Next-Gen, Future-Proof Classroom Display
Wausau School District Relies on BenQ Boards for Its Multitude of License-Free Interactive, Wireless, and Remote Collaboration Capabilities and IT Management Tools
In the dynamic realm of education, where conveying and comprehending detailed information is paramount, modern learning pedagogies recognize the power of student interaction, engagement, and collaborative exploration. For that reason, classroom smart boards stand out as a 21st century necessity. Using smart boards, students are able to make learning gains in comprehension, critical and creative thinking. At Wausau School District in Wisconsin, BenQ Boards were selected for their ability to drive those kinds of learning experiences and those on the horizon.
With 13 facilities and nearly 8,000 K-12 students, Wausau School District placed a premium on finding a smart board solution that surpassed expectations. Their mission, “To advance student learning, achievement, and success,” led them to carefully evaluate various smart board options on the market. A testing group of over 60 individuals, including teachers, coordinators, and administrators, collaborated to identify the perfect fit. BenQ Boards were a resounding choice for many reasons.
“When we began evaluating smart boards, we had very specific needs in terms of quality, setup, and ease of use,” said Reggie Smith, Instructional Technology Integration Specialist and Apple Learning Coach for Wausau School District. “BenQ Boards blew us away with solutions we didn’t even know were possible.”
BenQ Boards are the industry’s first smart boards with germ-resistant screens — part of the company’s ClassroomCare™ benefits. Leveraging BenQ’s years of expertise in engineering medical equipment, BenQ Boards ship with a nano-ionic silver coating (toxin-free guaranteed) that guards against most bacteria, letting instructors teach without worrying about germs spreading among students. This coating provides protection for years, even when the screen is cleaned regularly. With official TÜV and SIAA certification, BenQ interactive displays meet the highest quality standards so schools can maximize the educational potential of collaborative, hybrid classes without creating new health concerns. In addition, as students and teachers spend more class time using interactive screens, it is crucial to safeguard their eyesight; extended exposure to blue light, flicker, and reflections causes eye strain that may lead to damaged eyesight. ClassroomCare tackles this by incorporating BenQ’s EyeSafe features: low-blue light, flicker-free, and glare-resistant properties.
Collaborative, Engaging Presentation: BenQ Board’s EZWrite annotation and collaboration software gives users the freedom to annotate and work directly from the interactive display or a wirelessly connected device. When teachers are creating or presenting lessons, EZWrite’s Floating Tool empowers them to add text to any app, video, website, document, or image. They can also choose the pen color, erase, open files, or take screenshots.
Untethering Teachers and Learning: InstaShare allows students to present their ideas in class, without the hassle of cables, with up to nine screens being shared simultaneously. Where remote students or guests are joining, the display is compatible with all leading videoconferencing software such as Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, with an optional Intel-powered slot-in PC, which expands the utility of the screen even further. At Wausau School District, InstaShare allowed advanced students to remotely join higher level courses offered at the district’s other schools, saving on the cost and time of bussing them and aligning schedules.
BenQ has also made it possible for two apps to be opened on screen side by side, making lessons more efficient. For example, teachers can explain in detail with a whiteboard on one side and support content on the other. Likewise, using InstaShare’s Floating Window mode, they can share a connected screen alongside another app that is in use.
“We didn’t realize how much of an impact InstaShare was going to have,” said Smith. “Going from our previous experience of using a projector and smart board combo where teachers had to have their laptops physically connected to presenting wirelessly was a huge shift. Users are no longer tethered. Teachers would probably rate that as one of their number one feature.”
BenQ Boards’ smart displays also are cloud-friendly, making them the epicenter for classroom management as well as engagement. They eliminate the complexities of using interactive display technology that robs valuable class time or having to depend on connected devices to access and manage files and content. Once teachers are logged in, their personal settings are instantly recalled. They can securely access and save lesson materials on Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or the network. They can also access and log into their most favorite apps. BenQ partners with leading app developers to ensure interoperability, providing direct access to a growing portfolio of the apps and learning software that educators use daily from their BenQ Boards for a more streamlined, future-ready classroom.
Speedy Management Tools: Wausau School District’s decision wasn’t solely driven by the needs of educators. Recognizing the growing responsibilities of their IT staff in managing digital assets, they sought a smart board with streamlined IT management capabilities. The BenQ Display Management System (DMS) proved to be the missing piece, offering remote provisioning, updates, and troubleshooting. IT managers also have access to at-a-glance device analytics for any BenQ display using the included AMS software. They can easily monitor and analyze the status of all the BenQ devices on a single dashboard, including managing displays, apps, and OTA updates remotely for maximum convenience. BenQ Boards also benefit from BenQ’s X-Sign Broadcast software, which turns any BenQ smart board in the school into broadcast signage and allows schools to keep everyone informed and up to date on events, safety protocols, and emergencies.
“We have 13 buildings in the district and three people in our tech department who help oversee everything. It can be incredibly time consuming to go to each building and into each room to set up each smart board. DMS completely changes that process. Once the smart board is installed and connected, I can push updates to every board and troubleshoot from my computer in my office,” said Smith.
Wausau School District’s embrace of BenQ Boards marks a significant stride into the future of education. The smart boards not only met but surpassed the district’s expectations, fostering a dynamic platform for collaborative and interactive learning that prepares students for the future.
