Challenge
More than ever, schools and students are looking for alternatives to traditional methods of conducting and attending classes. Leading educational institutions are currently pursuing a hybrid / flexible, or HyFlex, course model that provides a variety of options for delivering lesson materials. HyFlex classrooms must include AV technology that facilitates live face-to-face and online instruction (synchronous), while also allowing students to view recorded course content on demand (asynchronous).
Solution
The Atlona OME-MS42 matrix switcher with USB provides connections for the instructors AV sources and its HDBaseT output connects to an Atlona OME-EX-RX receiver that supplies video to the projector. The classroom has two Atlona HDVS-CAM PTZ cameras, one dedicated to then instructor and the other directed at the classroom students. Instructor and room microphones are also included. USB integration is a key element of this solution. Conferencing applications such as Zoom or Microsoft® Teams® allow selection of the instructor’s microphone and camera for direct instruction, or the room microphone and camera for group discussions between in-class and online students. Recordings of the lesson are uploaded to a learning management system for later, on-demand use.