As the on-going pandemic has changed the education landscape across the globe, digital education has emerged as a necessity. All schools and universities are closed temporarily to contain the spread of COVID-19. Due to shutting down of these educational institutes, the structure of schooling and learning too has changed significantly- giving rise to the e-learning boom in India. As per a report by We Forum, globally, over 1.2 billion children are out of the classroom. The research on online learning shows that there is an increase in the retention of information, and students take less time to grasp a concept. Hence, these virtual classrooms are proving to be beneficial for students.
However, the education sector had to adapt to digitisation in a matter of days. virtual classrooms are easy to access as students only need an internet connection along with a laptop or a smartphone. Since online classes have the option of recording, students have the option of revisiting the lessons anytime to enhance their understanding of the subject. They can learn at their own pace instead of struggling to keep up with their peers. Virtual classroom provides opportunities for the students to explore and learn practical things on digital tools such as creating assignments on PowerPoint or researching about any subject online. They have the platform to increase their digital proficiency which is extremely crucial these days.
However, for e-learning to be a success, procurement of these right tools and technologies becomes important. The mindful use of technologies empowers students to further enrich their digital education experience.
Teachers can also find new ways and means to leverage e-learning and initiate a blend of independent practices, team collaborations, project-based learning and performance. To ace the e-learning practices, there are a few apps which have been helping teachers to stay organised and keep a track of their lesson plans such as Google classrooms, TeacherKit, Evernote amongst others. Amongst these apps and technological tools to assist students and teachers to indulge in meaningful educative sessions, AV technology is imperative. Various softwares such as Microsoft Teams, Hangouts and Zoom have proven to be invaluable. One of the most imperative tools during the virtual classroom is the ability to provide the best sound quality to students. If teachers have audio issues, it gets impossible for students to stay focused. This includes disruption due to network issues, background noises, poor-quality microphones amongst others.
Now that the schools and colleges are gradually planning to open up, some teachers are preferring to teach from their schools and institutes. Ceiling microphones such as the Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2 offer hygiene benefits for cases like this. Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2 is additionally compatible with Zoom Video Communications, Inc.’s Zoom Meetings. While ensuring perfect aesthetics for any conference room or seminar room, the system provides users with a seamless, high-quality audio experience. Sennheiser’s TeamConnect Ceiling 2 microphone uses adaptive beamforming to automatically and reliably pick up the voice of the teachers speaking. This in turn facilitates distance learning, and prioritises hygiene as it enables touchless audio in classrooms to more easily maintain social distancing best practices while ensuring all students experience clear and discernible lectures.
Xilica’s Solaro FR1 which is a dual core processor, allows integrators to focus on what’s right for their project, without expensive over-functionality. Additionally, Solaro FR1 acts as a unique cost-saver to futureproof installations. Solaro boasts the very same studio sound quality that’s been present since our inception. Premium grade microphone pre-amps, selectable 48kHz or 96kHz sampling rates, and advanced audio tools such as FIR filters make the Solaro FR1 a supreme choice for applications requiring high-fidelity audio quality, especially when paired with its 40-bit floating-point processor.
The ATEO series by AUDAC is a series of extra-ordinary loudspeakers that are especially designed for indoor applications The ATEO6 is the 6” version, with a 1” dome tweeter and a 6” Mid / Low frequency driver, ensuring a true-to-nature, high-fidelity reproduction of speech. It features a stunningly designed and elegant looking ABS housing which is fitted with high-quality components. What makes this loudspeaker range so exceptional is the especially designed mounting bracket using the Clevermount technology, making the loudspeakers cabinet flow together with the mounting bracket providing a great ease for installing the loudspeaker.
Higher Education Institutes have been permeated by technological advancement due to the pandemic which forced institutions to deal with complete digital transformation in all dimensions. Integration of technology into teaching and learning is not new, but the rapid rate and pace of technological advancement is new, especially regarding new Internet, ICT and digital technologies as the field of education is reactive to new technological advancements. Post COVID-19, it will be interesting to see the hybrid of physical and virtual classrooms that will efficiently use digital technologies for a more enhanced learning in the future.