The Tech Challenge

When COVID threw a wrench into in-person classes, we quickly recognized the need to develop hybrid learning environments that support the ongoing success of our staff and students,” said Director of User Support Services Jon Bannan. “The most critical need we identified was that any solution must be dead simple to operate, or otherwise risk introducing interruptions and frustration into educators’ daily schedules. The ClearOne COLLABORATE Versa Lite CT system stood out as a high-performing solution that’s compatible with virtually any computer, mobile device or collaboration platform, making it easy to deploy in multi-use spaces that host different educators throughout the day.”

ClearOne Solutions

Featuring the ClearOne BMA CT, a beamforming microphone solution that blends in with drop ceilings, the COLLABORATE Versa Lite CT system provides clear audio pickup and while simplifying connection of AV peripherals and computers through the ClearOne Versa USB Hub. It offers powerful features including acoustic echo cancellation and adaptive steering, which intelligently switches between the unit’s multiple directional microphones to optimize pickup based on the current location of speaker or meeting host.

To date, MTSS has installed 53 Versa Lite CT systems in small- and medium-sized classrooms in conjunction with a variety of camera solutions that offer automatic tracking to keep the presenter in frame as they move around the room. Combined with the adaptive steering capability of the BMA CT, these systems provide educators ultimate flexibility and allow them to step away from the front of the room white maintaining consistently excellent audio and video quality for remote learners. Most rooms also include a projection system, while some feature a digital display.

“Three years after we began this project, we would be hard pressed to find a student, parent or educator who expects anything less – it’s essentially a requirement now,” Bannan explained. “In the competitive college landscape, staying ahead of technology trends is vital to achieve enrollment goals and provide all students equitable access regardless of individual situations or external disruptions. Additionally, using the same solutions across campus has raised the tech confidence of staff and offers a simple, intuitive setup that even guest speakers or event hosts can operate with ease.”

After witnessing the widespread success of the Versa Lite CT solutions, MTSS turned its focus to the college’s lecture halls. In order to deliver the same simplicity and quality for its larger classes, the tech team developed a solution that combines multiple powerful BMA 360 ceiling microphones with a Converge Pro 2 DSP mixer, again in conjunction with a variety of tracking cameras.

The solution ensured the complete coverage for the larger rooms while enabling connection of up to 12 additional lavalier, lapel or other types of microphones commonly used for panel discussions and multi-speaker scenarios. The BMA 360 makes system design even easier by allowing up to three distant units to be daisy chained together using P-Link, requiring only a single home run cable to the DSP.

“As we began deploying the new audio capture solutions, we worked closely with ClearOne’s knowledgeable reps to ensure each space operates smoothly and delivers a consistent experience for staff and students,” Bannan added. “The high level of support we received from the very beginning was a determining factor in our product selection, and has provided us with assurance that any issues we encounter with installations or operations can be quickly remedied.”

Ongoing Sound Reinforcements

The deployment is ongoing, with each year’s budget providing additional funds to integrate more classrooms and spaces, including conference rooms. The first to be upgraded was the President’s conference room, which houses BMA 360 and BMA CT systems that effectively solve for the room’s challenging acoustic environment that includes many hard surfaces. This specific room also utilizes the BMA 360 Voice Lift technology that delivers equalized sound reinforcement to all areas of the room, so no attendee is left straining to hear the speaker.

“The College of New Jersey moved deftly to provide all stakeholders with the latest innovative solutions for remote learning and hybrid classrooms, and their efforts to standardize the campus’ technology are already paying dividends for staff and guests,” said ClearOne Regional Sales Director Jason DiCampello, who worked directly with Bannan. “The need for reliable, high-quality audio and video solutions in education is only going to grow, and we look forward to continuing to work with TCNJ to provide long-lasting solutions that support staff and help the college meet its goals.”

The post TCNJ Deploys ClearOne BMA Audio Solutions Across Campus to Streamline Remote Learning appeared first on My TechDecisions.

