SMART Technologies and Samsung Join Forces to Help Students Improve 21st-Century Collaboration Skills

• The SMART Samsung Chromebook 3 Bundle features SMART amp and is fully integrated with Google Classroom and Apps for Education
• "Made for education" bundle enhances student-led learning and provides teachers with real-time visibility into the learning process

CALGARY, ALBERTA AND RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., Jan. 13, 2016 /CNW/ - SMART Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMT) (TSX: SMA), a leading provider of education and collaboration solutions, and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. have joined forces to help students attain the 21st-century communication and collaboration skills they need to succeed in the world. Under the new agreement, schools can purchase a classroom-wide package including several Samsung Chromebook 3 devices, associated licenses for SMART amp, and access to SMART's online professional development.

SMART amp is a cloud-based solution, available on virtually any browser-enabled device. It is the 'glue' that connects interactive displays, PCs, laptops, and tablets while enabling teachers and students to collaborate and co-create in real time, do in-class assessment, connect to shared digital workspaces and interact with Web-based learning materials regardless of location or device. This new bundle, which is fully integrated with Google Classroom and Apps for Education, provides the hardware, software, and training necessary to achieve a pedagogical shift toward student-led learning.

All too often, schools teach knowledge-based skills like the "3 Rs" (writing, reading and arithmetic), but fail to adequately focus on the "4 Cs" (communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity). A recent study by Wainhouse Research reinforces the belief that schools need to put greater emphasis on these important "soft skills." At the same time, schools are making investments in student devices and other technology to improve project-based and student-led learning, but the technology has not always delivered on its promise. Educators are looking to do more with their investments in student devices and to extend the learning beyond the classroom as a way to enhance skills like collaboration and creativity. The SMART Samsung Chromebook 3 Bundle addresses this need.

"We've bundled SMART amp with our Samsung Chromebooks to drive students' collaboration skills to a whole new level. This powerful combination has increased learning and engagement and pushed students to be critical thinkers both in and outside the classroom," said Kelly Miksch, Instructional Technology Specialist at NEISD. "What's more, I'm able to draw from the SMART Exchange™ online community and its thousands of existing SMART amp-compatible resources when I'm short on time or need new ideas for lessons."  

"We hear from our educators that true collaboration occurs when students work together to create, discuss, challenge and develop deeper critical thinking," says Greg Estell, SMART president, Education. "This powerful combination of SMART amp, Samsung Chromebooks and Google Classroom allows students to co-create anywhere, anytime, on a digital canvas, while enabling teachers to understand, assess and guide student collaboration without interrupting learning."

"In today's work environment, collaboration is essential as few tasks are completed alone and technology facilitates teamwork that was previously impossible," said Ted Brodheim, vice president of Vertical Business at Samsung Electronics America. "Samsung is committed to delivering technology that facilitates this teamwork, helping students create, communicate, challenge and think critically. We're helping schools deploy one-to-one digital learning solutions that drive collaboration and encourage creative problem solving to help students succeed."

Each SMART for Samsung Bundle includes:

• 10 x Samsung Chromebook 3
• 60 x SMART amp license with one-year activation and opportunity to extend licenses beyond the first year
• Access to a 10-module SMART professional development unit for one educator
• 10 x Google Device Management licenses

To learn more about Samsung's full technology portfolio for education including the SMART Samsung Chromebook 3 Bundle, please visit www.samsung.com/education and follow @SamsungEDU.

To learn more about SMART Solutions for Education, please visit education.smarttech.com   

Availability
The SMART Samsung Chromebook 3 Bundle will be available next month and includes a one-year subscription for SMART amp with the opportunity to renew the SMART amp licenses on an ongoing basis. Please contact your Samsung authorized dealer for more information.

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), is a recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology. A wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SEA delivers a broad range of digital consumer electronics, mobile products and wearables, wireless infrastructure, IT and home appliance products. Samsung is the market leader for HDTVs in the U.S and one of America's fastest growing home appliance brand. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

About SMART Solutions for Education
Nearly 70 million teachers and students around the world use SMART solutions for education to make learning more interactive, engaging, effective and fun. A consistent innovator and the inventor of the SMART Board®, SMART's education software includes the revolutionary SMART amp™ and the world's most popular collaborative learning software, SMART Notebook®. With a full range of interactive displays, including flat panels, projectors, whiteboards and the SMART kapp® digital capture board, SMART helps educators achieve better learning outcomes. To learn more, visit smarttech.com/education.     

About SMART
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.

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Reader's advisory
Certain information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking information or statements, including without limitation the availability date for the SMART Samsung Chromebook 3 Bundle. 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.

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