MEGATech Videos: A Look at Canada’s First Samsung Smart Classroom Michael Kwan April 18, 2013 MEGATech Videos, Press Release When I was going through the school, the usual batch of school supplies would involve things like yellow rulers, pink erasers, and a fresh pencil sharpener. You were the cool kid if you had a mechanical pencil and you’d better have a decently-sized notepad if you wanted to keep up with the class notes. But times are changing and Samsung is helping to facilitate that change by launching Canada’s first smart classroom in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. Located in the Metro Vancouver area, Riverside Secondary School is part of a larger pilot project spearheaded by Samsung to introduce even more technology into an increasingly smarter classroom. Just as they do for consumers with devices like the Galaxy Note II and what they do for corporate types with Samsung KNOX, the same kind of thing is happening in the world of education too. With this smart classroom, each of the students in Debra Nordheimer’s Physics 11 class is provided with a specially-equipped Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet with the S Pen and then there is a 65-inch digital whiteboard at the front of the classroom. They’re all interconnected and the idea is to facilitate the learning process both inside and outside of the classroom itself. The demo that we attended included special guests like Samsung Canada President and CEO HT Kim and Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore. The video embedded here includes interviews with teacher Debra Nordheimer, as well as Samsung Canada’s Director of Business Solutions Philippe Lozier, Riverside Secondary School Principal Anthony Ciolfitto, and Physics 11 student Francois. Check out the press release below, as well as the extensive photo gallery from Canada’s first smart classroom. [hide-this-part morelink=”Full Press Release”] The Future of Canadian Classroom Education Arrives with Samsung School BC’s Riverside Secondary School is first in Canada to pilot Samsung School, consisting of Samsung software, 31 GALAXY Note 10.1 units and a 65-inch digital e-Board (Port Coquitlam, BC / April 4, 2013) –Samsung Canada today announced that the classroom of the future has arrived. Port Coquitlam BC’s Riverside Secondary School is the first school in Canada to pilot Samsung School, the innovative, complete digital classroom package. Samsung School delivers a fully integrated 1:1 educational interface that empowers Canadian teachers and students to experience a truly interactive learning environment. Samsung School works as a total, convergent eco-system, rather than just one-off devices or third-party software not designed for use with specific device hardware. Samsung School brings a more interactive form of classroom communication to life, delivering improved classroom management for teachers, and enabling deeper learning for students through real-time screen and content sharing and interactivity features. For the first Canadian pilot, Samsung is providing the 11th grade physics class at Riverside Secondary School with Samsung School, which seamlessly integrates 31 Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 units, a 65-inch digital e-Board and powerful Samsung software. “Samsung School is the classroom of the future, and it’s here today for Canadian teachers and students,” said Philippe Lozier, Director of Business Solutions for Samsung Canada. “In a technology-savvy world, educators have been eager to see digital classroom innovation move beyond just piecemeal device integration and toward a fully integrated solution. The pilot program in partnership with Riverside Secondary School will help us showcase that the solution is here and ready, and can give educators the ability to digitally engage their students like never before.” To date, more than 20 schools around the world from Africa to Asia, Europe and North America have piloted Samsung School. As will be the case with Riverside Secondary School, each of these real-world pilots have helped enhance and prove Samsung School before it launches. Research has shown improvements in class convenience, student engagement and lesson comprehension. “Although we’ve only just introduced Samsung School, it’s already bringing such a dynamic energy to the classroom,” said Anthony Ciolfitto, Principal of Riverside Secondary School. “As educators, there is nothing more fulfilling than seeing a class full of students who are engaged and excited to learn. This is revolutionizing the classroom experience for our students and teachers alike.” Samsung School Samsung School offers a variety of classroom management tools for teachers and tools to accelerate learning for students, which are accessed through WiFi with a single log-in. The Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1’s advanced S-Pen technology and pop-up note features replace the conventional pen and paper, further building out the digital classroom experience on the 10.1-inch screen display. Samsung School delivers three integrated systems that empower teachers to create an interactive and engaging virtual learning environment: Interactive Management Solution – For use during class, the solution allows teachers to easily deliver content to students, share their own or an individual student’s screen with the class, and monitor student progress in real-time. For example, educators can bring up a student’s screen wirelessly on the digital e-Board so the student can show their work in real-time to their peers. Educators can also conduct group activities, tests or instant polls, and then instantly call the class to attention by locking student screens. A key feature is the ability to share screens privately, enabling educators to work 1:1 with students in the classroom. Learning Management System – Allows teachers to provide course materials including e-textbooks, learning apps and timetables, as well as delivering school notices and forums for extracurricular activities, which can be accessed by students at any time. Student Information System – Management tool enables teachers to track student attendance, general information, grade history and prizes or demerit points. Samsung School was officially introduced in Canada at an event at Riverside Secondary School on April 4. Video footage of the Canadian pilot program is available for download here, with a photo gallery of hi-res event images available here. Finally, online media can link to the Samsung School video hosted on Samsung Canada’s Youtube channel. Please visit www.samsung.com/school for more details. About Samsung Electronics Canada Samsung Electronics Canada offers a broad range of award-winning consumer electronics including televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. The Canadian arm, selected as one of Canada’s Top 10 Marketers of the Year in 2012 by Marketing Magazine, upholds Samsung’s global mission to open new possibilities for people everywhere, providing users premium experiences that are unparalleled due to Samsung’s innovative technology and stylish design. As a result, Samsung has become a true leader in the consumer electronics industry both in terms of business leadership and brand strength. In 2012, Samsung was ranked #9 in the Interbrand “100 Best Global Brands” breaking the top ten for the first time, and was named as one of Fast Company’s “50 Most Innovative Companies of 2011”. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com Follow Samsung Canada at facebook.com/SamsungCanada or on Twitter @SamsungCanada. [/hide-this-part] Share This With The World!