The Tech Problem

“As schools across the country searched for ways to deliver educational instruction to remote students, we had a strong sense that classroom technology had shifted from being a special feature to a basic requirement,” says David Kollar, MCC tech support specialist for Tech Services Media. “Our team in the Media Department recognized that temporary school closures presented an opportunity to transform classrooms with new systems that deliver superior quality audio and video for remote learning. Based on colleagues’ prior positive experiences with ClearOne audio and video products, we tested and eventually selected multiple ClearOne audio solutions to provide reliable, cost-effective audio capture and guarantee every remote learner can hear each word spoken in the classroom with outstanding clarity.

ClearOne Audio Solutions

The school began evaluating its existing classroom solutions in the spring of 2020, and before long acquired a demo system from ClearOne using the company’s COLLABORATE Versa Pro CT beamforming in-ceiling microphone and CONVERGE Huddle DSP mixer. After testing the solution and inviting staff to comment on its performance, the school purchased 28 Huddle mixers to improve the quality and simplicity of some existing room systems. By May 2023, approximately 200 rooms will offer educators the power and reliability of the Versa Pro CT solution, while eight larger rooms are upgraded with the enterprise-grade ClearOne Converge Pro 2 DSP.

“As a forward-thinking institution that happens to be one of the nation’s largest community colleges, we strive to provide maximum value to our students, no matter how they attend courses or where they are physically located,” adds Jeff Foster, MCC senior tech support specialist for Tech Services Media. He continues, “remote learning provides an excellent option for any students who can’t attend a class while also greatly increasing opportunity for parents or working professionals who rely on our courses and programs to advance their education and careers. Combined with the upcoming launch of our very first four-year degree programs, we are once again proving our commitment to innovation in education and providing options that allow more prospective students to pursue learning where, when and to what degree they choose. Innovative technologies such as ClearOne’s powerful audio products are crucial to our continued success and ability to attract students in a highly competitive market.”

When the installations are completed, approximately two-thirds of existing classrooms will house ClearOne audio capture solutions, with some existing tech infrastructure being retained and integrated through analog connections on the ClearOne DSP mixers. Like many colleges, the campus designates some classrooms for open booking, while others are assigned to specific professors. Standardizing these easy-to-use systems across the entire campus allows for much greater reliability and ensures educators can quickly utilize remote tools without requiring IT assistance or encountering obstructions.

To help the school get up to speed and optimize use of the new solutions, ClearOne provided in-depth training to the technical staff and helped ensure teaching staff could be quickly trained to use advanced features such as Auto Echo Cancellation (AEC). A combination of new and existing PTZ cameras provide video capture, while a select number of legacy microphones were integrated into the Converge Pro 2 systems in larger lecture halls.

“Students of all disciplines can now enjoy crystal clear lectures and lessons wherever they choose, eliminating barriers for non-traditional students and enabling greater access to life-changing education,” says ClearOne rep Jason Wiley.

The post Mesa Community College Boosts Online Learning Experience with ClearOne’s Audio Capture Technology appeared first on My TechDecisions.

According to a statement, the design of the 65-inch RM6503, 75-inch RM7503, and the 86-inch RM8603 smart boards provide an intuitive learning hub that allows teachers to start, manage and create lessons directly from the display. They feature BenQ’s health-centric ClassroomCare technology. This includes its antimicrobial touchscreen and pens to help prevent the spread of germs, EZWrite 6 intuitive collaboration software and InstaShare 2 wireless screen sharing. They also have IT and administration management tools such as AMS, X-Sign Broadcast digital signage software and OTA updates.

“We regard the classroom display as the central device in the room where everything should happen — from the access and creation of teacher presentations to student collaboration and sharing to school alerts,” said Bob Wudeck, senior director of business development at BenQ America Corpm in a statement. “For more than a decade we have built BenQBoards based on the feedback of teachers, IT staff and administrators with technology that sets them apart from the most expensive interactive displays on the market. The RM03 Series is the result of that continuous commitment. [It delivers] the classroom’s most robust, intuitive and feature-rich display at a price that allows schools to complete upgrades much faster than projected.”

