Business Challenge
SAIT was looking for a standardized classroom technology solution that would meet instructor’s needs and enhance the student’s learning experience. The solution needed to minimize technical support and be flexible and expandable to provide for future evolutions in education technology. The chosen solution would be rolled out to over two hundred classrooms over a five year period.
Sharp's Audio Visual Solution
Sharp's Audio Visual partnered with SMED Group to design and manufacture a custom instructor workstation that incorporated advanced SMART Technologies XPort switching and audio amplification. The XPort was selected to meet SAIT's request for clean one touch switching. Additional sources included an Elmo document camera to present documents and three dimensional objects, a DVD/VCR for video presentations, and a resident classroom PC. Connectivity to an Instructor's laptop was also essential. Audio reinforcement was done through two speakers built into the workstation. NEC multimedia projectors were chosen for their overall quality and robustness and were projected onto SMART Technologies SMART Board.
Sharp's Audio Visual Solution (Continued)
A key evolution to the first SAIT classrooms has been the replacement of the SMART Board Interactive whiteboard with a Sympodium Interactive Pen Display. This progression allows Instructors to enjoy all the functionality of SMART Board technology while remaining at their workstation. It also enabled Sharp's Audio Visual to install larger projection screens that are suitable for larger classrooms.
Results
Very high Instructor and student satisfaction. Instructors share anecdotal stories of shortened instruction time and improved test results. Pride of ownership from the Instructors and students alike.
