Today’s post is by guest author

John Hulen

Crestron Director of
Channel Marketing, Education

How the elements of content, collaboration, and control impact students

When considering how the implementation of new teaching methods will impact the ways AV technology is used in classrooms or other learning environments, it’s helpful to focus on why the technology needs to be used to communicate the material.

Knowing the why helps:

• bring the value of using technology into focus
• facilitate how teaching committees plan to implement technology into their course curriculum

There are three aspects (or elements) that illustrate how AV technology ensures the best learning outcomes in today’s educational institutions: Content, Collaboration, and Control.

Content: Clear, Consistent Communication

The first element is clearly communicating course content to students, and it’s one of the most fundamental requirements of learning today. Since today’s students have grown accustomed to seeing teaching material displayed on a projector or multiple displays around the room, distributing content within a space using AV technology becomes paramount.

That’s the why behind Crestron’s focus on content. Some of the methods for content distribution include using DM® Essentials based on HDBaseT® connectivity over twisted pair wiring with a few improvements. Another method is to use AV-over-IP distribution to send the same audio, video, USB, and control signals on the network, like the DM NVX® technology series.

A third way is to send video and audio content wirelessly using Crestron’s AirMedia® wireless presentation and conferencing systems. With any of these platforms, instructors can:

• connect their sources easily
• communicate their materials to their students anywhere in the classroom
• be confident that the learning environment reflects how students learn today

Buy the NVX and AirMedia® from shop.avispl.com today.

Collaboration: Connecting Everyone, Everywhere

A second aspect of the most modern teaching pedagogies is collaboration. Hybrid and hyflex learning spaces with a mix of in-person and remote students demand AV technology, which follows the natural flow of conversation.

Effective learning cannot be accomplished unless everyone is heard and seen clearly, allowing for real collaboration between students in or out of the classroom. There are natural movements that people make when collaborating.

For example, the instructor or in-person students don’t always face the same direction. They might switch between addressing or responding to different people in the classroom or remote participants on a monitor.

Crestron’s Automate VX multi-camera speaker tracking solution utilizes artificial intelligence for multi-camera intelligent switching, including Visual AI or Visual AI Direction, to unlock true collaboration for everyone involved. Without human intervention, this technology allows the system to switch to another camera when the person speaking looks in another direction (rather than only showing the side of the speaker’s face).

One of the quickest ways to make remote learners feel disconnected is by providing an experience where the instructor and the in-person students never seem to look at them.

The software in the Automate VX works with Crestron’s 1 Beyond cameras by detecting faces and angles of facial features — while not recognizing or identifying specific people. Crestron devices do not identify people locally or otherwise. It is the only solution of its kind — with multiple optical zoom cameras and third-party microphones — offering automatic switching based on face direction.

Control: Simplifying the Learning Experience

The third element of why using AV technology ensures the best learning outcomes revolves around two teaching or learning styles: Active Learning and Experiential Learning. In these two methodologies, control ties the technology together with the learning.

Active Learning Spaces

In Active Learning spaces, the instructor might want to send their content to all group tables while he explains the parameters of a group assignment. Then, the small groups would send a local source from one student in the group to a display at or near the group worktable or station.

The most successful outcomes of Active Learning happen when one or several students “teach” other small group members the material — thereby helping to contextualize and reinforce recall of the material in their own minds. But control from the lectern or at the group worktables is essential for simplifying and automating the functions of the system.

Experiential Learning

In Experiential Learning, applications such as medical simulation labs require control of microphones and speakers, routing video signals from the control room into the lab space, control of PTZ cameras to observe what is going on, control of recording devices, etc. This all creates a more user-friendly system for non-technical educators.

Specialized Environments

• In nursing or EMT training labs, a trainer will want to tell students how to safely move a patient or listen to the questions a student asks in an exam room.

• In an esports lab, a coach needs to route a player’s video to displays around the space to help other players understand a team’s strategy or what issues to avoid during the next competition.

Any of these examples live or die by how the AV technology can be controlled — which is where Crestron 4-Series® control processors excel.

Campus-Wide AV Management

One last example of the importance of control in modern learning is using technology operations software to remotely control, maintain, and support all the content, collaboration, and control technology used in multiple buildings by the whole institution or across the campus.

