Moses Lake School District Selects Hitachi StarBoards For District-Wide Technology Upgrade

-- Washington School District Purchases Over 100 Hitachi Interactive Whiteboards For Student Curriculum For All Grade Levels and Subject Areas --

Moses Lake School District in Moses Lake, Washington has chosen Hitachi Software StarBoards for its student curriculum for all grade levels and subject areas, providing a district-wide technology upgrade that truly enhances the overall educational experience. Purchased through Troxell Communications, the school has allocated over 100 Hitachi FXDUO-77 model StarBoards along with the award-winning Hitachi CP-A100 3LCD ultra-short-throw projector as part of the Hitachi CPA100+FXDUO bundle.

Rick Rose, director of technology for the Moses Lake School District, explained that the features of the Hitachi StarBoard were a major factor in the purchase decision. “We compared all of the competing brands and the DUO technology was the most impressive feature. In fact, Hitachi was the only interactive whiteboard company that offered this technology.” Mr. Rose also noted that Hitachi’s all-in-one solution was a deciding factor. “Given that we purchased a large quantity, it was critically important that we received seamless technology from one provider. We knew Hitachi had built the StarBoard and projector with this type of integration in mind.”

For Moses Lake, the StarBoard investment has already shown immediate results. “I’ve found that the majority of my students are completely engaged when the StarBoard is being used, especially when they know they have the opportunity to go up in front of the class,” stated fourth grade teacher Monica McAtee. Ms. McAtee also believes the features of the StarBoard make her lessons more efficient. “I love the Google search feature. I believe the learning process for students is significantly improved when I can quickly and conveniently search Google images to give students visual representation of what we are studying.”

Moses Lake Middle School math teacher Mark Thompson has also quickly found success using the StarBoard. “With the StarBoard I am able to take any piece of material, such as a page out of a math textbook, manipulate it with the navigation tool and then make annotations. When I’m finished I can save what I have started and continue the lesson the next day with the option of clearing the notes and starting fresh.”

Moses Lake has also deployed the new StarBoard Software 9.0 for Mac on the StarBoards in many classrooms within the district. “Our ultimate goal is to have interactive whiteboard technology in all classrooms. Since we are a dual-platform district with 40 percent of our district running on Macs, we can deploy the StarBoard in any classroom throughout the district knowing all our teachers will be getting the same performance.”

For more information on Troxell Communications visit www.trox.com

Hitachi StarBoards Add Up For Kamiakin High School

- Washington High School Is Utilizing Hitachi StarBoards To Enhance Mathematics Education --

Math class has never been as exciting since Kamiakin High School in Kennewick, Washington upgraded classroom technology with Hitachi Software StarBoard interactive whiteboards. Purchased through Troxell Communications, the school utilizes the Hitachi FXDUO-77 model StarBoard.

Jenny Byrd, a mathematics teacher at Kamiakin, is utilizing the StarBoard in all of her classes. “Typically I have notes including pictures, definitions, examples and practice problems that I display onto my board. The Hitachi interactive whiteboard improves what I have previously done in many ways. I love that when I move on to the next page, the board has saved my work on the prior page. This allows me to switch back and forth to the example problem if the students are struggling on a practice problem,” stated Ms. Byrd.

According to Byrd she has also found ways to use the interactive whiteboard with other technologies. “I use the board in conjunction with my calculator software to display graphs. It allows the students to actually see me touching the buttons and their location on the board.”

Additionally, the interactive whiteboards have become an asset in the rare circumstance that the teacher is absent. “When I have a substitute, I record my voice and interactions into the board for the sub to play. The students no longer fall behind if the sub is not familiar with the type of mathematics the students are learning. It also allows for a more productive class with the students because the sub doesn’t have to try as hard to keep them engaged in a worksheet. The students now have a video to watch and notes to take and I can still give students practice problems to solve,” stated Ms. Byrd.

According to Ms. Byrd she looks forward to finding new and exciting ways to integrate the StarBoard into lessons. “There are many applications I look forward to adding to my classroom as time goes by. For example, I would like to add more interactive lessons, where students come up to the board and physically translate, rotate, dilate a shape or learn about fraction addition. There are also many math applications we could perform on the board to strengthen student understanding.”

