Florida Middle School Transforms into Ed Tech Showcase -- THE Journal

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Florida Middle School Transforms into Ed Tech Showcase

By Scott Aronowitz
01/12/10

In 2009, Ocoee Middle School in Ocoee, FL, underwent a unique transformation. It remains a public middle school, still teaches the usual subjects to the usual suspects, and the Cardinal is still the school mascot. But with a full-scale technological renovation, OMS is now a veritable showcase for technology-enhanced learning.

Every classroom in what is billed on the school's home page as "Florida's State Demonstration School" is now outfitted with a ceiling-mounted projector, document camera, and large video screen. And three of the rooms also contain Calypso ezRoom-5000 classroom A/V systems with integrated voice amplification.

The ezRoom-5000 allows the user to integrate multiple A/V sources, including projectors, interactive whiteboards, document cameras and personal computers, into one centrally controlled system, accessible from an intuitive wall controller or the teacher's PC. In addition, the integrated wireless voice amplification feature allows ensures students will clearly hear all media broadcast to the room via all devices connected to the system.

OMS, which is located nearby the Orange County Convention Center, is offering attendees of the FETC 2010 conference (happening this week in Orlando, FL) an on-site tour of its entire education technology showcase, followed by a light lunch, Friday, Jan. 15. For more information and to register, contact Sharon Calentine at [email protected]. There is also a sign-up display located in the FETC registration area.

About the Author

Scott Aronowitz is a freelance writer based in Las Vegas. He has covered the technology, advertising, and entertainment sectors for seven years. He can be reached here.

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