Untether Tech in the Modern K–12 Environment

Classroom Audiovisual Needs Vary Across Grade Levels

While districts are moving toward interactive displays for all classrooms, tech needs differ across age groups. In elementary schools, students and educators are more inclined to focus on the interactive elements of classroom technology. Younger students are more often working together on an interactive flat panel or coming to the front of the room to solve a problem on the board.

DIVE DEEPER: Interactive displays facilitate collaborative learning in K–12 spaces.

In middle and high school classrooms, students are more likely to work independently on their devices. In these spaces, wireless casting is a crucial component for users. Students sharing their work with the class are more likely to project their screens onto a shared display, whether that display is at the front of a room or part of a huddle space.

Wireless casting is also essential for educators, who — in all grade levels — are trying to teach without being tethered to their desks. Emerging technologies, such as the Merlyn Symphony Classroom, also help solve this problem.

While fairly new to the market, this artificial intelligence-based device allows educators to operate their PCs and other tech using voice commands or a hand-held remote. Working similarly to an Amazon Alexa or Google Nest device, Merlyn’s product is built specifically for education and has privacy and security features designed for the classroom.

Modern Learning Environments Are Not Limited to Classrooms

In addition to modernizing classrooms, districts are turning their attention to other areas of school buildings.

For instance, esports arenas are beginning to appear more frequently in high schools across the country. Some districts are enhancing the flexibility of these spaces by also using the arenas to host virtual reality devices. The bandwidth required for esports can also support VR applications, and the dual use of the space ensures schools are maximizing their investments.

Because students and educators picked up streaming skills during the pandemic, some schools are also investing in media rooms and production studios. From there, students can create and broadcast content, such as morning announcements. This also gives schools more options for hosting virtual events, prerecording important lectures and creating more content.

Where is this content being showcased? Video walls and other digital displays are being used to broadcast announcements, alerts and more in school districts. The addition of digital displays throughout school buildings, in gymnasiums, cafeterias and auditoriums, opens the door for learning anywhere and brings districts modern elements for teaching and learning.

This article is part of the “ConnectIT: Bridging the Gap Between Education and Technology” series. Please join the discussion on Twitter by using the #ConnectIT hashtag.

Untether Tech in the Modern K–12 EnvironmentConnect IT: Bridging the Gap Between Education and Technology