PolyVision provides “e3 environmental ceramicsteel” as part of the furniture for an interactive TV, which plays an instrumental part in Turkey’s FATIH Education Project
Belgium, 11th July, 2012
PolyVision, a leader in the development of teaching and learning technology, has been instrumental to the FATIH Project by providing all the ceramic steel writing surface for the boards that will incase LCD TVs, to be introduced to an estimated 620,000 classrooms, enabling ICT supported teaching in Turkish schools.
The FATIH Project is one of the biggest national school refresh projects ever undertaken to improve technology and promote efficient use of ICT tools in learning. The project, which is expected to cost about 3 billion (Turkish Lira), will be paid for through the Transportation Ministry’s Universal Service Budget. It pledges to provide ICT equipment in the form of tablet PCs and interactive TVs, and comprehensive teacher training to 42,000 schools in Turkey by the end of 2013.
After years of lobbying by Mr. Recep Tanisman from Turkish board company, EMKO Emaye, in 2008 the Government shifted from only implementing melamine boards in schools, to specifying ” e3 environmental ceramicsteel” for their chalk and dry marker school boards. This was the start of the new concept for educational tools in Turkey’s government schools and last year the FATIH Project was officially launched. It involved the introduction of a new educational tool: a piece of furniture with a fixed, green, ceramic steel chalk board on one side and a 65 inch LCD television on the other. A whiteboard sits between the two and can be slid in front of the green chalk board to reveal the television.
PolyVision’s trusted relationship with EMKO Emaye spans an impressive 25 years, therefore, when the significant contract was signed between EMKO Emaye and Turkish contractor, Vestel, PolyVision was asked to supply enough ceramic steel for over 250,000m² of writing surface.
PolyVision Sales Director, Benny Thomas commented; “This project marks the beginning of a new era of information technology in Turkey and one we have been heavily investing in for many years now. With this new tool we have seen Turkey step into ICT for the future without isolating traditional tools, such as the chalk board and whiteboard. In this way, neither the older nor the younger generation of Turkish teachers are isolated; both can happily co-exist using the functionality most comfortable to them, all the while benefitting their students”
We are extremely privileged to be a part of such a poignant tipping point for education. And in keeping with the project’s long-term strategy, we too anticipate that the future will see textbooks eliminated, a tablet PC for each student, and interactive TVs in the classroom becoming the norm.”
“As a leader in the development of ceramic steel surfaces and education technology, PolyVision was poised for a project such as FATIH”, stated Rob Heitmeier, PolyVision General Manager. “The ministry’s vision to fuse technology, pedagogy and space is at the heart of PolyVision’s mission in education.”