Sydney primary school students will undertake joint lessons with their classroom counterparts in Japan for the next three years as part of a distance learning program that will begin in October.
Grade Three students from Cromer Public School in New South Wales and Kansai University Elementary School in Osaka will receive weekly language and culture lessons using a range of tools such as high-definition video conferencing and interactive whiteboards.
The first of its kind, Global Classroom is a joint initiative between Kansai University and the global Panasonic Education Foundation.
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Students from the schools will share one joint class per week, and communicate with each other during a 15 minute connection each morning. The program will be extended to other students at the two schools in the following years.
Greg Jones, Principal, Cromer Public School, said the initiative will be of huge benefit to students. He said: “Primary schools do not always have access to language specialists and distance learning programs such as this one can help overcome this.”
Cromer’s futuristic classroom, comprising some of the most advanced teaching and teleconferencing tools, is expected to be completed in November, with Panasonic donating products, installation and support both in Australia and Japan.
Technologies to be used include interactive whiteboards that can instantly transfer data and teacher notes between classrooms, high definition video conferencing equipment and plasma screens.
Mark Deere-Jones, Director, Business Systems Group, Panasonic Australia, said it will be the first time that many of the technologies will be used in Australia.
Kansai University has also been working with the Department of Education to develop a curriculum that would enrich the multicultural knowledge of Japanese and Australian students.
Meanwhile Panasonic Australia has also launched its first short throw projector, for use with the latest interactive multi-touch whiteboard, the Panaboard UB-T880.
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| The PT-ST10 short throw projector |
The PT-ST10 can project an impressive 80-inch diagonal image from just 0.71 metres away from the board, allowing users to create big pictures in smaller spaces. Offering 1024 x 768 XGA resolution, the PT-ST10 produces 2,500 lumens of brightness. It weighs just 3.1kg, and with Panasonic’s Intelligent Power Management circuitry, ensures continuous and stable operation even if electricity fluctuates for a short duration.
Power consumption is a mere 0.4W in Eco Standby Mode, reducing environmental impact, and it also has uncoated cabinet that does not use halogenated flame retardants. The lens uses lead-free glass and an Auto Off Timer switches the projector to Standby mode when no input signal is received for a preset time. When in eco mode, the new lamp drive system enables a 5,000-hour lamp replacement cycle to make it easier to maintain.
Panasonic’s newest interactive whiteboard, the UB-TBB0, is a 77 inch model aimed at the education market, and is the first model to feature multitouch operation.
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| Panasonic’s UB-TBB0 interactive whiteboard with PT-ST10 projector |
The durable and long lasting multi-touch surface can be operated with a finger or the electronic pen, with all movements relayed directly to the board surface for smooth, seamless and comfortable operation. The multi-touch operation also allows for Dynamic Image Control so images can be easily moved, scaled or rotated with the fingers or the electronic pen.
David Cuckney, AV/IT Group Manager, Panasonic Australia, said: “As well as being able to get a group of up to three students working on the Panaboard to solve a problem, the entire classroom can enjoy the extensive benefits of the new models, such as durability, non-reflective viewing angle, built-in stereo speakers and the
Electronic Pen for enhanced learning,” he continued.
The UB-T880 also continues to feature integrated speakers for a full multimedia experience to make lessons more engaging, as well as two additional USB ports for easy connection to peripheral devices like digital cameras and microscopes.
For greater flexibility within the classroom, the new model is also compatible with an optional wireless kit, so there is no need for a cable to connect the computer to the board. In addition, by connecting the optional install free kit which comes with application software, the application can be used immediately without having to install to a PC.
The 77 inch model will retail at $2,869 and the PT-ST10 is available at an RRP of $1599. Both are available now.
