It was shot at the new Ferrari of Ontario dealership in Vaughn, Ontario to celebrate the launch of the new Ferrari California in Canada.

APG offers flexible, highly competitive design and rental services to help create an amazing audio visual experience for either a one-off event or for a more permanent application.

Our focus is placed exclusively on the successful design and implementation of high-end, high-impact display solutions that provide maximum impact to your exhibition stands, boardrooms, award shows, conferences and live events.

For more information visit: www.apgdisplays.com.

Who said Summer Camp is only for students?

Calling all educators. You are invited to attend the SMART Summer Camp, hosted by Advanced Education. Bring your colleagues and join our Professional Development Courses created for teachers who want to get the most from their SMART Boards.

Register today for our Summer SMART Camp sessions:

JULY 2009

July 22 - SMART Board Fundamentals
July 23 - SMART Intermediate Level
July 29 - SMART Advanced Level
July 30 - Lesson Plan Creation Workshop (for Primary School educators)

AUGUST 2009

Aug 12 - SMART Board Fundamentals
Aug 13 - SMART Intermediate Level
Aug 19 - SMART Advanced Level
Aug 20 - Lesson Plan Creation Workshop (for Primary School educators)

State-of-the-art facilities

All professional development courses are held at our state-of-the-art facility in Mississauga. Class sizes are limited to seven and every participant uses one SMART Board and one laptop. All our teachers are SMART Certified Trainers with extensive teaching experience at the K-12 level.

Location

450 Matheson Blvd. E, unit 59, Mississauga, ON. L4Z 1R5

Refreshments

Lunch and breakout snacks are included.

What will you receive?

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a certificate as well as a comprehensive set of  classwork notes, a USB stick for lessons created during the class and the latest ‘SMARTBoards for Dummies’ book.

Need more information?

Find out more about our SMART Certified Professional Development Courses.

Don’t miss this opportunity…

Space is limited. REGISTER NOW! Call Karen at 1-800-436-6239 x 114 or e-mail karenb@advanced-inc.com.

Demonstrated at the LifeSize booth during InfoComm 09 in Orlando, Florida (June 17th-19th), this new PC-based desktop video application further differentiates LifeSize as the market leader in HD video and will be generally available in Q3 2009.

LifeSize Desktop joins the LifeSize family of high definition video communications solutions. It works with off-the-shelf web cams and is performance-optimized for today’s PCs allowing knowledge workers to stay connected to their colleagues, customers, or partners from virtually anywhere in the world.

Remote users can easily connect and communicate with high quality video at any bandwidth, over the corporate VPN or through LifeSize Transit, for secure NAT/firewall traversal.

Technical overview

LifeSize® Desktop™ delivers:

• HD Video and Audio: Clear 720p30 receive @ 1Mbps with advanced wideband audio
• 16:9 Layout: Send and receive video in widescreen format to fit with your HD room systems
• Ease of Use: Intuitive and familiar user interface
• CPU Efficient: Low CPU utilization enables HD video communications even with multiple applications running
• Asynchronous Bandwidth: Separately configurable to ensure the best video quality
• Simple Deployment: Installation takes minutes, no central server or infrastructure required.

Craig Malloy, CEO and founder of LifeSize Communications said, “With LifeSize Desktop, we’re providing businesses with the ability to connect everyone within their organization to the rich communications and collaboration experience of a LifeSize enterprise deployment including mobile users who are often most at risk of becoming disconnected from their co-workers.”

Want to know more?

For more information including a no-obligation trial, contact Advanced Inc. now or call us on toll free on (800) 436-6239.

The UF-130ST has the same features of the DX model but without Windows CE viewer capabilities.

The Samsung UF-130ST has a 1.32 megapixel, progressive scan CCD, and offers 720P HD image quality at 30 frames per second. Users can select SXGA or XGA output resolutions to match these native formats as well.

As with the UF-130DX, the 130ST includes active VGA pass through allowing any computer input signal to pass to the display, even when powered off.

