PROFILE
Elementary and Middle School
Founded in 1956 as a lay institution, the Colegio y Liceo José Artigas is located in Montevideo City, Uruguay and has approximately 400 students enrolled, ranging from preschool up to the middle school level. The school began operation on March 7, 1956 in the living room of a married couple’s house and was originally called “Escuela José Artigas.” The middle school curriculum was added in 1999, and the name of the institution was changed to “Colegio y Liceo José Artigas.” The school continued to grow. Over the years it added a computer room, laboratory, building and perimeter security and fire protection certification. In 2020, following the events triggered by the global pandemic, the school underwent a major technical retrofitting, including a comprehensive expansion of the computer network and the addition of 13 interactive displays, with 11 ViewSonic® IFP7550 and two IFP6550 Interactive displays, each assigned to a classroom in the school. Training programs were established for the school’s faculty, providing them with cutting-edge tools to help teach courses. The school became Uruguay’s first education center certified by ViewSonic in the use of specific instructional tools.
Reseller
SSI Ltda. (Information Systems Solutions), is a company operated by IT and communication professionals. It provides an option for companies and organizations to get qualified technical advice that enables them to achieve an optimal cost-benefit ratio. They have extensive experience and numerous clients in the education industry.
CHALLENGE
The Colegio y Liceo José Artigas wanted to implement a number of different IT solutions and new instructional tools that allowed for interactive learning. To cater to the current reality of their students, the Colegio y Liceo José Artigas decided to replace their outdated blackboards and whiteboards with interactive displays that facilitate the development of a more streamlined, dynamic, interactive and current learning experience.
SOLUTION
Acting as a Certified Reseller, SSI Ltda. introduced the ViewSonic ViewBoard® interactive flat panel displays to the school’s representatives, performing demos for both executives and the middle managers of the institution. SSI Ltda. highlighted the characteristics and benefits of both the hardware and the myViewBoard™ software solution.
RESULTS
The Colegio y Liceo José Artigas saw an immediate and positive impact on the teaching/learning process for both teachers and students. “We chose ViewSonic because of their robust, reliable products, as well as their top quality guidance and support. As a Certified Reseller, SSI Ltda. was entrusted with the training of all teaching staff during long-hour sessions,” said Isola. “We are very pleased to have provided the solution the school was in need of, especially in terms of comprehensively deploying both our ViewBoard displays and related accessories, and also our myViewBoard solution in all of the school’s classrooms,” said Marcos Paredes, ViewSonic’s Territory Sales Manager for Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. “Also, we are very happy to see a quick adoption by teachers and students. With all the teaching staff trained in the use of myViewBoard as an interactive, collaboration tool, a more emotional and dynamic learning process is accomplished, both in-person and remotely.” The school’s administrator is now considering further project expansion by adding more displays and providing frequent training in order to keep teachers up-to-date and motivated. Based on his experience, for these types of solutions to truly pay off, equipment should be available in all classrooms so that teachers and students can seamlessly integrate it into their way of working.
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
