AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At Manor Independent School district in the Austin area, students have explored a book bonanza, learned about intergalactic travel, measured sources of energy, built companies, met flying foxes, and watched test tubes explode without setting foot outside their classroom. Thanks to a grant from Samsung Austin Semiconductor (SAS), these sessions and dozens more were made possible by Nepris, a cloud-based technology platform, which connects teachers with experts and working professionals for online live interactions with students.
Last year in a limited number of Manor ISD schools, Samsung pilot tested Nepris, which virtually connected teachers and students with Samsung employees and other professionals. Teachers overwhelmingly commended Nepris for how it opened doors and brought exciting live conversations and virtual tours of faraway workspaces to their students. With the positive feedback, Samsung decided to extend the sponsorship for an additional three years. Now every teacher at Manor has the ability to invite thousands of professionals into their classroom for online interactive sessions.
“We have always supported Manor ISD through employee engagement opportunities, but with a technology platform like Nepris, it provides an avenue for Samsung employees to engage with classrooms more frequently versus once or twice a year during career days or onsite visits,” said Melanie Flowers, human resources development manager at SAS.
Nepris is a community of teachers and professionals who want to collaborate with each other but haven’t been able to connect efficiently and effectively until now. Teachers can request a virtual session with professionals, researchers, experts and companies to bring abstract topics to life, to mentor students on projects or evaluate student work. Companies like Samsung can easily engage their employees by offering mock interviews, virtual tours, and “meet the engineer”-like sessions focusing on STEM and the Arts. Any number of classrooms can sign up easily to participate in these online interactive conversations.
Angela Matthews, chief technology officer of Manor ISD describes Nepris as a way to “tear down the walls.” “Our students are able to experience the world outside Manor ISD. The real world is brought directly to them. The students, whether in first grade or seniors in high school, are able to see the connection of what they learn in the classroom to real world experiences. Having professionals interact directly with the students makes the curriculum come to life.”
“At Samsung, our goal is to open students’ eyes and inspire their inquisitive nature. Through Nepris, Samsung employees can make an impact beyond where we can physically travel. Now, our employees can reach students locally or across the globe with the same amount of effort,” added Mrs. Flowers.
Nepris offers teachers the ability to see archived sessions for free, to sign-up for a license to request sessions of their own, or to participate in industry offered sessions at Nepris.com.
About Nepris
Dallas-based Nepris gives companies, professionals and experts a way to reach out to and connect with classrooms while providing teachers a way to reach out to and connect with professionals. Through Nepris, classroom learning comes to life in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and the Arts. The planning, connecting and meeting occurs online through the Nepris social community. Sessions range from interactive Q&As with working professionals, to virtual field trips, to project mentorships, to live Shark Tanks. See Nepris in action at Nepris.com/webinar or sign-up as a teacher or professional at Nepris.com.
Additional photos available. Interviews upon request.
