WHEREAS 2022: how to educate when hybrid learning becomes the norm

The visit to WHEREAS 2022 will provide endless opportunities to explore the latest technologies for education and for centers to ensure that students acquire knowledge and participate from different places, with solutions that facilitate the adoption of a hybrid learning strategy.

Technology for the field of education continues to show magnificent performance for the professional audiovisual sector. The already consolidated tools, like interactive screens, document cameras and PTZ/web cameras continue to be in high demand, while those that allow hybrid learning, like collaboration tools, UC solutions and audio in classrooms, They are also driving investment.

Bring all this together in an intuitive solution that provides the same experience to students, regardless of your location, It is the objective of many institutions, while the hybrid learning seeks to become the norm.

How do you explain Alexandra Parlour, educational marketing director Sony Professional Displays and Solutions in Europe, “a hybrid learning strategy, focused on distance learning, will be key for universities. Besides, technologies that capture clear, high-quality audio along with crisp video, and that allow teachers to offer interactive activities and seminars will be essential to offer the best possible immersion to students, either remotely or on site. Our recent research into hybrid learning revealed that 79% of students across Europe believe their university experience would be improved if funds were invested in online and hybrid learning technologies”.

To Madhav Jain, insights manager – education of Sennheiser, “Educational institutions need to ensure that students can learn and participate from different locations. The adoption of hybrid learning and new technologies to deliver courses has been a vital factor, added to the flexibility to adapt to changing requirements. The hybrid model also opens new perspectives to attract remote students”.

Audiovisual tools

As universities delve deeper into this teaching modality, Projectors and screens will be more necessary than ever to deliver creative classroom content and engaging courses.. While students resume collaboration, The quality of images and content are even more crucial elements to ensure that everyone can see the details and participate in the same way.

“Interactive displays are especially useful because they offer touch capabilities and integration with popular video conferencing software., like Zoom and Microsoft Teams -adds To Gotterbarm, product management and strategic partnerships EMEA de Avocor-. This makes it easy for educators and students to easily connect and share ideas from anywhere.. These screens also allow them to share annotations in real time, cloud based, with all members of a class or study group”.

In this line, Jain adds that “Platforms like Canvas and Blackboard are merging with real-time conferencing platforms that bring students and faculty together in the classroom with remote participants. Technologies that can help deliver a seamless hybrid learning experience are paramount. Ceiling microphones also encourage very natural interaction between physical and virtual participants, making conferences and seminars feel real to everyone”.

Digital transformation

While students have shown willingness to embrace hybrid learning, The pandemic has also had an impact on how teachers respond to technology and its place in the classroom.

Parlor adds that “The way teachers view technology in the classroom has changed: before, most were reluctant to be videotaped, and now they use it for their benefit. Your needs have changed significantly”.

How Gotterbarm expands, “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”.

Specifically, he cites the example of the Barking and Dagenham Adult School, East London, which was in the process of technological updating when the pandemic arrived.

The goal was to install solutions that offer an open platform to work with legacy applications, in the classroom and remotely, to offer blended learning options. This need was reinforced in April 2020, when all learning moved online.

“When restrictions were imposed, The university was able to activate distance learning overnight using our Teams platform to continue teaching. We made sure that no student was excluded, offering students who lacked Internet access dongles wireless devices and webcams so that teachers could continue to interact visually with students”, explains Aujla Jagdeep, school IT director.

The center maintained the 90% of their classes during the first wave of restrictions, while other London local authorities had to completely pull the plug on adult learning programs. Next, adapted to a blended learning situation while varying constraints with an adaptive AV solution, capable of delivering high-impact lessons virtually and in person.

“Decision makers understand that teachers must be able to move fluidly between distance and in-person teaching to remain productive, says Gotterbarm.. And it is precisely collaboration technologies that can sustain this transition, replicating the in-person experience through video viewing technology, and vice versa”.

Looking to the future, Parlor adds that “as the traditional educational environment was forcibly rewritten during the pandemic, We will continue to see a true evolution in the way we serve students, both on and off campus, from now on. Technology has supported us at all times, and will continue to be a fundamental component for students to enjoy and learn at the university of their choice”.

For your part, Jaid concludes that “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 of educational institutions. The classroom of the future will make education accessible to everyone, anywhere, whether supporting students with disabilities 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 ignored either.”.

Digital learning at ISE 2022

Available in the Unified Communications and Educational Technology Zone of the pavilion 2 of Barcelona Fair, WHEREAS 2022 will host exhibitors from across the educational technology landscape: from interactive screens and software, to wireless presentation and collaboration systems and much more.

In the rest of the fair you can also experience the latest in projection technology, digital signage, audio solutions and everything you need to create a fluid learning space, collaborative and interactive.

Attendees can register for the Digital Learning Summit, that will take place 2 February; a half-day event that will examine strategies, the learning models and trends that are driving the deployment of these technologies in universities, schools, corporate entities and training centers.

Mike Blackman, executive director of Integrated Systems Events, explains that “by constituting a physical and in-person event, We are in a unique place to bring together all the elements of the sector under one roof”.

In preparations for Barcelona “We have worked hard to ensure that at ISE 2022 offer a safe experience, pleasant and very valuable - emphasizes- for the industry to showcase its innovations and be inspired by what is best on the market. We hope to see you there”.

Integrated Systems Europe 2022 will be held at Fira de Barcelona – Gran Via del 1 al 4 February 2022, and the record free via code Digital AV can be done from this link.