Smart Technologies has launched Smart Exchange, a new online community that will help educators around the world share information, connect with colleagues and collaborate on various topics, regardless of distance or time zones.

Smart Exchange goes beyond a text-based forum and gives members access to an events calendar, photo gallery and resource downloads. The community provides a central space for sharing teaching ideas and best practices, posting tips and connecting with Smart experts. It also offers a variety of tools, information and resources that teachers can use to create engaging and interactive learning environments, said an official spokesman.

The network brings dozens of existing Smart communities together, connecting educators, Smart product users and in-house subject experts. Features and resources will be continually updated and added so members are assured they have the latest information at their fingertips.

Smart Exchange allows teachers to stay up-to-date with RSS feeds on selected topics and key word tags to help find specific content. It also offers membership badges to add to personal blogs or websites.

In its first implementation, Smart Exchange caters to English-speaking educators, and multi-language support is scheduled for spring 2008. Smart Exchange replaces Smart’s previously offered Bulletin Board.

The online community is available at no cost, and educators can register by visiting Smart Exchange at https://exchange.smarttech.com

“By sharing ideas via SMART Exchange, teachers will find completely different avenues to teach the same thing, enabling them to open their perspectives to new and innovative ideas. Teachers in the Middle East can stay abreast of the latest and most effective teaching methods from around the world,” said director, Intmark Distribution, Maher Husseini.
  
“Community and social networks are growing in popularity for teachers and administrators around the world,” said Smart’s CEO Nancy Knowlton.

“Smart Exchange caters to this growing interest by offering up-to-date information and resources, and the option to connect directly with subject matter experts and educators at any time,” Knowlton added. – TradeArabia News Service