University of Idaho Utilizes Hitachi StarBoards To Create 21st Century Educational Experience In Science Classes

- Science Classes Use Hitachi Interactive Whiteboards to Enhance Teaching Materials and Learning Objects -

Professors at the University of Idaho have chosen Hitachi interactive whiteboards in a move that greatly enhances the school’s science class and laboratory teaching technology. Purchased through Troxell Communications, the school utilizes the FXDUO-77 model StarBoard along with the award winning Hitachi CP-A100 3LCD projector as part of the Hitachi CP-A100+FXDUO bundle.

The professors immediately noticed the benefits of utilizing the combination of the Hitachi projector with the interactive whiteboard. “Before when we were utilizing a traditional projector, there was always a shadow which created a distraction when presenting,” stated Ronald Robberecht, Professor of Rangeland Ecology at the University of Idaho. “Utilizing the Hitachi short throw projector has resulted in completely eliminating the shadow effect.”

According to Robberecht his students have enjoyed the addition of the interactive whiteboard into lectures in the lab setting. “Utilizing the StarBoard makes a difference to the students, they like it and it certainly adds value to the lectures. We can view ecological topics in a very interactive manner where images, videos, and text can be easily combined with the powerful dynamic annotation features of the Starboard.”

Robberecht noted that other professors use the Starboards for courses on geographical information systems (GIS) where various information such as soil types, species, forests and grasslands, and related geographical information can be shown in interacting layers of a landscape.

“Also, having a StarBoard in my office allows me to hold research meetings there. Rather than having all the students crouch around a desktop monitor. Now they can look at the images and lecture material comfortably on the large screen. Using the Starboard really allows for a natural interactive teaching interface.”

The university has also utilized StarBoards for numerous other applications. “We have one StarBoard that is being connected with a field campus where they are teaching ecology to fifth and sixth graders,” stated Robberecht.

“We attached a web cam to the StarBoard so now we utilize it as a tool for video conferencing as well.”

Based on experiences thus far the university will certainly be considering Hitachi for future technology needs. “As our smaller classrooms and seminar rooms are renovated the new Hitachi Starboards will be integral to the renovations because the price is right, the technology is great, and the service and support we have received has been excellent,” said Robberecht.

Neumann College Selects Hitachi StarBoards As A Valuable Tool To Further Higher Education

-- Neumann College Utilizes Hitachi StarBoards for Professor and Student Education. --

Dedicated to providing students and professors with the best tools in a quest for higher education, Neumann College in Aston, Pennsylvania has purchased Hitachi StarBoards for multiple computer labs on campus. The StarBoards were sold through Troxell Communications. Neumann has installed Hitachi FXDUO77 interactive whiteboards, as well as award winning Hitachi CP-A100 3LCD projectors as part of the Hitachi CP-A100+FXDuo Bundle.

Neumann College is a private Roman Catholic, coeducational college comprised of 3,000 students. The College offers undergraduate degrees in a broad variety of subjects, six graduate programs, and an accelerated bachelor's degree program for adults. Neumann seeks to educate a diverse population of students in a scholarly, supportive, and caring environment.

Neumann understands the value of the StarBoard as an educational tool and has worked to ensure that both professors and students can utilize and benefit from the technology. “We haven’t had the boards for long but they are already very popular and extremely well received by our faculty and students. The boards are being used for programs to educate professors on course management software in addition to integrating them into normal classes that take place in the labs,” stated Neumann College media specialist Dan Smith. “We are particularly impressed with its ease of use.” The Hitachi StarBoard’s high touch resolution also factored into the decision to go with Hitachi. “Other boards we’ve had in the past required some type of tool to perform the interaction. With the Hitachi StarBoard the ability to just use your finger makes it extremely easy to use.”

While Neumann is still in the beginning stages of utilizing the StarBoards Mr. Smith sees the potential to expand the technology into other areas of the college. “There is no doubt that we would look to Hitachi in the future if we were to add additional interactive whiteboards. The StarBoard is a wonderful and productive tool that has been a great addition to the learning environment.”

Casita Center For Science, Technology, and Math Implements Hitachi StarBoards To Take Learning To A Higher Level

-- Casita Center, A California Magnet Elementary School, Has Successfully Created A Fully Integrated Curriculum Using Interactive Whiteboards --

In an effort to provide the best possible learning experience in math and science, the Casita Center has integrated Hitachi StarBoards into classes at the elementary level. Sold through Troxell Communications, Casita has installed Hitachi FXDUO77 interactive whiteboards, as well as Hitachi 3LCD digital projectors CP-X200, CP-X201 and CP-X251 series.

