SMART announces 2006 World Teachers’ Day video contest winners
Educators around the world awarded for video submissions demonstrating classroom best practices
CALGARY, ALBERTA --- December 5, 2006 --- SMART Technologies Inc. announces that the 2006 winner of SMART’s World Teachers’ Day Video Contest is Harry Hildebrand from Lima, Peru. Hildebrand’s entry was chosen because it demonstrated a variety of ways to use the SMART Board™ interactive whiteboard in the classroom to improve student learning and engagement. Hildebrand used features of Notebook™ collaborative learning software to creatively enhance the classroom presentations shown in the winning video. He will receive an all-inclusive trip to the BETT 2007 education technology trade show in London, England, a SMART Board interactive whiteboard and an iPod shuffle. The winning videos can now be viewed on SMART’s website at www.smarttech.com/wtd.
Teachers across the globe submitted videos that demonstrated how SMART Board interactive whiteboards improved student learning outcomes. The global winner was chosen from five regional winners, who will each be awarded a SMART Board interactive whiteboard and an iPod shuffle. The five regional winners are as follows:
Regional winners
North America ─ Kelly Kautz from Clear Springs Elementary school in Minnetonka, USA
Europe ─Olga Neshataeva from Primary School Constellation in Perm, Russia
Asia Pacific ─ Tracey Kameron from North Haven school in North Haven, Australia
Latin America ─ Harry Hildebrand from Markham College in Lima, Peru
Africa and the Middle East ─ Con Purchase from Waterkloof House Preparatory school in Pretoria, South Africa
Winners have been contacted and prizes will be awarded in January 2007.
"What a fantastic surprise and honor it was that the video I made with some of my classes and colleagues was chosen as the global winner in SMART's World Teachers’ Day Video Contest," says Harry Hildebrand. "Using the SMART Board interactive whiteboard without a doubt improves teaching and learning, and it has rejuvenated my teaching. I hope that winning this contest can help develop use of educational technology and improve the education received by more students in Perú. I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to sharing my experiences with other teachers around the world.”
“The high-standard of the entries we received for the video contest demonstrates the desire teachers have to share best practices and to learn what other educators around the globe are doing when it comes to creating digital content for classroom learning,” says Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s president and co-CEO. “Our involvement in World Teachers’ Day reflects the importance we place on quality education and the support we have for teachers around the globe.”
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SMART Technologies Inc.
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