Applications at the forefront of technology
University of Illinois at Springfield
The University of Illinoisis the state's best and most comprehensive
public university. It bonds together a family with three distinct campuses: Chicago,
Springfield and Urbana-Champaign. These campuses are strengthened by
intercampus cooperation and university-wide services, yet carry out their academic
functions with a high degree of delegated authority and autonomy. Established as
Sangamon State University in 1969, it became a campus of the University of Illinois
in 1995. University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) is a small, liberal arts university
with 5,000 students. A technologically advanced university, UIS often serves as the
prototype for the University of Illinois family – as well as many universities
throughout the country - testing and incubating new technology that impacts
learning. UIS was the first wireless campus with a strong online learning program,
and 90% of their classrooms are Smart.
the challenge
UIS recently built University Hall for social studies and humanities, with nearly 40
ooms to accommodate its gr
classr
projectors on carts in other classrooms throughout campus, but for this building,
they wanted a true networked, wireless environment.
t Whittenber
Alber
understood the impact this technology would have on student learning, and how
it also could help generate positive exposure about the university’s commitment to
oviding the most advanced r
pr
education.
The major challenge was making this happen with a tight budget.
g, associate dir
owing student body. They previously used mobile
ector of education technology and his team
ces and tools to help students get the ver
esour
y best
“The NEC/SMARTer
Kids Foundation grant
the solution
Fox River Graphics, a leading audiovisual reseller, found the answer. Partnering
with the SMARTer Kids Foundation (SKF), a national private organization that
ovides grants to equip classrooms with technology, they developed a solution
pr
with NEC, a leader in projector and plasma displays and the only large area display
SKF partner.
made it possible for
us to equip students
and faculty with the
best technology on
the market…”
Fox River and NEC worked with UIS to develop a special G-standard wireless
onment, with two powerful installed NEC projectors that deliver reliable, vivid
envir
images to 32 classrooms. The application required the hardwire networking
capability of an installed NEC multimedia projector with interactive whiteboards
and PCM100 network car
Local Area Network (LAN) to ensure they are all working properly at all times. The
power zoom and power focus of the projector make it easy to accommodate each
surface and allow the user to switch screens and adjust image size on the screen
being used - with a simple push of a button.
ds to perform remote diagnostics of the projector from a
the benefits
Now students can quickly broadcast presentations on projectors without having to
email them to the professor. Instead of using outdated blackboards or flip charts,
interactive whiteboards powered by a powerful NEC projector store graphics and
images from brainstorms. Video now appears “larger than life” and captures the
attention of students.
The NEC projectors also are easy to set up and operate, in addition to being
extremely quiet.
Now, Whittenberg and his team can easily monitor the networked computers,
turning them on and off with from their office. This saves energy costs, reduces lamp
replacements and enables the technology team to use their time more effectively.
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espective owners.
r
All specifications subject to change without notice.
NEC Solutions (Americ
Visual Systems Division
1250 Arlington Heights Rd., Suite 400
a, IL 60143-1248
asc
It
a), Inc.
“Students and prospective students are very excited about UIS’ commitment to
providing the latest technology in our classrooms,” said Whittenberg. “Everyone
else was way out of our budget – not even remotely close. The NEC/SKF grant
made it possible for us to equip students and faculty with the best technology on
the market – and serve as an example to other learning institutions.”
NEC 020505