More than five years ago, elementary schools sometimes asked us for a solution to ensure the education of children with long-lasting illnesses – children absent from school (oncological diagnoses, serious injuries, etc.). These requirements resulted in a functional solution, which we describe below. Thanks to this solution, sick children were able to actively participate in classroom learning from home. During the school year, they were graded and successfully completed the study year. There was great satisfaction on the part of the students (contact with the students in the class, absence of missed subjects and the need to learn everything at once), the teachers (no extra teaching of the students was necessary, everything took place as standard teaching, the whole solution was easy to control) and also on the part of the parents (thank-you letters sent to schools for making this form of study possible…). 

The current situation in schools (now the schools are completely closed, but in the future there will most often be a situation where part of the students are at home and part in the classroom – either because of the “virus threat” or the previously mentioned long-term absent students) requires adapting to this situation fundamentally and creating a high-quality learning environment in schools for students in the classroom/at home and for teachers in the classroom/at home.

We refer to the current experience from schools and the discussions in a working group, whose members were some principals from Brno:

1. During the spring and autumn, fundamental differences in the schools’ idea of distance education became apparent. This led us to the need to define a standard that would significantly improve and unify it.
2. Such a standard must be simple for teachers in terms of connection and control
3. We start with the assumption that today every teacher is already equipped with a laptop.
4. The aim is also to create conditions for teaching as if it were taking place with all students in the class
5. It must be a mobile solution so that the teacher can transport the equipment from class to class. In addition, mobility in the classroom itself gives the teacher the opportunity to place the mobile device as necessitated by the layout of the classroom or the form of teaching that he/she wants to use in the given lesson.
6. The teacher must be knowledgeable of the students at home and their active involvement, focus on work and understanding
7. The teacher must be able to use such digital online tools that allow students to be involved in real-time teaching at home and in the classroom
8. Technical equipment must be affordable for schools

Teaching scenario:

The teacher comes to the classroom with a laptop. A mobile solution is already prepared in the classroom or the teacher will bring it to the classroom. Then they simply connect their laptop to the mobile solution. And they can start teaching the way they are normally used to. The camera captures the teacher at the desk, or the teacher can turn it so that it captures part of the class or their work on a conventional ceramic board. 

The teacher can share the work on the interactive whiteboard with the students at home via MS Teams, Google Meet or CISCO Webex or Zoom.

The microphone of the soundbar captures the teacher, and also the students in the classroom, if required. The teacher can move freely anywhere in the classroom and the microphone picks them up without any problems. The microphone also picks up students in the classroom, so their classmates at home can hear them.

On the big screen, the teacher can see the students at home, has visual contact with them, and has an overview of whether they are working. They can hear them and can encourage them to speak. If a student speaks from home, the whole class can hear them from the sound bar speaker. 

A mobile solution for the classroom:

A mobile stand on which a non-interactive display of at least 65’’ is attached to display the faces of the students participating in classes from home. The solution includes a soundbar with a surround microphone and a camera enabling zoom and motorized lens movement. The camera captures the teacher at the desk. It can be pre-set to show several views so that it could look at the teacher or the surface of the ceramic board, or it can show part of the classroom with the students, if the teacher wishes so. The variability of the camera can be used in different forms of teaching (frontal/group work, etc.). This designed solution has a connection point (HDMI + USB) with a shelf for the teacher’s laptop/docking station. 

Why a mobile solution:

• The teacher places the mobile solution in the classroom to match the current needs according to their preference (e.g. for the following reasons: the spatial possibilities of the classroom, the presence of existing AV and IT equipment and its connection with the mobile solution, all children are at home, some children at home/some in the classroom, intended form of teaching).
• The school may only purchase the necessary number of mobile devices as desired/needed – the distance learning schedule will be adjusted compared against regular face-to-face teaching with regard to the number of available devices.
• The device can be used at any other time and other than during a viral pandemic (a child with a long-term illness/after an injury, alternating parental care when, for example, one of the parents lives abroad and the child does not go to school there, etc.). 
• The mobility of the device is in itself an added value of the proposed solution and allows each teacher to individually use the technology in a way that best meets their needs.

Do you like this idea and solution and would you like it in your school?

In cooperation with the Association of Principals of Elementary Schools, DigiCoalition and other representatives of the state, we are trying to bring this standard to meet the conditions of calls for EU money in the new project period. However, you can already discuss the issue with my regional representatives and together look for funds to purchase this equipment. The equipment of one classroom will cost approximately CZK 100,000 per classroom.

Are you interested in this solution? Contact your regional sales consultant