Until 2020, most education was restricted to a physical classroom, with teachers relying on chalkboards (or even digital boards) to educate students and impart knowledge. But ever since the pandemic, there has been a sudden and transformative shift to digital methods of learning. With education now happening via real and virtual classrooms, there is immense pressure on educational institutions to make learning more experiential. 

Modern audiovisual (AV) platforms and solutions offer several capabilities to transform the learning experience. Read on as we uncover the latest AV technology trends for the modern classroom.

What Does the Student of 2023 Need?

The sudden and comprehensive shift to online learning has made students extremely demanding. What once was just a way to a means has now become a global phenomenon. Despite the repercussions of the pandemic quickly fading, today’s students expect an experience-driven learning experience – both online and in physical classrooms. 

Traditional teaching tools and approaches often make the learning experience extremely overwhelming for students. Despite being highly motivated to learn, students in the current generation are easily distracted. The tech-savvy student of 2023 has a long list of demands, including: 

• Learning experiences that are modern, seamless, and focused on what they really need
• Self-service learning options that allow them to take control of their own learning journey
• Personalised and timely content via rich multimedia that amplifies the learning experience
• Interactive, two-way communication that allows students to be as much a part of the learning continuum as teachers
• Better quality speakers and microphones that allow them to be heard as well as their physical classroom counterparts
• Intuitive touchscreen displays and electronic smart boards that enable rich interactions
• Immersive and simulated learning experiences that allow them to learn not just by hearing but also by doing

AV Trends To Keep an Eye On

In today’s era, technology like AV makes education far more personalised and experience-driven. Not only do AV solutions augment teaching, but they also boost interaction. Through advanced video conferencing, smart whiteboards, and intelligent capabilities, AV solutions enrich the learning and teaching experience across real and virtual classrooms. 

If educational institutions want to revamp the modern classroom, here are AV trends to keep an eye on: 

1. Cloud and Cloud-Only

On-premises AV solutions can no longer meet the evolving demands of the modern learner. Limited capabilities, poor scalability, and rigid user interfaces have made them extremely unpopular. Cloud-based AV solutions are the way forward, as they enable teachers to schedule classes and students to join classrooms and interact with a simple click of a button – from anywhere and on any device.

For instance, a platform like Microsoft Teams allows schools and colleges to set up virtual classrooms, present material, and bridge the gap between in-person and remote learning. By bringing everyone and everything together on one single platform, Teams addresses coming learning barriers, encourages independent learning, and accommodates diverse teaching and learning styles. 

2. Extended Reality Headsets

Learning in 2023 is no longer restricted to audio or video interactions. As the buzz around the metaverse intensifies, the modern student seeks an immersive learning experience. AV manufacturers need to cater to this requirement by leveraging technologies like Augmented and Virtual Reality and enabling powerful new ways for connecting hybrid and in-classroom teams. 

For example, wearable headsets can pave the way for a revolution in the realm of collaboration. By delivering computer-generated graphics on displays, they can enable teachers to show virtual examples of concepts and add gaming elements to help students learn faster and memorise information.

3. Natural Writing Experiences

For remote teams that miss out on natural writing experiences, modern AV technology can pave the way for the most natural and accurate pen-on-paper-like experience. Students can leverage such technology to write on screens with a pen, erase with their fingers or palms, and enjoy the intuitive feeling of a dry-erase board.

For example, Samsung Flip uses InGlass technology to deliver smooth inking experiences. Teachers and students can choose from a wide palette of colours, strokes of varying thickness, brush modes with oil and water colours, and more. They can also make the most of multi-writing functionalities to enjoy real-time writing experiences with no lag. 

4. Intelligent Webcams

As education continues to happen via the hybrid model, intelligent webcams will be crucial to stay connected and productive. These AI-enabled webcams with intelligent face recognition technology can easily detect face positions and movements. Proximity sensors can detect presence as a person approaches the webcam while ensuring teachers and students stay in focus and centred in every frame. 

For instance, the PanaCast series of webcams give colleges and other educational institutions the power to leverage 4K picture quality. Offering a 180-degree field of view, it helps teachers engage in high-quality conversations and enable seamless face-to-face-like interactions.

5. Gesture and Voice Control

With the modern classroom consisting of several devices, gesture control helps meet the new desire for automated and touchless AV interfaces. Not only do gesture and voice control capabilities make video systems and audio technologies more accessible, but they also help reduce the number of shared devices in an office.

For instance, AV platforms with gesture control can enable teachers to set up and launch classes without touching a single button. Built-in sensors and AI technology can enable students to connect to the hardware of their choice and adjust settings based on personal preferences. As soon as the AV device recognises a person’s specific features, it can load the preferred settings, suggest launching pre-scheduled classes, and enable them to steer interactions via various gesture controls. 

Build the Modern Classroom with These AV Trends 

The rising adoption of the cloud and the overwhelming demand for hybrid learning has transformed the AV landscape. With students now engaging with teachers in several physical and virtual ways, AV platforms like Microsoft Teams, Samsung Flip, and Jabra PanaCast are causing a paradigm shift in how classes are conducted and knowledge is consumed. 

As the modern classroom continues to evolve, it is time for educational institutions to stay a step ahead of emerging AV trends and pave the way for new and improved ways of collaboration, interaction, and learning. Connect with us to learn more.