A Brave New (Interactive) World

It’s hard to believe that summer vacation is almost over and students will soon be returning to the classroom. For me, the summer has been filled with traveling to conferences and trade shows to find out more about what is on the horizon for education. After a few years of seeing the “same old, same old,” I’m pleased to say that there were some new and exciting things to see.

When we talk technology, the words “interactivity” and “telepresence” topped my list. Whiteboard technology has matured over the years, and more and more applications are being developed for them to engage and excite students. This year, interactive projectors (and devices that could make your existing projector interactive) were also unveiled. By using these projectors and an infrared pen, students and teachers can turn any wall into an interactive classroom collaboration tool.

Another impressive development was in the area of distance learning and video conferencing. Until now, my vision of a videoconference was through Skype, or software where the participants showed up in little boxes — somewhat like the Brady Bunch. The new space, this year, was a telepresence room. The setup was designed to look like a standard conference room, but the two sides of the table could be on opposite sides of the world. The large format displays actually gave you the feel of the other people being in the same space, rather than being trapped in your computer monitor. As this technology evolves and the price point comes down, its applications for business, professional development and distance learning will increase.

After years of talking about the importance of collaboration and varied teaching and learning styles, furniture manufacturers are really getting it. The idea of passive, teacher-centered learning has morphed into active, student-centered furniture design. The new furniture being introduced is ergonomic, flexible, highly mobile and built to accommodate today’s technology. As smart phones, netbooks and laptops become a tool that every student will have in the classroom, some furniture manufacturers are even building in wireless power technology that will charge electronic devices without a cord.

I guess the days of blackboards, inkwells and wooden desks bolted to the floor are finally gone!


Featured

  • Designing Learning Spaces that Support Student Mental Health and Wellness

    In today’s education landscape, schools are more than just centers for learning; they are integral to the holistic development and well-being of students. The global pandemic underscored the importance of addressing mental health in schools, as productivity dropped, stress levels rose and students faced challenges managing emotions.

  • The Role of Unified Communications in Hyflex Education

    Academic technology and pedagogy have evolved in ways few could have imagined a decade ago. Today, hybrid/flexible (or hyflex) learning environments — a mix of in-person and remote instruction — are the new normal. However, as promising as it sounds, making hyflex work smoothly is no small feat.

  • Rush-Henrietta Central School District’s Sperry High School

    A New Perspective: Using Adaptive Reuse Concepts in K-12 Planning

    In the face of increasing pressures on construction timelines, budgets, and material availability, the renovation and reuse of pre-existing structures for new purposes can help bridge the gap between modern school programming and outdated school infrastructure.

  • modern college building with circuit and brain motifs

    Anthropic Introduces Claude for Education

    Anthropic has launched a version of its Claude AI assistant tailored for higher education institutions. Claude for Education "gives academic institutions secure, reliable AI access for their entire community," the company said, to enable colleges and universities to develop and implement AI-enabled approaches across teaching, learning, and administration.

Digital Edition