Universidad Católica del Norte Modernizes Classrooms with ViewSonic ViewBoard Interactive Displays

Jan 25, 2024

CASE STUDY

Universidad Católica del Norte Modernizes Classrooms with ViewSonic ViewBoard Interactive Displays

SCHOOL

Universidad Católica del Norte (UCN) celebrated its 66th anniversary in 2022. The institution currently has more than 14,000 students in Antofagasta, Coquimbo and San Pedro de Atacama. With its wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, highly-qualified faculty and significant and prolific scientific work, UCN is one of the most advanced higher education institutions in the country.

“After seeing the ViewSonic solutions, I knew they were exactly what we needed. The ViewBoard displays came with strong, reliable mounting brackets. And we found that they were easy to set up and calibrate to our specific needs.”

— Gastón Peralta, Manager of Educational Resources

THE CHALLENGE

The UCN technical team, comprised of Víctor González Escobar, José Martínez Ramos, and Gastón Peralta Rojas, embarked on a mission to seek technological enhancements for the university. Their objective was to upgrade the hardware being used and modernize teaching methods to foster student inclusion.

One of the primary concerns with the existing products was the persistent issue of display image degradation. This problem led to dissatisfaction among both teachers and students, ultimately discouraging their use.

In the wake of the global digital transformation triggered by the pandemic, UCN seized the opportunity to upgrade its displays and incorporate ViewSonic solutions across its educational units. Collaboratively, the technical team conducted a thorough search and analysis, ultimately selecting ViewSonic^® ViewBoard^® interactive displays that were tailored to their specific needs and aligned with their expectations.

THE SOLUTION

Due to the susceptibility of the university’s existing interactive whiteboards to frequent image degradation, the UCN technical team embarked on a search for a more reliable and user-friendly solution.

“Whenever we opened a window or experienced a minor earthquake, the existing whiteboard would shift and move ever so slightly because it’s mounting system just wasn’t very stable,” said Gastón Peralta, Manager of Educational Resources. “Additionally, we had to readjust its settings every time we turned it on. This inconvenience greatly discouraged people from using it.”

Faced with this situation, UCN embarked on a quest for alternative options, thoroughly reviewing the specifications of ViewSonic displays.

“After seeing the ViewSonic solutions, I knew they were exactly what we needed,” said Peralta. “The ViewBoard displays came with strong, reliable mounting brackets. And we found that they were easy to set up and calibrate to our specific needs.”

At present, the Antofagasta campus of the university boasts 16 ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive displays, while the Coquimbo campus has eight installed.

UCN is pleased with the positive outcomes resulting from their decision to adopt ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive displays as they provide a reliable and user-friendly solution, while also facilitating a more inclusive learning environment.

RESULTS

UCN’s decision to select ViewSonic interactive displays was primarily driven by their user-friendly nature. These displays were seamlessly integrated into classrooms across various schools of study, including Humanities, Sciences, and Health. They were utilized in didactic courses, the creation of teaching materials, as well as mathematics and chemistry classes.

The technical team expressed their satisfaction with the ease of navigation within the on-screen software, which greatly encourages its use. Teachers are delighted with the touchscreen’s capabilities, including the powerful camera and the ability to connect flash drives.

The decision to acquire these displays was further validated when the university began utilizing the transcription tool found within the included ViewSonic^® myViewBoard^® software. This tool automates audio transcription of classes, which proved invaluable in promoting inclusivity for hearing- impaired students.