From coping with a pandemic to supporting diverse learning needs, we’ve been compelled to rethink the ways we educate. This issue’s expert panel reveals audio-visual’s critical part in that debate
The Panel
Sefi Aharon, Global education business development director, Kramer
Samantha Potter, Install and commercial audio manager, Allen & Heath
Paul Richards, Chief revenue officer, PTZOptics
Edgar Shane, General manager, engineering and product development, JVC Professional Video
How has the education sector evolved over the past decade?
Samantha Potter Ten years ago, only extremely advanced or niche schools were offering hybrid classes. Fully online lessons were simple enough, but the blend of in person and virtual was just starting to come around.
Of course, Covid-19 sped up that development, but I have many fond memories of trying out the latest and greatest technology to try and fit it into multi-campus, synchronous hybrid programmes in higher education. At the time, most of the technology was geared towards corporate meetings, not classrooms with 20+ people across two campuses and remote students.
Now, if we look across the landscape with a post-Covid lens, it seems rather obvious to have that development. It was an inevitability, but now we just get to enjoy the spoils a bit sooner. As an aside, even though this is more commonplace now, I’m not completely sold that we have nailed the hybrid experience. We are much closer than we were a decade ago, but there’s always room for some improvement. And for those that have nailed it, the next goal is to make it more accessible overall.
Paul Richards Over the past decade, the education sector has transformed significantly with a major shift towards technology-driven learning. Initially, the adoption of digital tools was gradual, with interactive whiteboards and digital projectors being the most advanced technologies used in classrooms.
However, as bandwidth and internet accessibility improved, schools increasingly integrated online learning platforms, video conferencing and collaboration tools.
Today, classrooms are equipped with incredibly high-quality audio-visual technology, creating engaging learning experiences that bring subjects to life. Many school districts have a one-to-one computer-to-student ratio, helping to bring collaboration and online connectivity to the forefront of learning. This evolution has also made education much more accessible and adaptable, supporting diverse learning needs and remote access – which has become particularly prevalent within today’s modern landscape.
Edgar Shane The events of the last four years have made it mandatory for educators to conduct classes remotely. This has resulted in the adoption of video conferencing software which utilises existing internet infrastructure, mainly based on two features: the cost of the equipment and ease of operation. Evolution in IP and video conferencing software has improved on an annual basis, increasing ease of operation and lowering the barrier to entry significantly.
Some software solutions have been adopted by the public at large, where the users have familiarised themselves with the technology by joining online communities of users – providing an additional and valuable layer of product support and training.
As video communication via the internet grows exponentially, IP remote production has become essential for institutions to connect with students, parents and alumni, while also serving as a curriculum for aspiring students.
Sefi Aharon The education landscape was rapidly evolving to incorporate diverse teaching methods and maximise flexibility for students and teachers.
New models like the Hyflex approach have come about – an evolution of hybrid learning that provides students with options to attend classes in person, online or a mix of both, adapting to their individual needs and preferences. This model, among others, enables greater accessibility, and thus offers a learning environment that caters to various learning styles.
What are some of the most exciting tools available to the education market at present?
Paul Richards The education market now has access to a wide range of dynamic tools that are redefining how students learn and interact with content. Software tools at the intersection of AI and collaboration are some of the most exciting, offering students immersive learning experiences.
For example, students can explore historical sites or interact with 3D models in science classes. Remotely controllable PTZ cameras are allowing schools to affordably livestream school sports and events happening on campus, for example. These broadcasts are often student-run and provide online access to students, parents and alumni who connect over their passion for school sports. Additionally, these student-run broadcast clubs provide real-world experience in AV and broadcast to those interested in tech.
Samantha Potter I’m loving what’s coming out of the screen space lately. It seems that developing LEDs and monitors has become incredibly affordable, so we’re seeing screens adopted in spaces that would’ve been hard to pull off in previous years. When you think about all the spaces you can put a screen now (where it makes sense), it opens up how we can communicate with people.
In the classroom specifically, we can now more easily add the tiles of students along the back wall, allowing teachers to make eye contact with both in-person and virtual students without having to crane their neck, break eye contact or mentally make a switch over from remote to in person and back.
