In a classic exemplification of the industry’s embracing technology for a post-pandemic hybrid environment, Pune’s Indira Indira Group of Institutes Management College has recently created hybrid classroom to facilitate effective and uninterrupted learning by the students. Mumbai-based EYTE Technologies Pvt Ltd took the pride of creating the desired space, in a record span of two weeks.
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Indira Group of Institutes Management College – one of the leading academic conglomerates in the education hub of Pune – has made its imprint strong and established not just among locals but also far-flung regions.
With several mutli-discipline campuses in different cities across the country, the institution has a pan-India presence. In addition to the regular academic set-up, the Group also has a significant spread of distant education programme.
In the post-pandemic era of digital connectivity, the institution wanted to have their regular lectures to be recorded for distance education stream, and also wanted to give the remotely-located students the opportunity to attend live lectures online.
In order to achieve its objective, the college administration chose Mumbai-based AV consultant and systems integrator Eyte Technologies Pvt Ltd to design and install the necessary AV technology.
EYTE suggested hybrid class rooms as solution to this where their live lectures are done on smart boards, captured and sent online to remote students along with the professor / teacher video. The AV feeds are simultaneously recorded and archived for review and reuse on later occasions.
To stay ahead of the curve and adapt to the changing educational environment due to the pandemic-induced necessities, the college decided to create a hybrid classroom that would allow for both in-person and online learning.
The college had several requirements for the hybrid classroom, including the need for an interactive display, high-quality video conferencing equipment, and an advanced sound system. Additionally, the installation had to be completed within a tight schedule of two weeks, with minimal disruption to the ongoing academic activities.
“The initial design was to have SmartBoard for teaching aid, HD camera and Cloud VC to have online sessions; sound system for good audio; and some suggestions in light and acoustics for good local experience to students as well,” Abdul Waheed, Managing Director of Eyte Tech, informs. “With little tweaks here and there, it was deployed as desired.”
Eyte Technologies Pvt Ltd designed and installed a cutting-edge AV system that met all the college’s requirements. The system included a Samsung professional display, Newline interactive display Logitech Rally Teams MTR setup, QSC speaker system, and a dual display setup for the lecturer.
The Samsung professional display used in the classroom is a 55″ 4K UHD Professional LED Display, which is ideal for delivering high-quality visuals in a variety of lighting conditions. Newline 86″ 4K UHD Interactive Professional LED Display. The display is also equipped with a touch-sensitive panel, which allows for interactive learning experiences.
The Logitech Rally Teams MTR setup is a state-of-the-art video conferencing system that provides crystal-clear audio and video. The system includes a Logitech Rally camera, a microphone, and a speaker, which work together to deliver a seamless video conferencing experience.
The system also supports multiple conferencing platforms, making it highly versatile. The QSC speaker system used in the classroom is a premium sound system that delivers high-quality audio for lectures, presentations, and video conferencing. The system includes QSC K10.2 powered loudspeakers, a QSC KSub powered subwoofer, and a QSC TouchMix-16 digital mixer, which work together to deliver a powerful and immersive audio experience.
The installation process was completed within the two-week timeline, with minimal disruption to the college’s academic activities. The installation team at Eyte worked closely with the college’s IT team to ensure that the AV system integrated seamlessly with the college’s existing technology infrastructure.
The expertise and dedication – brought in by team Eyte against hard-pressed timeline – transformed the learning environment into a whole new experience of hybrid, pretty much in tune with the time and requirement. The use of high-quality brands such as Samsung, Newline, Logitech, and QSC has ensured that the AV system is of the highest quality, delivering an immersive and engaging learning experience to students. It set a new standard for AV integration in educational institutions.
The hybrid classroom allows for both in-person and online learning, providing students with flexibility and convenience. The Samsung professional display, Newline interactive display, Logitech Rally Teams MTR setup, and QSC speaker system have made lectures more engaging and interactive. The dual display setup for the lecturer ensures that they have all the necessary information at their fingertips. The sound system has enhanced the audio experience, making lectures, presentations, and video conferencing more impactful and immersive.
According to Eyte chief, the big challenge for the integrator was to convert the conventional classes to hybrid learning spaces with minimal changes to existing set-ups. Technology deployment was one, while acoustics and lighting was the other. For the speech intelligibility was one factor of reckoning for both physical and online learning.
“Secondly, training the existing staff who had till then been only familiar with conventional blackboard and chalk sorts,” explains Waheed. “We did it with intent and intensity- of course with commendable support from the staff and management. For, without necessary training and familiarization, technology hardly benefits the user.
The college’s faculty and students have provided positive feedback about the AV system, reliability, and advanced features. The interactive display has allowed for more engaging and interactive learning experiences, while the video conferencing system has enabled seamless communication with students who are attending classes remotely.