Display That Protects the Entire Class

Per the company, it has prioritized safe screen use for years. That’s why all BenQBoards have touchscreens as well as pens coated with a nano-ionic silver formula. This formula kills 99.9% of common germs after contact, says BenQ. Also part of ClassroomCare technologies, they come with low blue light and flicker-free technology for reduced eye strain and a comfortable viewing experience. The anti-glare screens additionally ensure that display content is visibly clear. This is possible even on hybrid and remote calls.

Also Read: BenQ Introduces Zoom-Certified DVY32 Smart 4K Ultra-HD Conference Camera

Built for In-Class, Hybrid and Distance Learning

Technology should never stand in the way of learning, BenQ remarks. The BenQBoard RM03 Series thus foster collaborative learning with an intuitive smart board that utilizes BenQ’s license-free EZWrite 6 annotation and collaboration software. It gives users the freedom to annotate and work directly from the interactive display or a wirelessly connected device.

This further empowers students to present their ideas in class, without the hassle of cables via InstaShare. With this, users can share up to nine screens simultaneously. Where remote students or guests are joining, the display is compatible with all leading videoconferencing software. This includes Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams. It also has the optional slot-in PC, which expands the utility of the screen even further.

BenQ has also made it possible for two apps to be opened on screen side by side, making lessons more efficient. For example, teachers can explain in detail with a whiteboard on one side and support content on the other. They can also share a connected screen alongside another app in use with InstaShare’s Floating Window mode.

Made for Teachers

BenQ’s mission is to eliminate the complexities of using interactive display technology that robs valuable class time. It also wishes to reduce dependency on connected devices to access and manage files and content. The BenQBoard RM03 Series thus allows teachers to select their personal settings, which are instantly recalled when they log in.

In addition, teachers can securely access lesson materials on Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive or the network. When creating or presenting lessons, EZWrite’s Floating Tool empowers teachers to add text to any medium. This includes app, video, website, document or image. They can also choose the pen color, erase, open files or take screenshots. The display’s two built-in 16W speakers and six-microphone array ensure that the entire class can hear and be heard during hybrid and remote lessons.

For desired connectivity, BenQ has put a range of inputs on the front of the panel. As a result, it’s convenient to charge a notebook or mobile device or connect and display a USB-C-enabled laptop. Plus, they can command the screen and teach lessons from anywhere in the room with the included remote control and voice assistant for increased flexibility.

Respected by IT and Admin Staff

According to BenQ, it is equally important that IT and admin staff have the tools to manage and update the screens. To meet this, the BenQBoard RM03 Series benefits from BenQ’s X-Sign Broadcast software. This turns any BenQ smart board in the school into signage. Thus it allows schools to keep everyone informed and up to date on events, safety protocols and emergencies. IT staff also have access to at-a-glance device analytics for any BenQ display using the included AMS software. They can easily monitor and analyze the status of all the BenQ devices on a single dashboard. This includes managing displays, apps, and OTA updates remotely for maximum convenience.

To assure a greater ROI, the company states that BenQBoard RM03 Series is also IP5X-certified. This further ensures that the panel will deliver consistent operation, even in dust-prone environments.

Check out BenQ’s product catalog on AV-IQ.com here.

This article originally appeared on MyTechDecisions’ sister-site CommercialIntegrator.com.

The post BenQ Adds to Its Family of BenQBoard RM03 Series for Improved Education appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Per the company, the camera is ideal for remote communication and monitoring in a wide range of growing markets. These include corporate, education and healthcare. With simple functionality and interface connection, the camera easy to connect and use for live streaming video.

As an affordable 4K PTZ camera, the SRG-X40UH will deliver outstanding detail and high-quality imagery, says Sony. It also has natural color reproduction and high sensitivity. This captures facial or other relevant details in remote communications situations, even in low light. In addition, oversampling from 4K will deliver excellent image quality even in FHD.