Sefi Aharon The education market is experiencing a wave of advanced AV tools that are transforming learning. Among the most exciting are VR and AR platforms, which bring a gamified approach to education and therefore allow students to delve into complex subjects through immersive experiences, such as historical reconstructions and scientific simulations.
Additionally, universities are embracing the ‘broadcast industry for all’ approach with dedicated podcast spaces. This is empowering students to create and share content.
Such a shift toward self-created media is engaging and new, but it is also being used for teaching in a novel, incredibly exciting way.
To increase engagement and make learning more interactive, there are software tools like Kahoot and others. Educational videos and teaching podcasts on a variety of subjects are effectively replacing traditional lectures and textbooks.
These tools provide teachers with real-time insights into student understanding, enabling personalised, adaptive teaching that resonates with modern learners.
Can you name some challenges and best practices when academic institutions look to upgrade their AV workflows?
Edgar Shane It is advised to choose a popular and supported system with a proven operation ease and ubiquity that has an established and growing base. It is also crucial to see that the technology being used is adopted by the majority of equipment manufacturers to ensure the product can be used for years to come and provide optimal return on investment.
Both JVC and Vmix have implemented NDI IP technology which has been adopted by all of the leading IP streaming equipment manufacturers, ensuring connectivity and ease of installation and operation.
Paul Richards Best practices include conducting a thorough needs assessment and involving end users –teachers and students – in the planning stages to ensure the solutions chosen genuinely enhance learning.
Training is essential, as even the best technology is underutilised without proper knowledge of its capabilities. Technology companies are helping to make AV systems more user-friendly, as we have seen with Zoom in the education space. Schools should also consider scalable solutions that allow incremental upgrades over time and seek vendors which provide robust support, ensuring the new systems integrate seamlessly with existing workflows and are used effectively.
How is AI influencing the education-technology space?
Paul Richards AI is revolutionising education by enabling personalised learning experiences, adaptive content and real-time feedback. For instance, AI-powered platforms like Century Tech analyse student performance and adapt lesson difficulty based on individual progress, which helps in customising learning experiences.
AI also assists in admin tasks, freeing up educators’ time to focus on teaching. Virtual tutors, powered by AI, provide support outside of classroom hours, allowing students to practise at their own pace. In terms of AV, AI is enhancing content delivery with smart cameras and tracking systems. These adjust to the teacher’s position or the student’s focus, creating a seamless learning experience.
Auto-tracking cameras like the HuddlecamHD Simpltrack3 are designed to automatically track a teacher at the front of the classroom, but can trigger preset zones and video switching on more advanced systems like a Crestron control system. Some of the more advanced AV systems are deeply integrated into school learning management systems and can be fully automated to record and stream video without requiring teachers to think about how the AV is set up.
Samantha Potter It feels easy to lean heavily on the possibilities of machine learning and AI. I’m not personally a big fan of adopting as much machine learning as possible so early in its life. My immediate concerns are of privacy and functionality. AI is most certainly getting more affordable, but if you think about tech in the education market, its best uses are on an individual level, not in the classroom level.
I think about students talking to virtualised teachers trying to get different or more explanations on a topic – that’s one of the best use cases I can imagine. Yes, we can use intelligence in classrooms with video conferencing to discover who is talking and who is just rustling or coughing, but is it good enough yet? Switching cameras or showing multiviews is technology we already have and can even be based just on levels going into different microphone lobes.
I don’t want to brush off AI and the things it can do for us; I am just cautious about putting too many eggs in a certain basket and not focusing on the things that are right in front of us – educational facilities of all incomes and prices having access to appropriate technology for all their students. A question I consistently pose to students of technology is: just because you can implement tech, does that mean you should, or that it’s the right choice?
Does the implementation of AV in schools assist in accommodating diverse learning needs?
Sefi Aharon The short answer is yes! Implementing AV technology in schools significantly enhances the ability to accommodate diverse learning needs. Interactive displays, audio enhancement systems and digital resources cater to various learning modalities, helping visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learners engage more effectively. For example, interactive whiteboards allow students to participate actively in lessons, while AV content supports learners who absorb information better through multimedia and gamification.
As more students contribute content to the class, they need the technology to share that content, display it and collaborate. This is where AV tools are particularly beneficial. AV solutions – such as immersive video platforms – allow students to control their learning pace, benefiting those who need extra time for comprehension.
