Diary and column Education Back to school? New hardware options


As we write and design this piece the UK government has announced its latest Coronavirus quandary – do we contain the spread of the virus by reposing lockdown on the pubs or schools? It might seem an obvious choice, but if EdTech providers can make classroom and remote learning and tuition more immersive the choice between Latin and lager might not be so clear cut. Vestel reports.


With schools and educational institutions anticipating the return to full time education in September after a period of remote teaching, many will be thinking about how to revive student engagement. Solutions offered by EdTech providers can play a vital role in ensur- ing schools do not neglect the benefits of tech-enabled teach- ing when students return to the classroom.


For example, the use of inter- active screens and whiteboards within classrooms and lecture halls help to combine the ben- efits of online and in-person teaching. While also support- ing a modern and tech-forward environment for schools as we look towards the new idea of normality, these solutions al- low students to proactively get involved in classroom discus- sions and demonstrations. Pupils can wave at the screen to perform actions, as well as work within small groups to complete tasks collaborative- ly and in front of the class, bringing


learning experiences


to life. Teachers can also lever- age platforms such as Google Maps on the screens, to zoom into various geographies or landmarks to show - not just tell - students a glimpse into other cultures and civilisations. The screens are available in a range of sizes, meaning they can be leveraged for other uses outside the classroom too, such as for workshops or assemblies with multiple classes. Additionally, having access to a digital whiteboard enables teachers to sync up their per- sonal devices, as well as lever- age apps, browsers and other screens, to improve the ease of visual teaching. Ultimately, technology can help teachers mitigate the time-consuming admin tasks, so they can focus on what they do best and en- sure students stay engaged.


School life


Outside of learning, schools, colleges and universities are also important social environ- ments for the younger gener- ation. Activities such as fairs, daytime and evening events as well as social building activ- ities play an important role in a young person’s development. Digital signage placed across campus can help to promote such events and highlight any important information. Educa- tors can then update this con- tent remotely and in real time. However, while social activ- ities are important, schools also need to be mindful of so- cial distancing rules. Digital signage placed across student hallways, classrooms, canteens and toilets for example can be used to remind students of dis- tancing rules and to wash their


hands regularly.


Such screens can also be used to display - in real time - the number of people currently in shared social areas such as the canteen, student common room, library or even campus restaurants and bars. This helps to reduce overcrowding, promote a queuing system and provide a sense of transparen- cy to both students and teach- ers. A good example of this is the cloud-based, multi-screen Content Management System (CMS), NowSignage. A solution such as its Capac- ity App provides full API inte- gration with cameras, pulling data in real time to display a live capacity count on screen. Additionally, its PeopleCount solution enables educators to split the displays to show, for example, a live capacity count dashboard on one half of the screen and important cam- pus announcements, such as health and safety messaging, forthcoming event information or even canteen menus, on the other.


Infrastructure


As we move closer towards a new tech-forward world follow- ing the effects of the pandem- ic, we can expect remote learn- ing to remain an important aspect of student life. Schools and universities will need to adapt to new processes and technology and consider new ways of keeping students en- gaged both inside and outside the classroom.


This is where platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams can help. Not only can they support remote lectures and workshops, but they can also be used by smaller groups to collaborate and share ideas. For example, literature


stu-


dents can create a group to discuss reading interpretations and questions.


Another perk of these platforms is they can easily integrate with interactive whiteboards situat- ed in the classroom or lecture theatre. Students will be able to connect to the lesson with their laptop, as well as see and collaborate on the screen, cre- ating an interactive experience while in the comfort of their own home. Additionally, the use of recorded PowerPoint slides, video calls and split screens means a teacher can host one recorded session for students to watch at the most convenient time no matter where they are based around the world. Then, once the ses- sion has ended, notes can be sent instantly from whiteboard to email.


Fortunately, new hardware op- tions for education were already in development before the pandemic reached any kind of peak. Promethean’s signature ActivPanel interactive display, which was recently enhanced to enable more comprehensive remote teaching and learning capabilities. ActivPanel is an industry-leading interactive dis- play designed for modern, con- nected classrooms. Its latest generation, the ActivPanel Ele- ment Series, enables educators to deliver engaging, collabora- tive lessons using Promethean’s award-winning lesson delivery software, ClassFlow and Activ- Inspire, and thousands of apps available at the touch of a but- ton.


In response to the recent shift towards remote teaching and learning, Promethean swiftly made


enhancements to Ac-


tivPanel’s robust capabilities, bolstering the system’s ability to be used inside and outside the classroom and make learn- ing from anywhere possible. The ActivPanel is a must-have education technology tool that facilitates learning through col- laboration, personalization, and active engagement and helps teachers prepare students for their future.


