Solution

CASE STUDY

School District Upgrades Teaching and Learning Capabilities with ViewBoard Interactive Displays and myViewBoard Software

SCHOOL

The Alisal Union School District (AUSD) serves around 7,500 students in 12 neighborhood K-6th grade schools (including preschool programs) and one virtual school in East Salinas, California. Many of the teachers and staff are from the community, and a significant number of the students served are from farmworker and immigrant families. In addition to its 13 schools, AUSD offers three family resource centers. Each school is also supported by its own counselor, library specialist, instructional coach, and assistant principal. Additionally, every school is further supported by district-wide psychologists, school nurses and LVNs, and speech therapists. Additional offerings include seasonal sports, music, folklórico dance, and after-school and weekend academic support and enrichment, including NASA STEM Academy and Intro to Coder Dojo.

“When we looked at the reliability and price point of ViewSonic’s ViewBoard product, along with the training and support they were offering, it all added up for ViewSonic. They were the sweet spot of everything we were looking for.”

— Joshua Harris, AUSD Director of Edtech

THE CHALLENGE

Imagine using the same edtech – for 20 years. That’s how long the Alisal Union School District had relied on classroom projectors and pull-down screens. The time to replace them was long overdue.

“The projectors just weren’t cutting it,” said AUSD Director of Edtech Joshua Harris. “20 years is quite old for digital and electronics technology. It’s not going to be reliable.”

The push to purchase new front-of-classroom display technology came from a newly appointed superintendent, who intended to update classrooms for 21st century learning. Café seating and other flexible furnishings were planned to support active, project-based learning. Harris was asked to find a complete solution that would support this classroom modernization.

“The edtech professional mindset deeply considers teacher perspective,” said Harris. “Top of mind for us was finding a solution that would ease the transition for teachers unaccustomed to modern instructional technology.”

Another key requirement was the ability to untether teachers from their desks, which would allow them to take full advantage of the updated classroom and evolving pedagogical direction.

“We wanted a solution that allowed the teacher to be freed from their desk and from the need for added tech like a document camera or tablet,” said Harris. “We also wanted a simple, stable solution.”

Asking themselves, ‘what will meet these goals while giving us the closest to 100% uptime,’ the IT team assessed current available technology and found the answer: interactive flat panel (IFP) displays.

THE SOLUTION

After some months of research, the team further determined that interactive flat panel displays would meet all their criteria. They narrowed the field to ViewSonic^® ViewBoard^® interactive displays with myViewBoard^® software, which provided them with an ideal combination of features.

“When we looked at the reliability and price point of ViewSonic’s ViewBoard product, along with the training and support they were offering, it all added up for ViewSonic,” said Harris. “They were the sweet spot of everything we were looking for.”

After piloting the solution in 14 K-6 classrooms, the edtech and IT teams together recommended that the district outfit all learning spaces with ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive displays. The district purchased 300 ViewSonic ViewBoard IFP7550 75-inch interactive displays with myViewBoard software, which would be installed in waves following the start of the next school year.

THE RESULTS

As with any change, some teachers were initially resistant. At the same time, teachers in the pilot classrooms began talking about how much they enjoyed using the new interactive displays.

“We’re a very word-of-mouth community, and the teachers who had used the ViewBoard interactive displays were sharing their opinions,” said Harris. “They commented on the improved clarity and brightness of the images, and how much they liked being able to keep the lights on and shades open. The early adopters quickly started using the myViewBoard digital whiteboarding software and spread the word about how useful it was to be able to annotate and highlight content.”

While the peer encouragement helped immensely, Harris knew that much more was needed to smooth the transition.

“We lean heavily into training teachers,” said Harris. “My motto for this department is that investment in teachers is investment in students.”

First, he and his team introduced the full teaching staff to the new tech at the annual district convocation meeting, where they demonstrated the solution’s capabilities, including the handy toolbar with one-touch access to apps, pens, and other front-of-glass tools; the ability to share and receive content using the ViewBoard Cast™ software; and the smooth 20-point touchscreen.

“Our goal was to build positive anticipation for the devices,” said Harris. “I think this demo definitely did that. For one thing, there were audible gasps when we demonstrated some capabilities – like the ability to draw 3D shapes.”

For another, Harris said, after the presentation he was approached by teachers who told him how excited they were to use the interactive displays in their classrooms. Resistance among change-and tech-averse teachers was waning.

ViewSonic 75-inch IFP7550

ViewSonic myViewBoard Software

CASE STUDY

Peruvian School Boosts Hybrid Learning and English Language Instruction with ViewSonic ViewBoard Interactive Displays

SCHOOL

Founded in 1954, Centro Cultural Peruano Norteamericano (CCPNA) is a distinguished educational institution dedicated to English language instruction in southern Peru. Headquartered in the city of Arequipa, it not only serves as a center for language learning but also plays a vital role in fostering cultural exchange and promoting American culture through a diverse range of events such as plays, musicals, art galleries, film screenings, round tables, conferences, and more.

Apart from its main office in Arequipa, CCPNA has branches in the cities of Puno, Juliaca, Ilo, Moquegua, and Tacna. With a comprehensive array of 20 English learning programs tailored to different age groups, academic intensity, and frequency, the institution accommodates a total of 7,000 students. These programs offer immersive National Geographic Learning experiences, ensuring a dynamic and engaging learning environment.

“ViewSonic was the most suitable solution to meet our needs. The fact that other companies off ered similar teaching support tools that were only compatible with Android helped us make our decision.”

— Álvaro Salinas, CCPNA General Director

THE CHALLENGE

CCPNA needed an easy way of implementing hybrid teaching across all of its campuses. Initially, they experimented with non-native touchscreen solutions and television sets. However, these options proved unsatisfactory due to subpar resolution and limited functionality. As a result, CCPNA embarked on a quest to find alternative teaching methods that could eff ectively support their new educational approach.

