Initiative aims to put personal computing power in the hands of every student
SEATTLE, Washington --- October 27, 2008 - SMART Technologies announces its support for the One-to-One Institute, an organization committed to enhancing student achievement and engagement through one-to-one education programs. One-to-one learning initiatives aim to provide every student and teacher with access to a personal computing device in a wireless environment. To promote one-to-one education, the institute builds awareness about one-to-one teaching and learning, and provides professionals in education with learning opportunities focused on developing a shared vision and action plans. The institute also helps districts assess their current capacity and long-term ability to sustain one-to-one programs. SMART’s relationship with the One-to-One Institute includes the company’s support of a variety of 21st-century professional development options for administrators, teachers and technology personnel.
In one-to-one classrooms, students can direct learning at their own pace and receive highly personalized instruction while developing relevant skills for a knowledge-based, technology-enabled world. SMART offers a variety of products, such as SynchronEyes™ classroom management software, that support one-to-one learning environments. SMART also offers products that complement one-to-one learning, such as the SMART Board™ interactive whiteboard. Recent studies show that shared displays such as interactive whiteboards promote student collaboration in one-to-one environments. SMART joins Intel® and HP as a key contributor to the institute. The One-to-One Institute’s CEO, Leslie A. Wilson, will be speaking at a breakfast session on the value of investing in one-to-one teaching and learning programs on Tuesday, October 28, from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the National School Boards Association conference. As well, SMART will release a white paper on interactive whiteboards and one-to-one learning tomorrow. It will be located on SMART’s website at www2.smarttech.com/resources.
“Taking the one-to-one belief system and incorporating SMART products allows us to help districts and entire states transform schools to achieve measurable increases in test scores, reading levels, attendance and student motivation,” says Leslie A. Wilson, the One-to-One Institute’s CEO. “This is a big initiative to set the bar for uniting technology education pioneers and nonprofits to provide the transformational opportunity needed for the educational system.”
“The One-to-One Institute’s understanding of, and dedication to, the use of personal and whole-class technology in the classroom is impressive, providing a rich resource for today’s education professionals,” says Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s CEO. “SMART’s support of the institute reinforces our efforts to help bridge the digital divide so that eventually all students will have equal access to the technology products they need to learn 21st-century skills.”
About the One-to-One Institute
One-to-One Institute is a national not-for-profit organization committed to enhancing student achievement and engagement through authentic school transformation with one-to-one educational programs. In response to the changing demands of a 21st-century education system and competitive global economy, the One-to-One Institute serves as a catalyst for education reform by changing the way students learn and teachers teach. Working closely with key technology and education partners, the institute helps states and school districts transform schools to achieve measurable increases in test scores, reading levels, attendance and student motivation.
One-to-one learning provides every student and teacher access to his or her own personal portable technology in a wireless environment, allowing students to learn at their own pace and ability levels. The concept has rapidly gained momentum worldwide as a key to transforming education and better preparing students to succeed in a global marketplace. In the one-to-one classroom, students’ access to personal technology and the Internet enables them to be self-directed and receive highly personalized instruction. Teachers can create Individualized Education Plans for each child, addressing his or her unique needs. Students use their personal devices for research, homework, problem-solving, team projects, e-mail and academic coursework. At the same time, they gain valuable 21st-century skills that will be beneficial throughout their lives and careers.
