As we enter into second year of the Covid-19 pandemic, many schools and universities in India are being pushed to rethink traditional teaching methods and the future of education. Universities are leveraging technology to change the way they operate and create classrooms of the future.
There is no denying that the pandemic has digitally disrupted the education system and paved the way for hybrid learning to emerge as the future of Indian education.
Why are universities choosing hybrid learning model?
The advantages of investing in a hybrid learning approach are many. From improved flexibility for students and teachers to increased access to learning for students living in rural areas, hybrid learning is changing the way we think of education and is removing many of the barriers that have traditionally existed. One of the most important factors that universities need to consider while investing in the hybrid learning approach is to ensure that the quality of the learning experience, they deliver online is the same as in class training.
3 Tips to Make Sure Your Hybrid Education Model is Successful -
1. Invest in quality video camera - So far, many teachers and students have been getting by using integrated cameras and speakers found on their computers and laptops. However, the laptop camera and audio quality are often poor and can be distracting having a negative impact on a student’s ability to learn.
Collaboration technologies like high definition videoconferencing solutions are key to overcoming these challenges as it plays a pivotal role to play in enhancing the experience for both educators and students.
While choosing a video camera, it is important that universities invest in solutions that can automatically track the speaker replicating the in-classroom experience and provide educators with technical difficulty free experience.
Poly offers solutions like the Poly Studio video bars which provide educators the freedom to move around just like they do in classrooms helping them provide remote students as close to in-person experience as possible.
2. Audio matters! For students who are joining a class from home or sharing a space with others while learning, noise distraction can become a big issue. In fact, experts predict that noise can affect complex cognitive and learning abilities, resulting in poorer motivation and higher levels of annoyance.
Providing students with the right headsets can be the ideal solution for those trying to learn in a potentially noisy environment. Noise-cancelling headsets will allow students to focus on listening and learning without being distracted from their surroundings.
Audio quality of videoconferencing devices in the classroom is also key, ensuring microphones pick up the speaker — whether that’s the teacher or a student asking a question — rather than the murmur of the classroom. By investing in smart speakerphones such as Poly Sync (which is also Zoom and Microsoft Teams certified), educators can hear and be heard clearly.
3. Make it interactive – It is important that educators adapt their techniques to cater to online audience. By assisting lessons with video tool extensions such as interactive whiteboards, videos, content sharing, Q&A, chat, polls and other methods, online experience can be enhanced for students thereby increasing the overall engagement and learning experience.
While learning at times of uncertainty and complexity can be a challenge, through the right collaboration tools like high quality audio and videoconferencing solutions, educational institutions can ensure that these new hybrid experiences are engaging and informative for all participants, no matter where they are located, now and in the longer term.