• Why do schools, colleges and universities install cameras in classrooms? 
• What are AV teams looking for in classroom cameras?
• What type of cameras should AV teams avoid?

Our Top 5 Choices

• What's the best camera for the hybrid classroom?
• What's the best discussion group camera?
• What's the best PTZ camera for a presentations area?
• What's the best video camera for a lecture theatre?
• What's the best affordable classroom camera?

Overview 

A 2023 US study showed that 67% of college teachers were currently leading hybrid classes, compared with 52% prior to the pandemic. Hybrid teaching is here to stay.

This paper explores how educational institutions and training facilities can design and upgrade hybrid classrooms using AV solutions including video conferencing platforms, PTZ cameras, IP audio devices and screen sharing tools. By adopting best AV practices in teaching spaces, we cover how institutions can improve student engagement and increase the involvement of remote classmates. We will explain why new technologies are easier for teachers to use and can therefore be expected to accelerate the adoption of conferencing tools in education. At the same time, the paper examines ways in which AV teams can help organizations better manage IT and AV assets and reduce operational costs while maintaining data security across campus.
 

1.    e-Learning

What is Hybrid Learning and why is it the new norm?

Hybrid learning is a broad term that describes new flexible approaches to education. It’s part of the VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) that gives students the flexibility to benefit from both in-person and remote learning. Typical components include:

•    Remote Access: accessing teaching streamed live over the Internet. This form is most appropriate for lectures delivered to large bodies of students. 
•    On-demand Learning: giving students access to a library of educational videos for self-initiated learning, revision and learning recapitulation. 
•    Remote Interactive Learning: fostering engagement and active participation thru interactive video conferencing and encouraging collaborative activities. 
 

These new teaching formats are increasingly prevalent for a variety of reasons, such as the physical inability to house growing numbers of students in existing teaching spaces and the preference of students to study remotely and at their own pace. At the same time, advances in technology have given students the opportunity to join educational programs that were previously geographically and financially out of reach.

The statistical evidence shows that the adoption of hybrid learning is widespread in the North America and Europe, with other regions growing very rapidly.
 

Equal Opportunities

Internet-delivered education has changed how learning can be accessed by minority and disadvantaged groups. A 2019 study by the UK University of Derby suggested that students with disabilities were drawn to its online courses at a rate 3 times higher compared with the national average for traditional methods of study. It found that students who were in lower socioeconomic groups were able to access online education and organize their studies without having to re-locate with its associated expense. By equalizing access to education, online learning is known to contribute towards institutional and governmental targets for expanding learning opportunities.

How have expectations for online learning changed post-pandemic? 

A 2023 report published found that “Students showed great appreciation of the efforts universities took to digitise learning and teaching during the pandemic, while acknowledging that there is still room for improvement.”
 
It noted that: 

•    “[Our] teaching practice continually evolves and changes, but the pandemic has dramatically accelerated the pace of this change and altered the expectations of our students.”
•    “The pandemic exposed a widespread lack of appropriate hardware and software resources that should allow staff and students to effectively engage in hybrid learning.”
 

How has online learning evolved post-pandemic?  

2.    Basic Hybrid Learning Technology

The Birth of the Zoom Classroom

During the pandemic, teachers quickly turned to video conferencing and soon learnt the concept of “Zoom fatigue,” bedevilled by inadequate lighting, poor sound and a low-quality webcam. Studies have even shown that excessive close-up eye contact was stressful for remote learners. On a practical level, with no time for teachers to prepare to go online, the student experience was often lacking: supporting materials were poorly presented and lecturers were untrained in the art of digital communication.

Online learning has had to adapt quickly and radically to meet the changing expectations of students. Calls for value for money from student organizations and competition among educational establishments have forced lecturers to develop new skills quickly in order to function in the new world.

Technical Solutions

Students' pandemic and post-covid experiences indicate that online teaching needs to focus on active engagement through polls, breakout rooms, questions, and interactive tools to increase attention. It requires shorter sessions with scheduled breaks, the use of high-quality cameras, preferably using multiple angles to avoid viewer weariness and the use of appropriate visuals and multiple types of media to hold attention. 

Turning the Classroom Digital

As discussed above, laptop webcams served as an emergency fix during the pandemic but fell short as a long-term solution, with a strong chance of so-called digital burnout. Exhausting for the teacher and the student, the close-up view of the teacher is unengaging at best, and thoroughly off-putting at worst. On the other hand, the cost is very low, with most teachers already owning the appropriate equipment to run a lesson online. 

Faced with the challenge of upgrading thousands of classrooms, AV and IT teams are now faced with the challenge of implementing enhanced teaching solutions that are cost-effective to purchase, simple to install and low-cost to maintain.

