How Higher Education Institutions Are Leveraging Smart and Collaborative Technology to Create Diverse Learning Environments
By Victoria Sanville
As colleges and universities across the country emerge from the COVID-induced issues posed over the last two years, there is a new understanding of, and appreciation for, how the learning experiences of higher education students can be impacted by external forces. With more online classrooms than ever before, it has become increasingly important that students and educators are given the technological resources needed to form meaningful relationships and maintain consistent learning experiences, no matter the circumstance.
Educators have a unique opportunity to ensure that these shifting learning experiences are resoundingly positive, with an increased presence of technology in the classroom to follow-through on new approaches to learning pedagogies that leverage innovative technologies and deliver better student engagement. Technology companies are stepping up to meet the modern needs of education institutions by offering products and services that stimulate learning and develop engaging education environments.
Importantly, the increased use of technology and the emphasis on digital literacy in the classroom will have lasting impacts on students. More than ever, businesses operate in a world that is largely online, so exposing students to digital technologies early on makes their learning more applicable to real-world career needs and can increase their competitiveness in the workforce. For this reason, proactively integrating advanced technology into learning environments is increasingly relevant.
Forming a strong link between higher education institutions and digital technology creates the types of unique and proactive learning experiences that will enhance student capabilities and improve learning outcomes. As such, manufacturers that have the resources and technology to do so are making sustained efforts to contribute to initiatives that promote modern learning.
In particular, manufacturers that act as single suppliers are one of the most capable contributors because as institutions invest in digital displays for various purposes, many are seeking to have the process be as streamlined as possible. This makes it easy for schools to implement a wide range of IT and AV display technologies with the convenience of common interfaces, one point of contact for any service or technical issues, and a consistent brand standard.
In addition to student benefits, the ease of technology use is especially important for instructors in today’s blended learning environment. It has become particularly essential to allow educators’ data to follow them wherever they go, drastically increasing flexibility and streamlining operations across the entire staff. Technology and digital displays also play a vital role in on-campus recruitment, student life, and community messaging in addition to in-class instruction.
Finally, manufacturers are finding that digital displays are helping universities turn small, previously unusable rooms into labs or collaboration spaces. Institutions are increasingly looking to repurpose underutilized spaces to create areas such as computer and gaming labs for STEM pursuits including coding, telehealth training and more. Potential students are increasingly demanding these types of spaces, making them an equally beneficial addition for schools, educators, students and manufacturers.
With modern technology and the right support, schools meet the needs of students and professors alike. Classrooms have the ability to easily transition between in-person and virtual, educators are able to boost learning potential and classroom creativity, and students are offered a multitude of resources to address educational needs. Working together, higher education institutions and technology companies are able to generate productive learning environments.
Victoria Sanville is the National Sales Manager – Public Sector Vertical at LG Electronics.