Álvaro Salinas, General Director of CCPNA, explains, “To achieve this, we required a cutting-edge interactive display as the cornerstone of our implementation. While we were already utilizing AI cameras and microphones in our classrooms, we lacked an interactive display solution with a robust platform to complement this transition.”

Consequently, the institution’s authorities directed their efforts towards finding a display that off ered user-friendly teaching tools and functionalities, such as those provided by the ViewSonic^® myViewBoard^® platform for content creation and casting. They sought an easily manageable application that could enhance both physical and online learning experiences.

The implementation process was a race against time as it needed to be completed by the beginning of 2023. To accomplish this, they relied on a slot-in OPS mini PC to power the display, making it the central component of the interactive learning experience. This setup enabled the utilization of myViewBoard software and provided teachers and students with an extensive range of resources.

THE SOLUTION

After careful evaluation of various market proposals, CCPNA made the decision to procure a total of 120 ViewSonic^® ViewBoard^® interactive displays for their campuses. This included 109 ViewBoard IFP6532 65-inch interactive displays, and 11 ViewBoard IFP8632 86-inch interactive displays. To complement these displays, 120 VPC25-W53-O1 slot-in PC units were also included in the order. These technology resources were installed not only at CCPNA branches in southern Peru but also at their sister institution, the Instituto de Diseño Thomas Jefferson.

To facilitate efficient management and control of the interactive display network, ViewSonic^® Manager Advanced™ software was seamlessly integrated into the solution. This software offers centralized control for executing tasks, performing updates, and sending messages or alarms directly to the displays, eliminating the need for physical presence in the classroom. Undoubtedly, this feature is a significant time and resource-saving advantage. Thanks to this implementation, 100% of the classrooms at the CCPNA Arequipa headquarters are now equipped with interactive displays. In the other cities, coverage reaches an impressive 90%, with the remaining margin representing areas where this implementation is not currently necessary.

RESULTS

The ViewSonic solution has significantly improved the hybrid teaching experience within the CCPNA educational community.

One notable aspect of the ViewSonic solution is its compatibility with both Android-supported tools and Windows-based applications for delivering classes, as well as integration with the Google Workspace platform. Additionally, the inclusion of myViewBoard software for content creation further enhances the teaching experience.

“ViewSonic was the most suitable solution to meet our needs,” said Salinas. “The fact that other companies offered similar teaching support tools that were only compatible with Android helped us make our decision.”

Salinas further adds that the teacher training process progressed smoothly, as the use of the new equipment proved intuitive, and many teachers already possessed a clear understanding of how to handle technology. This familiarity with the capabilities of the interactive displays made it easier for them to leverage all the features.

The delivery of technology resources began in the fi nal months of the previous year, and the implementation proceeded swiftly, concluding in March 2023. According to Alex Carlos, Regional Sales Manager of ViewSonic in Peru, CCPNA has now become “the best-equipped English educational center in the country, surpassing institutions in both the south and even those operating in Lima or the north of Peru. Moreover, it has emerged as a leading educational institution in terms of technological facilities in the Andean region.”

The CCPNA representative concludes, “For us, it was essential that this experience be extended to all students, not limited to certain classrooms, such as schools or universities. We aimed to create hybrid classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology, ensuring that all our students can enjoy a high-quality hybrid learning experience.”

ViewSonic Manager Advanced™ subscription

ViewBoard^® IFP6532 interactive displays

ViewBoard^® IFP8632 interactive displays

CASE STUDY

Retail Market Chain Shines with Cost Savings and Contemporary Look of ViewSonic Digital Signage

CUSTOMER PROFILE

Founded in 1951 by brothers Bernard and Eugene Gelson as an extraordinary grocery shopping experience for discerning consumers, Gelson’s Markets is recognized today as one of the nation’s premier supermarket chains. With stores in neighborhoods throughout Southern California, each location is singularly known as the area’s best market for superior produce, highest quality meat, seafood and deli, an unmatched selection of wine and liquor, and exceptional service.

“Everything on the ViewSonic displays looks better than printed signs. Images and text are crisp and clear and we can also use video. It’s a lot more compelling and eye catching.”

— Yvonne Manganaro, SVP Customer and Team Experience

THE CHALLENGE

Known as “the ultimate foodie paradise,” and a “place to spoil yourself,” by fans on Yelp, Gelson’s is not your average supermarket. Amenities like wine and craft beer bars, gourmet cheese islands, and chef-led prepared food stations distinguish Gelson’s shopping experience. Offering made-fresh daily dishes is clearly an outstanding recipe for customer satisfaction. However, keeping the signage as fresh and up-to-date became a costly and time-consuming burden.

“Many of our departments needed to update their signage on a very regular basis,” said Yvonne Manganaro, SVP Customer and Team Experience. “We realized that we needed to do something different that would allow us to reduce print costs while also bringing a more contemporary look to the stores.”

To find a solution for this dilemma, Manganaro and a coworker from the company’s procurement department traveled to a digital signage trade show in Las Vegas to assess the options.

THE SOLUTION

The duo visited a host of booths, talking to reps from many companies. By the time they left the ViewSonic booth, Manganaro was convinced that they had found their digital signage partner.

“The first thing that we liked about ViewSonic was that they’re based in California, close enough for us to easily visit their showroom,” she said. “Along with that, and probably the primary deciding factor, was the free software that is included with their digital signage solutions.”

While not as feature-packed as some of the available software, said Manganaro, the ViewSonic software had everything they needed to meet their retail signage needs.

“The more robust software usually has monthly or annual subscription fees and that would have added a lot of cost to each unit,” she said. “We loved that the ViewSonic program was included and very functional for what we needed.”

