Ontario Ministry of Education Licenses SMART Ideas Concept-Mapping Software Province-Wide
SMART to supply 5,000 schools with popular visual learning software
Calgary, AB – May 18, 2004 – SMART Technologies Inc. announces that the Ontario Ministry of Education has licensed SMART Ideas® concept-mapping software for use in 5,000 publicly funded schools across the province. The software will be used to teach more than 2.1 million students in English and French elementary and secondary schools and faculties of education throughout the province.
Significant demand from educators prompted the Ministry of Education’s call for a concept-mapping tool for Ontario schools. After an extensive evaluation process, the Ministry of Education selected SMART Ideas software over competing products. Some key criteria included bilingual support in English and French, cross-platform compatibility in Microsoft® Windows® and Macintosh operating systems, ability to export concept map outlines to word processors and versatile functionality useful for brainstorming, literacy and comprehension.
"Research indicates that students’ use of concept maps in the classroom and independent study improves their comprehension of ideas,” says Nancy Knowlton, president and co-CEO of SMART. “The Ontario Ministry of Education recognizes the value of concept-mapping as a learning approach and, by selecting SMART Ideas software, acknowledges the rich functionality and effectiveness of the software in enhancing comprehension and improving student outcomes.”
About SMART Ideas Concept-Mapping Software
SMART Ideas software enables students to create multilevel concept maps using colorful symbols, arrows and clip art to reinforce learning in all subjects. An unlimited number of levels can be added to any symbol in the map, along with links to video files, audio clips, documents, photos, presentations and Web pages. SMART Ideas software includes an extensive clip-art gallery and multilanguage template library that offer more than 2,000 curriculum-related images and a collection of built-in templates to help teachers save time and add visual interest to their lessons. Completed maps can be exported to HTML, Appleworks and Microsoft Word, so students can share their diagrams with others or explore further during independent study.
SMART Ideas software also features Cliplets, unique, interactive clip-art images that students can manipulate directly to learn concepts such as telling time, measuring angles and calculating probability. For example, students can rotate the hands on the image of a clock to learn how to tell time and then use the accompanying digital clock to check their answers.
SMART Ideas software can be used on desktop computers, SMART Board™ interactive whiteboards and Sympodium™ interactive lecterns. Sample lesson activities are available for free download from EDCompass™, SMART’s online community for educators, at http://edcompass.smarttech.com/en/learning/activities/ideas.aspx.
About the Ontario Ministry of Education
In the area of elementary and secondary education, the Ministry of Education determines the broad outlines for education and is responsible for
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developing curriculum policy |
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determining provincial standards for student achievement |
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setting diploma requirements |
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evaluating and approving learning materials for use in schools |
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distributing funds allocated by the provincial legislature to assist school boards with the operation of schools |
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making regulations that govern the school year and school calendar, the organization of schools and school boards, and the duties of teachers and school board officials |
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governing provincial schools for the deaf and blind and the learning disabled |
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listing private schools and inspecting private secondary schools for the standard of instruction in subjects leading to graduation |
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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
Please note that SMART is written in all capital letters.