How to Improve Remote & Hybrid Learning in Universities
Bridge the Gap Between In-Person and Remote Students with New Classroom Technology
If your college or university conducts hybrid learning, are you prepared for some of its technical challenges? Many college classrooms are not equipped to instruct in-person and remote students simultaneously and are struggling to make it a worthwhile experience for all.
In worst-case scenarios, remote students might strain to see and hear professors and fellow students during lectures. They might feel left behind and struggle to pay attention.
But your institution can get ahead of these issues by installing classroom technology that simplifies remote and hybrid learning. From lecture halls to auditoriums and small classrooms, everyone can see and hear to facilitate collaborative learning.
Here are some technologies and strategies that can improve your school’s remote learning!
SEE ALSO: New Tech for Classroom Collaboration
Auto-Tracking Cameras
When installing cameras, it’s crucial to consider where they’re placed and how close or far away the speaker will appear. A single, stagnant camera is likely not enough to create a dynamic classroom experience.
Professors should feel free to move and interact with the space without worrying about remaining in-frame. If a professor wears an IR-emitting device, auto-tracking cameras can follow them as they walk about the room. Another option is to install pressure plates in the floor so the camera knows where to focus and capture video.
Microphones
Microphones need to be as close to the speaker as possible. Otherwise, anyone listening online will only hear distant, faint voices and echoes. Instructors should wear a microphone that connects to the conferencing call. But what about students participating in classroom discussions?
Ceiling microphones are relatively inexpensive and can mix audio for balanced sound. But if the room’s acoustics cause echoes (which is often the case), you’ll need to bring microphones closer to speakers on tables and desks. That way, as students speak, their input is shared loud and clear.
Room Arrangement
Hybrid learning is most successful in rooms arranged specifically for camera and microphone placements. If classroom participation is essential, like in language classes, consider placing students at tables or multi-person desks with tabletop microphones that connect to video calls.
In auditoriums, if audience participation is less frequent, students can walk up to a microphone to speak. Remote students can hear their input as clearly as the professor’s lesson.
Another fun strategy is to use a foam microphone box that students throw around the room—like a “talking stick” from grade school days. When someone wants to share an idea, they catch the microphone and speak. Remote students hear exactly what is said, and the conversation can play over in-ceiling or in-wall speakers, so everyone’s in the loop.
All-in-One Control System
None of these solutions will help if they aren’t easy to use. Classroom technology should integrate seamlessly into the conferencing system, whether you use Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex, Google Meet, or another platform. Visiting professors and speakers will need to navigate the platform easily, and calls should be able to start with one press of a button.
When your college or university partners with an integrator like Level 3 Audiovisual, we design and install a complete system that’s simple and intuitive for staff to use. With a tap of a button, the video call starts, and all students are included in the lesson.
Level 3 Audiovisual is a commercial technology integrator that serves businesses in Tempe, AZ and worldwide. If you’d like to learn more about our classroom solutions, contact us here to get started today.
