The document discusses how a school district in Plano, Texas used interactive projector technology from BenQ to enhance learning environments. The district piloted the BenQ MP780ST projectors in classrooms and found that students were more engaged with the interactive features. Based on the success of the pilot, the district plans to equip over 2,000 classrooms with these interactive projectors to improve the learning experience for students and teachers across the district.

1. Ms. Hewett explains, “There is an atmosphere of
Education Matters
learning that can be called the learning environment
circle”.
Interactive projector
technology enhances the
learning environment of the
classroom
Solutions Matter

2. Mary hewett said: “In summary, we be- “The real value however, is the incredible learning curve
lieve that the BenQ MP780ST PointDraw™ students have enjoyed”.
projector has completely changed the
learning environment in the classroom”.
WHAT RESEARCH SHOWED:
Before deciding to use the new interactive projector
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT: technology, Plano ISD worked with various brands
As in most school districts, for 6,500+ 4,200 teachers to pilot the PointDraw™ SmartDraw technology in
of the Plano, TX Independent school district (ISD), the classroom. The BenQ MP780ST’s were installed
keeping over 554,4000 students engaged is a priority. in two elementary classrooms for testing. The first
anywhere in the classroom. The pen can be used
As early as 2008, many inside Plano ISD were able to one was with a special education classroom. The
on any wall or from any location in the classroom.
preview a Texas Instrument innovation that allowed teacher had a 2 minute training from the manufac-
as the pen can work from anywhere in the class-
a projector to integrate interactivity using the fast turer. The teacher reported no issues in the imple-
room; anyone can use the pen from anywhere in
speed of the DLP chipset. It was obvious even at that mentation and was up and running quickly.
the classroom. In addition, traditional interactive
early junction that a greater interactive experience board solutions are quite expensive. The price for
could play a pivotal role in the engagement and The deployment at Plano ISD had to be done cau-
an interactive whiteboard is roughly twice the cost
sustained learning objectives of the school district, tiously. They started with Haun Elementary as a
of the BenQ MP780ST interactive projector (and it
given the current realities mentioned above. Plano test site with 43 classrooms. They have been using tional visual performance which makes running signaling and power cabling
does not even include the projector”). During the
teachers had the desire for Smartboard interactive the technology since the beginning of 2010. Plano 2) Overall Product quality simpler. Since each classroom is different, installa-
research period, Plano ISD actually purchased a few
whiteboard-like technologies which would fit well has have since completed installation in 11 more 3) Comfortable pen design and recharge capabilities tion designs maps had to be done on a classroom by
interactive whiteboards and tested them extensively
with the current model of projectors with wire- elementary schools and are already working on 14 4. Smooth pen operation, hence low pen latency classroom basis. During this project BenQ designed a
before making their decision.
less keyboards/mice and annotation software. The more in 32 more elementary campuses before fall. when interacting with the material. custom ceiling mount for the projector to accommo-
addition of the SmartDraw technology would add The final objective is to equip over 2,000 district 5. Little to no learning curve for the instructor date each of the installation hurdles encountered. The
There has been plenty of published research around
SITUATION AND CHALLENGE: that additional built-in interactivity. Interactivity in classrooms with this technology. To complete 6. Low maintenance. district is currently evaluating the use of chalkboards
the use of interactive technology, showing that kids
As in most school districts, for 16,500+ teachers of the past for Plano ISD meant that the student would the learning experience, in addition to install- 7. Competitive price. for some of the rooms as the BenQ MP780ST has
learn better, are engaged longer and the teacher has
the Plano, TX Independent school district (ISD), use a keyboard and wireless mouse. This was a very ing interactive projectors, they are also equipping a feature called wall color correction that allows to
greater flexibility. In reality, learning is facilitated by
keeping over 53,000 students engaged has become reasonable approach at the time, but there was still each classroom with a quality document camera The BenQ Q-Draw software package which is color compensate so that a blackboard can be used
enabling a learning environment within the class-
a moving target. Today’s media savvy youth are so room for improvement as the technology would that allows teachers and students to share all kinds bundled with the projector came out ahead of all to display an image. This implementation could save
room. The BenQ MP780ST allows the teacher to
connected that they consume content at an increas- break through. Old style “interactivity” just wasn’t of material. Furthermore, they are able to utilize competing vendors, and the school district Plano hundred dollars per classroom by repurposing exist-
change the strategy on how teaching happens within
ingly faster pace. In the meantime, the classroom ex- good enough anymore. Plano ISD knew they could SAFARIMontage for digital content management ISD ultimately chose to acquire a district 150,000 ing equipment.
