The University of Wyoming, located in the picturesque college town of Laramie, is home to approximately 12,000 students. Known for its residential campus and strong sense of community, the university sought to enhance its teaching and learning environments by addressing inconsistencies in classroom technology. With a patchwork of displays from various manufacturers, faculty and staff faced challenges in delivering seamless educational experiences across different spaces.
A need for simplicity and standardization
“One of the major challenges we faced with a mishmash of offerings was the inconsistency from room to room. Depending on where a professor was teaching, when it was installed and what the content was, each room was set up differently,” shared Christopher Dechter, manager, instructional technology at University of Wyoming. Additionally, some systems featured built-in operating systems, which raised security concerns for the institution.
The journey to finding the right solution began at the 2023 Northwest Managers of Educational Technology (NWMET) conference, during a discussion about the University of Wyoming’s limited use of interactive displays. The conversation highlighted the challenge of finding displays without an integrated operating system—a key priority for the university. As a result, the university was actively searching for an interactive display line that was simple and secure, without the added complexities of built-in software.
Several months later, CDW reached out to share details about Promethean’s new ActivPanel LX line, designed specifically as no-OS displays. This sparked further collaboration, and in the fall, Promethean demonstrated the solution onsite, showcasing how the ActivPanel LX could address the university’s needs. The no-OS design made the ActivPanel LX a standout choice for institutions prioritizing security, simplicity, and seamless integration with existing classroom technology.
Why Promethean?
Promethean’s ActivPanel LX displays quickly became the ideal choice for the University of Wyoming. Unlike the competition, this model offered a streamlined solution, functioning as standalone units designed to integrate seamlessly with existing classroom computers. This approach aligned perfectly with the university’s teaching culture, where faculty relied heavily on their existing PCs.
Beyond functionality, Promethean offered a competitive price point, making it possible to standardize technology across campus.
“Anytime someone mentions interactivity, we go with Promethean”
-Dechter
Creating consistent learning environments
Promethean displays are now featured in a variety of spaces.
“We’ve used them everywhere—from small classrooms and seminar rooms to large active learning spaces,”
-Dechter
As an added security measure, the university printed custom, 3-D covers and put them over the front-panel inputs. By covering up the inputs, faculty and students connect to the panels only through designated and approved systems, and not in unintended ways that could lead to security weaknesses.
The results
- Seamless transitions: Faculty now enjoy consistent technology experiences, regardless of the classroom.
- Cost efficiency: Promethean’s affordability has allowed for widespread adoption without compromising quality.
- Simplicity: By eliminating unnecessary built-in systems, the displays integrate flawlessly with the university’s infrastructure.
A future-proof foundation
The University of Wyoming has laid the groundwork for a cohesive, reliable technology ecosystem with Promethean displays. By standardizing its technology solutions across the campus, the university ensures that every space supports dynamic teaching methods while remaining secure and user-friendly. This forward-thinking approach to deploying educational technology is helping the university deliver on its mission to foster interactive, impactful learning experiences for all students.
Is the ActivPanel LX right for your university?