Students Engagement Through AV Technology
In a digitally immersive world, the way that people are engaging with their surroundings is changing. From socialising and communication, to handling finances and reading the news, almost everything is being accessed via mobile and laptop devices.
Students are used to having information at their fingertips and if universities want to appeal to this new digital generation, they simply need to adapt to the demand. Not only will embracing AV Technology drive student recruitment, there are also a number of educational benefits for the students too. Here are some of the main ones:
Improves learning through interaction and visualisation
Not only can LCD display screens show students important educational videos, which are easier to remember than text, they can also be used to display graphs, charts and diagrams.
These are good for openly encouraging discussions in class which has been shown to improve students’ understanding of the topics being discussed.
Additionally, with a good AV solution in place, students who benefit more from visual or interactive styles of learning can benefit just as much as those who prefer only to listen. In turn, this prevents them from becoming bored and disengaged.
Provides better audio
Poor sound quality is often cited as a challenge to overcome, particularly within large lecture theatres with hundreds of students. By installing a good AV sound system with professionally amplified sound, universities can ensure than students spend less time struggling to hear what the teacher or lecturer is saying and more time absorbing and learning.
Enhances collaboration
Rather than professors and students engaging in a ‘one-way broadcast’ style of teaching, learning is now expected to be a collaborative exercise. With AV technology, students are encouraged to work together using technology such as interactive whiteboards, tablets and wireless device casting which can be controlled wirelessly by the lecturer. This helps students to remain focused and engaged while also allowing the lecturer to see if they understand what is being taught.
Encourages students with learning disabilities
Usually students with disabilities require a more intimate teaching approach, however in a lecture theatre with hundreds of other people this can be difficult to achieve. AV can provide a number of solutions to these problems.
For example, dyslexic students who may struggle with textbooks can benefit from interactive whiteboards than contain coloured text, video and images as it makes the information easier to read or decode. Additionally, audio systems that are integrated with an interactive whiteboard can boost a lecturers’ voice making it easier for students with hearing impairments to follow along.
Prepares students for life after graduation
A recent IBM study revealed the main skills that students need to learn in order to succeed in the workplace. Among them are analysis and problem solving,collaboration, teamwork and adaptability.
As AV encourages a learning style that uses many of these skills, by incorporating its use into their study programmes, universities are ensuring that their students are fully prepared for life after graduation.Additionally, with technology playing a part in a large number of workplaces, when students graduate, they will fit right into an environment with both skills and equipment that they’ve already been exposed to.
Using technology in the education sector is no longer just an option, it’s a necessity. Over the years, we have worked with a number of higher education institutions to design and install a range of AV solutions to suit their range of needs and budgets.
You can read about our case studies here: Mediascape Case Studies
If you want to install AV Technology across your campus, or just want to find out more, get in contact with us!
