As the saying goes, "two minds are better than one." In education, that's especially true. Peer collaboration brings so many benefits: better instructional practices, more engaging lesson plans, stronger academic rigor, and even professional development opportunities. But bringing teachers together to share ideas isn’t always easy. That’s where the right tools make all the difference.

At West Ottawa Public Schools, a core group of early-adopter teachers led the charge in selecting BenQ Boards as the district’s new smart board solution. This tech-savvy team tested and identified the tools that would make peer collaboration not just possible, but effortless and engaging.

What stood out most was that BenQ Boards weren’t just packed with features—they were packed with solutions. Designed to boost student engagement, BenQ’s EZWrite interactive whiteboard and annotation tool became the backbone of their collaborative efforts. Built with both teachers and students in mind, EZWrite allows educators to present and annotate from any device, anywhere, using the same tools for their own teamwork as they do to encourage student collaboration.

Joining the cloud-based whiteboard is simple—just scan a QR code or use a link with the room ID. No software downloads, no fuss. Teachers can quickly get started without wasting time, which is crucial in today’s busy classrooms.

Plus, EZWrite offers two modes for collaboration: broadcast and co-creation. In broadcast mode, participants can follow along with the presentation, while co-creation mode lets everyone collect, edit, and share notes seamlessly between the smart board and their mobile devices. The ability to split the screen into sections also lets users share multiple things at once—perfect for team activities or displaying diverse content.

And with direct access to cloud storage, teachers can download, work on, and save files right from the board, eliminating the need for USB drives and making collaboration even smoother.

West Ottawa's adoption of BenQ Boards has made peer collaboration fun, easy, and incredibly efficient. See how they’ve transformed the way their teachers and students work together.