The XiO Cloud® platform puts the power into the hands of the support teams to confirm that all systems are ready to enhance teaching rather than become obstacles to learning. XiO Cloud platform software enables support teams to deploy, manage, monitor, and evolve the technology used in teaching quickly and efficiently.

With this tool, the user can:

• view the online or offline status of the technology

• check room health, review the status and settings of the technology before the class begins

• get alerts if any issues arise

Further, technology firmware and software updates can be scheduled, usage of spaces can be tracked, and systems can be set to maintenance mode when being serviced. Additionally, historical data, metrics, and dashboards can provide institution-wide insights on how the technology is being integrated into teaching by the faculty members.

AV technology significantly impacts the success of new teaching methods. It plays a key role in both implementing new pedagogical advancements and why there is value in using the technology in all types of learning environments.

Technology ensures faculty can thoughtfully weave together their course materials with the technology required to communicate with their students. When teaching committees are discussing the most impactful ways for students to absorb information, they will want to understand why it is so valuable to focus on content, collaboration, and control.

Ready to transform your learning spaces? Contact AVI-SPL and let’s talk about the right Crestron and AV strategy for your campus.

The post Why Use AV Technology in Learning Environments? appeared first on AVI-SPL Digital Enablement Services Provider.

High-impact spaces promote collaboration and prioritize employee well-being. Intuitive technology minimizes frustration and keeps employees focused on their tasks. Many of these spaces also incorporate sustainable materials and energy-efficient AV solutions, aligning with values important to today’s workforce.

Supporting hybrid teams with smarter technology

Hybrid work reveals gaps in collaboration tools and meeting technology. AV-over-IP systems, and AI-assisted devices, including Crestron solutions, address these challenges. With tools for straightforward content sharing, intuitive controls, and dependable connections, meetings become more efficient. Teams can focus on collaboration rather than resolving technical issues.

Research from Statista shows that 20% of remote employees face barriers to effective collaboration. Providing spaces designed to support teamwork helps reduce these challenges. Additionally, Gartner found that prioritizing collaboration can improve employee retention by up to 19%.

Designing spaces that work for everyone

Modern office spaces must adapt to different types of work. Flexible layouts, advanced video systems, AI, and seamless integration with meeting platforms make high-impact spaces effective for everything from small team discussions to large presentations. These designs ensure that all participants, whether remote or on-site, can contribute meaningfully.

Create the right space with AVI-SPL

High-impact spaces make it easier for teams to work together. AVI-SPL works with organizations to design, deploy, and manage AV-over-IP solutions that meet your needs.

Contact AVI-SPL today to schedule a consultation and explore how these solutions can support your team.

The post High-impact spaces redefine workplace collaboration appeared first on AVI-SPL Digital Enablement Services Provider.

Teams need the latest hybrid work solutions to ensure every meeting is inclusive and supports both in-office and remote work. Today, advancements in hardware and software solutions provide an intelligent video experience that delivers inclusive, equitable meetings. Let’s explore how we got here and how Crestron is redefining the hybrid work experience.  

Is hybrid collaboration broken? 

We’ve been getting by with the collaboration solutions in place now. After all, teams have been meeting over video for decades and struggled through sudden, fully remote work just a few years ago. Think about the video conferencing experience of the past, though. It’s likely attendees did more observing and listening vs. participating.  

The static, single-camera view of the conference room didn’t encourage engagement. Remote attendees couldn’t react to gestures and facial cues since these actions were too small or blurry to see. For those in the office, remote team members were relegated to small boxes on the screen. If you shared content, your on-screen coworkers shrunk even more. 

The online meeting experience began to change after much of the world settled into hybrid work. UC providers like Cisco, Microsoft, and Zoom upgraded their platforms with new features such as virtual backgrounds, transcriptions, and meeting summaries. Hardware and software providers stepped up with devices featuring larger displays, 4k video, and noise cancellation.  

Evaluating the technology experience 

Based on Crestron’s survey results, there’s still room to improve the hybrid work experience. The report concludes: “There has been a period of trial and error to better understand what employees need. As modern work approaches its tipping point, organizations are looking to proactively scale up a streamlined technology experience to optimize team performance.” 

Everyone needs to see and hear on the same level to participate in a meeting fully. How we capture and present people on video is critical to making this happen. In its latest round of hybrid work innovations, Crestron is redefining the in-person and remote experience with intelligent video solutions.  

