Harvard Technology Team Wins Eduventures Innovation Award

The Emerging Technology Solutions Team from the Harvard Division of Continuing Education (DCE) recently received a 2024 Eduventures Innovation Award at the annual Summit in Chicago, Ill., according to a news release. DCE designed, developed, and implemented the HELIX Portable Blended Classroom, which expands the teaching capabilities of blended classes to allow for an connected, immersive learning experience.

The HELIX (Harvard Extension Live Interactive eXperience) Portable Blended Classroom replaces HyFlex (Hybrid and Flexible) teaching to allow Harvard faculty to teach classroom-based and remote students in real time from any classroom on campus. The hardware is available via two portable carts with minimal setup required and uses Zoom-based software, according to the news release. The technology has been deployed in hundreds of classrooms used by the Harvard Extension School, Harvard Summer School, Harvard College, and other professional schools.

The DCE Emerging Technology Solutions Team is led by Henry Leitner, PhD, Chief Innovation Officer and Associate Dean, Information Technology. Eduventures Research is a division of Encoura that offers research, analysis, and advisory services to higher education leaders and that recognizes innovative approaches to teaching, learning, and student support, the news release reports.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • school building with glowing circuit board patterns

    AI Is Coming to Schools — But Most School Buildings Still Run on Institutional Memory

    As school districts race to introduce AI into classrooms, administration, and curriculum planning, another conversation is happening behind the scenes: How prepared are school facilities themselves for the operational demands AI will create?

  • Deferred Maintenance Issues Growing at Universities, Gordian Reports

    U.S. colleges and universities are falling increasingly behind on facilities maintenance and repair, according to Gordian’s 13th annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report. The deferred capital renewal burden has reached $156 per gross square foot, an 8% increase over the previous year.

  • Lawrence Group Announces Three New Hires

    Integrated planning and design firm Lawrence Group, based in St. Louis, Mo., recently welcomed three new staff members, according to a news release.

  • Health & Science Building

    Health & Science Building

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The College of Western Idaho's Health & Science Building has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.