Manganaro was sold on the ViewSonic solution, which included vibrant ViewSonic^® 43-inch CDE4320 professional-grade commercial displays and ViewSonic network media players (models NMP309-W and NMP589-W) with included Signage Manager software. Gelson’s began installing the ViewSonic digital signage throughout their stores, for what has amounted to a total of 16 ViewSonic CDE4320 displays (plus one EP4220 ePoster) in each of 27 stores over the past 10 years.

THE RESULTS

Take one look and it’s clear that the digital screens deliver a more modern look than printed signage, easily meeting Manganaro’s first goal.

“Everything on the ViewSonic displays looks better than printed signs. Images and text are crisp and clear and we can also use video,” she said. “It’s a lot more compelling and eye catching.”

What’s more, department managers can update content in a fraction of the time it took when the stores relied on printed signs.

“The ViewSonic digital signage gives us a lot more flexibility,” said Manganaro. “There were times in the past when budget wouldn’t allow us to update a menu because it was going to cost a couple thousand dollars to change out signs. Now that’s not even a factor; we can change content whenever department owners want to.”

The convenience and good looks of the ViewSonic digital signage came with another outstanding benefit – substantial cost savings.

“We calculated the ROI before we purchased the displays,” said Manganaro. “For our departments that had the most variability in menu and ingredient content it took about 10 months to break even. A few took a bit longer, but not much.”

As the Gelson’s business continued to grow and add departments, increasing the number of screens to manage with the ViewSonic software, Manganaro acknowledged that they did encounter a constraint in the free software.

“The ViewSonic software has a limit of 50 screens on one set up, but because it’s so wonderfully straightforward and easy to work with our IT team was able to create a work around,” she said. “They created channels of content for departments – one for meat and seafood, one for the front desk, and so on.”

This, she added, makes it easy for their designer to create content, then copy and paste as needed, and finally upload quickly to multiple units. Content is then scheduled through the software, another basic yet critical feature, according to Manganaro.

“The ability to schedule is key,” she said. “I can’t imagine trying to have a designer physically at a computer at 6 am before we open or right when our ad breaks, or on Friday when suddenly there’s something new to communicate in the produce department.”

After nearly 10 years of using the ViewSonic CDE displays and software, Manganaro says that the most beautiful thing about the solution is that it ‘just works.’

“We didn’t need or want to pay for bells and whistles; this is a very functional program that does everything we need it to do in a retail environment,” she said. “We looked at a lot of other systems and we’re so glad to be working with ViewSonic. We service hundreds of thousands of customers per week and need to deliver a uniformly good experience – our stores get so busy that the last thing we need to worry about is tech failing.”

In fact, Manganaro confessed, they once installed a digital signage system in a store because of a technology ViewSonic didn’t have at the time, and it has been a headache.

“The downtime at that store has been horrible,” she said. “The ViewSonic system is just so reliable. I don’t have to worry about it and my team doesn’t have to worry about it. It just works.”

As Manganaro and her team became more experienced with the digital signage equipment and its benefi ts, they began looking for a solution to the unwieldly signage in the stores’ entryway.

“We replaced some rather cluttered-looking printed signage with the sleek ViewSonic EP4220 ePoster,” she said. “Now we can display multiple moving images and when visitors walk into the store it delivers an upscale look in line with our brand.”

Beyond saving a substantial amount of time and money, and imparting a contemporary feel, the ViewSonic digital displays have added value to Gelson’s markets in another notable way, said Manganaro – for their partners.

“We are able to do some terrific storytelling and create videos that showcase our amazing partners,” she said. “For example, our director of meat and seafood went on a fishing trip with a vendor and shot a video we used to showcase their sustainable practices and how they bring product to market so quickly.”

Gelson’s partners are thrilled to receive this additional visibility and support, she added, and customers are big fans of the content as well.

“While they’re waiting for service customers have something interesting to watch,” she said. “This compelling content helps improve customer satisfaction and informs them about the vendors, products and care that sets us apart from other groceries.”

In every way, working with ViewSonic has been a very positive experience, concluded Manganaro.

“We manage well over 300 screens in our chain, and when there’s a problem it’s virtually always because one of our team members accidentally bumped a media player, unplugged something, or broke an antenna,” she said. “It’s rarely a problem with the ViewSonic solutions.”

ViewSonic 43-inch CDE4320

ViewSonic NMP309-W media player

ViewSonic NMP589-W media player

ViewSonic 42-inch EP4220 ePoster

CASE STUDY

Custom Motocross Gear Company Creates High-Impact Dealer Sales Kit with ViewSonic ePoster Interactive Kiosk

CUSTOMER PROFILE

Founded in 2015 by former professional supercross racer Michael Leib, Canvas MX is a motocross gear manufacturer that specializes in completely customizable kits and other apparel. The first MX gear company to offer the clean look of blank black and white gear, Canvas MX evolved into its current bespoke design focus, offering a wide range of customization lines through its 3D design portal at canvasmx.com.

“It showcases our 3D design portal beautifully, and I love how you just can’t miss the ViewSonic kiosk in a store. It’s big, clean, modern and high-quality – a perfect partner for displaying our modern, high-quality product.”

— Michael Leib, Founder of Canvas MX

THE CHALLENGE

After leaving the racing circuit in 2020, pro rider Michael Leib had more time to focus on his business enterprise, Canvas MX, which offers customizable motocross apparel though its 3D website portal. The company fills a unique niche in a business where fans, riders and dealers looking for custom apparel typically wait 18 months for customized apparel shipped from overseas – or settle for off-the-shelf designs.

Until recently, the company’s sole operational focus was on internet sales. By producing its product in the US, Canvas MX was able to deliver items quickly, within three to four weeks. The 3D portal was well-designed and easy to use. With these pieces in place, Leib was ready to expand on the concept.