Creating the Hybrid Classroom 

Many classrooms are now based on the hybrid model where students are divided into two groups – those present in the room itself, and those who are dialling in remotely. The expectation is that, as far as possible, both groups will have equal opportunities to participate, and to interact. The core component is the conferencing platform, such as Zoom and Teams. Well suited for live and interactive teaching, they deliver high quality audio and video, screen sharing, text comments and advanced features including polls.

The Integrated Video Soundbar

There has been a natural progression from the built-in laptop webcam with its limited viewing angle, to USB connected HD webcams with professional microphones. Subsequently, these have been superseded by a wall or monitor-mounted video soundbar. For each stage of this evolution, video and sound quality has increased, shooting angles have improved and features (such as auto-framing) are added. 

However, there is only so far that a single integrated device can be developed. It will always be a compromise: the shooting angle will be limited by the height of the monitor that it is attached to, while the primary microphones will be embedded in the device which may be many metres away from the teacher and students.

Creating the AV Infrastructure

Until recent years, adding professional PTZ cameras, microphones and sound monitors to a classroom required multiple cable types and the integration of various AV formats. Where cameras were to be installed a distance from the laptop, it was often necessary to convert and transmit video over HDBaseT, adapting the HDMI video stream to USB for use by the teacher’s laptop. Audio was handed in a similar fashion using adapters and converters, with a second USB cable connecting to the notebook.

The PTZ Advantage

The advent of PTZ (pan, tilt and zoom) technology enabled robotic cameras to capture the teacher and move to frame students to film their contribution. PTZ cameras can be positioned in an ideal location to capture the best possible viewing angles, whether they are mounted to the wall or suspended from the ceiling.

In early PTZ models, the use of preset positions and auto-framing algorithms allowed for a simple level of semi-automation that enhanced the viewing experience. They were primarily HDMI or SDI devices that needed the same level of format conversion and signal extension to integrate with video conferencing platforms. New generation models offer better connectivity options and greater levels of automation.
 

3.    The Transition to IP and Automation

Learning the Lessons of IP Audio

A report from the manufacturer Crestron claimed that AV-over-IP systems have the potential to reduce costs by up to 40%. If correct, this is a very significant cost-saving measure.

Countless examples in the audio world have shown the benefits of moving to IP-based sound. At the University of Oregon and West Jordan High School for example, AV teams have been able to scale their installations, reduce costs and work flexibly in a way their previous analog systems would not allow. With the rise of Dante Audio and its growing dominance in the sound sector, it was only a matter of time before the video world follow suit and make the transition to IP transmission and routing.

Leveraging the LAN

New generation PTZ cameras are now ‘IP native’ with built-in encoders and Ethernet connectivity. The latest streaming formats have enabled PTZ models to become the dominant camera type in the industry, moving from use in documentary TV and video studios and into everyday use in houses of worship, music venues, schools, colleges and universities.

Now, IP audio (Dante Audio) and streaming video (in NDI, Dante AV-H or RTSP formats) can be transmitted concurrently over the local area network's existing Ethernet cabling at very low cost. The same network can also be used to send control signals and to deliver power to cameras and other network-attached devices. 

In short, rather than extending and converting USB or HDMI cameras over Ethernet, then re-converting the IP stream to USB, the new, more efficient approach is to employ IP video and IP audio equipment that does not require signal conversion and cable extension tools. 

The gains in terms of system simplicity are immediate. There is an instant reduction in the number of devices to be acquired, installed, integrated and managed, delivering significant savings and operational advantages.  

From IP to USB-C

However, an Ethernet cable is not an inherently user-friendly connection, especially with modern slim laptops and Chromebooks that have no RJ-45 port at all. Converting IP to USB-C is the ideal, user-friendly solution. 

Adding AV-optimized switches, mini transcoders and decoders to the network, video and audio signals can be routed directly from IP video and audio sources to a single USB-C for instant connection to the room PC or teacher's computer. The USB-C also carries the audio from the laptop's audio to room speakers. It's a very easy way to connect to a conference call while taking advantage of installed professional audio and video equipment. 

The teacher can call on remote AV/IT support if there are any issues with the IP cameras and audio devices that need to be resolved. No longer do teachers need to change camera settings locally or wait for technical support to arrive in the room. No longer must technicians log into the teacher's laptop to access the settings of USB cameras and USB microphones – it's all done remotely on the IP network.

Advances in AI Camera Technology

Advances in AI technology means that PTZ cameras have evolved from simple auto-framing to advanced motion tracking. Dual lens cameras have a dedicated sensor that constantly scans a scene to identify humans within the frame. Once activated, the camera will track as the presenter moves. A click of the mouse enables the tracking sensor to identify and follow a new presenter without delay.

Another key advance has been the introduction of voice-activated tracking technology. Now embedded in the camera itself, the PTZ automatically moves to frame the active voice in a room. As a two-way discussion develops, the camera will frame the active voices or switch between speaker to create a TV-like production.

