While edtech advancements do introduce some additional complexity to lesson delivery compared to traditional chalk-and-talk lectures, the benefits of these tools heavily outweigh the small upfront time expenditure required to learn how to incorporate and use them optimally.

In fact audiovisual (AV) tools in particular can help education providers to address today’s challenges by improving the versatility of education real estate. Enhanced with the right AV tech, a single space can offer the immediacy of a seminar with the scalability of a lecture hall, and the inspirational grandeur of a museum with the immersive interactivity of a computer game – in some cases all at once. It all starts with the right strategy.

Formulate a game plan

The first step to creating the best strategy for your educational AV installation is to zero in on the specific goals of the students. Once you’ve established a clear overview of the particular areas of functionality that you’d like to enhance in support of achieving these objectives, you can use these insights to inform your selection of the most relevant AV tools for the job.

To finalise your selection, you’ll also need to cross-reference these aims with an evaluation of the infrastructure and space you have available, taking into account any current technical limitations, such as power supply or internet availability.

Broadly speaking, there are two key approaches you can choose to take (or opt for a mixture of both if it suits your strategy).

Optimise your existing physical space

AV technologies excel in increasing flexibility and versatility, allowing a singular space to be used for multiple purposes. Projector screens and interactive whiteboard installations allow for collaborative delivery and exploration of multimedia content, for instance – all while occupying minimal space so as not to affect student occupancy levels.

Many modern AV solutions consist of portable and modular setups which allow spaces to be quickly rearranged to facilitate a desired function or lesson type. Meanwhile, wireless technology eliminates frustrating cable tangles while enabling simple content sharing between students and teachers.

These tools can also be used in conjunction with adjustable lighting and sound systems that further support versatility by helping to create the optimal environment for specific activities.

Expand your real estate digitally

By installing AV equipment that assists with the delivery of remote and hybrid learning models, you can also open up classroom environments to students who are unable to attend in person – those who have geographical or time constraints, for instance.

Best-in-class recording and streaming tools allow students to access relevant content and learning materials at convenient times if they’re unable to attend a live lecture. These systems can also help to ease the burden on teaching staff, allowing them to deliver a specific lesson once, record it and share with all course participants rather than repeating it numerous times in a live setting.

In addition, immersive augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) technology can be used to blend physical and digital environments, transporting students to new locations and time periods or enhancing real-world activities by superimposing digital information. By helping students to perceive information in different ways, this technology can also boost the inclusivity and versatility of learning environments.

AV technology offers the key to providing transformative educational experiences in 2024 and beyond. As long as education providers prioritise strategy first and solutions second, they’ll be set on the right path for success.

Stay informed!

ISE is the world-renowned annual tech show for the AV and systems integration industry, taking place in Barcelona, 4-7 February 2025. It will spotlight the latest edtech solutions from leading manufacturers, including interactive displays, collaboration tables and lecterns, wireless presentation and collaboration systems, projectors, visual collaboration solutions and much more.

To discover the latest solutions and innovations from the edtech suppliers exhibiting at ISE, as well as the hottest industry trends, sign up now for updates.

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