Wacom Case Study

The Digital Classroom

Put Learning
on Displaywith WacomWacom Case Study

Syracuse University

At a Glance

INDUSTRY
Education

USAGE SCENARIO
Integrate interactive displays into teachingstations in lecture halls for increased student
engagement and comprehension.

CHALLENGE
Modernize Syracuse University’s lecture-annotation
capabilities for improved information accessibility
and ease-of-use.

SOLUTION
22- and 24-inch Wacom interactive pen displayswith digital pens, directly embedded into teachingstations across classrooms and integrated withPCs running the Microsoft Office Suite and additionalannotation and note-taking software.

BENEFITS• Improved annotation experience for lecturers• Enhanced learning experience for students• Low-maintenance solution for Syracuse
University Information Technology Services• Easy installation

2Challenge

Overcome Procedural Inefficiencies

Implement Modern Technology

Founded in 1870, Syracuse University is a private research university
comprising thirteen schools and colleges. With majors ranging
from engineering to fine arts, Syracuse accommodates over 20,000
students and approximately 5,000 staff members.
Before Wacom, most Syracuse University faculty annotatedlesson documents on a piece of paper underneath a documentcamera or used traditional chalkboards or whiteboards. Whileeffective to an extent, these methods made it harder to share thecourse materials with students after the lecture. The University
sought to upgrade lecture-capture capabilities to improve boththe teaching experience for faculty and the learning experiencefor students. The new solution would give instructors better
tools to make their presentations more clear and accessible
to students in classrooms.
Implemented technology needed to allow HDCP-compliant recording
and streaming in order to connect to projectors in large lecture halls.
The devices had to be compact yet powerful enough to display clearlythroughout all areas of a large lecture hall. Additionally, the devices
needed to be compatible with the various software solutions
the University uses.

Wacom Case Study

Solution

Integrated Displays

Maximum productivity

Mike O’Mara, Director of Learning Environments and Media Production
for Information Technology Services at Syracuse University,
started the process by installing Wacom’s 22-inch interactive pen
displays into a selection of their classrooms over seven years
ago. After achieving successful results, O’Mara and his team introduced
Wacom’s newest 24-inch displays into more teaching stations
across campus. So far, his team has implemented Wacom devices
in 126 of Syracuse University’s 165 Registrar scheduled classrooms(75%) with device installations pending for the remaining rooms.
At Syracuse University, Wacom’s display devices can be used ina variety of ways, depending on what the instructor needs. The device
can simply display computer content or act as a secondary screen
for the instructor’s laptop. If the device is installed into a room with a PC,
it also can be used with the integrated annotation and note-taking
software to work over the University’s standard programs suchas PowerPoint or OneNote.
With Wacom, Syracuse University is moving toward its goal to haveits classrooms be entirely digital. The digital pen and its proprietary
electromagnetic resonance (EMR) technology simulate the actual feelof a pen-and-paper experience. Overall, the digital pen display has
proven easy to use, and both the faculty and students benefit from its
range of functionality.

3Wacom Case Study

Implementation

Simple installation

Exceptional Results

In 2012, Syracuse University started migrating toward a completely
digital classroom experience. Accessibility is essential to Syracuse
University, and digitizing the lecture-capture process helps ensure all
students receive the information they need to succeed in theirclasses. Especially in larger lecture halls, relying solely on a whiteboard
prohibits students in the back from clearly seeing the teacher’sannotations. For physical accessibility, the displays needed to beintegrated into the height-adjustable teaching station and set into
an articulating arm, so it can be adjusted to whatever position
its current user requires.
When asked why they chose Wacom, O’Mara explains, “We wentfor Wacom based on experience... We knew they integrated well,so we didn’t look at a lot of other competitors.”
Syracuse University faculty preferred to use a stylus, so Wacom’s
digital pen proved a competitive advantage. With Wacom’s interactive
pen display, Syracuse University will achieve its goal of being 100%
digital in all its classrooms by the summer of 2020.

4

Wacom Case Study

OutcomeModernize Classrooms

Improve Learning Experience

Integrating Wacom’s interactive pen displays intoclassrooms allows lecturers to display and easily
annotate lesson materials during their lectures,
as well as standardize instructor tools acrossclassrooms.
O’Mara commented, “We’ve gotten feedback fromseveral faculty members that this is their preferred
device or how they like to do their annotation.”
Wacom devices were easy to implement and offereda variety of connectivity options and supported
software. The digital format enabled faculty to quickly
share up-to-date information with students. Wacominteractive displays are embedded directly into theteaching stations and mounted on flexible VESA
mounts, which make the devices easy-to-use andmaneuver. The reliability and operability of Wacomdevices enabled faculty to spend more time focusing
on students and less time waiting on IT support.
In addition to helping the faculty teach efficiently
and effectively, students also benefit from anenhanced learning experience with Wacom devices.
Lecture halls can hold as many as 500 students,
and presentations need to be visible from all partsof the room.
“Wacom devices have been great for our large
lecture halls, where writing on a chalkboard meant5

the students in the back couldn’t see,” O’Mara
explained. “Using an annotated tablet that’sprojected throughout the whole room ensures all
students can read the information clearly.”
Wacom displays function perfectly in larger
classroom settings, making information more visible
regardless of class size or seating arrangements.
The devices improve access to information by
allowing faculty to share up-to-date lesson materials
with students. With less time dedicated to IT
support, students get more attention from faculty
and can spend more time learning.
Syracuse University’s IT personnel also benefit fromthe reliability and durability of Wacom devices.
Wacom devices were easy for the IT staff to installand integrate into the classroom’s customizable
teaching stations. To ensure the device is accessible,
anyone can put it into any position they require.
The devices are easy-to-use and require a minimallearning curve, which reduces time spent on
onboarding and training requirements for new staff.
Durable and easy to maintain, Wacom reduced device
downtime and IT’s time spent troubleshooting.
“It’s an effective solution for what we’ve been
trying to achieve,” O’Mara said. “The devices
are low maintenance, very reliable, and we’ve
had great support.”Connect with a Wacom expert to discuss increasing student engagement at your institution:
1-503-525-3100 /// esign@wacom.com

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esign@wacom.com · 1-503-525-3100