Watch: Collaboration Space Podcast AVI-SPL & Sony Discuss Hybrid Work and School Trends

The SRG-X40UH comes with powerful zoom up to 40x in FHD and 30x in 4K with the Clear Image Zoom technology, combined with an approximately 70-degree wide viewing angle. According to Sony, this will complement smooth and rapid PTZ movement. It also has a ceiling mounting option. Thus, the camera can capture important scenes in different locations. This can range from small conference rooms to large auditoriums.

Additional Features

The SRG-X40UH, with its simple UVC and HDMI connections and PoE+ support, can also integrate into existing systems with minimum cabling. What’s more, it can be remotely controlled through a VISCA/VISCA over IP command.

“Over the past two years, the world has witnessed and adapted to drastic changes in the way we work and learn. Such circumstances have created a pressing demand for efficient remote communication tools like our new SRG-X40UH PTZ camera, which multiple users can access anytime, anywhere with high reliability,” says Theresa Alesso, president, imaging products & solutions Americas, Sony Electronics. “Sony has driven the adoption of 4K technologies for many years, and more now than ever, the additional detail is providing customers and audiences with superior image quality and more options for creativity,” Alesso adds.

Sony reveals it has now over 20 years of technical expertise. The company goes on to state that the range of its PTZ cameras and remote cameras is widely used for remote teaching and communication purposes. Some examples include universities, hospitals, corporate facilities as well as remote production for live events and broadcasts.

Remote Communication in Corporate or Education Settings

From videoconferences to video recording, Sony say its PTZ cameras and remote cameras are reliable options that suit a wide range of teaching spaces and meeting areas. Furthermore, the new SRG camera is silent and discreet. Thus, it is a stylish addition to any boardroom or teaching setting, says the company.

Per a statement, the cameras enhance teaching and collaborative learning through live streaming. It also connects students and lecturers in real time across different campuses or locations. The 4K clarity further contributes to the increased demand for interactive discussions, streaming and recording for both live and future use.

Medical Environments

The SRG series is currently used in established healthcare facilities. Here, it can remotely monitor patients and equipment to ensure optimum settings for patient care even under low light conditions. The cameras also capture, manage and distribute high-quality footage of clinical procedures live from operating and treatment rooms to lecture halls for training and education purposes.

This originally appeared on MyTechDecisions’ sister-site CommercialIntegrator.com.

The post Sony Electronics Introduces Compact 4K SRG-X40UH PTZ Camera appeared first on My TechDecisions.

To a remarkable degree, that effort paid off. A fortuitous combination of pre-existing technologies and initiatives were well-timed to make this possible.  IP-based AV, easy-to-use cloud-based conferencing tools, ubiquitous smartphones, and a global internet kept it all linked.

For institutions with physical infrastructure, such as schools, houses of worship, office buildings and broadcast studios, the transition has been more complex and has challenged many long-standing practices. There were challenges of keeping people safely distanced while inside, as well as the challenges of so many people working and contributing from outside.

Let’s take a look at several market areas to see which changes are temporary, and which are likely to become the new standards for getting things done with AV.

AVoIP In Corporate Spaces

In 2020, many businesses were scramblingremote l to stay functional as workforces were stuck in their homes. As business began to cautiously bring people back into workspaces, new rules around social distancing meant big changes in how conferencing and communications would work— both in and outside of the office.

The incredible rise of cloud-based conferencing services, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams affected both home and in-office employees. While people in their homes might simply use a laptop and headset with these tools, their adoption meant wholesale changes to what we think of as a “conference room.”

Read: Don’t Treat Your Remote Work Policy As If We’re Still Stuck In 2020

In the absence of face-to-face contact, businesses have had to come to terms with the shortcomings of many legacy conference solutions. These older setups were constrained to use in small, confined spaces, and often provided sub-standard audibility for participants, both in hearing what is being said and being heard.

The days of people huddling around a “conference phone” were thankfully coming to a close as business sought to allow people access across large spaces as well as “at home” with far greater friendliness and intelligibility.

The hybrid approach that quickly evolved has relied upon AV-over-IP as backbone. AV-over-IP solutions move responsibility for conference solutions over to the IT department, where rooms can be monitored for proper function before a meeting starts.

