MEDIA ALERT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PROMETHEAN, INC TO UNVEIL ACTIVBoard
21st Century Model Classroom Already Helping Philadelphia Students

Philadelphia, PA (June 21, 2005) --- In classrooms around the globe, students have been introduced to the future of learning and are succeeding beyond their teachers’ wildest dreams. Now the 21st Century Model Classroom is making its way into Pennsylvania schools. Promethean, Inc invites you to a private media session during the National Education Computing Conference (June 28-30th) to experience the future of education with your own eyes.

This European-born, curriculum-centered education technology suite will be unveiled for the press on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 at 2 p.m. EST at Loews Hotel (across from NECC), 1200 Market Street, Suite 412. Educators, technicians and school officials will be available to explain the capabilities of the system and answer questions.

The 21st Century Model Classroom begins with the Promethean “ACTIVboard,” a nearly indestructible teaching aide that is already making chalk and dry erase boards obsolete. By allowing dynamic interaction through the use of a battery free stylus with left and right-click capability, teachers use lesson development software to instruct their classrooms with true technology: point and click, multimedia, internet, millions of researchable resources and highly integrated hardware and accessories. Student feedback devices called “ACTIVotes” help to nurture a collaborative learning environment, while complying with the No Child Left Behind Act’s mandate that students must be subjected to frequent, consistent assessments.

Recent district-level Promethean purchases in other states have invigorated the national debate on the use of technology in K-12 education. Should children be learning with chalk, erasers and TV-carts? Do computers in the classroom do enough to prepare young minds for the “real world” of technology? Can this technology narrow the Racial Academic Achievement Gap?

“It has transformed the very culture of our school and I can’t believe we ever taught without it,” said Mama Roberta, a 4th grade teacher at the Betty Shabazz International Charter School in Chicago. Phillip Jackson, former Chief of Staff (CPS) to Philadelphia Superintendent Paul Vallis, takes Promethean’s technology a step further. “This approach to teaching can actually narrow the racial academic achievement gap. And that’s my cause. I am going to go on the road to tell everyone: you need to get behind this [technology].” Jackson retired from Chicago Public Schools to head up The Black Star Project, a nonprofit organization committed to eliminating the racial academic achievement gap in schools throughout the United States.

Philadelphia schools that have adopted the technology include Chestnut Hill Academy, Christopher Columbus Charter School, New Foundation Charter School, William Dick School and others.

What: 21st Century Model Classroom Private Media Session
Where: Loews Hotel (across from NECC), 1200 Market Street, Suite 412
When: June 29th, 2005 @ 2:00 PM
Details: Food and beverages will be provided.
Contact: Ian Bryan, 773-344-2110

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PR Affiliate:
The Sensible City
312/ 528 9111 x3- ianbryan@sensiblecity.com


Recent press from other states related to Promethean ACTIVboard technology:

The Crusader:
Can Technology Narrow The Racial Academic Achievement Gap?
http://www.prometheanworld.com/n-america/en/html/Specials/tech_award.shtml

Chicago Defender:
Old School To High Tech
http://sc-inc.com/defender-article1.pdf

E-School News
Forsyth County Schools Lead The Way
http://www.eschoolnews.org/resources/partners/showrelease.cfm?ReleaseID=679

News 14 Carolina
Students Enjoy New Learning Technology
http://rdu.news14.com/content/school_news/?ArID=62305&SecID=136