ELMO USA and SAFARI Montage Integrate 21st Century Classroom Technologies to Support Visual Learning Initiatives at Plano ISD

Wynnewood, PA (June 8, 2010) - ELMO USA and SAFARI Montage announce the collaboration of their technologies into a networked system to support the Plano Independent School District’s (Plano ISD) K-12 e-learning initiatives throughout 69 schools and 4,014 classrooms.

ELMO USA will supply Plano ISD with an initial 1,800 P30S digital document cameras which are now integrated into the SAFARI Montage 4.1 system, a comprehensive single browser-based interface providing on-demand access to all classroom devices, multimedia tools and content to support teachers with their digital lesson plans, and enhance the visual learning experience of students.

“SAFARI Montage assisted Plano ISD with selecting a digital document camera with features that are dynamic, easy to control through a web-based interface, and fully integratable with their central network server,” said Tim Beekman, President of SAFARI Montage. “21st century classroom technologies, such as digital document cameras, are becoming more popular in the elementary education curriculum, and Plano ISD had a clear scope of how its integration on a district level would enhance the dynamics of teaching and learning.”

Matt Takekoshi, President of ELMO USA Corporation, agrees: “The Plano Independent School District is applying the advanced capabilities of the P30S digital document camera, through the unit’s integration with the SAFARI Montage system, to create a virtual network that provides access to new media resources, inspires creativity, and stimulates learning interactions throughout its district and beyond.”

According to Plano ISD Executive Director Instructional Technology Mary Hewett, the District selected ELMO USA’s P30S model for its image power and clarity, real time video capability through 30 fps full-motion video, and the unit’s seamless integration with SAFARI Montage media player and live video conference system.

“We were looking for a single solution web and document camera that would fit our budget and also meet our need for real-time 30 fps full-motion video conferencing,” said Hewett. “Through ELMO USA’s versatile P30S document camera and the SAFARI Montage system, we are now able to provide video conferencing capabilities in every classroom. We also eliminated the need for separate cameras and peripherals - giving our teachers complete control and functionality through a single interface. These technologies provide a real winning combination for Plano ISD.”

Other features of the P30S that will be utilized by Plano ISD teachers and students is an advanced progressive scan camera system and 16x optical zoom capabilities that capture the finest 2D and 3D details with stunning clarity. A free-angle camera arm and lamp allows for flexible, custom positioning and lighting. Also, a built-in LCD monitor allows teachers to view information while continuing to face the classroom.

When connected to the SAFARI Montage system, the P30S is auto detected to give teachers immediate control of all functions of the document camera from the SAFARI Montage Media Player, including auto focus, brightness and zoom. Teachers and students can also use the SAFARI Montage Media Player to capture still images taken through the P30S and upload them to a central library of digital assets.

The P30S document camera, combined with the user-friendly interface of the SAFARI Montage Media Player, video conferencing system and digital media management tools, provides Plano ISD with a visual learning solution that can enhance students’ attention and motivation to become active participants in lessons. Visual learning technology has also been shown to stimulate focus on learning materials through a more interactive and engaging approach, and students not only seem to understand the material faster, but they appear to retain the information longer.

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About SAFARI Montage

SAFARI Montage provides K-12 school districts with a comprehensive solution for their digital media networking and visual instruction needs. The full suite of integrated products provides a single interface for accessing all visual resources from inside the school district intranet or from home. The award-winning SAFARI Montage Video-On-Demand and Digital Media Management enterprise solution is designed to cut costs for school districts by utilizing intelligent digital media delivery, while facilitating visual instruction and learning in the classroom. SAFARI Montage servers come preloaded with educational video titles tied to the curriculum from the industry’s leading video publishers. In addition, SAFARI Montage provides the ability for school districts to easily upload and manage their own digital video and other content, and easily disseminate it to all classrooms throughout the district. With the introduction of its new Pathways SM module, SAFARI Montage now provides a solution for districts to control, manage and schedule classroom and district devices.

About ELMO USA

ELMO USA has been a leader in education technology for more than 80 years. The company’s cutting-edge innovations are shaping the future of visual communications. Foremost among these innovations are teaching tools for dynamic classroom presentations. ELMO’s groundbreaking document cameras and visual presenters benefit students by enabling instructors to incorporate stimulating high-resolution visuals into their lesson plans. These value-priced, full-featured teaching tools offer a level of interactivity and spontaneity that static transparencies or “one-dimensional, pre-planned” laptop and desktop computer lessons simply do not. ELMO USA offers a full line of document cameras for every budget and application that all classrooms require. For more information about ELMO’s educational products, visit www.elmousa.com or call 1.800.947.ELMO.

Media Contacts:

Michael Berger
ELMO USA, Media Relations
412.471.0840, berger@krome.com

Melissa Esser

SAFARI Montage/Library Video Company
Vice President of Marketing
610.645.4000 ext. 103, melissa@safarimontage.com