Innovative tools for learning spaces lending to a smoother workflow.
GUEST COLUMN | by Petro Shimonishi
While not only adapting to the evolving combination of in-person, hybrid and fully remote courses, colleges and universities are adopting more innovative approaches to academic and student life. With a comprehensive ecosystem of hardware, software, and services, institutions establish innovative learning spaces without complicating workflows for their limited IT staff.
‘…institutions establish innovative learning spaces without complicating workflows for their limited IT staff.’
Faculty appear ready to embrace the latest digital tools, as shown in a recent survey by the College Innovation Network in which 83 percent of faculty respondents indicated that educational technology, or edtech, enhances teaching and learning experiences.
AV tools help professors work smarter, not harder
Over the past few years, new AV technologies have caught the attention of institutions looking to reshape and enhance the learning experience. While traditional learning methods and tools are still prominent in today’s universities, the latest AV tools bring advanced imaging and higher-quality auditory and streaming capabilities to promote an engaging learning experience regardless of location.
AV technologies like laser projectors, digital displays, pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras, and professional audio systems offer greater versatility to support in-person and remote learning environments. The tools are also more versatile than ever, which gives AV teams the flexibility they need to continue enhancing the learning space.
Here are a few examples of the latest AV technologies and how they support students and professors across the higher education environment.
Projectors and displays
Laser projectors are no longer used to display simple presentation content, but are required to reproduce more sophisticated content. Image quality such as high definition 4K allows students to be engaged with more dynamic, immersive content. Multiple projectors can be used with advanced software that gently blends the edges to create a more immersive environment for in-person students. When students are actively engaged in the classroom, they are more likely to perform higher.
Digital displays and video walls can grab and hold students’ attention, with large screens displaying high-quality images that maintain quality even in bright locations. In addition to their use in classrooms, professional displays can be found in communal areas such as hallways, student unions, and cafeterias, where they provide everything from wayfinding information to important announcements.
The latest projector and display hardware also carry flexible interfaces. This gives AV teams the ability to invest in hardware without hindering the ability to integrate new technology into their ecosystem.
PTZ cameras
Such cameras offer more flexibility and versatility than other cameras on the market. They are ideal for livestreaming and recording lectures, providing virtual students with the same quality of learning as in-person students. The latest ones support a variety of protocols, such as high bandwidth NDI, to seamlessly transmit video in real time while using low latency.
Whether a professor is giving a demonstration in a lab or moving around a large lecture hall, PTZ cameras can follow the speaker thanks to auto tracking capabilities. Auto tracking allows the cameras to pan side to side and up and down, and zoom to accurately track one or multiple speakers in a given room. They also come with superior image sensors and offer advanced image processing for capturing crisper, higher-quality images. Better image quality can increase student engagement and participation and deepen their understanding of class material and demonstrations.
Audio
A lecture isn’t meaningful if you can’t hear what the speaker is saying. Different types of advanced microphones — including clip-on, wireless, conference, and ceiling mics — are optimized for educational settings. Ceiling microphones are ideal for many campus settings because they are extremely versatile. In fact, PTZ cameras and ceiling microphone systems can work together using auto tracking capabilities to automatically adjust the microphone’s sensitivity based on speaker location. Ceiling mics are also designed to deliver excellent sound quality in small and large spaces. Depending on the needs of a room, AV teams can add multiple wireless microphones to the system while ensuring they are all connected to the same network for optimized sound quality. Noise reduction capabilities also remove background noise, like HVAC systems or busy hallways, so clear, uninterrupted audio is received by both live and online audiences.
Auditory learners also benefit from digital wireless microphones because they can listen to clear, high-quality recorded lectures wherever and whenever they please. Whether on a walk or sitting on an airplane, students can take learning with them for added convenience.
AV products support higher education
Innovative AV technologies are helping professors and administrators enhance the education experience inside and outside the classroom. PTZ cameras, laser projectors, wireless microphones, and other AV tools are just that — tools that help faculty connect with students wherever they are and immerse them in the learning experience. The latest AV products are more reliable and easier to use than ever, providing the flexibility and reliability today’s campuses require. We’re excited to see how AV tools continue to support the evolution of higher education in coming years.
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Petro Shimonishi is the director of product management for Panasonic Connect’s ProAV division. Petro has over 20 years’ experience in networked A/V and IT and a proven track record of customer-driven innovation with several patents. Petro speaks several languages and has an MBA from Thunderbird Graduate School / Arizona State University as well as a B.A. in International Business & Economics from University of Mount Union. Connect with Petro on LinkedIn.
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