Promethean enables UK and Chinese children to share live-lesson through interactive classroom solutions

Event part of John Hutton, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform visit to China

London, UK, 6th June 2008 – Children aged 6-13 from the UK and China yesterday connected digitally, through Promethean’s interactive classroom solutions enabling them to participate in a live Mandarin and English lesson. The link-up was part of John Hutton’s trip to China to demonstrate the use of technology by British firms in China and the potential opportunity for future investment.

To view and upload photos and the video footage of this event please visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27366215@N05/?saved=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8cnzHVsDXY

* WHAT – The pupils participated in a language lesson, learning the names of shapes in English and Mandarin via their Promethean Activboards (interactive whiteboards). They also discussed the recent earthquake and its effects on pupils in China

* WHERE: Lambeth Academy in Clapham, UK and Houhai school in Shenzhen, China

* HOW: The live link-up was created using Elluminate and Promethean’s interactive software. The children could view and communicate on each other’s interactive whiteboards and interact in realtime with the other class.

The lesson is particularly relevant as a growing number of schools are now including the language in their curriculum, with Mandarin being spoken by more than 1.3bn people worldwide.

For more information on the lesson and to view images and a video please visit: www.prometheanworld.com/uk

Quotes

* Lambeth Academy’s Director of Specialism Modern Foreign Languages Ennelyn Schmidt is in charge of developing international links for the school and makes sure that the school offers a truly global education to all its pupils. She says:
“As Mandarin is going to be one of the most important languages for the next generation to learn, this was a great opportunity to teach a very difficult language with the help of native speakers. The interactive solution enables me to break new barriers in learning as it allows my pupils to interact with their peers in a new language and in a different country. The success of this means I can establish more link-ups with schools in other countries and continue to excite the children about the endless possibilities.”

* One pupil Shannon Naughton from class 7R at Lambeth Academy says:
“The lesson was really fun as it’s the first time I’ve spoken to someone in China as we’re starting to learn the language. It was really great to learn more about the Chinese pupils and their country, China is so far away but the link-up made it feel like it was just the other side of the Promethean board.” +

* Secretary of State John Hutton, who watched the lesson from the Chinese school, said:
“The Chinese are investing heavily in educational technology and this demonstrates just what can be achieved. The benefits are huge not just for the companies but for the children who are taught in such a stimulating way using modern technology.”

* Promethean’s Vice Chairman of Education Strategy Stephen Jury, who attended the live lesson in London says:
“Digital tools such as interactive classroom solutions presents new opportunities for teachers to think differently about how to educate children. Teachers now have the opportunity to find innovative and interesting ways to engage children and inspire learning, particularly new languages. This link-up demonstrates the fact the UK is leading the way in raising education standards and is able to provide countries such as China with proven best practice models for teaching in a digital era.”