SMART Technologies' releases global outcomes research and provides professional development for hundreds of teachers at Inspire Greatness conference

Research-driven professional development conference brings together thought leaders, students and teachers to advance outcomes in education.

CALGARY, Alberta and SYDNEY, Oct. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of educators gathered at Abbotsleigh Junior School in Wahroonga, Sydney for Inspire Greatness 2018, the free, research-driven, professional development conference for all teachers across Australia. Hosted by SMART Technologies, the world leader in education technology, the two-day event showcases global and Australian research, keynote speakers, student-led presentations, and more.

Throughout the innovative event, presenters shared the results of SMART's global outcomes research based on their survey of nearly 700 education leaders to investigate the link between their reported edtech capabilities and learning outcomes. Twenty-two capabilities have been uncovered and Australian leaders were included in the research, resulting in new, specific insights which show how Australian schools compare to schools globally. Initial data demonstrated that training and professional development are capabilities Australia performs well compared to other countries in the global survey. Conference participants were given the survey tool developed by SMART to glean insight and information to help develop an informed plan for their school for better outcomes. Additionally, SMART encourages all education leaders to get a personalized outcomes assessment and roadmap at smarttech.com/profile.

"Through our research, we've learned when compared to the rest of the world, Australia reported very high levels of development in most of the capabilities related to professional development and student assessment, suggesting Australian schools recognize the importance of high-quality professional development for teachers, and that they are focused on building their capabilities to offer it," said Greg Estell, CEO and President of SMART Technologies. "As their partner in education, we want to help teachers and students reach their full potential and we are eager to share the full results of our survey data at Inspire Greatness 2018."

In addition to the global research shared at Inspire Greatness, attendees will learn from students. The Australian winners from the Conrad Foundation's global Conrad Challenge, the annual, entrepreneurial contest for teens around the world, will present their award-winning pitch about an integrated app and database they designed to connect people with autism to potential employers.

To demonstrate the latest education technology trends and illustrate how to enable students with the tools to thrive in a digital future, attendees will have the opportunity to learn from keynote speakers, including:

• Eddie Woo, Leader, Mathematics Growth, NSW Department of Education: Known for posting videos online for a student who was missing a lot of school due to a cancer diagnosis, Wootube now boasts more than 300,000 subscribers and has attracted more than 19 million views worldwide. Woo will hold a book signing at the conference for attendees.
• Phil Lambert, President of the Australian College of Educators: Dr. Lambert will draw on his work as the curriculum expert to the OECD 2030 project and his engagements in reforms in a range of countries to highlight: the focus being directed towards digital technologies; how this differs across countries; the drivers behind this; the approach being taken in Australia; and expected future directions.
• Giancarlo Brotto, SMART's Global Education Strategist: With more than 20 years of experience working in the pre-K through University environments his areas of expertise include education policy, classroom practice, professional development, education research, and educational technology implementation. 

Inspire Greatness takes place October 11-12, 2018.

Please contact Shannon Baker at SmartTechnologies@sparkpr.com for additional information or to coordinate a briefing at Inspire Greatness 2018.

About SMART Technologies
SMART is a world leader in classroom technology, providing interactive solutions to help every student and teacher discover and develop the greatness within them. A consistent innovator for more than 25 years, SMART is the inventor of the SMART Board^® and the developer of SMART Notebook^®, the world's most popular collaborative learning software, and part of the SMART Learning Suite. With their full range of interconnected displays, software, and accessories, used in more than 3 million classrooms, SMART helps students and teachers around the world achieve better learning outcomes. To learn more, visit smarttech.com.

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