When West Ottawa Public School music teacher Carrie Ledet first learned her classroom would be equipped with a new interactive flat panel display, she had doubts. Teaching students from kindergarten through high school, her lessons needed to resonate with a wide range of abilities, learning styles, and personalities.

As a music teacher, she valued the break her students had from constant screen time on their Chromebooks. “I was a bit apprehensive about adding the smartboards to the classroom. I came from a ‘we’ll see how this goes’ mindset, and I’m also someone with little tech experience,” said Ledet.

Like many educators, her challenge was finding a way to balance traditional teaching methods with technology — without losing the magic of hands-on music learning.

The BenQ Board was introduced as part of West Ottawa’s district-wide initiative to upgrade classroom technology. Unlike traditional teaching tools, BenQ’s interactive flat panel display was designed to make lessons more engaging, accessible, and collaborative.

Key features that supported Ledet’s teaching included:

• Large, high-resolution screen for improved visibility — even for students in the back row.

• Touch interactivity that encouraged shy students to participate hands-on.

• Seamless Chromebook integration so she could use the tools and apps already familiar to students.

• OTA (over-the-air) updates to keep the technology current with no disruption.

Ledet quickly discovered that the BenQ Board wasn’t just another piece of technology — it became a powerful extension of her teaching. “As kids were coming in to start the day, they were walking up to the BenQ Board and answering questions on their own, easily just tapping and interacting with other students. They had answered over 700 questions without any prompting — simply because the screen was there and inviting them to engage.”

👉 Learn more about BenQ Interactive Displays for Classrooms.

Within the first year of using the BenQ interactive display, Ledet saw measurable results. Most notably, her students’ sight-reading ability increased by 23% — a breakthrough in music literacy she hadn’t seen in over two decades of teaching.

Other benefits included:

• Improved accessibility for students with visual tracking challenges.

• Higher engagement as students interacted with the board during lessons.

• Increased confidence among shy or hesitant students.

By displaying and annotating musical scores, leading interactive Q&A sessions, and integrating apps through the BenQ Board, Ledet transformed her classroom into a space where music learning was visual, interactive, and inspiring.

Ten months after her initial hesitations, Ledet’s perspective on classroom technology had completely shifted.

West Ottawa’s success story highlights a broader trend: interactive flat panel displays are redefining how teachers engage students in K–12 schools across the U.S. and Canada. Unlike other solutions such as SMART Boards or Promethean, BenQ Boards integrate seamlessly with Chromebooks, include OTA updates, and feature tools that support every subject area — from music to math.

👉 See BenQ K-12 Education Solutions.

At West Ottawa Public Schools, Carrie Ledet proved that technology doesn’t replace the teacher — it amplifies their impact. The BenQ Board was not the star of the show; her teaching was. But as a trusted partner, BenQ helped her make music more accessible, engaging, and successful for every student.

As schools across North America continue to modernize classrooms, BenQ remains committed to guiding educators through their EdTech transformation — making every lesson more interactive, inclusive, and effective.

👉 Discover more BenQ Education Success Stories.