“We knew that to scale the business we needed a way to take it into the dealerships,” said Leib. “We have an outstanding website customization and ordering interface, so we knew that what we needed was a way to take that interface directly to the dealers.”

In fact, Leib had already discovered the ideal solution during the early days of the business, while Leib was still spending most of his time involved in racing.

“I connected with Mad Moose Media, an on-site event photography company, at a race. They were using ViewSonic kiosks to display photos of race participants,” said Leib. “Riders and fans could scroll through images and order directly from the kiosk. I immediately realized that this was the platform we needed to use when we were ready to move forward with the dealership model.”

THE SOLUTION

The slim, freestanding kiosk Leib saw at the photo display was a ViewSonic^® EP5542T 55-inch Multi-touch Digital ePoster. He tried one out at a tradeshow, which confirmed his initial reaction to the display.

“It was exactly what we wanted as the centerpiece of our dealer package,” he said. “It’s tall, great-looking, and attention-grabbing, and it was easy to run our website and offer customization right there on demand.”

With this vision in mind, Leib ramped up the company’s manufacturing capabilities in the US. When he was satisfi ed that he could meet dealer demand, he created the Canvas MX Dealer Kit, which includes a 55-inch ViewSonic ePoster kiosk, a mannequin, and 50 sets of dealer-specific
gear fit kits.

THE RESULTS

The Canvas MX Dealer Kit enables motorcycle dealers to easily offer custom gear and apparel in a way that conserves floor space and cash flow. Importantly, it also enables dealers to incorporate their own brand on the gear.

“It’s everything we need to deliver for our dealer partners,” said Leib. “This package lets them offer their own branded apparel without taking up tons of floor space, or tying up cash flow while waiting months and months for delivery of the product.”

Offered for a set base price, with no ongoing costs, the Canvas MX Dealer Kit revolutionizes the way gear is purchased in store, said Leib.

“Now customers can order custom motocross gear directly from their dealership,” he said. “Our Fit Kit is really cool because it allows people to touch and feel and try on the products as they’re designing their own custom gear on our ViewSonic kiosk.”

In an industry where motorcycle dealers that want to carry apparel typically must commit to buying upwards of 100,000 pieces then wait many months for delivery, this model is indeed ground breaking. The ViewSonic kiosk, said Leib, was central to making it happen.

“It showcases our 3D design portal beautifully, and I love how you just can’t miss the ViewSonic kiosk in a store,” said Leib. “It’s big, clean, modern and high-quality – a perfect partner for displaying our modern, high-quality product.”

Among the excellent features, he added, are the vibrant colors, crisp graphics, and smooth touchscreen response.

“The ViewSonic kiosk enabled us to provide dealers with an amazing display,” said Leib. “It has enabled us expand into new markets and to do it in a way that fully meets dealer needs for a great-looking showcase.”

EP5542T - 55" Display, 3840 x 2160 Resolution, 450 cd/m2 Brightness, 16/7

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CASE STUDY

Special Needs Classrooms Add Adaptable, Expanded Access with ViewSonic ViewBoard Displays

CUSTOMER PROFILE

Founded in 1864, Seymour Community Schools is a public school district located within Jackson County in Seymour, Indiana. With facilities that include five elementary schools, a 6th grade center, a middle school and a high school, Seymour has a culturally diverse student population of over 5,000 and employs over 680 faculty and staff . The district’s high school boasts the world’s largest high school gymnasium, seating 8,228, and the district offers a wide array of both college preparatory courses and technical career courses.

“I had one elementary teacher tell me on her first day of using the ViewBoard display that it was the most successful morning calendar meeting she had ever had. Her classroom has students with significant autism needs, and the really big touchscreen held their attention like nothing ever before.”

— Mika Ahlbrand, Director of Special Education

THE CHALLENGE

Seymour Community Schools meets the needs of differently-abled students in developmental and life skills classrooms at each learning level. In 2011, three of these classrooms were outfitted with touchscreen displays, which quickly proved to enhance accessibility and learning. This success compelled Mika Ahlbrand, Director of Special Education, to find a way to extend these benefits to the remaining special needs classrooms.

THE SOLUTION

“We had some grant funds available,” said Ahlbrand. “And I wanted to use them to enhance learning with interactive displays in the rest of our classrooms.”

Ahlbrand approached district Technology Director Brian Rodman, who agreed with her recommendation to apply these funds to the purchase of large screen interactive displays. Working through reseller partner AVI, the team purchased three 75-inch ViewSonic^® ViewBoard^® 4K Ultra HD interactive displays.

“We thought we wanted the same brand and model we were used to,” said Ahlbrand, “But as it turned out, the ViewSonic ViewBoard touchscreen displays were much more cost effective, even for much larger displays.”

THE RESULTS

Because of the cost advantage presented by the ViewSonic ViewBoard displays, Ahlbrand was able to purchase larger displays and outfit more classrooms than would have been possible with the other options she and her team looked at.

“The size of the ViewSonic ViewBoard displays is just about double that of our other displays, and this has been very helpful for my classrooms,” said Ahlbrand. “Being able to present larger content is terrific for students with visual or cognitive diffculties, who are more easily able to engage with a bigger screen, whether it’s a website, a Google doc, 1:1 curriculum, or a teachercreated activity.”

Additionally, she said, the smooth, accurate touchscreen response, crisp graphics, and clear sound quality further augment the positive experience for these students, for whom these features are particularly important.

Mounted on height-adjustable mobile carts, the ViewBoard displays gain added adaptability to meet the varied needs of students.

“We were pleased at how easy it was to adapt the displays to function on mobile carts,” said Ahlbrand. “Teachers can roll the display next to students in adaptive seating, and adjust the height perfectly to give them an up-close-and-personal view of the material.”

Similarly, teachers can easily move the cart around the classroom throughout the day to support curriculum – one corner for the morning meeting, another area for small group stations, and again to facilitate one-to-one lessons.