How Crestron is redefining hybrid work with intelligent video  

In its latest round of hybrid work innovations, Crestron is redefining the in-person and remote experience with intelligent video solutions. Creston 1 Beyond cameras and Automate VX camera switching work together to keep everyone at eye level to create an inclusive experience that keeps employees engaged and productive, no matter where they work. 

Crestron’s approach to video includes understanding that much human communication is non-verbal. Teams must see each other’s gestures, facial expressions, and body language and make eye contact. For those in the room, that’s not an issue. However, remote attendees rely on display images.  

The video must show these visual cues essential to keeping participants in hybrid meetings fully engaged. Intelligent video solutions are also helpful for deaf and hard-of-hearing participants, facilitating lip reading and making meetings more accessible. 

Automated intelligent video solutions 

It’s essential that video processing doesn’t require manual adjustments that disrupt the meeting. Meeting video should be automated to provide a consistent, more dynamic, and equitable hybrid experience. Creston’s report notes, “The more remote participants see, the more they feel part of the team. The more automated the solution, the more worry-free it is for in-room participants. When remote and in-room participants can engage more naturally, they collaborate more effectively.” 

“They’re able to see exactly what they need to focus on — they can see those nonverbal cues,” says Cara Shannon, a senior product marketing manager at Crestron. “It gives the people on the far end more of an immersive experience, so they’re able to feel like they’re a part of the meeting, not just kind of viewing it from afar — like a fly on the wall.” 

Presenter Tracking

Creston 1 Beyond cameras automatically track speakers as they move around the room. Remote attendees always have a close-up view of the person speaking. And the presenter can travel naturally around the room and not worry about where to look. Here’s how speaker framing works: 

Speaker Identification: AI algorithms identify the person speaking in the video conference. This is done through voice recognition or tracking lip movements and audio cues. 

Camera Control: Once the active speaker is identified, the system automatically adjusts the camera’s pan, tilt, and zoom settings to center the frame on the speaker.  

Smooth Transitions: Video conferencing systems with speaker framing capabilities smoothly transition between speakers when multiple participants are talking. The camera will pan and zoom to focus on the new speaker as they begin to speak. 

Speaker framing helps eliminate distractions and enhances the viewing experience by keeping the viewer’s attention on the current speaker. It also minimizes the need for manual camera control, allowing participants to focus on the conversation. 

Group Framing

It’s natural for people in a meeting room to move around, leave, and re-enter during a meeting.

Group framing automatically adjusts the camera’s pan, tilt, and zoom so that all on-site participants are framed perfectly in the room, even when the number of on-site participants changes.

Multiple camera solutions

Using multiple cameras lets remote attendees see more than one view of the room simultaneously. For example, a virtual attendee can see a presenter, a person asking a question, and a broad view of the room. This dynamic view empowers remote participants to collaborate with their on-site teammates. fully 

Creston automates the multi-camera experience with the Automate VX solution. Automate VX AI-driven software enable dynamic views of the meeting room for virtual attendees on a single screen by: 

• Interpreting microphone information: The Automate VX solution’s intelligent software interprets data from the in-room microphones, directs a camera to focus on whoever’s speaking, and then switches to that camera. 
• Enabling smooth camera switching: Automatically control up to 12 in-room cameras, providing a natural remote experience with quick, clean cuts between speakers. The built-in noise delay eliminates unnecessary switching due to noise, coughs, or short utterances in the room. 
• Pinpointing room positions: The software also uses the intelligence gathered by any beam-forming microphones in the room to pinpoint accurate positions in the room, such as individual seats, and refine the remote experience. 

Getting started with Crestron intelligent video solutions 

Adding intelligent video to your collaboration upgrades enhances video conferencing by improving audio and video quality, automating tasks, providing insights, and adding various features to make virtual meetings more productive and engaging. These AI-driven enhancements aim to make remote communication as effective and natural as possible. 

Contact AVI-SPL when you’re ready to refresh your collaboration tool and empower hybrid work with intelligent video. Our team will help you choose the best Crestron solutions for your needs and business goals.  

The post How intelligent video is redefining hybrid work appeared first on AVI-SPL Digital Enablement Services Provider.

HyFlex technologies support all types of learning

Hybrid learning is still a focus in higher ed because there are a lot of issues to fine-tune. After the rush to get classes online, schools are now taking their time to be strategic about implementing long-term hybrid and flexible classroom solutions. For example, higher ed technologists are now able to get into details like what are the best kinds of camera shots to optimize the online learning experience.

