Distributors of Large Format Imaging and Educational

Hardware and Software Solutions in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa

News 2005

 

Text Box: SOUTH AFRICAN CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM WORLD-CLASS EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS *Promethean teams up with Inspiration Software in exclusive deal to bring together world class solutions for education * Johannesburg, South Africa, 1 May 2005: Promethean Technologies Group, a leading manufacturer and distributor of collaborative teaching solutions including interactive whiteboards, has teamed up with Inspiration Software®, the leading educational software developer, in an exclusive offer for South African schools. Beginning immediately, every Promethean interactive whiteboard sold in South Africa via Promethean’s local partner, Imaging Innovations, will be accompanied by a certificate for one complimentary copy of the award-winning Inspiration or Kidspiration software packages. Inspiration Software recently launched Inspiration® 7.6 and Kidspiration® 2.1, updated versions of its cutting edge visual learning software products. Designed to further enhance interactive whiteboard technology, both Inspiration and Kidspiration enable teachers and students to draw symbols and write text to create graphic organisers directly on Promethean’s ACTIV boardTM. Inspiration and Kidspiration allow teachers to seamlessly use visual learning tools on interactive whiteboards across all curricula, and in so doing help students develop, organise and build critical thinking skills. With the ability to also move program toolbars to the bottom of the whiteboard, even smaller students can reach and view the tools to work at the board. Commenting, Steve Brazier, Managing Director of Promethean International, said: “At Promethean we constantly strive to provide the best tools for teachers and to positively influence student outcomes.We believe that this offer with Inspiration Software unites two world-class products in a way that will deliver real value to South African schools. In turn, we are confident that by working with our South African partner, Imaging Innovations, there will be significant benefits for teachers and students.” Mona Westhaver, president and co-founder, Inspiration Software, adds: “At Inspiration Software, we are committed to ensuring that students and teachers can use graphic organisers to support teaching and learning across the wide spectrum of technology used in today’s schools. We are proud to share that commitment with Promethean and to have worked together to develop updates for Inspiration and Kidspiration that are optimised for the Promethean ACTIV boardTM.” Aubrey Lindemann, Managing Director, Imaging Innovations, concludes: “We’re delighted to have such a great offer to take to our schools and are looking forward to enhancing our total delivery solution.”

 

 

Text Box: SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOLS TAKE PART IN INTERNATIONAL STUDY INVESTIGATING IMPACT OF CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY ON ACHIEVEMENT *Three year research project to assess how the use of interactive whiteboards transforms learning* London, UK, 10 March 2005: A number of South African schools have become involved in an independent three-year international study commissioned by Promethean, the interactive whiteboard and education software supplier, to investigate the links between classroom technology and achievement. This week Steve Brazier, Managing Director, Promethean International, visited three provinces to see for himself how South African schools are successfully transforming their classrooms with Promethean’s interactive teaching technology. The study aims to provide credible evidence that Promethean ACTIV Boards raise standards of teaching and, in turn, student attainment through ACTIV learning in classrooms. MirandaNet, the international research and education consultancy which will undertake the study using its global members in the MirandaNet Fellowship, will also investigate effective management methods for the introduction of interactive whiteboards. South Africa is one of three key global market participants (schools in China and Mexico are also taking part) and will be supported by teachers from the UK, who will act as mentors for the study that will include around 300 pupils. Brazier explains: “Pupil attainment and performance will be measured at critical points in the syllabus looking at achievement in classes with interactive whiteboards and those without. It is important that this study is undertaken over a number of years so that we can establish a benchmark and then measure against this in the following years. This is an important study to ascertain the role of technology, and in particular interactive whiteboards, in the learning environment.” Teachers taking part in the study will be encouraged to publish case studies at each phase of the project via the Promethean website -- www.prometheanworld.com. Here, teachers will be able to follow the progress of the projects and even advise on best practice in implementing and using interactive whiteboards.

 

Text Box: BETT 2005 UK Promethean Welcomes Free State South Africa Children to BETT As part of the E-Lapa (World Citizenship Project) Promethean has been supporting Mirandanet Fellows who are particularly aware of the challenges the world faces from poverty and disasters in places like Bangladesh and South Africa (www.mirandanet.ac.uk) Throughout 2004 Mirandanet Fellows who are teachers, teacher educators and action researchers took a more hands-on approach to support through partnership with educators and learners in Free State , South Africa . The E-lapa project for schools in challenging circumstances is being successfully piloted in ten schools in Free State . These Free State schools have attended workshops in the UK during January and were presented with their certificates at an awards ceremony on the BESA stand at BETT on 13 th of January 2005. Promethean Technologies Group are proud to be supporting this worthwhile project which brings young citizens from around the world together to help build learning communities. Details of the pilot website can be seen on www.mirandanet.ac.uk/elapa Pictured on the BESA stand at BETT are the children from Free State after singing their wonderful traditional songs.

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