Hitachi Interactive Whiteboards Add Up For Batesville Math Classes

Batesville Magnet Schools in Batesville, Arkansas have accelerated learning in their math classes with Hitachi Interactive FX-series Whiteboards. Applied across grades four through eight, classroom use of these high-tech teaching tools highlights Batesville Schools’ commitment to providing the very best education for their students. And the successes they’ve seen with the boards illustrate the effectiveness of Hitachi Software products for educators.

“Having such a powerful visual aid makes the lessons go so much quicker, everything is right up there for the students to see,” said Angie Bone, an eighth grade math teacher for Batesville Junior High. “I can put my worksheets right on the board without taking the time to write everything out.”

Bone has also found that using the board makes it easier to juggle lessons for students in all class levels: Advanced Algebra I and all levels of 8th grade math. At the end of each lesson, all she needs to do is capture the period’s work and save it, then open up the previous day’s work to continue where the next class left off the day before.

She also enjoys using the “Screen Block” feature with her worksheets, putting problems on the board and covering the answers. After giving students a chance to work on the problems, she can reveal the answers with a quick move of her pen. The interactive capability makes for a more captivating experience for the students.

The board also allows her to work through complicated algebra step-by-step. “It’s really important for the students to see the whole process,” continued Ms. Bone. “I’ll work through the problem and when we’re finished, I can easily clear the annotations for the next class. It’s a real time saver!”

Ms. Bone has also found the included Mult-e-Maths features very helpful. Mult-e-Maths Toolbox LE is an interactive math tool package created by Cambridge-Hitachi exclusively for Hitachi Software, compatible with any current StarBoard interactive product. “The Mult-e-Maths features really help me illustrate my lessons on the board. For example, I often use the protractor tool to show angles,” added Ms. Bone. “If I didn’t have that, I guess I’d have to use a regular old protractor, which wouldn’t get as strong a response from the students. The students respond better to everything with the board!”

About Hitachi
Hitachi Home Electronics (America), Inc., Business Group, subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., markets LCD projectors, interactive panels and whiteboards and security and observation system products through value added resellers, system integrators, distributors and OEM.

Hitachi Software Engineering America, Ltd. develops advanced interactive communications tools for education, training and boardroom applications including interactive whiteboards, plasma displays and tablets all powered by the company's category-leading StarBoard software. Go to www.hitachi-soft.com.

Hitachi has a unique position in the marketplace by manufacturing and developing its own core technologies to provide consumers and businesses with optimal product performance in each of Hitachi's product categories. For Business products go to www.hitachi.us/digitalmedia. For consumer products, please visit www.hitachi.us/tv.

Hitachi Starboard Offers Industry-Leading Interoperabilty For Educators

In a move to accelerate the interoperability and technology integration of its presentation technologies, Hitachi Software Engineering America, Ltd. showcased its ability to integrate seamlessly with off-the-shelf software packages from Microsoft and other manufacturers. This interoperability allows educators the flexibility to use their existing lesson plans on Hitachi interactive whiteboards, tablets and display panels, rather than limiting them only to lessons designed specifically for interactive technologies.

Hitachi StarBoard software is designed to help teachers execute their lesson plans with flair and imagination, keeping students engaged and making lessons come alive like never before. The software is designed with a number of features that allow for interoperability with educators’ existing tools.

“One of the biggest challenges teachers face when working with new educational tools is adapting the new technology to existing curricula,” said John Glad, Product Manager for Hitachi Home Electronics (America), Inc. Business Group. “We designed StarBoard software to easily integrate with the software teachers already use, ensuring that they can jump right in and teach with the lessons they already have—augmented and improved by our products.”

StarBoard software allows teachers to take lesson plans created in everyday software program packages like Microsoft Office and easily use them on Hitachi interactive whiteboards or panels. Lessons in Microsoft Word or PowerPoint can easily be dropped into presentation slides in the StarBoard software with the push of a button. Moreover, lessons and edits performed on a board or tablet may be resaved back into Microsoft PowerPoint®, Adobe PDF®, and other image formats allowing teachers to send and reuse lessons developed during class time in multiple ways.

In addition, Hitachi has developed a free open license application called the StarBoard Viewer. It offers the essential interactive whiteboard tools such as virtual whiteboard space, digital inks, the ability to manipulate objects, and a docking/floating toolbar. Additionally, it allows anyone to view, edit, modify, and save StarBoard Software files on any computer and present the material using any brand of interactive whiteboard.

“Our goal is to close the digital divide between students and teachers who want expanded access to StarBoard files, as well as providing a tool for those seeking simple interactive whiteboard software to use for free,” continued Mr. Glad. “While other competitive products offer whiteboard viewers, none offer the ability to save work away from the presentation product itself.” The release of the Hitachi StarBoard Viewer is slated for the end of April and will be available to download from their website (www.hitachistarboard.com).

Hitachi StarBoard software also offers a unique “Word Split” feature. Any time a teacher grabs copy from an outside source and pastes it into a lesson being presented on the board or panel, the software provides the options to either paste the copy as a single object, as individual lines, or break apart the individual words. Given these options, teachers have the ability to move and change the copy as they see fit and do not have to spend precious class time altering the copy to fit the lesson.

StarBoard Software is designed to work with a teacher’s existing lessons. A static Word® document can be made interactive by manipulating text, marking it up with ink tools, and using layers of objects for hide-and-reveal activities. Although Hitachi offers additional resources for use with StarBoard products through its partnership with Cambridge University Press, the software is designed to work with what teachers already have and feel comfortable presenting.