It enhances instruction by allowing the teacher to virtually see into the minds of each student in the class. GroupWare Classroom, which is applicable for all school levels from elementary to college, is available in two configurations. For schools where students are using networked computers, there is the Intranet Browser Version, in which students view and respond to multimedia lesson activity using a Java-enabled Internet browser. Version, a durable infrared wireless system in which students use low-profile desktop terminals for lesson activity. GroupWare Classroom allows students to respond to a teacher's questions in their own words.
Students can also send private messages or questions to the teacher with the system.
A teacher can give students immediate feedback on their work by activating a feature that informs them whether or not they've answered a question correctly. GroupWare Classroom is the first educational technology that directly supports the teacher's role as the instructional facilitator who is most accountable for student achievement. The program's development was based on years of research into how technology can foster interactive communication between teachers and students. Earlier versions have been used for several years in schools, primarily in the Midwest. The company's first full-school implementation is at Highwood Hills Elementary in Saint Paul, Minn., where it is used daily by every teacher in each of 20 classrooms.