Earlier this year, 8 teachers from Calgary, Canada along with two delegates from the Calgary Board of Education got the exciting opportunity to travel to Colombia as part of a SMART pilot teacher exchange program. Even though the selected teachers went in with a variety of backgrounds and experience levels, they all had one thing in common: a commitment to using collaborative technologies in their classroom.

The goal of the pilot was to promote the use of technology solutions in Colombian classrooms, while at the same time offering opportunities for a shared cultural and educational experience between teachers from both countries.

The teachers from Canada participated in school visits – many already outfitted with SMART products – allowing for interactive discussions about how classroom technology is being use in Colombian schools. This gave teachers the chance to interact with their Colombian counterparts through classroom tours, teacher presentations and break out sessions. The teachers also had the opportunity to share their skills and knowledge of collaborative technology during two workshops attended by more then 200 Colombian teachers.

In addition to the valuable networking and collaboration with the Colombian teachers, the Canadian visitors got a chance to experience some local Colombian culture, enjoy traditional food and music, as well as take in some world-class soccer.

Teachers from both countries are excited for part two in Calgary this fall, where there will be further professional development opportunities for everyone involved, as well as a chance for the Columbian teachers to experience a taste of Canadian culture. SMART will be working to launch this program throughout North America and eventually around the world. Stay tuned for more information on how you can get involved in 2012.