Cost Optimization for HyFlex Learning Environments

 

Moving From Projectors to Panels Incorporates Remote Students

For years, traditional higher ed classrooms were projector-based, with an instructor at the podium displaying lecture materials on a screen to students. This solution worked fine for in-person instruction, but as HyFlex learning continues to take hold, it is no longer feasible. If we want to deliver the in-person instructional experience to remote students, pointing a webcam at a projector is not the way to go. 

Instead, interactive flat panels can deliver the same experience to in-person and remote students. Panels appear on remote meetings as attendees, allowing everyone in the meeting to see what’s displayed on the screen clearly and in real time.

EXPLORE: How colleges are optimizing hybrid classrooms.

Interactive flat panels tend to be more cost-effective than their predecessors. The programming and integration required for projector setup comes at a cost, not to mention a learning curve. Schools either needed onsite programmers to maintain the room controllers in classrooms or service contracts with third-party integrators to help with management. Flat panels, on the other hand, offer a plug-and-play setup that is easy to operate.

Reducing Costs Reduces Complexity

The most complex technology solutions are often also the most expensive. All of the bells and whistles come at a cost, and all of the moving parts are potential failure points. In higher education classrooms, this could mean complex integrated audiovisual systems with controllers that need to be managed onsite. While that might deliver the best quality, it doesn’t necessarily deliver the best user experience. IT teams typically don’t have the bandwidth to manage and troubleshoot complex systems in individual classrooms across campus, and faculty members don’t have the time to learn how to use them.

DISCOVER: Get real examples of cost-effective audiovisual modernization.

By opting to standardize classrooms on easy-to-use, high-quality LCD panels, cameras and microphones that can be managed remotely, IT teams free up time otherwise spent troubleshooting, and faculty members can easily operate the equipment in any room they’re teaching in. As a bonus, these less-complex systems are more affordable. In higher ed environments where budgets are often tight, every dollar counts, so saving a little on technology or staffing can mean making valuable investments elsewhere on campus.

At CDW, our learning technology specialists can help guide institutions in making these purchasing decisions. Many of our experts spent time in classrooms or higher ed IT environments, so our practical knowledge can help guide decision-making. We also have experts that specialize in each of these solutions areas, so whether you’re looking for networking ideas, audiovisual equipment or classroom technology information, a specialized team can guide you through purchasing, design and deployment.