ActivPanel and its accompany- ing free software enable teach- ers to swiftly deliver engaging remote lessons from anywhere. Using ActivInspire, teachers can record and share lessons via Google Classroom, Micro- soft Teams, Box, and any cloud sharing platforms, while stu- dents can install the personal version of ActivInspire to share activities for offline interac- tions. With ClassFlow, a cloud- based lesson delivery software, users can work seamlessly with Microsoft’s OneDrive, Goo- gle Drive, Chromebook, PCs, and more — so teachers can create and deliver lessons in any environment. ActivPanel’s screen-sharing capabilities also allow students to share content from within the class and while learning at home, therefore pro- viding a hybrid learning solution for educators.


ActivPanel technology also saves classroom downtime and overall costs by reducing ongoing maintenance needs. The solution provides numer- ous front-of-classroom benefits without the hassle of ongoing upkeep found with older projec- tor-based systems – like chang- ing bulbs and filters – and in- creases active learning time. IT administrators have enhanced security and manageability de- livered through Promethean Panel Management by central- ly controlling panel configura- tions, settings, and restrictions from any location to create more consistent experiences across schools within their dis- trict. Designed by teachers for teachers, Promethean products are used in more than 1 million classrooms worldwide.


Designed with care in mind


Last year CTOUCH announced that a touchscreen new touch- screen model for the educa- tion, small and medium-sized businesses market, the CTOUCH Riva. It can be used as a fully featured stand-alone touchscreen or enriched with CTOUCH BRIX solutions


for


advanced applications. (see the interview with Francois Barlinckhoff on page 12 of this issue for an explanations). The CTOUCH Riva is a super


user-friendly touchscreen, en- abling any type of user to easily share their screen and write on the highly responsive interac- tive whiteboard. The CTOUCH Riva comes with a true arsenal of integrated hardware fea- tures. A lot of efforts have been made on developing a highly accurate touch display. With CTOUCH’s proprietary True-


Clevertouch is embracing immersive learning with intelligent digi- tal classroom environments with touchscreens the IMPACT Plus, the PLUS SERIES High Precision and the V Series.


of the users – with CTOUCH BRIX modules. Recently, it was announced that the touchscreen will ship with a specially developed screen cleaning kit. Gregg Ring- er, Head of UK Market Develop- ment for CTOUCH commented: “In a time where surface clean- ing is at the forefront of every- one’s minds, we want to ensure we are doing our bit to help our customers. As a company, we have launched a series of


room or combining school with home in a hybrid model, collaboration will be at the heart of education. As the need grows for more collabo- rative learning spaces, so does the demand for technology in the classroom. Clevertouch is embracing immersive learn- ing with intelligent digital classroom environments with touchscreens the IMPACT Plus, the PLUS SERIES High Precision and the V Series. “Our interactive panels come packed with free apps


and software de-


The CTOUCH Riva is a super user-friendly touchscreen, enabling any type of user to easily share their screen and write on the highly respon- sive interactive whiteboard.


Beam Touch technology. Two integrated


stereo JBL 3-way


speakers (tweeter, mid-range and woofer) deliver live-stage virtual surround sound. At the touch of a button you have access to all options on the screen, making your life so much easier. The CTOUCH Riva also allows you to use your


initiatives which ensure we are as environmentally and socially aware as we can be, and this is another example of many more to come. We want to provide peace of mind for our users, so they are as comfortable as pos- sible when using our new Riva touchscreen.” The branded ‘Wipe & Shine’


signed to meet curriculum requirements for you to deliver more engaging les- sons. Our complete class- room solution is easy to use, offers simple instal- lation and designed with more than 50,000 hours of use in mind.” Clevertouch’s IMPACT Plus is designed to meet the needs of the modern classroom. The high pre- cision technology screen is designed for teachers, by teachers. More than just an interactive touchscreen, the 4K resolution screen with super wide sound and micro- phone delivers a truly intui- tive and collaborative learn- ing experience. Informed by the government’s agenda, the product is designed to enable extraordinary lessons to take place in ordinary classrooms, transforming the learning ex- perience. The multi award winning education solution is helping teachers and pupils shine in the digital class- room.


Learning happens best


Promethean’s ActivPanel interactive display was recently enhanced to enable more comprehensive remote teaching and learning capabilities.


own software (Android, Linux or Windows based) depending on what you are used to. the CTOUCH RIVA supports BYOD (bring your own device) and en- courages sharing their work on the big screen via EShare. Best of all, Riva is compatible witt CTOUCH BRIX, so the touch- screen can be upgraded over time – according to the needs


P10 AV News June 2020 P14 AV News August 2020 P12 AV News November 2019


kits will ship with all the new CTOUCH Riva touchscreens. For customers who have already purchased, they can also claim theirs through the CTOUCH website.


Collaboration for engagement


Whether returning to the class-


when a variety of multimod- al channels and activities are used. As well as en- abling sensory based learn- ing so that children absorb key concepts and ideas faster, interactive touch- screens offer the opportu- nity for real time feedback. IMPACT Plus supports col- laboration with the inclu- sion of instant messaging, video, voice and desktop sharing. IMPACT Plus deliv- ers a truly intuitive and col- laborative experience. Feature rich, with solutions that free teachers from the constraints of the restrictive traditional classroom.


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