Digital image rotation allows users to electronically flip portrait documents for the highest resolution output for text subjects. In addition, with the USB 2.0 port and Samsung’s software, the 130ST supports both Windows (Vista/XP/2000) and Mac (OS10.5x) providing full motion, full screen display for image capture, movie creation with audio, and integration with any electronic whiteboard.

For more information, availability, pricing or any other enquiries on the latest addition to the Samsung Techwin UF-130 line, contact Document Camera Experts now or call us on 1-866-593-8555.

Visit the Samsung Techwin website.

All trademarks acknowledged.

As a teacher, you know that it can be a challenge to capture the attention of students who are increasingly distracted by cell phones, laptops and other devices of our modern age.

Truthfully, engaging students in the learning process has become a challenge. A study published by Swansea Metropolitan University in Wales showed that teachers and pupils agree that active participation and talking about their ideas in the classroom helps children learn more effectively. But how does a teacher create active participation in a classroom filled with distractions?

For some educators the answer is the SMART Board (also known as the interactive whiteboard). The SMART Board is touch sensitive screen connected to a computer. Using the interactive whiteboard, teachers can create lessons or access thousands of pre-made lessons, write or draw on it, move images round, show video, do a PowerPoint presentation or surf the Internet.

The use of old-fashioned chalkboards is being replaced by tech-infused lessons that get through to the new generation of students. SMART Boards make the teacher’s job easier and more creative. They can store and retrieve lessons quickly, connect to the Internet and bring the outside world into the classroom.

From math to the arts, SMART Boards have been able to give teachers a new level of bringing a lesson to life for students.

Students are given new ways to approach problem solving because of the interactivity and visual approach of the SMART Board. A report from FutureLab noted that, “one of the most striking benefits of interactive whiteboards is that they can introduce ‘theatrical tension’ into the classroom.”

For instance, many math teachers will say, “Learning math is a visual experience.” With a SMART Board, the student interacts with a creative graphic of the math problem, while getting guidance from the teacher and fellow students. In many ways, this technology brings fun back into learning.

Alexandra Dunn, a Speech Language Pathologist for Upper Canada District School Board, is overwhelmed by the results she is seeing with students. “The transformation has been astounding; we are reaching students in a way we never could before.”

With the SMART Board technology, teachers are excited about the opportunities to enhance and evolve their lesson plans. SMART Boards are motivating students and teachers alike. The impact on student behavior is also noticeable to teachers and can aid in reducing the stress in the work environment.

“The only thing limiting the potential of SMART Board use is the creativity of the instructor,” said Dave Balfour, a SDC Teacher at Chimo Elementary School in Smith Falls, Ontario.

Through a growing collection of websites, including one provided by Smart Technologies, teachers have access to the experiences of other educators and lesson plans for their SMART Board. Also, teachers are sharing their class plans over the Internet. This lessens their need to recreate and reinvent and instead see what is working in other classrooms around the world.

“I am revitalized, invigorated, it feels like I’m starting teaching all over again after 21 years,” said Eric Thomas. “It grasps all students’ attention and makes whole class instruction easier and more meaningful for both the students and myself.”

Secrets to Becoming SMART Board Savvy

Get Trained
Look for professional development classes or seminars in your area. There are many things to consider when choosing an education partner to support the implementation of technology in your school district. Look for a partner who has a combination of experience, reputation and expertise to ensure a successful and smooth integration of technology in your organization.

One way to measure the quality of a potential partner is to look at the types of awards and certifications held by the organization and its workers. Out of class training and seminars, like those presented by Advanced Education, are a great way for teachers to see the possibilities of whiteboards beyond a way to present a PowerPoint. (Advanced Education is a leading provider of SMART Board professional development for teachers involved in K-12 education in Ontario, working with more than 5,000 educators each year.)

Read Up
Globally, the media and blog-o-sphere are starting to pay attention to SMART Boards and how they can transform the classroom and students’ education. There are great stories on how they are helping particular age groups, children with learning disabilities and different courses. Educators are posting information every day on their experiences including what works and what doesn’t work.

