Conventional classrooms remained largely unchanged over the last several decades. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and related health concerns have forced educational leaders and students to adapt to recent events. While school administrators and staff have utilized virtual solutions to expand online learnings—many educational institutions have been substantially affected due to limited resources and subpar technologies.
With many campuses beginning to open up—the majority of schools will continue to utilize hybrid and virtual technologies to expand the accessibility of distance learning.
Changes in classrooms all over the world have resulted in a newfound hybrid style of learning which allows students and teachers to interact and communicate with one another regardless of their physical location. Hybrid education is poised to become the future of education by harnessing the power of virtual technology combined with in-person learnings.
Why Higher Education has Changed
The pandemic created a vast number of changes to industries throughout the world—none more noticeable than in education. Without the ability to teach students within the realm of traditional classroom settings, schools of all levels were forced to improvise upon current learning conditions.
Many schools had little to no hybrid learning technologies prior to the onset of the pandemic. As a result many learning institutions had to quickly adopt educational environments designed to meet the demands of a virtual classroom. As such, blended learning became the newfound norm for higher education as schools across the country created new ways to teach online.
Hybrid learning consists of the following:
- Students being educated both in-person and online
- Video conferencing technology to communicate with students online
- Dynamic learning experiences where students alternate between in-person and online interactions
- The ability to utilize multiple camera angles to provide various digital viewpoints
- The use of strong audio technologies to help students stay engaged
“Smart campuses” are able to leverage technology with the help of touchless, frictionless, and connected learning communities. The beauty of hybrid learning lies in the fact that students are able to learn at their own pace while simultaneously collaborating with other students. Educators are also able to analyze real-time data for each student to create individualized learning experiences.
Issues with Fully Remote Learning
Many institutions had no choice when it came to remote learning at the onset of the pandemic. The problem is fully online classroom environments have certain limitations that are difficult to overcome.
Educational leaders often believe that there is no substitute for traditional face-to-face education. As a dedicated space that allows students and teachers to interact—classrooms allow students to work hands-on with faculty, staff, and their peers. Additionally, the social benefits provided by in-person learning can be difficult to fully replicate within an online realm.
Certain subjects are also difficult to teach without performing hands-on tasks. Science labs and medical coursework cannot be replicated online. However, combining in-person learning with digital classrooms can allow students to experience the best of both worlds.
Creating the Smart Campus of the Future
Smart campuses appear to be the way forward for schools and universities of the future. Using hybrid learning in the post-pandemic world—educational institutions can design digital infrastructures and new technologies to positively impact student learning.
As new technologies continue to improve the quality of education, smart campuses will create hybrid learning environments to expand student learning and future-proof classrooms against potential future crises.
With the help of touchless classrooms, high-quality video conferencing, and centralized control—educational institutions can enjoy data-driven decision making to improve student and educator interactions.
Spinitar is able to enhance hybrid education environments by providing solutions for the future. With the help of Crestron technology solutions—Spinitar is able to completely transform education and learning environments. High-tech learning solutions can now fully optimize how campuses are calibrated and transformed.
To learn more about how Spinitar is improving hybrid classroom technologies—please be sure to check out our free guide breaking down the future of smart campuses.
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