Over the past 18 months, the vast majority of industries have been disrupted by the pandemic and higher education is no exception. Colleges and universities were pushed towards digital transformation as online and hybrid learning models proved necessary to stay in line with health and safety precautions.
Despite all of the work undertaken last year, students struggled to find the same level of engagement online as they did in the classroom. With 2020 behind us, college and university students are starting their 2021-2022 school year amidst continued changes brought on by the pandemic, so it begs the question: What does successful learning look like for the year ahead?
Success means ensuring students get the same, engaging, inspiring learning experience no matter where they’re tuning into class. Higher education institutions can make this happen by strategically investing in the right technology to improve learning outcomes for all. Here’s a few ways we can track success this school year.
Fostering an immersive learning experience with AV technology
AV technology – from projectors, displays, pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras and digital microphones – is the key to creating an immersive, engaging learning environment. With easy-to-use technology, higher education institutions can maximize learning and productivity as these technologies can help sharpen critical thinking skills, develop creative problem solving and build the ability to work cooperatively in teams through interactive and collaborative settings – no matter the location of the student or educator. The bright visuals projectors and displays offer, matched with the uninterrupted sound quality from digital microphones provides a seamless learning experience so students don’t have to squint at a white board or guess what their teacher is saying due to poor audio, especially when masks are being worn.
The support of technology doesn’t stop in the classroom however. When thinking about the learning experience, we must address students’ needs from a holistic point of view while also addressing the ease of campus life. Having digital signage technology placed throughout campus ensures students have all of the information needed to get around, find relevant activities and even order meals in the dining halls. With the help of technology both in and outside of the classroom, higher education institutions can ensure a successful school year for those learning on campus, in the dorm room or at home.
Using research-based learning strategies to enhance student achievement
Combined with the use of AV technology, higher education institutions should also leverage research-driven teaching strategies, such as Project Moonshot EDU Magana Education’s T3 Framework for Innovation, to measurably accelerate student learning whether through in-person, online or hybrid learning settings. When incorporating technology into the classroom, educators must approach its use to not only look at technology as a presentation tool, but also as a tool to foster enhanced collaboration between students.
Purpose-built syllabi can be greatly bolstered by purpose-built technology in making the transition from education being a one-way lesson from teacher to student to a multi-tiered discussion between a variety of class participants from the teacher, student and external speakers or additional support staff throughout the school. Interactivity will be critical this school year in student achievement academically, but also socially. By pairing proven online teaching strategies with the AV technology to support these methods, students can learn how to work successfully in a group setting. This will not only set students up for high academic achievement but having the skills to collaborate with confidence will standout while applying to jobs and internships.
As highlighted throughout the past year and a half, hybrid learning models will continue to expand and will be enhanced by digital modality. With that, is also some room for improvement. Because teachers and students have been put through extremely trying times throughout the pandemic, having to balance schoolwork from campus and back at home, higher education institutions must continue to allocate the resources needed to foster a successful school year.
Setting students up for success is so much more than the promise of a good grade or test score–it’s also welcoming them to a classroom (virtually or in-person) where they’ll be able to learn and process information in a highly engaging way through technology and personal connections. Daryll Krall has more than 20 years of experience in the AV, IT and Unified Communications professional industry. He is a National Sales Manager for Panasonic’s Professional Imaging & Visual Systems Division. Darryl also leads Panasonic’s Higher Education initiative to ensure Panasonic provides pertinent solutions to this important vertical market. Darryl has a Master’s of Science in Communications from Northwestern University and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Technology and Marketing from De Paul University.
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