Electronic Whiteboard

The elite Panaboard, which was designed and developed in 2006, was first marketed in December 2007. An upgraded version was then released in 2009. Now, in 2010, we are hoping that the elite Panaboard will bring even more smiles to classrooms all over the world.

Adachi
The following are just two examples of the feedback that we've received from teachers who use the elite Panaboard in their classes: "Students who never used to raise their hands in class now raise them regularly," and "the number of students who keep their heads down during class have greatly decreased." The elite Panaboard not only makes lessons more efficient and boosts the students' comprehension and concentration, but also creates a sense of unity within the classroom. Software for creating educational material is included with the elite Panaboard as well, enabling teachers to create materials electronically instead of having to make them from scratch. And the materials that are created can be shared over and over again with other teachers.

I often view the classroom conditions in elementary schools around Japan, and I've continuously taken part in workshops to promote effective applications, including lesson preparation. In all of Japan's elementary schools, the materials that are used during class have to be stored away during the ten-minute break between classes, and the preparations for the next class then have to be completed. In the meantime, the teachers have to keep their eye on the children, while also fielding questions and holding discussions when necessary. Needless to say, this keeps them very busy.

Some of the teachers who have actually used the elite Panaboard have said something to the effect that "the burden of class preparation has been significantly reduced." I feel that if there are any functions that can create even a few additional minutes for teachers to run their classes, they should be used to improve our products.

Nagai
Many private schools in North America are equipped with enhanced information communication technology (ICT) equipment. Having students write onto an electronic whiteboard as a means of strengthening the communication between teachers and classmates is common practice. The elite Panaboard has been introduced in both elementary and high schools. Often, high school teachers have fixed classrooms, and the students move from one room to another. The room projectors also have a set position, and there are few adjustments that need to be made before class. In addition to the large-screen elite Panaboard, many schools have high-quality infrared wireless microphones to enhance the classroom and create an environment where students can see and hear from anywhere in the room.

Adachi
In Australia, where the elite Panaboard was first marketed, most classes have a small number of students. Each student is able to participate fully, to gain a solid understanding of the lesson, in contrast to lecture-type classes with a large number of students. The optimal environment is one in which the children can feel free to participate and write on the whiteboard.

Seo
In the UK, the government established a policy in 2000 to install an electronic whiteboard in each elementary school classroom. In Mexico, they were installed in all 5th and 6th grade classrooms in 2006 — making a total of 140,000 electronic whiteboards in all. I'm sure that educational ICT equipment will continue to spread all over the world.

Nagai
In recent years, the world of education has called for dream-inspiring ICT systems that are both safe and easy to use. In the product planning process, we focus not only on the electronic whiteboard itself, but on a comprehensive system that includes projectors, PCs, infrared wireless microphones, speakers, and even network cameras for crime prevention and personal security.

We hope to provide support from the manufacturing side in order to make each product easier to use, to create engaging classes for students and teachers, and to offer a truly safe environment.

We want the elite Panaboard to be safely used and enjoyed in classrooms all over the world, and to enable students to study as much as possible. Our newest products were very well received at an educational exhibition held this year in England. The touch panel system, which lets you use either your finger or the Electronic Pen to operate the board, and which also allows several people to write onto the board simultaneously, was particularly popular. We hope to continue helping to teach the world's children, and to keep smiles on their faces as they learn.