SMART sponsors key academic forum on interactive whiteboards in Spain
Madrid forum explores the use of technology in classrooms
CALGARY, ALBERTA --- June 28, 2006 --- SMART Technologies Inc. announces that it is sponsoring the XI Congreso Internacional De Informática Educativa, in Madrid, Spain. Throughout the conference, SMART and GroupVision (SMART’s distributor in Spain) will showcase a range of innovative technology products, including the award-winning SMART Board™ interactive whiteboard. On June 29, Nancy Knowlton, president and co-CEO of SMART, will deliver the keynote address on creating a 21st-century classroom today. The conference, hosted by the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), will be held in the Humanities Building at UNED from June 29 to July 1, 2006.
Delegates from Spain, Portugal and Latin America will discuss interactive whiteboards and other information and communications technology (ICT) tools that are being introduced in today’s classrooms. Topics of discussion include interactive whiteboards, ICT in the classroom, e-learning, education resources online and the management of knowledge. An expert panel discussion on interactive whiteboards will include leaders from the Iberian Research Project (a 160-classroom research project conducted in Spain and Portugal on SMART Board interactive whiteboards in primary and secondary grades) and SMART Exemplary Educator, José Dulac Ibergallartu.
“Education authorities around the world are adopting interactive whiteboards in classrooms to improve student learning and develop skills for the 21st century,” says Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s president and co-CEO. “Bringing together researchers and education experts at the XI Congreso Internacional De Informática Educativa will facilitate the sharing of information and discussion of how technology solutions will help educators and students achieve greater success in this region.”
About the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED)
The Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) is located in Madrid, Spain. UNED is different from most Spanish Universities in that under the University Reform Law in Spain, it is required to provide distance education throughout the country. As a result, its teaching methodology is based on printed and audiovisual teaching material, tutorial teaching, and the use of new information and communications technologies.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the university is fully consolidated and offers programs recognized by both Spanish and international educational authorities.
About GroupVision Consulting
SMART products are distributed in Spain by GroupVision Consulting. GroupVision has been an authorized SMART distributor since 1997. The company focuses on marketing and distributing SMART products in the Iberian Peninsula and benefits from being part of an entrepreneurial group that has a long tradition and expertise in selling hardware and software tools that help groups access and share information. For more information, visit www.groupvision.com.
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SMART Technologies Inc.
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Phone +1.403.451.3763 Fax +1.403.228.2500
pr@smarttech.com
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