The Vista Unified School District founded Casita Center for Technology, Science, and Math as a magnet school in 1992. As a magnet school, they create new and exciting ways for children to learn and for teachers to teach, in addition to offering an expanded learning experience with a special focus on technology, science and mathematics.

Casita educators have made it their goal to effectively implement the StarBoards into their everyday lessons. “It’s not enough to just have the technology, you need to seek out the content to maximize its potential as an educational tool. Hitachi’s interactive whiteboard content also provides content that I can immediately utilize as part of a lesson plan,” stated science teacher Jamie Hagen-Holt. “In fact, a key priority is to ensure that lessons being taught on the Hitachi StarBoard coincide with physical demonstration students can see, this is the most powerful way to maximize the learning experience.”

Additionally, Hitachi StarBoard’s durability have also proven to be a major selling point for the Casita School. “We knew that if this board was going to be in an elementary school classroom, it needed to be durable,” stated district technology coordinator Scott Hill. Being that the Hitachi board itself contains no electronics, we knew it would be best suited to hold up in this environment.”

Another major factor in selecting Hitachi whiteboards for Casita was due to its large screen. “When you’re dealing with a classroom full of elementary school age students, the size of the screen is crucial. They need to be able to see the detail of everything that is being displayed. While this might not be considered a significant technology feature, for educators it is extremely important,” stated math teacher Sue Ritchie.

Since implementing the Hitachi whiteboards, the teachers have embraced them and enjoyed the new creativity it allows them to bring to their teaching. Our goal is ensure that we have a StarBoard in every classroom,” said Mr. Hill. “We need to make sure we are giving all of our students the same opportunities to enhance their education using the latest in technology.”

Hitachi Expands Capabilities of Educational Technology Outside the Classroom With Hitachi StarBoard Viewer for Interactive Whiteboards and Panels

– Free download offers industry-first capabilities for educators. –

— Hitachi Software Engineering America, Ltd. today announced the release of its StarBoard Viewer software for interactive whiteboards and panels. Hitachi StarBoard Viewer is a free download that not only allows users to open any file formatted with Hitachi’s industry-leading StarBoard software, but also to make edits and save work—even while disconnected from Hitachi StarBoard presentation products. StarBoard Viewer is the only software of its kind that allows users to save their changes for later use on interactive whiteboards panels and tablets.

The Hitachi StarBoard Viewer allows users to view, modify and save StarBoard Software files on any computer and present the material using any brand of interactive whiteboard. The software is an open license application with features similar to Hitachi’s StarBoard 3.0 Light Edition software. It offers core interactive whiteboard tools including virtual whiteboard space, digital inks, the ability to manipulate objects, and the StarBoard toolbar. StarBoard Viewer differs from competitive viewers in its ability to save changes to files, enabling it to help build and deliver lessons outside of regular class time.

“Often times, there’s a divide between what students and teachers can do with learning technology in the classroom and what can be taken home. Our goal with StarBoard Viewer is to close that gap,” said John Glad, Product Manager for Hitachi Home Electronics (America), Inc. Business Group.. “With a free download of StarBoard Viewer, educators and students can view and work with classroom presentations even when they’re away from the presentation products they use at school.”

Hitachi StarBoard Viewer allows new flexibility for teachers using tablets and interactive whiteboards in their classrooms. They can use the viewer to perfect their plans and presentations outside of the classroom, enabling smoother transitions between lessons when class is in session. For educators who switch schools or boards regularly, the viewer allows teachers to continue to use StarBoard files as they go from class to class.

Students will also benefit from availability of the free StarBoard Viewer download. Because all work done on Hitachi interactive whiteboards and tablets can easily be saved and shared, the StarBoard Viewer software ensures that students can open and review lessons as they were first experienced in class. Children out sick can have classroom board work sent to them and opened with the viewer, ensuring that they keep up with their classmates. Because work can be edited and saved using the viewer, students can also create presentations at home for use in class, increasing time for classroom presentation.

“At Hitachi, we realize that educators choose their classroom technology very carefully and that they want only those products capable of providing them with the most flexible, long-lasting use,” added Mr. Glad. “We’re focused on ensuring that educators get the very most from their classroom technology, and StarBoard Viewer was created to help expand usage of StarBoard products outside the classroom.”


The StarBoard Viewer is available for download on the Hitachi Software Engineering America website:
http://StarBoard.hitachi-soft.com/jsp/hitachi/hitachisoft/icg/StarBoard_viewer/dwnload_t.html

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.