4 minute read
PRESENTING NEW SOLUTIONS FOR EDUCATORS
Presenting The pandemic meant many schools, colleges new solutions and universities – as well as businesses – turned to technology to deliver lessons for educators and training. These changes look set to stay, which presents opportunities for dealers
hen the pandemic W hit last year many children and young people were told not to attend school. It also meant that training in businesses, often done in one room, was cancelled.
But learning had to continue, and ways were quickly found around the lockdown restrictions, often involving the use of technology to livestream lessons online. Now the restrictions are starting to ease - but educators are looking to retain this new technology alongside more traditional methods.
As Chris Southern, general sales manager for enterprise solutions at Midwich, notes, the move towards using technology to deliver learning had been ongoing for the past four-to-five years.
“The pandemic has accelerated this,” he says. “A lot of companies were looking at things like distance learning, and schools had created some online systems that kids could do bitesize work on, but the idea of training people remotely to save on travel time hadn’t been pushed that hard on. The pandemic has brought it forward considerably and, having had to do it, they have realised how efficient it can be.”
As more education establishments and businesses move to digital solutions, they require the equipment to deliver lessons or training as effectively as possible. “People now don’t just want to deliver PowerPoints, but live video and conversation,” says Chris.
“In relation to training rooms – and universities have been doing this for a while, and have pushed it forward quite a bit – they are still set up as traditional training spaces, but they add additional equipment such as mics and cameras so all sessions can be recorded.
“What has been added recently are the boxes to allow you to stream material to multiple platforms. For example, you can do a presentation and stream it directly to YouTube so everyone can watch the presentation, and we can put live graphics over the top of it. This is becoming increasingly popular.”
The equipment educators use are
also being digitised, such as interactive whiteboards. “These are now being built-in so that teachers can draw onto the screen and that output can be streamed at the same time,” says Chris. “Use of interactive products is increasing massively in training facilities.”
FUTURE-PROOFING
Chris adds that many customers are future-proofing the equipment they are buying. “Even though 4k isn’t widely streamed at the moment as a bandwidth, it is inevitably heading that way,” he says. “Many interactive screens and cameras being bought are 4k, and customers want boxes that can handle 4k streaming. Most people are using this level of technology now and, if you are shelling out on kit for training, you want to keep it for at least three years without changing it.”
Customers also want support and cover for such equipment. “Things like warranty, ‘phone and live chat support facilities are important, and some people look for that level of support as they are very new to the technology,” Chris adds.
“This backup and support is becoming a key requirement. People aren’t just shopping on price anymore; they realise the value they gain from good support in order to get the most out of the equipment.”
BIGGER IS BETTER
Simone Martorina, business manager VI at Epson, agrees that demand for technology and digital solutions continues to increase in training and education. For instance, one of the effects of the pandemic and social distancing regulations is that education establishments require larger spaces for in-person sessions. “This means bigger-sized displays and improved technology are essential to enable high-quality learning or training experiences in these settings,” she says.
“Flat panels, commonly used in many school environments, offer little scope for adjusting room placement or screen size. About 58% of students aged 12-22 years say they, typically, can’t read all the content on a 70-inch flat panel; this poses a serious concern with further distancing in classrooms in place.
“The benefit of projection is the flexibility this technology offers. Displays size can be scaled from 30 inches up to 500 inches, enabling educators to adapt their presentations to both audience and room, without being limited by the technology.
Ultra-short throw projection is an ideal way to generate a large screen size without having to worry about interfering with the projector’s light path. Interactive projection, meanwhile, makes presentations and training a more engaging experience for your audience.
“Innovative technology like this makes it easier than ever for audiences to connect with, and participate in, a presentation from their own devices, creating an effortlessly collaborative learning experience for everyone.”
TRADITIONAL DEMAND
However, classrooms and training spaces aren’t going exclusively digital – there is still demand for more traditional products, such as drywipe boards, according to a spokesperson from Eastpoint.
“Drywipe boards are a sustainable, environmentally-friendly option for the classroom,” says their spokesperson. “They are lightweight, and easy for children to hold; teachers can see an entire class of answers, and check progress and understanding, without leaving the front.
“Instead of using endless reams of paper and exercise books, mistakes are easily wiped away and the boards can be scanned to store progress digitally if needed.
“But they are not just for education. Drywipe boards are great for use in public sector organisations, offices, call centres, retail settings - and even at home. Use for inspirational message boards, to-do lists, staff on duty information, target monitoring, and more.”