“Versatility in the classrooms is critical for us to achieve our goal of meeting varied student needs, and the ViewBoard displays accomplish that beautifully,” said Ahlbrand.

Teachers unanimously report that the ViewSonic ViewBoard displays have improved engagement for their students in every area, she added. And they’ve also found that the displays are intuitive to use, offering easy accessibility for themselves as well as their students.

“I had one elementary teacher tell me on her first day of using the ViewBoard display that it was the most successful morning calendar meeting she had ever had,” said Ahlbrand. “Her classroom has students with significant autism needs, and the really big touchscreen held their attention like nothing ever before.”

Today, eight of the Seymour Community Schools developmental preschool and life skills classrooms meet student needs using large screen interactive displays. Soon, the district hopes to add ViewSonic ViewBoard displays district-wide.

ViewBoard IFP8650

86" interactive display

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VPC25-W33-P1

ViewBoard OPS-C-i5 slot-in PC

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myViewBoard Suite

Full software suite includes secure cloud storage, multiple presentation options, digital whiteboarding and more.

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CASE STUDY

Esports Education Learning Center and ViewSonic Bring the Magic of Esports to a Broader Audience

CUSTOMER PROFILE

Esposure is a global education technology company focused on increasing access and opportunities for future innovators seeking careers in the esports industry. Esposure has built an Educate to Entertain (E2E) ecosystem that connects immersive learning experiences with proprietary gamifi cation technology.

Esposure’s Global Learning Experience Platform, DEEP™, helps educators, parents, and STEM professionals prepare learners for the future by developing skills and creating opportunities to engage and contribute to the growing demand of digital professions of the gaming and esports industry.

“Being able to view the content together, to interact as a group instead of in silos, really brings everyone together. The ViewBoard display lets everyone visualize the same content at once and creates more dialog around the topic being presented. This helps teachers, administrators and parents learn about the value of esports and draws them into the excitement their students are feeling about the industry.”

— Brittney Seals, Esposure COO

THE CHALLENGE

Esports is a rapidly expanding $1.38 billion-dollar global industry that encompasses over 200 related digital careers including front-line pro gamers and a huge range of behind-the-scenes roles like talent manager, tournament promoter, shout caster and digital marketer, to name just a few. Regrettably, for both aspiring young people and an industry in need of talent, these opportunities are not widely recognized.

Increasing awareness of esports career prospects and training students in the corresponding skills is exactly what esports education company Esposure is all about. Founded by a mother-son team with deep experience in technology and gaming, Esposure highlights core esports career areas and helps students build related skills through a variety of educational resources. CEO Danny Martin entered the collegiate gaming scene when he became the go-to console repair person on his college campus. Martin’s mother and Esposure CTO, Rose Johnson, owned a technology consulting firm for 30 years.

“Through his connections at school, Danny learned who was playing which games, and he started creating tournaments, first in the dorm, then the student center, then business locations in and around San Antonio,” said Johnson. “He became known as ‘Esports Danny’ and his dorm room served as the breeding ground for talent, and esports organizations started asking for his recruiting expertise.”

In the early days Martin mentored talent, facilitated tournaments, and grew his esports network. Johnson began exploring ways to use technology to build a much-needed ecosystem to support the gaps of the industry. Then came Covid.

“Schools started contacting us, saying football is out, basketball is out, volleyball is out – what can we do with esports?” said Johnson. “The global pandemic exposed the learning gaps with traditional classroom environments that became evident with the abrupt transition to online learning. The opportunity to bridge the technological gap presented itself and we were able to deliver a solution to create more engagement in education.”

The first component of the solution was to build a digital learning experience platform that could be used from any location. The result was a program designed to grow awareness and build competencies by combining education with entertainment in a way that engages and empowers learners. The second component turns knowledge into experiential learning, with a communal online space that allows learners to create, share their work, and connect with likeminded peers in a secure environment. The final piece was to create a physical space for hands-on and immersive learning plus workforce development.

“Ultimately we wanted to focus on providing fun and engaging experiences for students,” said Martin. “We understand the value of classroom education, and learning through our digital platform, but more importantly, we understand the value of hands-on experience in the industry.”

THE SOLUTION

Today the company provides services from an 8,000 square foot facility conveniently located just off a main highway in the Dallas suburb of Duncanville, TX. This custom-built space has allowed the founder’s dreams to flourish.

“Our Esports Studio and Education Center brings it all together: the curriculumbased learning, the digital collaborative workspace, and the hands-on experience,” said Martin. “We have 20+ pro-gaming stations – plus a shout caster booth, production booth, video editing equipment, and a podcast room, along with classroom spaces – everything needed to learn, produce, manage and participate in esports.”

What they realized was missing was a way to maximize the learning experience platform in a physical environment. The solution became clear when they connected with ViewSonic team members at an Esposure Discovered LIVE experience.

“We learned about the ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive displays, tested them, and ultimately integrated five IFP5550 ViewBoard displays on mobile carts throughout our facilities,” said Martin. “They’re exactly what we needed – the magic sauce that connects the digital platform with in-person engagement and collaboration.”

THE RESULTS

Even in a facility decked-out with high-end digital and production equipment, the ViewSonic ViewBoard displays quickly stood out as a game-changer.

“Esports is all about the entertainment and the experience,” said Brittney Seals, Esposure COO. “We designed our competitive space to deliver a truly immersive experience that conveys this excitement. The ViewBoard displays allow us to bring that feeling to every learning area by enabling a larger number of people to see the content and to work hands-on with the collaborative features.”

For example, Seals also stated that “when a student is working with a large ViewBoard display in the arena or any other learning zone, peers are more engaged and excited to get involved, interact, and learn along with a team.”