AV-over-IP scales far beyond analog or USB-based legacy solutions, enabling seamless communication across large distances and through many simultaneous endpoints, allowing rooms to employ multiple high-quality microphones and loudspeakers for maximum clarity for all participants, both in-office and at home.

Given the vast improvements in the quality and productivity of meetings with this increased audio fidelity and ease of use, this hybrid approach seems destined to be with us for a long time to come.

AVoIP in Education

Schools ranging from K-12 to universities have had to work hard to ensure a safe learning environment for students. Like the business sector, they needed to address large numbers of pupils working from home as well as providing safe ways for people to participate on campus. Once again, a hybrid approach using AV-over-IP evolved to keep schools open and students learning.

In universities, many lecture halls were fitted with AV systems as part of long-running projects, hastened by the pandemic. AV solutions were required to distribute this content around campuses, allowing students to safely participate from alternative rooms and dorms in keeping with social distancing rules.

Listen to My TechDecisions Podcast Episode 114: The Future of Distance Learning

The use of AV-over-IP made this task far easier. Campus networks are already ubiquitous and make the task of extending AV nearly trivial— simply connect to the network and start routing signals where they need to be. Without this advantage, the costs and time required to implement campus-wide AV are simply daunting.

This use also opens up education opportunities to more people— no matter where they are located. This ability to offer educational opportunities has the potential to be transformative in the long term.

While social distancing rules will eventually be relaxed, the movie maxim remains: build it and they will come. With AV-over-IP available throughout a campus, students and staff can access key resources and live events more easily than ever before, and they won’t want to go back.

In Broadcast

To a greater degree than many businesses and schools, broadcasters are tied to the physical resources required to do their jobs. Control rooms cannot be simply picked up and moved.

Stories and talent are different. Many on-air personalities were forced to stay at home, and shows had to be rebuilt on that assumption. We witnessed everyone from late night talk show hosts to sports commentators doing shows from kitchens and basements, sometimes to a charming effect.

Related: AV Is Making Everyone An Artist With Broadcast Technology

Doing this was a heavy lift, and again AV-over-IP made it easier for everyone. With lightweight cabling and software-driving connectivity, networking can easily be brought into a home or other location to carry all the audio and video needed for production, without the complexity and sheer size of legacy technologies.

As the pandemic slowly fades, most performers understandably wish to work with live audiences again but AV-over-IP has made its mark as the easiest and best way to connect OB trucks to remote sites.

In Houses of Worship

The world of worship was profoundly impacted by the pandemic as the very essence of worship is to provide a gathering of community. Many houses of worship had to rush and find new ways to connect with their members once it became clear that large gatherings were problematic and/or banned by local jurisdictions.

AV-over-IP was already very popular in this sector and provided a basis upon which both worship and safety could coexist. With networked audio and video, extending services to remote parts of a house of worship was easy— all that is needed is an ethernet port on a switch and whatever new endpoints are required. Lobbies, classrooms and offices were converted into makeshift locations for worshippers to come together, albeit a bit more spread apart than previously.

Another area of expansion in this sector was the online presence of many houses of worship. Here, AV-over-IP makes that entire effort far easier, as audio mixes can be sent to a streaming server with just a few mouse clicks and no intermediate hardware required.

While worshippers will undoubtedly wish to enjoy each other’s close company as safety permits, the flexibility of AV-over-IP has demonstrated to this market that working over distances is entirely feasible and can help keep a community bound together. The trend in houses of worship towards increased dependence upon AV-over-IP seems very likely to continue for these and all prior reasons— it simply makes good sense.

AVoIP isn’t going away any time soon

The growth of AV-over-IP has been steady both before and during the pandemic, fueled by the countless practical advantages it offers: lower costs of installation, unprecedented flexibility and scale, and ease of use for everyone.

While we all wait for some sort of “normal” to reappear, it is clear that AV-over-IP provides more ways for people to overcome difficulties and make a difference. This means the use of AV-over-IP isn’t going away any time soon. Rather, it introduces the confidence necessary to meet any challenges that might be ahead.

