Today, educators at all levels, from kindergarten through graduate school, have a range of options for sharing information with students available at their fingertips. It’s revolutionizing the classroom experience and having a positive impact on student outcomes.

Here are a few of the ways in which AV technology is reshaping the world of education.

Document Cameras Are Making It Easier than Ever to Review Assignments

Those of us who attended grade school in the 90s and early 2000s likely remember overhead projectors. Instructors used transparent versions of the worksheets they were reviewing with their class and wrote on them using markers.

Unfortunately, it was not always easy to decipher what was being written down. It also wasn’t easy for teachers to walk through the steps required to complete problems. Document cameras changed this.

Using a high-definition camera pointed downward, the device allows instructors to go through a worksheet assigned to the class in real-time using a pen or pencil. The worksheet is identical to the one students are asked to complete, which makes following the teacher’s instructions simple.

Videoconferencing Technology Makes It Possible to Learn From Anywhere

In recent years, video conferencing platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams have become household names. Businesses worldwide rely on them, and educational institutions are no exception.

Colleges and universities have taken advantage of advances in video conferencing technology to reach new groups of students, such as working adults, who were previously reluctant to pursue their education because of in-person attendance requirements. Many video conferencing platforms now offer functionality that makes collaboration and participation in a virtual setting seamless, such as breakout rooms, polls, and collaboration spaces.

Many institutions are now optimizing their classrooms for hybrid learning by turning to Zoom room installers and other service providers, who can ensure online and in-person students have an engaging experience characterized by high-quality audio and visuals.

Interactive Displays Provide Instructors With Instant Access to Content

In prior generations, an educator would stand in front of a chalkboard, writing away as they delivered a lecture. It wasn’t always the most captivating learning experience.

In many classrooms around the country today, chalkboards have been replaced by interactive display boards. Instructors can write on a digital whiteboard using a stylus as they go through a lesson. Or, they can pull up a YouTube video to reinforce a concept discussed earlier. They can even access other classroom software, like tools for polling the class and rewarding students points for their participation during class discussions.

Modern Audio Systems Are Creating a More Compelling Learning Experience

Some of us are visual learners, while others are auditory or tactile learners. Until recently, however, the learning experience was primarily tailored toward visual learners. Learning took place by following along with the instructor on the whiteboard or by completing the assigned reading.

Over the past few decades, experts have emphasized the importance of presenting classroom material in multiple formats to ensure all learners can master the material. Classroom audio equipment is removing the barriers auditory learners once faced in acquiring and retaining information.

Today, many instructors use lapel microphones that are connected with speakers located around the classroom. Now, every student can clearly hear the instructor when they’re speaking. This is particularly important in classrooms with students who have hearing impairments.

Innovations in audio technology are also making videos shown during class more engaging. Whether it’s a lesson on music from the American Revolution or a video of an elected leader from the past delivering a speech, quality audio makes the experience more immersive for everyone.

Virtual Reality Headsets Are Expanding Classroom Boundaries

Virtual reality technology has never been more popular. Turn on your TV and you’re likely to see commercials featuring virtual reality headsets, like Oculus Quest or Apple Vision.

The education sector is hopping aboard the VR train. Whether it’s allowing middle school students to develop 3D models using computer-assisted design technology or enabling aspiring HVAC technicians to practice repairing an appliance before heading out into the field for the first time, VR technology gives educators the power to transport their students from the classroom to anywhere in the universe.

VR technology is not only making lessons more engaging, but it’s also meeting the needs of students with tactile learning styles. The classrooms of the future could very well be virtual.

A Learning Experience for Everyone

Audiovisual technology is making education more equitable for all students. Everyone, regardless of their learning style, can now have information presented in a way that meets their unique needs.

Author : William Powell