Three benefits of a flexible classroom

When I was in K-12 classrooms, we had rows of desks. They were facing the front of the class, where the focal point was a chalkboard. If I ever entered a classroom with a different setup, it felt refreshing, even inspiring. That's the idea behind flexible classrooms. Classrooms don't need a designated front, and they certainly don't need a chalkboard. Most modern classrooms have mobile technology making it easy to move the classroom around.       

Technology is used as a tool to enhance learning at Providence Day School, especially SMART Boards on mobile stands. It's no problem to incorporate the board into daily lessons because administrators have created flexible classrooms. The benefits of having a class without a fixed front or structured seating have been immeasurable. Director of Digital Integration and Innovation Matt Scully pointed out three specific benefits that have impacted the learning experience at Providence Day the most.       

Teachers love flexible classrooms    

You can imagine why teachers would be excited about flexibility, but think about the possibility of changing and using the classroom in whatever capacity they needed. Scully says if you ever visit the 6th Grade English Room, you will never see it arranged the same way twice. "It's wild, every time you go in there, it looks different. The big idea was any teacher at any given moment could redesign the room in the spirit of what they needed."    Scully described scenarios in which his classroom would be changed several times in a single class period to create different experiences, but each scenario included a SMART Board on a portable stand. "So I might have 3 or 4 different configurations in one class period, I might want it set up one way on Monday, and another way on Wednesday and then the teacher who comes in after me can set it up however they want," said Scully. Many schools, like Providence Day School, share the classrooms so having the capability to move the room quickly to adapt to the next teachers is crucial.  Scully added, "I would say there are teachers that love it and I would say there are teachers that don't leverage it as much as other teachers do, but it's not like the teachers who move the furniture are better teachers than the ones that don’t. It just means we have the flexibility to meet everyone's needs."      

Students respond in flexible classrooms   

 Have you ever been in a classroom where students are engaged and excited to learn? Flexible classrooms encourage that. It allows teachers and students to collaborate on a different level. Scully says "We are learning what's best for kids and what we could be doing in the classroom. A flexible environment gives me the adaptability to respond to the new research and the new stuff that comes out as opposed to having my room set up a certain way." Scully admits students at Providence Day have become accustomed to it. "I think a lot of our students quite honestly take it for granted because they just expect the environment to meet their needs, so they are just moving stuff around." However, he acknowledges that if they've ever done collaborative work in an environment that's not built for it, then they appreciate the flexibility more.        

Flexible classrooms help long term planning      

SMART Boards on mobile stands make sense for day-to-day use, but Scully says the no brainer is when it comes to long term planning. "The classroom is a 6th Grade English room this year, but because of our needs, it may be an 8th-grade math room next year. How do I make sure I'm not spending money every couple years moving the board or re-hanging the projector, or taking cable runs off the wall? This is just a beautiful solution in that the rooms aren't necessarily a particular room; they are whatever you need them to be."  He says from a budget perspective it's the best thing you can do for your classrooms.       

If you are ready to create flexibility in your classroom, now is the time to act. Right now, we have a special promotion on an 86″ SMART Interactive Flat Panel and mobile height adjustable stand. You get more than $2,000 off! If flexible classrooms are in your future, this is a deal you don't want to miss. Contact us for more information. 

Overhaul your meeting space: How much will it cost?

Conference room technology evolves constantly. You recognize the need for upgrades in your office but don't know where to start or what it will cost. We know, it can be difficult. So we're laying out how to figure out what fits in your budget.

The essentials

There are 4 essential parts of conference room technology. You'll want to consider how to address each of these in your meeting space:

1. Display – How you view content. This can range from a TV to a projection screen to an interactive wall or Smart Board.
2. Sound – How you hear audio. This can range from display speakers to a soundbar, to multiple ceiling and wall speakers.
3. Communication – How you talk to users outside of your space. This can range from a phone to a VOIP phone with soft conferencing, to a sophisticated system allowing multiple users to talk from anywhere in the room.
4. Connection/Control - How you connect sources of your content such as PC's, phones, or tablets and how you control the various pieces of electronic equipment in your room – This can range from an HDMI cable to wireless, to touch panels and iPad Room schedulers.

