Bellevue School District Acquires 545 More SMART Interactive Whiteboards

CALGARY, Alberta-Bellevue School District in Washington State has decided to standardize its interactive whiteboards, and as a result will add 545 whiteboards manufactured by Alberta-based SMART Technologies Inc. to the more than 300 it already has on hand at its 28 schools.

By the start of the 2005-06 school year, the 15,000-student district expects to have nearly 900 of the whiteboards installed: one in every classroom. In preparation for the large installation, the district will offer a program to train teachers in the use of the whiteboards and their concept-mapping software. Connected to a computer and projector, the interactive whiteboards are like giant computer screens that students and teachers simply touch to operate. Using their finger or a pen as a mouse, teachers and students can access and control any computer application, file or multimedia platform, including the Internet, CD-ROMs and DVDs.

Concept-mapping software enables teachers and students to create multilevel concept maps, using colorful symbols, arrows and clip art to reinforce concepts from all subjects. An unlimited number of levels can be added to any symbol in the map, along with links to video files, audio clips, documents, photos, presentations and Web sites.

The district sees standardized whiteboards as a crucial component in its decision to create a Web-based curriculum that’s accessible to all teachers.