The post What AV-over-IP Hybrid Solutions Are Here for the Long Run? appeared first on My TechDecisions.

While the growing availability of e-learning solutions has been both a lifeline and a source of frustration for administrators, teachers, students and their families, these tools are invaluable in our current reality. As administrators struggle to ensure connectivity and accessibility of these tools for all students, too many school districts are ignoring the elephant in the room: cybersecurity.

Widespread use of technology in the classroom combined with remote learning environments for homebound students has made protecting schools from cyberattacks much more complex. In June, Microsoft Security Intelligence found that 61% of the 7.7 million malware encounters experienced by organizations over the previous month were targeting education – far more than any other sector.

With many districts caught flat-footed and under pressure to quickly adapt, they are implementing IT solutions without a coherent security strategy – a move that puts schools at serious risk.

In fact, the beginning of the school year saw several high-profile cyberattacks against educational institutions, including DDoS attacks that paralyzed the Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ e-learning platform in late August and a massive ransomware attack which forced Hartford, Conn., to postpone its first week of school.

It’s not just hardened cybercriminals looking to take advantage of these gaps in security: a high school junior launched the attack against Miami-Dade – the nation’s fourth-largest school district covering 392 schools and more than 345,000 students – using an easily downloadable piece of software.

That’s not to say that the shift to e-learning technology should be put on hold. Instead, educators need to address the following vulnerabilities to their systems to ensure students, teachers and administrators are protected from the bad intentions of cybercriminals.

Staying Safe While Remote

Learning institutions have long been a favorite target of hackers, as evidenced by the wave of ransomware attacks that impacted more than 500 U.S. schools in 2019.

With a majority of school districts moving forward on a hybrid model of virtual and in-class education this fall, remote learning provides a golden opportunity for cybercriminals and bad actors, who have been hard at work all summer finding new ways to leverage techniques like ransomware, phishing and social engineering against vulnerable IT infrastructure.

Most attacks rely on manipulating users into clicking on a malicious link that downloads malware or provides cybercriminals access to the school’s network and sensitive information. There are other cases where user behavior that is acceptable on a home device, such as browsing social media sites or connecting over insecure Wi-Fi, could, if done on a school-provided device, open up an entire school district’s network for hackers to exploit.

This makes it critical to keep email security up to date and advanced protection in place for all endpoints. Systems should always be on guard for malware, ransomware, exploits and viruses.

Enlisting Parents and Students in the Fight Against Hackers

The best way to defend against cyberattacks is through user awareness and education. Regular training and testing of users with simulated attacks are a good first step towards creating security awareness. This makes the support of parents necessary, especially for younger students. Educators need to help parents understand what behaviors create risks for their children, home networks and the institution to ensure students are safe from scams and cyber attackers.

It also means guiding parents to take responsibility for enforcing digital security at home. Parental controls and coaching safe behavior online are just one aspect. In an ideal world, every family would have a firewall in place to prevent malicious software from accessing a computer.

They should also make sure their home’s wireless network is protected with encryption and a secure password. If possible, parents should consider creating a separate network at home for kids to use. Many savvy organizations are encouraging remote employees to keep their work devices separate from home use and off-limits to other family members. Schools must look for similar approaches to minimize system exposure.

Ultimately, proactive parenting that maintains an active awareness of how remote learners are using tech-driven tools and platforms is key to keeping students and school systems safe. It may even prevent another student from making the same choices that led to the recent attack at Miami-Dade.

More Smart Devices, More Security Problems

While schools scramble to protect remote learning environments, it’s just as important to make sure that classroom devices are secure. Most of the new technologies installed in classrooms are IoT-connected devices like smart boards, smart projectors and 3D printers.

While these tech-driven solutions help to foster an enhanced environment for learning and growth, they are inherently less secure than traditional computer hardware.