The solutions

There are unlimited options to pick and choose so we've put our most popular options into two categories:

Our baseline category represents a basic plan to outfit your space with Audio Visual essentials. Here’s where to start your budget with Baseline options:

• Huddle Room $1,500
• Small Conference Room $1,900
• Medium Conference Room $2,200
• Large Conference Room $7,000
• Training Room $25,000
• Open Ideation Space $10,000 

Open Ideation Space using a Nureva Wall

Upgrade Options

Our Upgrade category gives you add-on options designed to give your team more capabilities.

Want to know what equipment is our most popular baseline and upgrade solutions? Our free guide is set up by space and solutions.

Get our free Meeting Space Guide now!

As you can tell, the easy answer to your pricing question is "it depends". But this will help you get your budget started. If you are ready for a free room assessment, call the Smarter Systems team today.

Enhancing the SMART Board Classroom Experience

The trajectory of learning is continuing to grow and change at a rapid pace. Advances in technology have completely revolutionized the classroom experience. SMART Boards Charlotte NC and beyond have brought together technology and collaboration, changing how learning is done in the classroom.

Seeing Is Educating

It’s no secret that some students are better visual learners. Implementing digital content via a SMART Board is an excellent way to enhance the overall learning environment. This is also reflective of the way students learn outside of the classroom as well. Phones, iPads and computers are used in just about every way imaginable and many students grow up as visual learners. Any lesson that can implement visual information can make the classroom more enjoyable and interactive.

Games Are Not Just For Kids

The term gamification is being used more and more in the classroom as teachers are introducing lessons in a game format. The use of a SMART Board brings that gaming experience to another level. However, material should always be educational and that is an important facet for teachers to remember. Education technology has proven to expand reading comprehension levels among students of all ages.

Google Education Apps

Google for Education has introduced training, products and resources for educators. An added benefit is that it allows students to work outside of the classroom as well, utilizing other Google Apps. Many students are already familiar with these Apps. Google has changed so much in the way things are done and now that extends to the classroom.

SMART Amp & Notebook

The SMART Notebook and SMART Amp are two tools teachers can use in their everyday instruction. SMART Amp has the capability of connecting students all around the world while the SMART Notebook can be a teacher’s best friend and part of his/her daily lessons.

Teacher Workshops

In order for teachers to fully utilize the technology in their classrooms, there is a need to stay up to date on all of the latest trends. Teachers do not have to be computer experts, but it helps to have a firm command of what you can do with your SMART Board. Conferences, webinars, online publications and information sharing with colleagues can help teachers take advantage of everything a Smarter Systems SMART Board is capable of bringing to life in the classroom.

Smarter Systems provides the very best audio and video solutions for all kinds of classrooms in Charlotte and the surrounding areas. The Smarter Systems team specializes in matching classrooms with technology to fully enhance the overall learning experience.

We hope you enjoyed this article. To learn more about SMART boards we recommend that you read The Evolution and History of the SMART Board in our blog or contact us today.

The Evolution and History of the SMART Board

SMART Boards have recently made their way into the mainstream of both educational and business settings. However, this type of technology has been around for two and a half decades. The technology was first created in 1991 and was initially available in front and rear projections. The initial versions were equipped with only basic capabilities, but as technology improved, so did SMART Boards in Charlotte NC.

The SMART Board was not invented in America as SMART Technologies was the first to develop this innovation in Canada. It was also not an instant success as the company had to first educate the market about this new product.

In 1997, there came the introduction of notebook collaboration for educational purposes and a year later it added the capabilities of operating with Microsoft Windows applications.

Fast forward to 2001 as that was when SMART Boards adapted the capability of playing both video and audio directly off the Internet. Two years later, flat screens were implemented with SMART Board technology and the displays could be mounted on walls.

Things then began to take flight in a hurry as flat-panel displays were first introduced in 2003 and then wireless slate was incorporated two years later. That gave way to a new generation of interactive whiteboard and other types of learning software.

LCD panels are actually connected to the SMART Board and serve the function of a display. This functionality permits users to have control over computer apps while opening up a whole new realm of learning. New studies are beginning to show that the use of SMART Boards in classrooms has actually enhanced learning as evidenced by higher test scores among students.

In fact, the education sector is what paved the way for the rise of SMART Boards. Teachers first began using SMART Boards sporadically and then a company partnership with Intel helped propelled SMART Board onto an international landscape. That enabled corporate and government sectors to utilize this technology as well.

