We are starting off 2022 with amazing news – we are proud to announce that FOUR of our solutions won Best of 2021 from Tech&Learning. The purpose of the awards was to recognize educational technology that exceptionally supported teachers and students in 2021, no matter what the learning environment. A panel of educators evaluated nominations based on a set of criteria such as the product’s ability to support different learning environments and student needs, versatility, and ease of use. Which Boxlight solutions were recognized by this well-respected organization? 

Cardiff Metropolitan University (Cardiff, Wales, U.K.) is “committed to ensuring that every student fulfills their potential to make outstanding graduate-level contributions to their own and future generations.” To support modern learning and teaching, the university decided to equip their teaching spaces with interactive technology to ensure instructors and students had what they needed to stay actively engaged. Until this time, their audio-visual technology included a standard 4:3 projected image onto a screen that was lowered from the ceiling and connected to a tutor PC in the room. This outdated form of tech produced low-quality images that did not have the innovative feel of an interactive learning environment.  

Cows & Calves Preschool (Koetjies & Kalfies Kleuterskool, Centurion, South Africa) encourages their students to “learn and explore the world in which they live through discovery.” This includes integrating technology that enhances the learning experience for their young students.  

Quarrydale Academy, an ambitious secondary school (Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottingham, UK), prides itself on the pursuit of excellence. "We want to encourage all learners to develop a love of learning and enable everyone to reach the highest standards of which they are capable," stated Joanna Wells, Business Manager at Quarrydale Academy.  

Ord Public Schools (Ord, NE) serve 550 students in K-12 from four different counties. Ord has consistently worked to raise the bar when it comes to learning for its students. For example, Ord Elementary was selected as a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School for its high standards of Academic Learning and achievement. In addition, Ord Junior-Senior High School strives to provide its students with a comprehensive educational experience. To align its academic goals for continued student achievement and success, Ord has implemented educational technology to meet the needs of this generation of digital learners such as 1:1 Chromebooks. 

Joseph Chamberlain College, located near Birmingham City Centre (Birmingham, UK), is a highly successful Sixth Form (like a Senior high school in the U.S.) with a national reputation for excellence and student achievement among the highest in England. For some years, the college used SMART boards in their classrooms, but they were beginning to show their age and were not providing teachers with the necessary tools to teach in the digital age. 

South Allegheny School District (McKeesport, PA) promotes the pursuit of knowledge by helping foster communication, collaboration, creative problem solving, and personal responsibility. South Allegheny serves about 1500 students and district leaders recognized that a “level playing field” was needed. The district previously added interactive whiteboards and projectors to help teachers engage students in new ways, and even had six interactive displays for use with the intent of incorporating more technology to boost engagement. Unfortunately, there was a lack of use with this educational technology. The solution? A district-wide investment in interactive displays in each classroom. 

There are countless rewarding moments in teaching, but we can agree that when we see students totally excited about a new topic, concept, or skill, we are as overjoyed as they are! This is what teaching is all about – seeing the spark of understanding in students’ eyes when they are actively involved in learning something new. We feed off that energy and look for ways to create more of these experiences. Excitement for learning is increasingly associated with educational technology that invites interaction such as a touchscreen or interactive displays. 

We are extremely proud and excited to announce that we won Primary (K-6) and Secondary (6-12) 2021 Best Tools for Back to School from Tech & Learning for not one but FOUR of our education solutions! What Boxlight solutions earned recognition from this prestigious organization? 

As many people can attest to, if we aren’t totally keeping up with the basics of technology such as using a PC, reading and sending e-mail, and searching the internet for content, the digital divide – the gap between those who can benefit from using communication technology and those who cannot -- widens and creates a chasm for those who are lacking key 21st-century skills. This is a concern for many education decision-makers since they understand that today’s students need essential technological skills to compete in the future job market.