The same goes for students reviewing their digital portfolios. When their work is displayed on the big screen, conversations begin, feedback flows, and peer-to-peer learning is in full force.

“The peer learning model works,” said Johnson. “Using the ViewBoard displays with our curriculum allows students to be much more interactive, to learn from each other, and to collaborate. And it’s much more immersive.”

Along with amping up the interaction at their facilities, the Esposure team now takes a ViewSonic ViewBoard display with them for their off-site experience across the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area, in what they call “activations.”

“Schools ask us to bring our mobile interactive experience to their location, and we work closely with the Dallas Independent School District, which is huge,” said Martin. “They have partnered with us to visit more than 200 DISD schools by the end of 2023.”

It was at his first activation using a ViewSonic ViewBoard display that Martin had a powerful “ah-ha moment” about the value of the interactive displays. “We were at Austin ISD and the students were engaged in our ‘Test Your Knowledge’ esports quiz, which invites learners to showcase their knowledge of the industry. It was at that moment I realized the value and impact we can make with a ViewSonic ViewBoard. It was actually enlightening for me,” said Martin.

“We have activated many Discovered LIVE experiences before but none that brought the experience to life until we integrated the ViewBoard.”

In the past, a student would tackle the quiz on their individual laptop, a purely solo endeavor.

“The ViewBoard display allowed the experience to become interactive and collaborative,” Martin said. “There was a group surrounding the student, helping with the quiz, learning together. The use of the ViewBoard display was critical to elevating the experience, which elevates the learning. It was a profound moment for me.”

What’s more, Martin was able to witness the impact and excitement among educators observing the engagement and interaction fostered by the use of the ViewBoard display.

Seal agrees: “Being able to view the content together, to interact as a group instead of in silos, really brings everyone together,” she said. “The ViewBoard display lets everyone visualize the same content at once and creates more dialog around the topic being presented. This helps teachers, administrators and parents learn about the value of esports and draws them into the excitement their students are feeling about the industry.”

Along with the collaborative big-screen benefits brought by the ViewBoard displays, the Esposure team was thrilled with how easy they were to set up and use.

“The ViewSonic team was going to send someone out to help with set up, but we didn’t need it; everything was very intuitive,” said Seals, adding that using the displays has likewise been easy and intuitive.

Furthermore, the Esposure team noted, they appreciate the aesthetic appeal of the ViewSonic ViewBoard displays – from the crisp, clear graphics to the ViewSonic brand cachet and the sleek product design that compliments their modern facilities.

“We love the way our platform looks on the ViewSonic ViewBoards; it looks digitally superior, and the colors are crisp, clean and engaging,” said Johnson. “The ViewBoard displays amplify our highly digitized user interface. Students get excited about using the LXP because the crisp and clear display on the ViewBoard doesn’t make it look like a traditional learning management system – it looks more like a fun game.”

And that, the team agrees, is exactly what they needed to bring the magic of esports – and its vast career potential – to their learners, their community, and beyond.

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CASE STUDY

ViewSonic Partners with Esports Event Group to Promote Career Pathways

CUSTOMER PROFILE

College Esports International (CESI) is a strategic production group focused on elevating the esports industry and collegiate competition by creating national and international events that emphasize education, networking and safety.

CESI events support and encourage the development of college students by helping them expand their abilities and providing insight into a variety of trending global markets.

“We’re not just offering access to a game or tournament; we’re providing a way for students to learn about and develop their passions; to meet leaders in the industry that may one day become mentors or employers”

— Gordon Hinkle, CESI President

THE CHALLENGE

The main challenge for scholastic esports is educating students, families and schools about the myriad of ways that esports can serve as a foundation for their future.

Although esports is a 198 billion dollar industry, many administrators and students remain unaware of the abundance of opportunities available in the field.

Digital marketing, logistics, game development, event planning and broadcasting are all components of competitive esports and potential career pathways for today’s students.

Students who participate in esports often experience improved academic performance and self-esteem, along with decreased negative behaviors like truancy and illegal drug use. School-based esports also fosters the development of social-emotional skills in a cohort that is often less inclined to participate in social activities.

At both the high school and college level, participation in organized esports provides a place for students interested something other than playing. This includes activities like shoutcasting, technical setup, game development and marketing.

“Esports creates an exciting convergence of the tech world and competitive gaming,” said CESI President Gordon Hinkle, “It’s a lot more than just a video game.”

THE SOLUTION

Founded by former entertainment professionals, CESI was created to provide a platform for college students in esports – one which centers a career-oriented education as much as it does entertainment and competition.

“It’s still pretty much the wild west out there when it comes to collegiate esports competition,” said Hinkle. “We are laser-focused on providing events that offer a safe space, education on career opportunities and introductions to industry leaders like ViewSonic, who has been an outstanding partner for us since day one.”

Thanks to the energy, experience and resources Hinkle and his partner Margaret Wong brought to CESI, the organization was able to hold five large-scale events in its first year.

Participants were able to use equipment like ViewSonic ELITE™ gaming monitors - the same gaming monitors used by professional esports teams across the country - for tournaments, training and events.

“Our events aren’t just about showing up, playing the game and leaving,” said Hinkle. “They’re about showing students, families and higher education personnel that there is a bigger ecosystem connected to esports. An ecosystem with many pathways to career success.”

That, said Hinkle, is what excites him the most about what CESI has to offer.

“We’re not just offering access to a game or tournament; we’re providing a way for students to learn about and develop their passions; to meet leaders in the industry that may one day become mentors or employers.”

THE RESULTS

Five large events within a year speaks to the success of CESI as an event production company. The structure of these events reveals the organization’s success at connecting students to a broader network of related career paths.

“We offer so much more than just competitive participation,” said Hinkle. “At every event we facilitate in-person social interactions and educational activities with industry leaders. We get students there with the excitement of competition and while they’re there, we introduce them to ideas to get them thinking beyond the short term.”