Now, there are different kinds of SMART Boards to choose from. SMART Board models now range from 55 to 84 inches in size and include 11 different varieties. Additional ports have been added to the latest models along with 4K Ultra HD resolution.

Smarter Systems is ready to provide your school or business with the SMART Board of your choice. Our team will take care of the installation and training process to provide you with the best SMART Board Charlotte has to offer. Visit www.SmarterSys.com to learn more.

Integrating SMART Boards and Video Conferencing

SMART Boards and video conferencing have both become very powerful tools in the business world. Integrating the two technologies provides an even greater amount of benefits and here is a closer look at how that combination has enhanced modern-day business.

Preparedness

Video conferencing on its own lacks the interaction aspect that comes with a SMART Board. On its own, video conferencing relies upon participants in training sessions, meetings and conferences to bring their own materials. Even if those materials are sent via email, there is no guarantee that participants will have it in hand. With a SMART Board, there is no way any participant will be unprepared.

Communication

It is obvious that video conferencing allows for a new way of communicating, but adding in a SMART Board changes those overall capabilities. The visual aspect is not only enhanced, but brought to life in real time. Changes can be made right there as participants can actually see them happening and offer their thoughts as well. This enhances collaboration as participants can actually communicate on making improvements in that moment.

Training

Employee training typically brings people together at one location for a specified amount of time. Now, with SMART Board and video conferencing, training saves time and can be done from remote locations. On-site training can occur without trainees actually being on site. This enhances the training experience in numerous ways. Trainers can explain things visually and can also offer resources via a SMART Board. Being able to see the trainer and training materials simultaneously helps immensely in grasping all of the concepts being conveyed.

Conferences

Video conferences combined with the use of SMART Boards allow for projects to be discussed and modified. The video aspect also shows the expressions among participants. If someone is not truly on board with suggestions or changes, chances are that will show up in their mannerisms. Also, adding a document or spreadsheet during an actual meeting is a lot more difficult without the use of a SMART Board. This technological combination brings a whole new level of collaboration as conferences are no longer limited to conversations, but have the capability of action.

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Smarter Systems can bring a whole new dynamic to your business conferences. We provide a vast selection of SMART Boards and video solutions to Charlotte business owners and educational systems. Get started on the future today by contacting the professionals at Smarter Systems.

SMART Boards Come In Handy In the Business World

SMART Boards are revolutionizing the business world as they have opened up a wealth of possibilities. Here is a closer look at the numerous benefits that businesses can expect when utilizing SMART Boards within their workplace.

Enhanced Collaboration

The days of the old power point presentations are a thing of the past as business meetings can foster collaboration with the use of SMART Boards. That doesn’t negate the value of information that can be presented, but changes the entire way business meetings are conducted.  The entire presentation can actually be modified as the accessibility of SMART Boards reinforces the team concept and allows others to offer their own input.

Conferencing Possibilities

Remote users can sit in on meetings and communicate their thoughts while also helping to make real-time changes. Business conference calls can actually turn into interactive meetings with the use of SMART Boards. This along with video conferencing can also be used for remote training as workshops and seminars can be conducted with employees anywhere in the world.

Versatility

One of the major benefits of SMART Boards is that there are few limits as to what kind of media is capable of being displayed. Any program connected to the host system can be shown on the SMART Board. There is even specialized software that allows for the creation of a virtual notebook, which can include a wide variety of media. All of that material is capable of being adjusted on the SMART Board, which enhances both presentations, meetings and training.

Online Accessibility

At any point in a meeting, online statistics, facts and figures can be incorporated onto a SMART Board. There are an immensity of online business tools and all of those can be presented in real-time. Gone are the days of quoting information in a presentation as that information can now be displayed directly onto a SMART Board.

Eco-Friendly

So much waste is eliminated when using SMART Boards. This option does away with excess paper, ink and also eliminates the ongoing need to photocopy and print. Moreover, memos, training manuals and other types of informational pieces are often read once and tossed aside. Not only is all of that avoided with a SMART Board, but information is also stored more conveniently and efficiently. 

Smarter Systems is ready to bring all of the benefits of SMART Board technology to your business. Our team of professionals provides complete installation and training. Purchasing a SMART Board Charlotte has never been easier or more convenient as it is now with the assistance of Smarter Systems.