Even in an age where person-to-person video chatting is readily available on smartphones and other mobile devices, colleges and universities are still investing in video-conferencing technology to enhance their classrooms and extend their reach.
Most recent education technology advancements have focused on the small screen, such as video platforms for online teaching via laptops, tablets, and smartphones. But brick-and-mortar institutions are still investing in large-screen video technology to improve their product for on-campus students, incorporating online teaching into classroom learning.
From connecting campuses and extending distance-learning opportunities to expanding their lecturer roster and boosting students’ career opportunities, here are six recent examples of colleges and universities investing in video conferencing technology.
Medical College of Wisconsin
The Medical College of Wisconsin unveiled a new medical campus last month, housed in a renovated science center at St. Norbert College and featuring teleconferencing technology in every classroom. As part of an initiative of Wisconsin medical schools and health care providers to develop more medical doctors in the state, the St. Norbert College site will serve as a remote campus for the main campuses in Milwaukee and Green Bay. Video conferencing will be used to access top lecturers for certain subjects, regardless of location, rather than just speakers who are available locally. Classes will have designated professors, but they’ll also access the best professionals for teaching certain skills, moving toward a more connected model of teaching instead of the traditional lecture model.
Missouri State & University of Missouri-Kansas City
Videoconferencing made a collaborative program launched this fall between Missouri State University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City possible. A 15,000-square-foot classroom space at Missouri State has three rooms equipped to stream live video from two UMKC sites and a University of Missouri site in Columbia, MO. The new video capabilities enable the UMKC School of Pharmacy graduate program to extend to Missouri State, which started this semester with 30 students. The state legislature approved $2 million in annual funding for the program, and the state hopes the expansion of the program will ease the shortage of pharmacists in the state, especially in rural areas.
University of Wyoming
Last month, the University of Wyoming opened its privately funded, $35 million Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center. The 67,000-square-foot building will welcome visitors and house the university's alumni association, admissions office, foundation, and advising and career services. Included with the cutting-edge technology incorporated into the center are 10 video-conferencing-equipped career recruiting interview rooms.
Central Arizona College
Central Arizona College has been building and improving its video conferencing network for 10 years. The college serves an area the size of Connecticut with its main campus and three remote campuses, plus several learning centers — and the system connects to high schools and elementary schools, as well. There are 22 sites in all. Using interactive TV allows the college to offer more classes per semester because it has more students to populate those classes. The college also uses a video content management system to record and play back lectures and guest speaker presentations. According to Central Arizona’s video system vendor, Polycom, the videoconferencing setup saves the school $11,000 per month.
Florida International University
The Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University introduced a new video conferencing setup a year ago that allows instructors to track students performing in the school’s restaurant management lab, including various kitchen setups and restaurant and bar spaces. The video conferencing technology is also used to engage students from distance learning locations and connect with culinary schools in Ireland and China.
Carroll College
Carroll College in Helena, MT, announced in July that it had received funding to build a new global education center. The Artaza Center for Excellence in Global Education is named after its benefactor, Gustavo Artaza, who donated $1.5 million to build it. Artaza is the chief executive of International Studies Abroad. The goal of the new center, to be up and running by the spring, is to expand opportunities for studying abroad, hosting international groups and collaborating with universities from other countries. The center’s “Global Education Room” will allow for international video conferencing between schools.
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