Smart Maintains Education Priority
Smart Technologies demonstrated the features of its new Meeting Pro software for interactive whiteboards during a luncheon Wednesday afternoon at InfoComm 08. Other topics on the menu included several non-whiteboard technologies that emphasize the company's focus on education, plus solutions for corporate environments.
CEO Nancy Knowlton began the presentation by announcing that Smart's millionth whiteboard would be shipped by August and boasting the company's significant growth over the past five years, all while emphasizing her points using the Smart electronic red pen on a Smart Sympodium.
The first of many products announced was the interactive display frame, which ships in August. Adjusting to fit most display sizes from 42 inches to 65 inches, the frame turns any off-the-shelf plasma screen into a touch system.
Stating that the senior-level management of companies spend more than 75 percent of its time in meetings, Knowlton then introduced a series of corporate solutions, including the Meeting Pro software, which connects one or more displays located in the same room or around the world. A short demonstration showed how one person in the room could make changes to a displayed document at the same time as a remotely located person.
Likewise, the Smart Hub SE collaboration appliance provides basic whiteboard conferencing without a PC, enabling participants to write over any application—including video—and save their notes. The Hub PE offers the same function, except it has the Meeting Pro software pre-installed. Additional features include handwriting recognition, which converts written words to typeface; text manipulation, allowing users to rotate words on the screen; the ability to take a picture of and save the edited file; and use multiple displays simultaneously to showcase more than one file.
Emphasizing that Smart Technologies is not just a whiteboard company, but also a solutions company, Knowlton introduced products that address other aspects of education. First citing the Senteo Interactive Response System and how it integrates with Smart's Notebook software, she went on to describe Smart Audio for the K-12 market. Quoting a study that found students only hear 70 percent of what a teacher says, Knowlton stated that an amplification system like Smart Audio is an important solution that "may reduce the misdiagnosis of child learning disabilities."
The system is designed to improve the audibility of teacher and student voices in the classroom and includes an IR receiver, teacher microphone, student microphone, two mic chargers, a ceiling IR sensor, and four ceiling- or wall-mounted loudspeakers.
Software makes teaching, learning languages easier
Moodle is well known in language classes at Bob Jones High School, as is Audacity. Moodle and Audacity aren't students with bizarre names but two software tools that apply technology in classroom study to enhance impromptu speaking skills.
Language students in Advanced Placement French with Angela Mooney and AP Spanish with Jeidi Nez, a National Board Certified Teacher, are using the software.
Audacity is a free program for download from the Internet. "It works like a compact disc player but allows you to record your voice" by headset microphone, Nez said. Students practice speaking and listening with Audacity in laptop labs.
Mooney and Nez can grade work after students download their MP3 files to Moodle software, which Nez describes as a safe, educational version of Facebook or MySpace.
Moodle is accessible only for AP students with accounts at Bob Jones. Mooney and Nez can grade students' work at home, while students can work at their own pace, similar to an online class.
Moodle allows the teacher to test and prepare worksheets, journals and blogs. "It's an amazing tool," Nez said.
For foreign language, the software allows teachers to give more immediate and individual feedback on speaking and writing skills. "We don't feel as bogged down by the limitations of paper and pen."
State and national standards are reducing the importance of paper evaluations alone. Foreign language education has a much larger emphasis on every element of communication now, she said.
If a student is absent or checks out, he or she still (can) do the work without falling behind, Nez said.
Previously, language classes used tapes and recorders. "That was madness. Students would have to rewind, fast forward, find a plug. Grading was so much slower," Nez said.
Moreover, tapes and recorders don't simulate real conversation. "With Moodle, they put in the CD, hear the question and immediately respond and record," she said. "Real-life communication is the key."
Blending software and hardware creates a virtual-type language lab, no longer a separate room with static equipment. A teacher no longer reserves a classroom for computers and no one lugs equipment. "The laptop lab comes to us. All programs are already there."
Huijia Wu, a senior, believes Audacity is more efficient than traditional tape recorders. "It has a very user-friendly interface and creates MP3 files that allow teachers to evaluate speaking exercises electronically."
Like her classmates, Huijia has a Moodle account that allows enrollment in different classes. "As long as I obtain the access code from the respective teachers," she said. Then, she can upload files directly from any computer to the class Web page and the teacher can download the files for grading.
Prerequisites for AP study are level 1-4 classes, a teacher recommendation and solid writing skills. "Native speakers are given special consideration but still must take a rigorous test before skipping levels," Nez said.
Currently, AP Spanish and French courses are offered. Bob Jones plans to add AP Spanish literature, French literature and Latin next year.
Moodle is well known in language classes at Bob Jones High School, as is Audacity. Moodle and Audacity aren't students with bizarre names but two software tools that apply technology in classroom study to enhance impromptu speaking skills.
Language students in Advanced Placement French with Angela Mooney and AP Spanish with Jeidi Nez, a National Board Certified Teacher, are using the software.
Audacity is a free program for download from the Internet. "It works like a compact disc player but allows you to record your voice" by headset microphone, Nez said. Students practice speaking and listening with Audacity in laptop labs.
Mooney and Nez can grade work after students download their MP3 files to Moodle software, which Nez describes as a safe, educational version of Facebook or MySpace.
Moodle is accessible only for AP students with accounts at Bob Jones. Mooney and Nez can grade students' work at home, while students can work at their own pace, similar to an online class.
Moodle allows the teacher to test and prepare worksheets, journals and blogs. "It's an amazing tool," Nez said.
For foreign language, the software allows teachers to give more immediate and individual feedback on speaking and writing skills. "We don't feel as bogged down by the limitations of paper and pen."
State and national standards are reducing the importance of paper evaluations alone. Foreign language education has a much larger emphasis on every element of communication now, she said.
If a student is absent or checks out, he or she still (can) do the work without falling behind, Nez said.
Previously, language classes used tapes and recorders. "That was madness. Students would have to rewind, fast forward, find a plug. Grading was so much slower," Nez said.
Moreover, tapes and recorders don't simulate real conversation. "With Moodle, they put in the CD, hear the question and immediately respond and record," she said. "Real-life communication is the key."
Blending software and hardware creates a virtual-type language lab, no longer a separate room with static equipment. A teacher no longer reserves a classroom for computers and no one lugs equipment. "The laptop lab comes to us. All programs are already there."
Huijia Wu, a senior, believes Audacity is more efficient than traditional tape recorders. "It has a very user-friendly interface and creates MP3 files that allow teachers to evaluate speaking exercises electronically."
Like her classmates, Huijia has a Moodle account that allows enrollment in different classes. "As long as I obtain the access code from the respective teachers," she said. Then, she can upload files directly from any computer to the class Web page and the teacher can download the files for grading.
Prerequisites for AP study are level 1-4 classes, a teacher recommendation and solid writing skills. "Native speakers are given special consideration but still must take a rigorous test before skipping levels," Nez said.
Currently, AP Spanish and French courses are offered. Bob Jones plans to add AP Spanish literature, French literature and Latin next year.
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