SMART Technologies Chosen by Florida-based Orange County Public School District For Broad Implementation of SMART Learning Suite Software™ and Interactive Flat Panels

Over 1,800 SMART Board® Interactive Flat Panels have been installed across the award-winning school district

CALGARY and ORLANDO, FL, May 9, 2016 /CNW/ - SMART Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SMT) (TSX: SMA), a leading provider in collaboration solutions, announces the implementation of the SMART Learning Suite software bundle and SMART Board® 6065 interactive flat panels (IFPs) in the Orange County Public School District, located in Orlando, Fla. The district, which serves nearly 200,000 students, began running the SMART Learning Suite software along with the implementation of SMART IFPs in December 2015, and continued adding IFPs to classrooms in April and May of 2016, for a total of 1,873 SMART Board IFPs across the district.

SMART's Learning Suite works seamlessly with any hardware device, including student tablets and mobile phones, classroom interactive displays, Chromebooks, and more. The Smart Learning Suite combines lesson delivery, assessment, student collaboration and game-based learning software into one ultimate suite of education software. The SMART Board 6065 interactive flat panel features SMART's proprietary DViT® (Digital Vision Touch) technology and combines a premium-touch experience on a 65-inch LED display with instant access to the SMART Learning Suite. The SMART Board 6065 interactive flat panel is also enabled with the award-winning SMART kapp iQ™ which allows for writing back-and-forth between the display and any mobile device, making group work and teacher-led instruction more dynamic.

The deployment of both the SMART Learning Suite and SMART IFPs is supported through the district's digital curriculum, which includes a "Bring Your Own Device" program. The intent of this curriculum is to assist schools in the implementation of digital learning by increasing readiness for next-generation instruction, curriculum and assessments. With the district-wide implementation of the SMART Learning Suite and SMART IFPs, which allow for student interaction with lessons on the board from their own mobile device, the district hopes to enhance the Bring Your Own Device, and expects to see improvement to their already successful student performance outcomes.

"We're honored that the Orange County Public Schools selected SMART. Students today are digital natives who have come to rely on digital resources and mobile devices for their learning, entertainment, and communication. We envision a learning environment where we can support a child's natural curiosity and affinity for technology through innovative pedagogy and classroom tools, which aligns well with Orange County Public Schools' goals of increasing collaboration and learning outcomes in the classroom," said Neil Gaydon, President and CEO of SMART Technologies. "Research proves that when best pedagogical practices are supported by educational software and connected devices, students are more likely to be engaged in the classroom and to retain lesson material," he said. 

To learn more about SMART Board interactive flat panels for education, visit education.smarttech.com/panels.

About Orange County Public Schools
Orange County Public Schools is the 10^th largest school district in the nation and the fourth largest in Florida. Close to 200,000 students are enrolled. Currently, there are more than 240 school sites including alternative centers and charter schools. OCPS is the second-largest employer in Orange County, Florida with more than 22,000 full- and part-time employees. The district was the recipient of the 2014 Broad Prize for Urban Education, the largest education award in the country. The district also received the Governor's Sterling Award in 2014 and 2015. It is the highest award an organization can receive for business performance excellence in Florida. 

About SMART Technologies Inc.

SMART Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SMT, TSX: SMA) is a world leader in simple and intuitive solutions that enable more natural collaboration. We are an innovator in interactive touch technologies and software that inspire collaboration in both education and businesses around the globe. To learn more, visit smarttech.com.

Reader's advisory
Certain information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking information or statements. By their very nature, forward-looking information and statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking information and statements will not be achieved. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual results to vary materially from the forward-looking information or statements. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking information or statements. Any forward-looking information and statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

©2016 SMART Technologies. All third-party product and company names are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. To view a list of SMART trademarks please visit our Trademarks and Guidelines page. 

Please note that SMART is written in all capital letters.

SOURCE SMART Technologies Inc.

Kara Pinato, Spark PR for SMART Technologies, [email protected]; Jeff Lowe, VP of Marketing, SMART Technologies Inc., [email protected]