The advantage for the AV team is remote device management. For the teacher, there's no fear of technology and there's no need for a manual operator to be physically present to change camera view. Everything is fully automated. For the learning experience, the benefit is more engaging video that follows a conversation almost as naturally as if the remote participant were in the room.

Enhanced Interaction

Many conferencing platforms are optimized to allow the local presenter or remote users to share their screens. A 2022 study found that “Teachers reported greater mobility, increased ease of content sharing and deeper learner cognition as attributes of improved learning and teaching with the technologies.” 

Wireless sharing tools from the likes of Barco are now readily available. They increase the opportunity for students in the room to be more actively involved by sharing content hosted on their devices. Compliant with USB transcoders and decoders, these can be easily added to the institution's network to add a new level of interaction within the teaching space.

Compatible with document cameras and visualizers, wireless sharing tools are an effective means of increasing student engagement and achieving learning outcomes. Plug and play, and now compatible with IP to USB bridging tools for installation on the local network, wireless technology now has the reliability and user friendliness to become second nature in the classroom.
 

4.    Advanced AV Comes of Age in the Classroom

For decades, live and recorded TV has been based on using multiple cameras to switch between different views and perspectives. This has been always an option for universities in major event spaces. At graduation ceremonies and at international symposia, many AV teams have installed an SDI-based broadcast switcher, professional cameras and other production equipment to create a multi-angle shoot. Capable of delivering superb results for display on the big screen, global streaming and distribution on DVD/Blu-Ray disk, this approach is nevertheless expensive in capital terms and demands the availability of highly trained video operators and sound technicians.

When institutes want to equip multiple teaching spaces with a multi-camera set up, this manually controlled rig is unaffordable and impractical. AI automation has again transformed the market. Now, in any classroom space, two or more voice-tracking cameras can be installed onto the IP network, both controlled and co-ordinated by a central processor unit that enables the cameras to pinpoint the active voice and automatically switch between speakers in the room. 

Fully automated and responsive to classroom discussions, a voice activated solution is designed to transform video conferences, making the remote experience more engaging, energetic and immersive.

Audio Integration

By implementing an all-IP strategy, video and audio are transmitted over the same LAN. Leveraging common IP audio, IP video, USB-C and DisplayPort standards, schools, colleges and universities can add devices to their network with considerable flexibility. 

Immensely scalable, the AV/IT team can add microphones, speakers and cameras into each room, up-to capacity of its network. With this level of versatility, a small teaching room can be fitted with a single camera and basic Dante tabletop speakerphone. A larger space can benefit from multiple ceiling microphones, wall-mounted speakers and up-to four autonomous cameras. The largest rooms can be used as a single space or temporarily sub-divided and partitioned into multiple teaching areas, each with its own dedicated AV installation, thanks to intelligent signal routing and tools such as Audinate's Dante Controller.

Training and Support Costs

In each case, the only connection to the teacher's BYOM laptop is a single USB-C connection. The set-up routine is also similar for every space, with the support team able to configure and monitor the AV remotely.

When one North American survey indicated that, on average, each support personnel is responsible for 43 rooms, simplifying the AV set up and centralizing device management is essential for every organization. 

Security

The EU's GDPR regulations and various data privacy laws in the US have changed the AV landscape in terms of safeguarding information and protecting the identity of individuals, especially minors. While the transmission of audio and video over data networks could seem on the surface to be inherently unsafe, by implementing best practice, networks can be rendered safer than HDMI and DVI installations. Security measures can include:

•    Avoiding the use of Wi-Fi or open networks
•    A segmented/VLAN network dedicated to AV traffic
•    The use of AES encrypted formats
•    Employing formats that require user authentication
•    Use of NDI Bridge with AES encryption and authentication in conjunction with NDI HX streaming
•    Restricting user access via firewalls and ACLs (Access Control Lists)
•    Monitoring the network for unknown receivers using network management software
•    Maintaining a schedule for firmware updates to implement the latest security patches
 

5.    Summary

As classrooms go increasingly hybrid, there are multiple conflicting demands:

-    Students requiring more engaging remote learning experiences
-    Teachers demanding more interaction from distance learning
-    AV teams facing increased support calls
-    Faculties confronting growing installation and integration costs

Educational establishments cannot continue down the traditional AV path of HDMI cameras, analog audio, complex signal routing and conversion to connect to video conferencing platforms. The costs, ongoing overheads and support requirements are simply too heavy.

The maturity of IP audio and video at the same time as the advent of automated production tools are the answer to the demands faced by leadership teams. Together they fulfil the promise of:

-    More flexible and cost-effective installation
-    Easier and faster remote support
-    Full scalability and future-proofing
-    A straightforward user experience
-    A richer teaching and learning experience

Surveys have shown an increase in student satisfaction with remote learning in recent years. Technology has a significant role to play in driving the rollout of hybrid learning, with the transition to IP and the adoption of automated services central to this success.