Get Hands On
The best way to delve into any new technology is to get hands on with it. When you have access, try out all the features and ask questions - you won’t break it!

Taking It Further
We are just at the beginning of exploring all the areas of education that are transformed by the SMART Board - the only limit is imagination.

SMART Boards in Action: Inclusivity
Meaningful integration of students with severe learning disabilities into regular classrooms can be a daunting task.

Thanks to a vision by the Psychology Department at the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB), hard work by teachers, support from senior administration in the school district, and support from the Ministry of Education, exciting things are happening.

In the summer of 2008, UCDSB moved forward with a pilot project using SMART Boards to integrate autistic students into the regular classroom. Within weeks of starting the project, teachers were reporting exciting results. A parent of a special needs student from Chino Elementary School, says that the introduction of the technology has changed his son’s entire life outside of the classroom.

Alison Inglis, the project manager noted, “All students are included as active participants in learning academic content in relevant areas, ensuring they have opportunities to form social relationships and friendships with peers; and they acquire relevant, functional skills in non-academic areas. The goal for all students is meaningful educational and social participation.”

For many teachers, SMART Boards are a new and important direction to learning and creating inclusivity in the classroom.

Author: John Palbom

AVerMedia has been honored with three prestigious awards for product design - the AVerVision CP300 Interactive Document Camera  and the SPB350 Visual Presenter by the 2009 ‘iF’ and ‘Red Dot’ Design Awards respectively - two of the most important international design achievements worldwide. AVerMedia’s security division was also recognized with the CES 2009 ‘Best of Innovations Award’ for the EB1704HB WiFi-4 Security System, the world’s first security system that can be fully installed by anyone in under 10 minutes and provides crystal-clear surveillance video by simply powering it on.

AVerVision CP300 - a revolutionary addition to any presentation environment

Not only is the AVerVision CP300 Interactive Document Camera a revolutionary addition to any classroom, boardroom or courtroom presentation environment, it is an affordable visual solution with a flexible, compact design delivering a high quality live image and one-touch controls.

The 3.2 mega pixel camera head sensor ensures crystal clarity for live demonstrations, as well as image and video capture. The CP300 was chosen as one of 802 award recipients out of 2,808 total entries for the prestigious ‘iF Design Award’ honor based on design quality, innovation, functionality, material, ergonomics, environmental compatibility, and brand value.

AVerMedia’s SPB350 - innovation, functionality and quality all rolled into one

AVerMedia’s SPB350 Platform Visual Presenter received an international ‘Red Dot’ award for innovation, functionality and quality. Over 11,000 entries were submitted for recognition in many categories for this year’s ‘Red Dot Design Awards’. The SPB350 is AVerMedia’s first 1080p HD output Visual Presenter with a 5 megapixel camera, 160x total zoom and integrated lightbox for viewing slides, negatives or x-rays.

The EB1704HB WiFi-4 security system - advanced video intelligence

AVerMedia’s security division is also very excited about the CES ‘Best of Innovations Award’ for their plug-and-play security product. The EB1704HB WiFi-4 security system integrates a powerful Network Video Recorder, state-of-the-art wireless router and four pre-configured wireless IP cameras. It can connect to virtually any LCD or TV monitor and includes video intelligence that senses danger and reacts instantly by sending alerts accessible through a cell phone, PDA or remote computer.

Want to know more?

For more information on the AVerVision CP300 Interactive Document Camera, SPB350 Visual Presenter, the EB1704HB WiFi-4 security system or any other AVerMedia audio visual solutions, contact Advanced Inc. today or call us TOLL FREE: (800) 436-6239.

Advanced Education is committed to helping educators make the most of technology in learning and will be running our new SMART Discovery Series at various locations between May 20 and June 2, 2009.

It’s simply the best possible way to experience the power of SMART Board™ Interactive whiteboards, Document Cameras and other technology products for the classroom - including the revolutionary SMART Table.

Whether you’re new to presentation technology in learning, or an administrator wanting to discover more, join the Advanced Education Group as we bring our SMART Discovery Series to a city near you.

