Ready to Roll: SMART and Newington Public Schools take Digital Education on the Road

NEWINGTON, Conn., Sept. 29, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Newington Public Schools (NPS) yesterday demonstrated the educational power of its brand-new technology bus provided through a partnership with SMART Technologies Inc. The mobile technology lab will be used to offer lessons in basic computing applications, coding, robotics, and 3D printing. Working together, NPS and SMART Technologies will make it possible for more members of the community to increase digital literacy.

"The SMART Bus project is just the beginning. When we see our youngest students teaching each other coding or collaborating on the SMART Boards, that's where we will see the result of this project," said Dr. William C. Collins, Superintendent of Newington Public Schools. "We are here to provide the outlet, our students are the ones who will learn, explore, and lead with the technology on the SMART Bus. Our students amaze me every day. They can pick up technology and new programs so quickly; I cannot wait to see what they will accomplish with this new lab."

The bus will travel throughout Newington and surrounding communities to provide workshops, trainings, and tech demonstrations led by student "Techsperts." This self-led group of tech-savvy students has a passion for learning, exploring, fixing, and assisting everything related to technology.

"Teachers leverage the power of SMART Technologies to educate children in classrooms. We're proud to partner with NPS to take innovative technology on the road, making its powerful benefits available to all," said Jeff Lowe, vice president of marketing at SMART Technologies, Inc.

The SMART Bus project is led by John (Jay) Salerno, Director of Educational Technology, Newington Public Schools. Salerno was one of 36 educators in the world who was selected by Google as a "Certified Innovator" for the London 2017 cohort.

"When we put technology in the hands of our Techsperts, great things happen," said Salerno. "With the SMART Bus, students in the program will be able to facilitate learning with their peers, younger students, and in the community and surrounding areas. The technology and SMART Boards, donated by SMART Technologies, will allow our Techsperts and student instructors to offer lessons and lead trainings from right inside of the mobile technology lab, the SMART Bus."

With the SMART Bus as catalyst, the project will provide experiences and access to other technologies including:

• Laptops, Chromebooks, iPads, Tablets
• Training on G Suite for Education
• Google Expeditions
• Exposure to SMART Technologies
• Coding, Programming, and Robotics
• 3D Printing
• Collaboration Stations
• Makerspaces
• Media Production
• Breakout EDUs and Digital Breakouts

The program is supported by the Office of Education Technology and the Educational Technology Teachers in NPS. SMART provided the bulk of the technology (2000, 6000, 7000 series displays and Classroom Audio).

About SMART Technologies, Inc.
SMART is a world leader in classroom technology, providing interactive solutions to help every student and teacher discover and develop the greatness within them. A consistent innovator for over 25 years, SMART is the inventor of the SMART Board® and the developer of SMART Notebook®, the world's most popular collaborative learning software, and part of the SMART Learning Suite. With their full range of interconnected displays, software, and accessories, used in over 3 million classrooms, SMART helps students and teachers around the world achieve better learning outcomes. To learn more, visit smarttech.com.

About Newington Public Schools
Newington, Connecticut is a suburban community of about 30,000 residents located just south of the capital city of Hartford. Newington Public Schools proudly serves over 4,200 students in full day Kindergarten through 12th grade. The district's success begins with a student-centered mission and a shared vision for the success of every child, "Every Student: College, Career, and Citizenship Ready." To learn more about how Newington Public Schools is "Preparing the Next Generation of World Leaders," visit npsct.org.

SOURCE SMART Technologies Inc.