This makes the majority of IoT devices much easier targets – and more desirable to hack. It’s important to recognize that each new device connected to a school’s network is a new distance learning cybersecurity threat vector that attackers can exploit. To stay safe, schools must understand the risks IoT devices pose to the networks they’re connecting to.

Related: Some Schools Are Reporting Large Numbers of COVID Violations: Can Tech Help?

School districts aren’t the only ones struggling to manage the risk of IoT devices. In a recent survey of cybersecurity professionals by the Neustar International Security Council, only a quarter (27%) of respondents said they are confident that their personnel knows how to protect IoT devices and equipment against attacks.

A good first step to prioritizing IoT security is ensuring the factory-provided password on each device has been changed. Users often keep a device’s original password or even remove the requirement for a password. This means the door has been left open for attackers to exploit that device and use its connection to navigate to more sensitive parts of the school network.

Another risk comes from not updating firmware and software. Since smart devices usually require updates at different times and running those updates require the devices to be offline, software and firmware updates are not always completed. This leaves any newly discovered security vulnerabilities unaddressed, allowing cybercriminals to take advantage. School IT teams should run updates on all devices and develop a schedule to ensure each device has the latest security patches.

Safely Embracing e-Learning

As schools adopt more tech-driven learning solutions, there will be more vulnerabilities for bad actors to find and exploit. That shouldn’t stop administrators from implementing these new technologies. Instead, they should stay vigilant and focus on securing e-learning devices and maintaining good cyber hygiene practices – ensuring classrooms stay online and learning continues uninterrupted.

Rodney Joffe serves as security CTO, SVP and fellow at Neustar. He regularly lends his insights and experience to organizations like ICANN and the U.S. government, where he sat on the cybersecurity intelligence panel and served as an advisor to the Obama White House. This post premiered on our sister site, Campus Safety.

The post Schools Have to Address These Distance Learning Cybersecurity Threats appeared first on My TechDecisions.

However, since CIPA was enacted in 1999, the use of school web filters has become a very widely debated topic across the U.S.

Despite the debate, it’s becoming clear during the time of COVID-19 that kids are falling behind in their education. Smart uses of technology to keep students on-task, including using technology to filter content, is one way that schools are exploring to aid students in the time of COVID-19.

Here, we’ll go over a little of the debate about web filters in schools, how a school web filter applies to the current education landscape, and how Impero can help schools facilitate more effective remote learning.

The debate about web filters in schools

Much of the debate around the use of a school web filter revolves around student social media use. On one side, social media is increasingly seen to help students learn and as an important tool to facilitate communication. On the other hand, some people argue that students who use social media during the school day could be using it for personal uses rather than educational ones or use it for cyberbullying at school.

Arguments against using school web filtering solutions:

• CIPA is too restrictive, and potentially block sites with educational value.
• Simply filtering doesn’t teach students how to use the internet safely, and has an impact on students making decisions about what content to view on their own.
• Some blocked websites contain information useful for instruction (like human anatomy, etc.).

Arguments for using school web filtering solutions:

• Internet filters keep students on-task by restricting their access to personal websites that they could visit outside of school hours.
• Filters allow students to browse the internet without having constant supervision/overhead from teachers or administrators.
• Filters block viruses and spam, potentially extending the life of a school-issued or personal device.
• Filters protect students from inappropriate or malicious content.

Using a web filter in the time of COVID-19

As schools shift from in-person learning environments to more hybrid or remote ones in the time of COVID-19, we know that schools are relying on technology more to connect their students, teachers, parents and administrators on a daily or weekly basis and achieve better remote learning.

However a district connects with its students, it is important that they outline clear policies for how the internet is used for educational purposes.

This means that while a school internet filter is mandated by federal law, it should be paired with larger conversations with students about safe internet usage.

Schools and districts need to make sure that they’re also addressing why and how tools are being used to keep students on track, and how a filter enhances student learning potential.

Earlier this year, we published a few tips for perfecting your school’s internet safety policy.

