Anyone with access to a smartphone and Wi-Fi is highly aware of the speed at which technology evolves. The effects of technology on the modern world are impossible to escape. It has altered how we communicate, perceive ourselves, and interact with our physical surroundings, so it is rational that technology transforms how we learn. As students demand advanced technology in the classroom, educators must respond to these needs.
Educators that implement advanced technology in the classroom will reap the benefits as it drastically improves the students’ ability to absorb information. Incorporating audiovisual technology in the classroom is possible by innovations that enhance how visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners receive information.
Benefits of Audiovisual Technology in the Education Sector
Research supports the assertion that advanced audiovisual technology enhances the students’ ability to collaborate and engage with the information they’re given while catering to each student’s learning style in the process. A study conducted by MidAmerica Nazarene University concluded that 82% of educators agree that technology has enhanced learning and teaching, with 66% of educators stating that technology has increased student productivity. The benefits of audiovisual technology in the education sector include:
Improved Collaboration
Students connect digitally throughout the day, so it’s only natural that technology improves their ability to collaborate in and out of the classroom. As remote learning is incorporated into the curriculum, students can connect through MS Teams or Zoom Meetings and share documents using One Drive or Google Docs. Educators can closely monitor each student’s level of engagement. For in-person learning, students can collaborate effectively through the use of their own devices and advanced audiovisual technology that has been built into the classroom.
Increased Student Engagement
Advanced audiovisual technology is proven to increase student engagement. Instead of rote memorization, the proper use of technology encourages students to think critically about the information that they receive. Educators can facilitate student engagement through the use of virtual lab experiments and tech-enabled student discussions. The ways that we can use technology to engage students further evolves every day. We see this as educators in the medical field begin to use virtual simulations to explain complex anatomy and physiology topics. However, audiovisual technology is capable of improving education no matter what the subject may be.
Appealing to Different Learning Styles
Advanced audiovisual technology allows students to engage with each lesson in a manner that best suits their learning style. For instance, a student may create a drawing on an interactive whiteboard or their own devices that illustrates a complex subject and digitally share it with their classmates. With the proper audio technology, auditory learners can adequately hear the lesson and record audio notes. In addition, kinesthetic learners will be able to interact with the content through applications and games. Modern technology makes it simple for educators to integrate all learning styles into the same curriculum.
How to Use AV in the Classroom
As technology evolves, educators can implement technology within their curriculum in ways that were unimaginable a decade ago. The limitations of advanced audiovisual technology are expanding every day. As students engage with technology throughout their daily lives with social media and extensive video content, they have grown to expect this technology in education. Educators must incorporate technology in a variety of ways to enhance learning and keep students engaged. Educators can quickly implement technology with the use of methods that include:
Visual Technology in Education
The most prevalent use of audiovisual technology in the classroom is multimedia presentations. This method is easily accessible for educators, and the most important, piece is that 65% of people are visual learners. Presentations are proven to increase students’ ability to absorb information because they are encouraged to engage with the lesson through visuals, written content, and audio. An effective presentation includes visual aids and clear audio, along with vital readable points. For example, a math teacher could offer a visual representation of a geometric shape and bullet points that further clarify the concept while explaining the topic at hand. Educators must appeal to various learning styles so that each student can receive information in a manner that is most suitable for their individual needs.
Audio Technology in Education
For auditory learners, they must be able to hear the information for optimal learning. Educators should respond to these needs by incorporating both synchronous and asynchronous audio using advanced audiovisual technology. Synchronous audio communication means using advanced audiovisual technology to ensure the educator’s voice is audible for all students in real-time. In contrast, asynchronous audio is pre-recorded. Asynchronous audio education methods can be incorporated into lectures through podcasts and recorded voice messages. For example, the educator may include pre-recorded lesson content and traditional, textbook-based content that might come from a podcast or audiobook. This tactic ensures that students who learn best through auditory education methods can retain the information.
Interactive Learning
In addition to multimedia presentations, educators with access to advanced audiovisual technology can enhance their presentations and lectures with interactive learning. Interactive learning may come in gamified lessons, and advanced whiteboards enable students to incorporate their sense of touch with the lesson content. Educators must implement interactive learning strategies within their curriculum. Studies show that the amount of students’ learning is six times greater than those who did not use these techniques.
The Importance of Innovation in Education
Technology is radically altering the development of students’ brains. Shortening attention spans and decreasing working memory means that educators must use advanced audiovisual technology in response to these developmental changes. With AV technology, educators can adequately respond to student needs and prepare them for careers that will require technology for everyday tasks. Stay up to date with an evolving society and consult industry professionals about installing AV technology in your classroom today.
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