New STIC in Brazil

Well, I’m off to Copenhagen to meet up with my fellow STIC Managers, but I thought I’d let you know that the 1st STIC outside of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) has opened in Brazil this week. Many congratulations and much good luck to Ana and the Brazil Education Team.

From Ana’s announcement:

We launched our School Technology Innovation Center (STIC) – Brazil on the 10^th of September. This center is located in the city of Campinas, at the Bradesco Institute of Technology. STIC-Brazil core objective is to support research and development to foster proofs of concept and case studies, which leverage a range of innovative practices and devices. It will expand its offer in training, courses, show cases and workshops to Microsoft partners and the community at large.

The day of the event two training sessions took place. A group of 20 teachers from the city Araraquara continued with their Peer Coaching training through a full-day of activities involving 1:1 computing for our Innovative Technology Schools program. In partnership with UNESP, STIC offered a Microsoft Math workshop to both teachers and students of the Technical Course of the Bradesco Foundation School in Campinas.

Our trainees demonstrated some of their recent work involving digital imaging. These included a display of learning objects designed in Expression Blend, an introduction to Grava technology, and a Photosynth display which featured the newly renovated STIC. We presented the application of CmapTools in networked low-cost devices. Furthermore, we demonstrated the Learning Gateway solution being used by the Bradesco Foundation. (Have a Virtual Tour on our STIC ) http://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=a6556b36-befe-4de3-8708-60fc375ae7ec )

Our partners were also given the opportunity to showcase their solutions. Lego demonstrated a wide range of educational low-cost device robotics and MicroPower displayed their Windows-based VirtualVision accessibility software. Not to mention Smart Board, which is already part of STIC’s training environment.

Universities, partners, businesses, schools, and media were represented at the event. The president of Lego Zoom, Mr. Carlos Wesley, and Representatives from both Microsoft and Bradesco Foundation were present, including Denise Aguiar and Mário Hélio (directors of the Bradesco Foundation and members of the Bradesco executive council), Nivaldo Marcusso (CIO-Bradesco Foundation).Michel Levy (Microsoft Brazil GM), Ana Teresa Ralston (Microsoft PiL Lead), André Borges (Microsoft APM STIC Lead) and Tel Amiel PHD who coordinates all the research in place.