Hamburg education authority launches SMART Board interactive whiteboard initiative
Hamburg teacher institute to provide classroom technology and professional development
CALGARY, Alberta --- August 3, 2005 --- SMART Technologies Inc. announces the recent installation of more than 60 SMART Board™ interactive whiteboards in more than 20 schools in Hamburg, Germany. The technology initiative is part of an ongoing evaluation project by the education authority of Hamburg and the Hamburg teacher institute (LI Hamburg). All participating schools send their teachers to workshops at LI Hamburg to learn how to integrate the SMART Board interactive whiteboard into their lessons. At least two SMART Board interactive whiteboards have been installed per school to encourage collaboration and informal training among teachers. Different types of schools, from primary to high-school level, were chosen to participate in this classroom technology initiative.
"The SMART Board interactive whiteboard is an excellent tool for classroom learning," adds Michael Weißer, project leader at LI Hamburg. "We have a focus on providing winning concepts for modern schools, and this project demonstrates how easy the integration of great education technology can be."
"Projects like this are an excellent opportunity for teachers to use new technology and accelerate their professional development," says Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s president and co-CEO. "The adoption of SMART Board interactive whiteboards in Hamburg schools will provide an enriched opportunity for whole-class teaching and learning with technology."
About the Hamburg teacher institute
Founded in 2003, the "Landesinstitut für Lehrerbildung und Schulentwicklung - Hamburg" (Regional institute for teacher training and school development) combines the seven local authorities for education and sports. Quality of teaching and pre-service and in-service professional development of teachers are the main goals at the Hamburg teacher institute. LI Hamburg also evaluates new classroom technologies, provides school consultation and offers media services and technology rentals. For more information, visit www.li-hamburg.de.
About SMART Board interactive whiteboards
The SMART Board interactive whiteboard is a large, touch-sensitive display. Connected to a computer and projector, the interactive whiteboard is like a giant computer screen that students and teachers simply touch to operate. Using their finger or a pen as a mouse, teachers and students can access and control any computer application, file or multimedia platform, including the Internet, CD-ROMs and DVDs. They can also write over applications in digital ink, then save their work for future study and review. The SMART Board interactive whiteboard engages students with diverse learning styles by providing both immediate access to a wide range of digital materials and a common focus for the entire class – not something easily achieved with other technologies. It is the number one choice among primary and secondary school educators in more than 75 countries worldwide because the pioneering software interface captures the imagination of students of all backgrounds and abilities in order to help them learn together, understand better and achieve more. For more information, visit www.smarttech.com/smartboard.
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For more information, contact
Public Relations
SMART Technologies Inc.
1207 – 11th Avenue SW, Suite 300
Calgary, AB T3C 0M5
CANADA
403.802.2595
pr@smarttech.com
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