Moreover, gaining hands-on experience in fully equipped, state-of-the-art labs is important, as graduates expect to acquire practical skills rather than just theoretical knowledge upon completing their education. AV tech fosters an environment that empowers learners to tackle real-world challenges and prepares them for the professional landscape they will enter.
Edgar Shane Yes, it addresses the needs of those unable to participate in person. IP technology has empowered educators to use video conferencing software to provide remote learning capability on laptops, computers and surfaces using common IP streaming infrastructure. This has greatly lowered barriers to entry for educational institutions, faculties and students alike.
Samantha Potter AV gives us the chance to achieve equity. If you consider all the ways that people learn, we are not far off – technologically – from being able to give them an education that reflects each of their own needs. The biggest constraint moving forward is going to be time: how long can we give students to grasp a concept enough to consider it learnt? Otherwise, larger screens with better resolutions will make it easier for students with different sight capabilities to read more easily.
Transcription technology allows students to stay present in a class and give them written references for later. Audio recordings help those who learn best audibly or have trouble with visual aids. The list goes on. Nothing is perfect, but the more AV technology we have in education, the more affordable it becomes, reaching more people. Every student and educator should have tools that make it as efficient as possible to do their jobs: to teach and be taught.
What does the future of learning look like?
Edgar Shane More diverse products will likely become available to operate on an IP infrastructure. Today, not only can you interconnect cameras with IP streaming switchers, but theatrical lighting systems can be integrated to be both powered and controlled via Ethernet.
Classroom production is set to become ever more engaging and inclusive, with connections to common CDNs as well as privately to campuses abroad. From an infrastructure standpoint, network switches are constantly being developed to accommodate the increasing signal traffic of multiple devices existing on a network. The bandwidth capabilities of IP networks are also expanding, enabling more robust technology to interconnect.
With the advancement of IP, distance learning is evolving to become an institution’s offering that provides the closest engagement with students next to in-person instruction.
Paul Richards The future of learning will likely be a hybrid model, blending both in-person and digital experiences. Emerging trends point to a deeper integration of AV into higher education, creating immersive and individualised education experiences for students, parents and alumni. AI-driven data analytics will inform instruction, while virtual simulations will give students hands-on experiences in fields like science, engineering and medicine.
AV technology will be central to this evolution, making classrooms more interactive and enabling remote participation, which expands access to education worldwide. As education shifts towards a competency-based approach – where students progress upon mastery rather than time spent in class – AV and AI tools will support personalised learning pathways. The focus will be on growing lifelong learning skills, preparing students to adapt to an increasingly interconnected world.
Samantha Potter Last year, I was given a tour of Harvard Business School’s online learning studio. It was a magnificent conglomeration of technology and innovation. Every student got a front-row seat to the professor and their visual aids, outfitted with a wireless microphone to ensure that every word was audible. The professor had a clear shot of every student in a giant grid on a larger-than-life LED wall. When you were stood in the studio (as the professor would) running the demo, it was quite the experience. To me, this was the perfect example of a fully online experience.
The future is blended. The best hybrid classroom experience I’ve ever been part of has been when there was technical staff in the classroom dedicated to producing the experience at each campus and in each classroom. It was phenomenal, but was also a good amount of work. How will we adopt that custom experience in the future? I suppose it would be easy to just say ‘artificial intelligence’, but in truth I’m not entirely sold on it.
Sefi Aharon The future of learning is set to be highly personalised, flexible and technology-driven, adapting to individual students’ needs and the demands of an evolving world.
AI and data analytics will play a central role, enabling adaptive learning platforms that tailor content and pace based on real-time assessments of students’ strengths and weaknesses. Although it will also shape a different, overarching user journey on campus, leading us to talk and think about Smart Campus and what this includes. How do we connect different digital ‘islands’ on a campus into one entity that both makes sense and meets the AV strategy for each university or school?
The classroom of the future will be collaborative, dynamic and inclusive, focused on preparing students with the adaptability and competencies to thrive in a fast-changing world. They will act as a stand-alone universe where magic happens, and experiences are part of the journey. Fun times are ahead!
This feature was first published in the Winter 2024 issue of LIVE.