the classroom. As the teaching strategy changes then
perience has devolved into simply an exercise of bal- improve. Other districts started adopting interactive as well support video conferencing using the same QDraw licenses for QDraw software that were
learners and the atmosphere within the whole class
ancing classroom culture, curriculum, participation, whiteboards, but Plano ISD decided not to head in document camera. bundled with the product itself. This district license IN SUMMARY:
culture changes. The BenQ MP780ST pen projector
pace and schedule with little room for innovation that direction given that teachers are constrained also includes the rights to share with parents and According to Juan Alvarez, Director of US Education
and PointDraw™ pen which allows for a collabo-
and attention to student engagement on their terms. by the interactive white board itself and it did not RESULTS OF SCHOOL DISTRICT’S RESEARCH: students at home use of the software. BenQ was for BenQ, Plano ISD selected BenQ for its superior
ration partnership anywhere in the classroom,
A teacher using only the typical tools available in the allow provide flexibility and natural flow around the Mary Hewett, Executive Director of Instructional also flexible and listened to their specific needs and product and video quality, the interactive pen and
provides this two-way learning environment.
classroom must compete with Call of Duty, Halo 3, classroom. Technology commented “This interactive technol- customized an offering for them. BenQ has an premier technical and administrative service they
Rock Band, and Just Dance to actually teach. Add ogy has completely changed the way the classroom education division and was able to provide excellent received. The real value however, is the incredible
ULTIMATELY PLANO ISD CHOSE BENQ:
FaceBook, texting, television, movies, iPad content, Projection systems can vary widely in brightness, works. It has changed the classrooms and allowed local customer support during the process and while learning curve students have enjoyed. Ultimately, the
The district extensively researched the projector
NetFlix, Apple TV, 3D movies and Blu-ray, and the clarity, throw distances, resolution, inputs, and the teacher to enhanced the classroom learning the deployment was happening. Plano Independent School District plans on equip-
vendors using an interactive engine. The BenQ
whole challenging picture of student engagement in maintenance. Plano ISD began looking to upgrade experience for teachers and students. Within a ping over 2000 classrooms with BenQ’s PointDraw™
brand kept coming out on top with relationship to
learning starts to come into focus. the projectors in their elementary school class- classroom,” Ms. Hewett explains, “There is an at- SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR THOUGHTS: interactive technology.
the desired standards and issues:
rooms, and during this research they discovered the mosphere of learning that can be called the learning Mary Hewett said: “In summary, we believe that the
1) First and foremost the projector must have excep-
How can our communities expect teachers, in BenQ PointDraw™ system. Now with help from environment circle”. This circle includes teacher, BenQ MP780ST PointDraw™ projector has com-
the era of decreasing budgets, greater restrictions, BenQ and their PointDraw™ integrated projectors learners, curriculum, atmosphere and facility. Tra- pletely changed and enhanced the learning environ-
noisy media from every direction, and larger class that are being installed into all Plano ISD elemen- ditional interactive technologies are focused on in- ment in the classroom. It starts with a different a
sizes, to accomplish their education goals with all tary classrooms these challenges are being met. teracting with the teacher only as the teacher needs new teaching tool, which transforms the lesson plan
these challenges? Furthermore, there is continuing to be at the board to work with the class. With this strategy for the teacher. This then, transforms how
pressure from the state and civic authorities to raise Plano ISD is one of the 14th largest districts in the technology, the interaction happens everywhere and the children learn and interact, renovating the learn-
test scores, which increases stress for even our best state of Texas, and carries influ- ing environment within the classroom as a whole.”
instructors. ence nationally as one of the most
progressive districts in incorporat- PROJECT EXECUTION:
The traditional technology augmentation imple- ing technology. The school district When installing technology into existing facilities
mentation within the classroom has helped. encompasses approximately one there is always an onsite learning curve, such as; the
However, the usual way technology gets utilized is hundred square miles and includes kind of construction, how the school is wired and all
one-to-one or it is simply a monitor type display, 693 campus sites, and has grown of the other details needed in a successful installa-
which tends to offer too little group interactivity and in recent years, with over 2500 new tion. These projectors made the integration process
be too small to engage the entire class. students in just the last year alone much easier. The model MP780ST is a short throw
continues to add new students each projector, meaning that the projector can be placed
year. much closer to the projection screen or surface,
Designed For Education...
• Future Proof • Affordable • Excellent Quality