Flexible technologies are improving remote, blended, and in-class learning. They’re also allowing more instructors to teach remotely or out in the field. Flexible solutions are transforming in-class learning too by supporting active learning, which improves student engagement.

For example, displays with wireless sharing can be used by both instructors and students in breakout groups. And it’s easier for flipped classrooms to perform activities or group work in class because students can view instructor recordings outside of class at their convenience.

Higher ed embraces gamification of learning

Tech-centered forms of gamification range from interactive quizzes to simulations and competitive video games. These efforts keep students engaged because they’re fun and exciting, but the technology also makes it more interesting than just tallying scores on a whiteboard.

Esports is a tech-intensive college activity that is more popular than ever, and it benefits students and schools in a variety of ways. It teaches soft skills to players and other team members, including collaboration, time management, team-building, and more. These skills help students going into almost any career. Esports labs and computers can also be used by other programs for simulations and similar activities, making the technology a popular and worthwhile investment. Colleges and universities have also found esports to be a valuable recruitment tool.

Futuristic tech still requires ease of use

Futuristic technologies like XR (virtual, augmented, and mixed realities) tech are increasingly being used in simulation labs. Students use equipment like VR goggles in teaching kitchens, for virtual field trips, or in other experiential learning environments.

Automation is another existing capability that is growing in use. With all the technology in today’s classrooms, faculty members don’t always have the time or desire to train to use it to its potential. Increasingly, technologists can configure equipment to automatically turn on and set preferences that are unique to each instructor. This can be done, for example, via RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). Instructors don’t even have to worry about turning equipment off or taking down shared content, as the technology knows when the instructor plugs in or unplugs their computer.

Keeping up with higher ed tech trends

Ed tech is continuously improving, making it a challenge to keep up with which technologies are must-haves. AVI-SPL and Crestron help higher ed technologists choose, integrate, and efficiently manage solutions. If you want info on any of these trends, get in touch with AVI-SPL today.

The post Hybrid learning is still a top trend in higher ed tech appeared first on AVI-SPL Digital Enablement Services Provider.

In our How to Create or Expand Your Collegiate ESports Program guide, we provide insight into facility design planning and how to assemble the right stakeholders to create a quality collegiate eSports program. Here’s a rundown of what you’ll learn.

5 ways an eSports program benefits students and schools

ESports programs have become an integral part of college life. There are hundreds of school teams, thousands of competitors, and millions of dollars in scholarships offered to players. So, it should come as no surprise that higher education leaders have realized that an eSports program can benefit both the students and institutions.

Here are five ways that students and schools benefit:

1. Recruitment: Schools can offer business partnerships and related degrees to attract and prepare students for careers in eSports.
2. Student engagement: Some spectators and participants wouldn’t otherwise be engaged in campus activities.
3. Sense of community: Competitors and fans are as passionate, involved, and engaged as they are in other school sports.
4. Social well-being: Taking part in social events is important to the college experience.
5. Publicity: Top eSports players can attract fans, bringing both recognition and revenue to the school.

What to consider when designing an eSports program

When building or updating an eSports program, a higher education institution should review their technology, spaces, students, and faculty and staff. Key considerations include:

• Stakeholders: Campus stakeholders may include students, administrators, IT staff, facilities managers, marketers, athletics and wellness faculty, academic program directors, and any additional interested departments.
• Budget: Costs vary widely, depending on the school’s size, program plans, and the kinds of games that will be played.
• Spaces: ESports facilities typically include a lounge, arena, and broadcast area. However, some institutions create flexible eSports spaces that students can use for other purposes when not in use for gaming.
• Technology: The quality of your AV technology has to match the level of your players. Equipment and IT infrastructure should not be an afterthought, as every second counts in a competition.

Get your collegiate eSports program up and running

For those who haven’t experienced eSports competitions, it’s hard to imagine the planning, coordination, and technology involved. Experts recommend going to a competition to gain firsthand experience of the enthusiasm and skill involved in creating a successful event.

If you’re ready to create or expand your existing higher education eSports program, we can help. Get in touch with AVI-SPL today.

The post How to create or expand your collegiate eSports program appeared first on AVI-SPL Digital Enablement Services Provider.