Locations
Toronto - May 20 |  Mississauga - May 22 | Peterborough - May 25 | Ottawa - June 2

Sign-up and win!
Register and attend a Discovery Series event and you could win:

• A SMART Board™ Interactive whiteboard.
• Document Cameras.
• SMART Response - Interactive Smart Response system.

Limited space
Events are FREE. However, space is limited to 40 people per session - so don’t delay book today!

To sign-up for these unmissable events, simply register now - it only takes a few moments.

Need more info?
See more detailed information about our Discovery Series including:

• Dates & locations.
• Featured products.
• Workshop content.

Advanced Education. Certified, curriculum-based, professional development from Canada’s #1 SMART dealer.

Mississauga, Toronto, ON. - APRIL 2009.

Leading provider of audio visual solutions across Canada, Advanced Inc., has  qualified as an InfoComm International Diamond AudioVisual Solutions Provider (AVSP).

This designation recognizes that a percentage of the company’s sales, customer service and technical staff have achieved and maintained individual InfoComm Certification and have completed relevant coursework from the InfoComm Academy.

InfoComm awards individual Certification to audiovisual professionals who have demonstrated knowledge and comprehension of the science and technology used in communications including audio, video, display and systems.

“…professionalism and an aspiration to excellence…”

“An AVSP designation gives AV companies a competitive advantage in the marketplace,” said Randal A. Lemke, InfoComm International’s executive director.

He added, “Customers of audiovisual communications and presentation systems can be confident of professionalism and an aspiration to excellence when working with these companies that have invested in education and training to stay current on the latest AV technologies and techniques.”

Emphasis on best practice

The company-level AVSP recognition program is the only such program available for the commercial audiovisual industry. In addition to confirming that a percentage of the company’s employees are InfoComm certified and have completed important coursework, the Diamond AVSP designation means that Advanced Inc. has agreed to comply with 10 Standards of Excellence developed in collaboration with industry experts to emphasize the best practices of audiovisual businesses.

Customers first

The Standards of Excellence are a guidepost for audiovisual companies and professionals who place the customer first and offer quality audiovisual solutions. They include the commitment to provide complete customer satisfaction with audiovisual solutions that provide value to the client.

They convey the importance that audiovisual solutions providers place on their own skills development through continuing education. They also cover the critical role that audiovisual professionals play as partners with IT specialists, architects, building managers and others.

What are the ‘Ten Standards of Excellence?’

Developed in collaboration with industry experts to emphasize the best practices of AV businesses, Advanced Inc. adheres to the following standards:

1. Complete Solutions - The AV Solutions Provider (AVSP) works to provide a comprehensive AV system that meets the client’s communications needs.
2. Informed Advice - The AVSP pursues a collaborative relationship with the client to understand the needs and recommend solutions to achieve complete customer satisfaction.
3. Best Value - The AVSP seeks to give the client the best possible value and return on investment.
4. On-Going Technical Support - The AVSP provides on-going support for the AV system through warranty and maintenance programs to ensure the system’s usability and the client’s satisfaction.
5. Systems Compatibility - The AVSP designs or provides a seamless operational interface for components used in a rental environment or permanent installation to create a stable and viable system.
6. Scalability - The AVSP designs and integrates AV systems that promote ease-of-use, long-term cost-effectiveness and upgradeability.
7. Clear Scope of Work - The AVSP specifies in the proposal and quotation all the necessary components and services required to create the AV system and clearly calls out and discusses any exceptions.
8. Appropriate Documentation - The AVSP provides appropriate and complete documentation of the system as specified in the vendor’s proposal and quotation or the consultant’s specification.
9. Expert Technical Staff - AVSP staff are in programs to become industry certified, to maintain their certification and to keep current on new developments in AV technology.
10. Training Support - The AVSP is a source of professional training services to help the client become proficient in using AV technologies and systems and to advance their communications goals.

Get in touch

For more information on this designation, contact Advanced Inc. via this website, e-mail us or call us on (905) 502-1110.

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