This post was sponsored by Epson. It was originally published here.
As schools adapt to the new COVID-19 education landscape, many are finding that a hybrid classroom model offers the best solution. Students get some of their instruction in person and some from home, offering a balance that can help them feel connected while reducing their exposure to others.
Hybrid models also help schools comply with social distancing by providing a way to create smaller class sizes without having to expand square footage. Schedules can be adjusted, with a portion of students coming to school during set hours or on certain days of the week and learning from home at other times.
While hybrid models provide solutions during the pandemic, they also introduce a challenge. Teachers must find a way to create an engaging and collaborative environment in a classroom that’s both remote and physical.
Delivering Coursework Near and Far
In-person and online are two distinct types of learning, and hybrid models require teachers to balance them in a way that is seamless to ensure consistency. Technology needs to be the bridge that connects students and teachers and sets the stage for a successful school year. But it must be the right technology.
While many administrators chose video conferencing platforms like Zoom as a quick fix when the pandemic forced many schools to shift to online learning, schools can also leverage a suite of learning tools and display technology that work together and help bridge the divide between in-person and remote learning.
Classrooms should be equipped with a PC, an interactive projector like Epson Brightlink, a document camera, and a video conferencing platform like Zoom that has a whiteboard function.
How It All Comes Together
An interactive projector and document camera are two essential tools for creating a collaborative and engaging classroom experience whether your students are in the classroom, at home, or both.
One of the useful features built into Zoom is its whiteboard function. Teachers can start and control a session directly from the board, delivering a virtual lesson to students who are logged in on devices at home. Students who are in class, as well as those learning remotely, can view and participate in the lesson. And students at home can participate with their work viewed on any of the devices in the Zoom session, as well as on the projector display at the front of the classroom.
In class, teachers need to instruct students who are sitting in socially distant layouts. Projectors provide an opportunity to create engaging instruction by sharing content that can include documents and videos. The size of the display in relation to the student’s location impacts engagement, learning, and comprehension. Students should sit a maximum distance of six times the vertical display height, and interactive projectors address these concerns by allowing students to learn effectively while sitting in spaced out classroom arrangements.
Document cameras also help teachers share their screen with students who are learning remotely, to easily introduce visuals into the lesson. When they’re done sharing, they can simply switch back to the whiteboard and continue the lesson
When properly delivered, hybrid learning can deliver benefits to students and teachers. Smaller class sizes can allow for more individualized education, which benefits students who may need extra help as well as those who are ready to work ahead.
Benefits of Hybrid Learning
In-person lessons can become more engaging when interactive tools that also help schools comply with health regulations are used. And students who need to stay at home due to health reasons can feel like they’re still an important part of the classroom when they can participate virtually through the use of collaborative whiteboard tools.
See How It Works
As teachers and students adapt to new hybrid education models, connected, collaborative learning is more important than ever before. Learn how Epson projectors and document cameras can help create engaging hybrid learning environments to meet the new needs of today’s classroom.
Watch the video to see how it works!