The education technology sector continues to deliver strong performance for the professional audiovisual (AV Pro) industry. Established tools such as interactive displays, document cameras, and PTZ/web cameras remain in high demand, while technologies that enable hybrid learning, such as collaboration tools, UC solutions, and classroom audio, are also driving investment. Bringing all of this together in an intuitive solution that provides the same experience to learners, regardless of their location, is the goal of many institutions as hybrid learning seeks to become the norm.
As Alexandra Parlour, Director of Educational Marketing at Sony Professional Displays and Solutions, Sony Europe, explains: “A hybrid learning strategy, focused on distance learning, will be key for universities, and technologies that capture clear, high-quality audio along with crisp video, and that allow professors to offer interactive activities and seminars, will be essential to providing the best possible immersion for students, whether remotely or on-site. Our recent research on hybrid learning revealed that 79% of students across Europe believe their university experience would be enhanced if funds were invested in online and hybrid learning technologies.”
“Educational institutions need to ensure that students can learn and participate from different locations,” says Madhav Jain, Insights Manager – Education at Sennheiser. “The adoption of hybrid learning and new technologies for the effective delivery and consumption of courses has been a vital factor, along with the flexibility to adapt courses to constantly changing requirements. The hybrid model also opens up new perspectives for attracting remote students.”
As universities delve deeper into this teaching modality, projectors and screens will be more essential than ever for delivering creative classroom content and engaging courses. As students resume collaboration, the quality of images and content will be even more crucial to ensure that all students can see the details and participate equally. The instant, collaborative learning environment that many have become accustomed to with distance learning will need to be replicated on-site.
“Interactive displays are especially useful because they offer touchscreen capabilities and integration with popular videoconferencing software such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams,” says Till Gotterbarm, Product Management and Strategic Partnerships EMEA at Avocor. “ This allows educators and students to easily connect and share ideas from anywhere. These displays also enable students and instructors to share real-time, cloud-based annotations with everyone in a class or study group.”
Jain adds, “Platforms like Canvas and Blackboard are being combined with real-time conferencing platforms like Zoom, bringing together students and faculty in the classroom with remote participants. Technologies that can help deliver a seamless hybrid learning experience are paramount. Ceiling microphones also encourage a very natural interaction between physical and virtual participants, making lectures and seminars feel real to everyone involved.”
While students have been willing to embrace hybrid learning, the pandemic has also impacted how faculty respond to technology and its place in the classroom.
Parlour adds, “The way faculty view technology in the classroom has changed: before, most were reluctant to be videotaped; now, they use it to their advantage. Their needs have changed significantly.”
Gotterbarm elaborates, “More than anything, the pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation of higher education.” Colleges and universities are finding new ways to enable faculty and students to teach and learn remotely, implementing technologies that support collaboration and updating policies to support a more flexible learning experience. The article
cites the example of the Barking and Dagenham Adult School in East London, which was undergoing a technology upgrade when the pandemic hit. The aim was to install solutions that would provide an open platform for working with legacy applications, both in the classroom and remotely, to offer blended learning options. This need for effective distance learning was reinforced in April 2020, when all learning moved online.
“When COVID restrictions were imposed, the college was able to activate distance learning overnight, using our Teams platform to continue delivering instruction.” “We made sure no student was left behind, providing those without internet access with wireless dongles and webcams so that teaching staff could continue to interact visually with students,” explains Aujla Jagdeep, the school’s IT director.
The school maintained 90% of its classes during the first wave of restrictions, while other London local authorities had to completely shut down adult learning programs. It then adapted to a blended learning environment as restrictions evolved, using audiovisual technology to create an adaptable solution capable of delivering high-impact, engaging lessons both virtually and in person.
“Decision-makers understand that teachers need to be able to move seamlessly between remote and in-person teaching to remain productive,” says Gotterbarm. “And it is precisely collaboration technologies that can support this transition, replicating the in-person experience through video display technology and vice versa.”
Looking ahead, Parlour states, “As the traditional educational environment was forcibly rewritten during the pandemic, we will continue to see a true evolution in how we serve students both on and off campus going forward. Technology has supported us throughout this process and will remain a critical component for students to enjoy and learn at their university of choice. By combining the latest in projector and large-format display technology and carefully considering how and where each product will perform best, both in terms of impact and cost-effectiveness, IT teams can ensure maximum collaboration and efficiency for students.”
Jaid concludes, “We believe the hybrid model is here to stay. Virtual learning is a potential source of additional revenue and a key component of strategic plans for academic continuity and resilience for educational institutions. The classroom of the future will make education accessible to everyone, everywhere, whether by providing support to students with learning difficulties or integrating remote students into courses and classes.” Hybrid events will continue to play an important role, while the in-person experience for students will not be overlooked either.
2022
will host exhibitors from across the educational technology landscape. From interactive displays and software to wireless presentation and collaboration systems, all this and much more will be available in the Unified Communications and Education Technology Zone in Hall 2. Throughout the rest of the show, you can also experience the latest in projection technology, digital signage, audio solutions, and everything needed to create a seamless, collaborative, and interactive learning environment.
Attendees should also register for the Digital Learning Summit on February 2. This half-day event will examine the strategies, learning models, and trends driving the deployment of digital learning technologies in universities, schools, corporations, and training centers. https://www.iseurope.org/conferences-2022/
Mike Blackman, CEO of Integrated Systems Events, explains: “As a physical, in-person event, we are uniquely positioned to bring all elements of the industry together under one roof. We look forward to seeing everyone. In preparation for Barcelona, we have worked intensively to ensure that ISE 2022 offers a safe, enjoyable, and highly valuable experience for the industry to showcase its innovations and be inspired by the best of the market. We hope to see you there.”
Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2022 will be held at Fira de Barcelona Gran Via from February 1-4, 2022.
