaces with the latest technology, while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to future needs and technology offerings. Meeting the district's need for low total cost of ownership, the 2000i requires no special tools, has a short learning curve and comes with free software upgrades. The 2000i enables teachers to create an interactive learning environment, where electronic documents have replaced hard-copy handouts, and engaging, computer-based content has replaced static transparency slides on overhead projectors. Now, in computer technology class, teachers explain video pre-production applications, using the SMART Board interactive whiteboard to write notes in digital ink over video clips and take screen captures. In history class, teachers display a map and digitally highlight the places where famous battles and historical events took place. In math class, students use on-screen protractors and graph-paper templates to measures angles of geometric shapes and intersecting lines.
"The SMART Board interactive whiteboard is the first tool for the classroom that I have seen that truly cuts across all content areas, grade levels and ability levels," says Christopher Klein, district technology coordinator and teacher at MRH School District. "The students are more engaged, the teachers are creating and sharing lesson plans like never before, and assessment scores are sure to go up when there is this much excitement."
"Classrooms in every U.S. state and the vast majority of the nation's 500 largest school districts are using SMART products to provide interactive learning environments and enhance student achievement," says Nancy Knowlton, SMART's president and co-CEO. "Maplewood-Richmond Heights is a prime example of school districts making education technology products, such as the 2000i, a classroom standard. The integration of this technology reflects the district's commitment to providing a truly engaging learning environment."
About Rear Projection SMART Board 2000i interactive whiteboards
The Rear Projection SMART Board 2000i interactive whiteboard is part of the family of award-winning SMART Board interactive whiteboards. The 2000i offers interactive functionality with the shadow-free benefits of a rear-projection display and integrated projector. A self-contained, mobile unit, the 2000i can be moved within a classroom without having to realign the image, so teachers can easily change the classroom layout for teaching small groups in a corner or larger classes at the front of the room. The 2000i is height adjustable, so the screen can be lowered or raised, making it accessible for everyone, from small to tall. Simply by touching the 66" (165-cm) display, users can access and control any computer application or multimedia platform, including the Internet, CD-ROMs and DVDs. With SMART Board software, users can write over applications in digital ink and then edit, save, print or post their notes to a website for future reference. SMART Board interactive whiteboards are used in classrooms, briefing rooms and boardrooms around the world, enabling people to collaborate effectively whether they are in the same room or in another location. Feature-rich software and intuitive functionality make the SMART Board interactive whiteboard the number one choice of educators, presenters and trainers in more than 65 countries. For more information, visit www.smarttech.com/2000i.
About Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District
Maplewood-Richmond Heights (MRH) School District, as a historically rich, culturally diverse community, is dedicated to ensuring that all students acquire and apply knowledge and develop character to build the foundation of the future through the invested partnership of home, school and community. MRH School District operates four schools serving students in pre-school through grade 12. Over the past three years, technology has become a part of the MRH culture, with the installation of SMART Board interactive whiteboards, digital projectors and wireless laptops in its classrooms. Earlier this year, MRH School District received the Distinction in Performance award from the Missouri Commissioner of Education for achieving a perfect score on student performance standards, including MAP scores, ACT scores, attendance and dropout rates, number of graduates continuing to college and other academic performance measures.
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For more information, please contact:
Public Relations
SMART Technologies Inc.
300, 1207 - 11th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB CANADA T3C 0M5
Phone +1.403.802.3337 Fax +1.403.228.2500
pr@smarttech.com
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