Here are a few guidelines we recommend:

• Describe the roles and responsibilities of individuals and groups, including teachers, students and administrators using the internet during school hours.
• Require online safety and digital citizenship classes for all students.
• Clearly define inappropriate activity and describe how concerns and incidents are handled.
• Describe what school web filtering solutions are used.
• Share the school’s acceptable use policy and review it often.

On one hand, the internet can be a powerful distraction for students left alone to their own accord, especially if they are not physically in a school computer lab.

But on the other hand, access to internet sites like YouTube have powerful potential to teach students how to do things they may not have known how to do before – like play an instrument or share a project they developed.

Framing the internet as a powerful tool to enhance learning and communication, while also educating students about how to navigate malicious online content themselves and with a web content filter, is important.

Schools have a moral – and legal – obligation to block websites that contain malicious or inappropriate content. At the same time, filtering by itself isn’t enough.

It is also key for districts to outline clear policies for students on how to use the internet safely and effectively. Paired with an internet safety policy, a school web filter can help students learn to become smart digital citizens who are safe and aware on the internet.

The post How a School Web Filtering Solution Lead to Better Remote Learning appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Higher education, like most the business world, has been conducted remotely for the last few months, but with learning over for most students, now is the time to identify where the needs are and make those necessary purchases and installations, according to a panel of higher education AV experts at an InfoComm 2020 Connected session.

That session, dubbed “Pivoting to the new normal, or whatever,” featured Christopher Dechter of Indiana University, Marc Cholewczynski of Oregon State University, Jameson Rinehart of the University of Missouri – Kansas City, Justin Rexing of Western Kentucky Unviersity & Rexing Consulting and Larry Darling of the University of North Carolina.

Act early and often

All panelists agreed that actually getting the technology was challenging in itself since millions of workers need the same kind of tech that students and educators need. USB cameras were pretty much out of the question, Cholewczynski says.

“We had no chance of getting those,” he said. “We kind of chose different technologies with kind of SDI pieces and more broadcast-ish technologies that we knew were still on the shelves.”

Now, the largest challenges will be getting staff up to speed on the new technology.

“Once you do have it installed, getting the how-to and training is the next biggest hurdle that we’re going to see Oregon State,” Cholewczynski says.

That’s especially crucial in an environment where resources and budgets are tight and becoming tighter due to the pandemic’s economic effects, says Rexing. Western Kentucky University is essentially using document cameras with built-in microphones as a stopgap measure that can be deployed in classrooms and help remote learning.

“We’re already strapped for resources,” Rexing says. “Getting the equipment here is just step one. Then you have to figure out how to deploy it, and so we’re leveraging down to student workers.”

Read Next: NYC Schools Reverse Zoom Ban for Remote Learning

Think audio first

Much of the talk about remote learning tech has been around videoconferencing solutions like Zoom and Google Meet, but that doesn’t mean educators should prioritize video solutions first, says Dechter.

“If you’re buying PTZ cameras, stop doing that right now,” Dechter says. “Focus on audio, focus on content.”

Video would simply be an added bonus to intelligible audio, Dechter says

“If you can get the instructor’s image in there, that’s great for that personal connection, but do not start there,” Dechter says.

“Start with audio. … It doesn’t matter what mics you’re using, what DSP, what processor, any of that.”

Don’t get too complex

Now is not the time to introduce new technology that educators aren’t very familiar with, says Rexing.

“Don’t throw a bunch of stuff out there you’ve never done before,” Rexing says. “Try to leverage what you’ve always done. Maybe it’s not the exact same parts, but it gives that similar experience. We can leverage that technology down the road after this is all behind us.”

According to Cholewczynski, educators and institutions should instead be focused on curriculum and thinking of innovative ways to deliver content to students.

“I think we have to take a wholesale look at curriculum and what we’re trying to deliver,” Cholewczynski says.

Think of deploying technology that will deliver that content to the student, whether it be a whiteboard or document camera.

“it’s not going to be any one silver bullet – it’s going to be the conjunction of the faculty working to bend it to what they make it do to have it be successful for the students,” Cholewczynski says. “It’s not about getting the faculty outbound – it’s bringing the students in.”

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