BenQ’s RP653 IFP Transforms Learning at Castleberry Independent School District
COSTA MESA, Calif. — Jan. 26, 2017 — BenQ America Corp., an internationally renowned provider of visual display solutions, today announced that the Castleberry Independent School District (ISD) successfully completed the installation of its RP653 Interactive Flat Panel (IFP) displays. Providing engaging curriculum and collaboration, BenQ’s RP653 IFPs were installed in 128 classrooms and administrative conference spaces at the Fort Worth, Texas organization.
“Our previous solution, a whiteboard paired with an interactive projector, was eight years old and starting to fail,” said Renee Smith-Faulkner, assistant superintendent for technology services at Castleberry ISD. “This two-piece system had become an unreliable solution that not only required a lot of resources and time to troubleshoot but was no longer advancing collaborative learning in the classroom or creating an interactive and engaging environment for meetings and planning sessions at the administrative level. Out of the gate, the BenQ RP653 introduced a whole new dynamic and resolved the frustration our teachers, administrators and technology team felt.”
Initially, the school district installed the RP653 65″ IFPs in eight classrooms for a two-week pilot. The trial period was met with overwhelming support. It took very little instruction to get everyone comfortable with using the panels; teachers were immediately able to create new curriculum with the panels that enabled new levels of rigor. The RP653’s full HD screen, 350 cd/m2 screen brightness, and 1,400:1 contrast ratio delivered a crisp, clear and bright image that students can see without leaving their seats. With 20-point multi-touch capabilities, multiple students are able to work side by side at the expansive 65″ screen and simultaneously touch the screen with virtually no delay in screen response. BenQ’s QTouch software also enables students to use different colored pens to annotate and interact with onscreen content. The touchscreen is enhanced with BenQ’s exclusive Eye-Care features, including anti-glare glass to minimize light reflections and improve readability, as well as Low Blue Light and ZeroFlicker™ backlight technologies to help reduce eye fatigue during long hours of content viewing and instruction. Finally, a tempered glass bacteria-resistant coating on the screen helps reduce the spread of germs.
The Castleberry ISD teachers are also tapping into the additional benefits of the IFP’s built-in suite of applications, helping improve classroom management and efficiency. Utilizing DisplayNote, a free bundled desktop and mobile application, educators have been able to create more collaborative lessons by streaming any content directly from their computers or via the cloud to other touchscreens and various devices. In addition, teachers are also using Google Hangouts to create interactive lesson planning sessions with other teachers across the district.
“The challenges Castleberry ISD faced are a great example of the driving force behind BenQ’s advanced classroom technologies,” said J.Y. Hu, vice president, business line management at BenQ America Corp. “The BenQ RP653 IFP, along with our full portfolio of interactive flat panels, is purpose-built to enable more interactive and immersive experiences in the classroom by delivering HD resolution, multi-touch capabilities and collaboration tools. The result is a more connected and enriched learning environment with access to a wider variety of appealing content that makes learning fun and helps students achieve greater success.”
More information on the full line of BenQ products is available at www.BenQ.us.