A key theme of Bett 2017 is ‘game changers’, ‘an individual, event or product which results in a significant shift in how people behave or what’s possible.’ With that in mind, we take a look at five trends and technologies we think will have the biggest effect on the AV side of edtech in 2017.
1. AR/VR
2016 was undoubtedly the year when the potential of AR/VR in the classroom became clear, whether that was exploring historic landscapes from the comfort of a desktop or being immersed in a full CAVE system. But will 2017 be the year when this technology becomes mainstream in our classrooms? As the opportunities for AR and VR are vast and varied, definitive research on this subject is difficult to come by but the consensus seems to be that increased levels of interaction combined with the visual element of this learning method is a benefit to many students. A key positive is also the level to which the use of AR and VR encourages learners to seek out more information on a subject. From a teacher’s point of view it is also possible to give immediate and personalised feedback and see exactly what content has been viewed, how many times and by whom, developing a clearer picture of a student’s needs.
VR is covered in detail at Bett Futures, with Demystifying Virtual Reality at 10.30 on 28 January; a useful session to attend if you’re keen to find out more about the technology and how it’s already being used in some schools.
2. Touch technology and collaboration
With most people using touch technology on a daily basis on their consumer devices, the expectation of accurate, responsive and user-friendly design in business devices has never been higher. Fortunately the industry is responding with a range of collaboration tools featuring highly effective tech.
The new RP Series of interactive flat panels from BenQ is just one example of this. Each of the three models in the family is designed to create a natural touchscreen experience to help educators make the transition from traditional lecture-style teaching to collaborative learning. Ten-point multi-touch support also means more students can engage in the learning process together, working through the many interactive apps available.
Clevertouch, meanwhile, is showcasing LUX, billed as ‘the most intuitive interface ever developed for large interactive touch panels’. The company will be hosting live tutorials and demos on stand C88 throughout the show.
To find out more about this quick-developing area of the market, register for Smart’s Transformational Learning Summit which runs alongside Bett. Taking place on Wednesday 25 January at 4.30, the Summit will feature education strategists, thought leaders and change makers debating current and future trends in education, research and pedagogy.
3. Big data
The use of big data is now relatively well established in areas such as business, technology and science, and with educational institutions, particularly in HE, holding huge amounts of student data, it seems only a matter of time before this is also the case in education. The biggest obstacle to this is that many institutions do not have the time, resource or ability to analyse the data they hold, but if invested in big data could both improve student outcomes and increase organisational efficiency. This could be through personalised leaning initiatives based on the ongoing analysis of a student’s achievements and behaviour, or better use of resources based on accurate information regarding supply and demand. The rise in online learning will also feed into this trend, generating a wealth of data on the way people learn.
As the value of Big Data is recognised, companies are popping up that can automate the analysis process. One such business is Paris-based Domoscio, which will be at Bett with a number of adaptive learning and learning analytics tools.
4. Lecture capture
Also adding to the rise in online learning is the investment in lecture capture services seen across the Higher Education landscape in recent years. In the US, investment in lecture capture solutions is forecast to grow at a CAGR of almost 17% between 2017 and 2012, according to wiseguyreports.com. This is partly due to growing investment from K12 establishments, a trend that is likely to be seen in the UK. A number of solutions will be on show at Bett offering ways to make the capture, dissemination and monitoring of this valuable content simple and effective.
5. IoT
We’ve all heard about the Internet of Things and how we’re going to be living increasingly connected lives as more of our devices talk to one another. But how will the Internet of School Things work and is it something we need to be aware of in the AV world?
As with many of these trends, the biggest impact is initially expected to be in Higher Education. Students will benefit from the convenience of being able to learn across laptop, tablets and mobile whether in the classroom or at home, while educators will no longer have to manually mark tests on paper.
When it comes to developing new technology to embrace this trend, a recent Capterra survey shows that students are most keen to be able to use mobile devices to automate tasks such as note taking and research and such solutions will be on show at Bett.
The IoT is also up for discussion on the Building Communities of Practice for 21st Century Teaching and Learning panel, chaired by IoT specialist Kieran Delaney of the Cork Institute of Technology.
Whatever your area of interest here at StriveAV we have a specialist ready to speak to you about your AV needs. To arrange a meeting with a StriveAV representative at Bett contact the team on 01689 885380 or email [email protected]