It’s rare to find a millennial that isn’t glued to their smartphone. College students use mobile devices to socialize, keep in touch with parents, handle finances, and more. Using technology in the higher education classroom is a natural progression for this generation that clearly prefers to engage on digital platforms. As a result, professors have had to approach student engagement in a different way. Audiovisual (AV) technology plays a key role in connecting students and professors in creative and collaborative ways.
Learning experiences today combine interactive collaboration, flipped classroom activities, and blended classrooms. In an effort to reduce the overhead costs of education, many students are also engaging in remote learning opportunities.
For professors willing to embrace the innovations, the seamless integration of AV technology and IT solutions enhances classroom engagement and can even improve retention levels.
AV Is Transforming Higher Education
As AV technology progresses, educators are discovering new ways to change the learning environment to optimize student workflows. Some of the most exciting advancements in AV technology for the classroom include:
Better Collaboration
Most students bring some sort of mobile device into the classroom. With collaboration technology such as the wePresent WIPG-1600, Poll Everywhere, and Google Classroom, students can share their screens and engage in interactive activities without coming up to the front of the classroom or turning in a physical document.
Smart Audio
In videoconferencing sessions for classroom collaborations, lectures, or guest speakers, sound quality is a fairly common challenge for AV users. New microphone setups from companies such as Shure use strategically placed microphones to reduce ambient noise for a better listening experience.
Multiuse Displays
Instead of relying on traditional monitors or projector screens, some universities are adopting digital panels that blend interactive capabilities, such as touch-screen capabilities and electronic drawing, with a digital viewing experience.
Improved projection
In addition to the screens themselves, projector technology has advanced. Ultrashort throw interactive projectors improve the projecting ability on white boards, while lamp-free projectors enhance quality and machine efficiency.
While many of these changes are exciting, barriers to adoption include integration and wireless connectivity. For the AV solutions to transform the learning environment, they must work seamlessly and reliably with different consumer and commercial devices.
To create a fully evolved classroom, AV integrators must delve into the changing nature of classroom interactions. New modes of learning, such as flipped classrooms—where students work during class and learn during individual study and assignments—highlight the need for seamless collaboration tools that connect students not only inside, but outside of the classroom as well.