The Second Annual CESI Championship tournament held in Sacramento exemplified this unique approach. 22 teams from universities in California, Oregon, Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New York battled for $50,000 in prizes, bringing over 2,000 spectators to the Golden 1 Center. Another 5,000 logged in to watch the livestream.

CESI welcomed registered participants with a message highlighting their mission:

“Congratulations on your team’s successful registration!... The 2022 CESI Tournament will not only create an exciting environment for your team to interact in a healthy esports tournament… more importantly, [it] also provides a creative platform for interactions with other great teams and numerous business and community leaders – to share, learn and inspire!”

As with all CESI events, the activities kicked off with an in-person bonding and networking event – in this case, tickets to a Sacramento Rivercats baseball game.

Competition began the following day after students had participated in two educational activities. First up was a one-on-one conversation with Hinkle and Sharon Gill, founder of Purpose Centered Leadership and an esports strategist. They discussed leveraging esports as a means of developing student leadership, team building and career development.

Next was a panel of four industry insiders who discussed the growth of the esports industry and different career opportunities. The panelists broke down misconceptions about esports and ways in which participants can overcome stereotypes associated with gaming.

“Our panel of participants ranged from Ruben Caputo of ViewSonic Gaming, who founded the very successful CSUDH esports league, to a former Intel and General Motors executive with extensive expertise in AI and complex data solutions, to an award-winning event producer and director that works at the intersection of performance and technology,” said Hinkle. “We encouraged them to share insights from their personal experiences and roles, which we hope was meaningful and inspiring to the student participants.”

Also unique to CESI events are the students they enlisted to help develop, set up and run the tournaments.

“We have students manage the livestreaming of events and tournaments,” said Hinkle. “We let them produce content themselves, allowing them to use and showcase their skills.”

In addition to hosting events and competitions, CESI works with colleges and universities to help implement their esports programs. Recent examples include the University of Colorado, Butler University and the University of Las Vegas, which is looking to expand its globally-acclaimed hospitality school to include esports.

“Each university has different needs. Some have big programs and are trying to nail down specific objectives. Others need help getting started or growing an existing esports club. Often, they want help getting buy-in from their administration,” said Hinkle.

“We offer our expertise and operate as an advocate for esports, helping schools demonstrate the ways in which esports can impact students in a positive way. We’ve seen amazing responses when faculty and administrators understand the wide range of opportunities it presents for students.”

Just as esports represents a unique convergence of technology, gaming and entertainment, CESI connects esports, education and business. This positions them as a key resource for schools and students looking to make a mark in this rapidly growing industry.

“We’re building personal relationships with students, schools, university clubs and so much more,” said Hinkle “We become a trusted source for them. I have students calling me, asking for letters of recommendation, asking what CESI can do to help. We are thrilled to get those calls.”

Producing successful events is undeniably rewarding, said Hinkle. But being a catalyst for positive student growth is the most satisfying part of what CESI does.

“Anyone can put on a tournament,” says Hinkle. “Bringing that educational component, introducing students to esports leaders and business leaders, opening their eyes to the entire ecosystem of gaming – that’s what excites me the most.”

Helping parents get on the bandwagon is a close second. Many start out decidedly anti-esports, like the parent Hinkle met at a reception following the first day of competition at the 2021 CESI Finals.

“This parent pulled me aside and told me that he was planning to encourage his child to stop playing games and focus on his studies,” said Hinkle. “But then he said that he had come to realize how much the esports community provides to his son, who now wants to study technology and pursue a related career. He told me that since joining the esports club that his son was more enthusiastic than ever about school and he wanted to thank me!”

Next up, Hinkle and Wong plan to expand on their West Coast success and have been asked to consult with colleges and universities in New Jersey, Atlanta and more. They are likewise connecting with K-12 schools and adult-learning organizations that recognize the potential inherent to the esports industry.

“Many schools want to learn more about the educational side of esports - about the benefits and career pathways,” said Hinkle. “Eighty percent of college students consider themselves gamers and only about a half percent ever go pro. There’s huge potential there for helping students of all ages cultivate their interests in a future-focused way.”

LD135-151 Direct View LED

135" Display, 1920 x 1080 Resolution, 600-nit Brightness, 24/7

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ViewSonic ViewBoard IFP8662 Interactive Display

86" 4K Touch Enabled ViewBoard Smart Display

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ViewSonic VB-STND-003 Motorized Trolley Cart

90-degree tilting for tabletop mode, Integrated tray for pens and other items, ADA Compliant

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CASE STUDY

ViewSonic ViewBoard Displays Boost Digital Education “Revolution” in Struggling School District

CUSTOMER PROFILE

The Hoquiam School District, founded in 1891, serves over 1,600 students in the city of Hoquiam, located in western Washington state. To achieve the district’s mission of Linking Learning to Life, Hoquiam consistently strives to be a world leader in employing the latest in educational technology, curricular design, and equity and inclusion principles. The district operates three elementary schools: Emerson, Lincoln, and Central; the Hoquiam Middle School; Hoquiam High School; and an alternative learning environment, Homelink.

“Student engagement is the essential element in successful teaching. I think the most important thing teachers do is earn students’ attention. The ViewBoard displays are like a cheat code – they draw students in and kids want to get up and touch them.”

— Chris Nitti: Digital Age Coordinator, Hoquiam School District

THE CHALLENGE

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the Hoquiam School District, like so many across the country, was ill-equipped to meet the needs of remote learning. To address this challenge, Superintendent Dr. Mike Villarreal charged English and technology teacher Chris Nitti with providing immediate-response support to educators that were learning to teach remotely on the fly. The following year, Dr. Villarreal promoted Nitti to Digital Age Coordinator, tasking him with determining and deploying technology to upgrade the district’s digital teaching capabilities.

