SMART Vantage Offers Insight into Classroom ICT Use

SMART Technologies, a provider of collaboration solutions, announced SMART Vantage technology-management software, an easy-to-use application that gives administrators and technology directors access to key usage data. SMART Vantage software enables administrators to manage SMART Board interactive whiteboards and SMART projectors and understand how they are being used. By logging in to a web-based interface, they can access data on the products in individual classrooms, throughout schools and across entire districts. Such comprehensive insight into SMART product use helps administrations reduce operating and maintenance costs, decrease hardware downtime and make more informed decisions about professional development opportunities. Beta users have already experienced positive outcomes with the software, citing the intuitive interface and revealing usage data as beneficial to managing their SMART products and planning for professional development.

SMART Vantage software is the first product from SMART to enable technology administrators to inventory and proactively manage their SMART Board interactive whiteboards and SMART projectors. Projector lamp life can be monitored in order to anticipate failures, reducing lesson disruption. With the intuitive user interface, administrators can see how frequently individual SMART Board interactive whiteboards have been touched and which software applications are used most often. This information can assist in ICT planning, including determining training and professional development opportunities, and enabling administrators to gain the highest return on investment from their SMART products. For more information on SMART Vantage technology-management software, and to watch a video outlining its advantages, visit smarttech.com/SMARTVantage.

“Managing and monitoring the large number of SMART products across the school district can be a challenge, and SMART has the only software that allows us to do this and measure their effectiveness,” says Travis Taylor, Instructional Technology Specialist, Little Rock School District, Arkansas. “SMART Vantage allows us to monitor how often the interactive whiteboards are being touched, assisting us in assessing teacher and student engagement, and the ability to monitor lamp life and to shut off the machines remotely saves us time and money.”

“As more and more schools around the world continue to adopt ICT solutions into classrooms, administrators require tools to manage those solutions efficiently, within their budgets, and also to have a comprehensive understanding of their return on investment,” says Linda Thomas, Vice President, Products, SMART Technologies. “SMART Vantage software allows educators to gain instant insight into how, when and in what subject areas SMART Board interactive whiteboards are being used, helping them to make informed decisions that will support teaching and learning at all levels.”