SMART’s new subject-specific training gets A+ from educators
SMART now offers training seminars for experienced SMART Board interactive whiteboard users
CALGARY, Alberta --- March 30, 2006 --- SMART Technologies Inc. announces the launch of subject-specific training seminars for educators who have used a SMART Board™ interactive whiteboard (for a minimum of one year) or have previously attended a SMART Master’s training session. This series of training seminars responds to the increasing demand from educators who want to incorporate more diverse content into their lesson plans. The first two sessions, conducted in January 2006, focused on math and occurred at the City Place Conference Center in Dallas, Texas. Both sessions sold out and received extremely positive reviews from participants.
The half-day sessions are designed for teachers who want to engage students in their subject area using the SMART Board interactive whiteboard. During a session, SMART trainers demonstrate lesson activities created with Notebook™ collaborative learning software and have participants create their own dynamic lesson activities. Trainers also show how to use advanced tools and applications. The sessions aim to improve the level of engagement and understanding for students within the subject area.
Sessions are US$199 per person and take place in major cities across North America. The next training sessions are scheduled to take place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Chicago, Illinois; and San Antonio, Texas. To date, math and language arts seminars have been delivered, and SMART is now ready to offer social studies seminars as well. Class sizes are limited to 10 people to provide ample opportunity for participants to use the SMART Board interactive whiteboard, ask questions and engage with the trainer and other participants. Participants receive a 10 percent discount when registering three or more people for the same event. Interested teachers can register for events in cities near them by visiting the training section of SMART’s website at
www.smarttech/trainingcenter.
“The advanced mathematics training session that I attended was absolutely amazing,” says Dr. Cynthia Woodburn, associate professor of mathematics at Pittsburg State University, Kansas. “I am so excited about trying out some of the things that I learned. I highly recommend teachers at all levels take advantage of a training workshop. It was one of the most beneficial professional development activities that I have ever attended.”
“As interactive whiteboard adoption accelerates, there is greater need to help more advanced users develop skills particularly relevant to their area of expertise,” says Nancy Knowlton, president and co-CEO of SMART
Technologies Inc. “The subject-specific training sessions demonstrate SMART’s commitment to offering customers up-to-date training, additional resources and ideas on how to effectively use technology in the classroom.”
About SMART
SMART Technologies Inc. is both the industry pioneer and global education market leader in easy-to-use interactive whiteboards and other group collaboration tools. The award-winning SMART Board interactive whiteboard is the most widely installed interactive whiteboard in the world. Many school jurisdictions have standardized on the product, which is used to provide interactive learning opportunities and enhance student achievement in more than 250,000 classrooms spanning every U.S. state, every Local Authority in the UK and more than 75 countries. SMART products also include interactive pen displays, interactive digital signage, wireless slates and software. Using SMART products, groups can access and share the information they need to meet, teach, train and present. SMART’s education customers include New York City Board of Education (U.S.), Oxford University (UK), Kobe City Board of Education (Japan), Barnier Public School (Australia), University of Ottawa (Canada), United World College (Singapore), Stephen-Hawking-Schule Neckargemuend (Germany), Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (U.S.) and Harvard University (U.S.).
SMART is a private company founded in 1987. Employing more than 800 people, SMART is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with assembly facilities in Ottawa, and offices in Bonn, Tokyo, New York City and Washington DC. SMART has been issued and maintains a broad portfolio of patents with numerous other U.S., Canadian and foreign patents pending. In 1992, SMART formed a strategic alliance with Intel® Corporation that resulted in joint product development and marketing efforts, and Intel’s equity ownership in the company. SMART products are sold through dealers across North America and distributors worldwide.
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For more information, contact:
Steve Blandford
Public Relations Specialist
SMART Technologies Inc.
1207 – 11 Avenue SW, Suite 300
Calgary, AB T3C 0M5
CANADA
Phone +1.403.802.2593 Fax +1.403.228.2500
sblandford@smarttech.com
www.smarttech.com
Please note that SMART is written in all capital letters.