“At the start of the 2021-22 school year I inherited a tech department run for 30 years by the person who started it in 1993, who ran the first five cables,” said Nitti. “Most technology was well beyond end-of-life. We didn’t have the infrastructure needed to support technology-based learning.”

The seismic changes brought by the pandemic called for a corresponding seachange in the district’s approach to education technology. Additionally, Nitti envisioned equipping the community’s young people with critical career skills.

“There’s a tech industry hungry for trained people,” said Nitti. “Along with using tech for teaching, we can give students technology skills that they can use to work remotely right from Hoquiam.”

Before this Hoquiam technology revolution could begin, Nitti and his team would have to equip teachers with the tools and training they needed to deliver on this visionary goal.

THE SOLUTION

Difficult as it was, the Covid-19 pandemic was also the spark that helped ignite the flame of the Hoquiam edtech revolution. Students needed individual devices to be successful at remote learning. Educators needed support and training in how to use these new tools.

“At the direction of Dr. Villarreal, we set out to bring the district up to 21st century digital learning standards,” said Nitti. “The first step was to tap into FCC EFC grants to procure student Chromebooks. After that, the goal was to equip classrooms with interactive displays.”

With two grants across two years, Nitti and his team created the first true 1:1 fleet. Every student now had a Chromebook less than 1 year old. Next, Nitti teamed up with KC Merchant, supervisor of the Washington State Digital Equity and Inclusion grant, and John Buyse at reseller partner Vivacity. With the support of Merchant, the district earned a substantial DEI grant. Buyse arranged demonstrations of interactive flat panel (IFP) displays from six major manufacturers.

Right away, it was clear that the ViewSonic^® ViewBoard^® IFPs were a perfect fit for the district, said both Nitti and Tech Assistant Jen Thorp. The integrated myViewBoard software tools were intuitive and expansive. The touch response and image quality were outstanding. And the IT team was thrilled with the centralized management that would allow them to handle all maintenance without having to physically go to seven buildings.

“We’re a MAC district and it was notable for us that the ViewBoard displays connect with a single USB cable,” said Nitti. “We just connect them and they work. It couldn’t be more simple or efficient.”

What’s more, Nitti emphasized, was that ViewSonic was the only company that sent a team along with their demo display.

“Our sales rep, a trainer, and the ViewSonic national sales manager all came to Hoquiam. That meant a lot to us,” said Nitti.

Thrilled to move forward with this level of support, the IT team purchased 105 ViewBoard IFPs – one for every classroom, library and learning lab. That order was quickly followed by one for another 16 ViewBoard displays, for specialists and coaches.

“Everyone wanted a ViewBoard,” said Nitti. “I took a demo board to the schools, showed them what it could do, and the ViewBoard sold itself.”

THE RESULTS

The start of the 2022-23 school year was unlike any other in the history of Hoquiam. Not only did every student walk in with a personal Chromebook, virtually every teacher, coach and other educator was ready to begin engaging and educating using their ViewSonic ViewBoard IFP. This was better than Nitti had anticipated.

“Initially we planned three rollouts spanning the summer and the upcoming school year. The pandemic years were tough on our teachers and I only expected twenty percent or so to take time away from their summer plans to do extra training,” said Nitti.

To his happy surprise, 97 of the district’s 105 teachers signed up for the training needed to receive a ViewBoard at the start of the school year.

“Those that didn’t sign up had conflicts, otherwise they would have been there,” Nitti said. “If that’s not buy-in, I don’t know what is!”

Hoquiam teachers embraced the potential provided by the ViewBoard displays as they planned their curriculum for the new school year.

“We coached them to see the ViewBoard as a full ecosystem, not just a board you can write on,” said Nitti. “It’s essentially an entire classroom support system: anything teachers do on their Chromebook, iPad or phone they can throw to the screen, then several students can annotate on it. The applications are endless.”

A middle school teacher who received two ViewBoard displays to support her stations-based approach to math education exemplifies this versatility.

“This outstanding math teacher does incredible work with stations. She’s like a juggler, it’s incredible to watch,” said Nitti. “We set her up with two displays and two management accounts so that she can be logged into both at once and guide students to bounce between complementary activities on the ViewBoard displays.”

District English teachers tell Nitti that the ViewBoard displays will be a game changer, adding mobility, proximity and interactivity to lessons.

“In the past, our teachers were stuck behind their desks. Now they can display the assignment on the ViewBoard, move around the classroom to work with students individually, and direct them to interact with the board,” said Nitti.

Beyond core subjects, educators throughout the district are finding unique ways to use the ViewSonic ViewBoard displays to increase engagement.

For example, said Nitti, not only can the high school athletic coaches review recorded game tape with students on the large ViewBoard screen, they can stop the recording, annotate on top of the video, then keep this record for reference.

“The technology is enabling things that weren’t possible before,” said Nitti, “The coaches say, it’s just like ESPN! They’re certain this will amp up engagement in sports.”

An elementary PE teacher that works with mobility-impaired students asked Nitti to create an app for the ViewBoard that turns it into an interactive target board. Students learning to throw would receive a visual reward when they successfully hit the target. While Nitti acknowledges that this is a bit of an “out there use case,” he has no doubts about making it a reality. He knows that the ViewBoard displays can take it.

“When evaluating displays, I always do what I call a ‘knock test,’” he said. “The ViewSonic ViewBoard IFPs have the toughest surface I’ve come across. I can pound on it and it does no damage.”

Engagement is the common denominator of the countless ways in which Hoquiam educators are using (and plan to use) the ViewBoard displays.

“Student engagement is the essential element in successful teaching,” said Nitti. “I think the most important thing teachers do is earn students’ attention. The ViewBoard displays are like a cheat code – they draw students in and kids want to get up and touch them.”

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