Canon brings education to students’ fingertips

MEDIA RELEASE

9 August 2010

Canon brings education to students’ fingertips

Students at Christchurch’s St Mark’s School are experiencing a fundamental shift in the way teaching and learning is delivered, with Canon’s modern multimedia solutions bringing new dimensions to education.

Canon’s vision for St Mark’s was to add layers to learning integrated digital tools that brought the classroom alive. The solution saw the installation of smart boards in each of the school’s classrooms supported by Canon data projectors and full sound systems to provide visual, audio and tactile learning.

Smart boards are touch-sensitive screens that connect to your computer and projector allowing the user to control applications, browse web pages and write or draw over the top of content on the screen using just your finger. Visual elements such as graphs, images and text can be picked up, moved and edited on the touch screen giving students full control of the subject matter.

St Mark’s School Principal Tim McJorrow contacted Canon to discuss the best approach towards enhancing the school learning environment, so that it would be beneficial to staff and students.

“We all know that learning styles differ from person to person and while some people are content to sit and listen or write things down, many others need to see, touch, interact and experience things first hand to learn effectively. Canon’s solution gives us the ability to cater to each of these specific needs and ensures that none of our students are disadvantaged by their learning preference,” says McJorrow.

While the technology has made a significant impact on the school, it is Canon’s approach to education around the new technology that the staff at St Mark’s has found most impressive. The professional training plan which Canon undertook with the school is part of the fully integrated approach the company takes with its solutions, running from inception to completion; including planning, training, supply of technology and installation.

Principal McJorrow was particularly impressed with the attention to thorough user education Canon provided: “When we first discussed smart boards with Canon we were sceptical about how much they could achieve for the school,” says McJorrow. “The team at Canon took the time to address the school’s questions, demonstrating the potential of the technology, examining effective professional development models and providing sound evidence as to the benefits of using interactive technologies.”

“The school was highly impressed with Canon’s vision, not only for the technology, but also for the comprehensive professional develop package, which allowed staff to relate the technology to their teaching to get the very best from the Canon solution. This is their focus and their real point of difference,” he says.

Canon Visual Communications Specialist Anthony Carppe is impressed by the way St Mark’s School has embraced the technology and put it to best use so far.

“Through Canon, St Mark’s School now has at its disposal one of the most advanced interactive learning environments of any primary school in the country,” says Carppe. “The commitment of the staff to learning the many uses of the technology to find new and innovative ways to make it work for them is a significant step towards providing the best possible educational for their students,” he says.

For more information on Canon or Canon products please visit www.canon.co.nz

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