Page 26 - College Planning & Management, June 2019

Technology INNOVATIONS FOR EDUCATION
AV Innovations for Today’s Classrooms
More higher education institutions are adopting an audiovisual technology-enabled approach to learning.
BY BRAD GRIMES
THE EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE IS ALWAYS CHANGING, and one of the most impactful trends of the modern age is the continuous development of new au- diovisual (AV) technologies that allow educators to engage students more deeply and enhance remote learning with seamless audio
and video communications. For all forward-thinking institutions, outfitting classrooms and other spaces with the latest technologies is an important way to attract tech-savvy students, improve learning, and provide educators with more effective teaching tools. Here, we examine how innovative technology installations at large and small U.S. colleges are benefiting students and educators.
Improving Flexibility and Communication
Students learn in different ways. There is a growing school of thought that the current generation of students, having grown up surrounded by high-definition, internet-connected technologies, may learn more effectively with “personalized” options, including remote or hybrid courses that offer the benefits of digital face-to-face interactions.
At Purdue University in Indiana and the University of Idaho, fac- ulty are utilizing new microphone and video camera technologies to
elevate the distance-learning experience. Beamforming microphone arrays, now found in several Purdue classrooms, combine multiple centralized microphones with artificial intelligence to ensure the clearest audio possible for students tuning in remotely. The system can automatically detect where sound is coming from and choose the ideal combination of microphones to use, creating a “beam” of coverage to best capture audio from that part of the room.
The University of Idaho recently began using a 4K panoramic videoconferencing camera that combines video from three lenses to create a 180-degree field-of-view, providing wall-to-wall cover- age in even the smallest huddle rooms. Some of the cameras are permanently stationed in classrooms, while others are available for faculty to borrow and use wherever they need to. Since they have stereo microphones, a plug-and-play USB port, and are compat- ible with all the leading videoconferencing software, they can be used immediately with any computer. The new tech has enabled professors to conduct remote classes, meetings, and even office hours from a variety of locations, all while helping the distance participants see everything that’s happening within the classroom and thus feel more like they are part of the action.
26 COLLEGE PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / JUNE 2019
WEBCPM.COM
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MCCANN SYSTEMS