July 16, 2024 - Our General Manager of EMEA, Doug Remington, recently caught up with Gary Keene, Audio Visual Architect at University of the Arts London, about the use of video conferencing technology in education.

Gary runs a team that’s responsible for designing, building and managing almost a thousand different teaching spaces across 15 different buildings in London. Supporting around 19,000 students and 4,000 staff working across those different buildings and campuses. He is an expert when it comes to education technology and we were honored to have him join us as a guest speaker on a recent EMEA webinar session.

During the live panel discussion, Doug asked Gary “What would you share with anyone in the Education sector who’s trying to advance their institutions with the use of technology? Any tips, tricks, or things to avoid?”

Gary commented, “So the first is, talk to your customers to understand the outcomes they’re looking for. Because the opposite of that is often leading with technology.”

“Involve your internal stakeholders early on, for example, networks and estates. They can be fantastic enablers.”

“Third, talk to your peers about their experiences. Higher education and audio visual teams within higher education have a fantastically collegiate atmosphere. There’s SCHOMS, there’s LTSMG, there’s a whole series of groupings that you can find where you’ll find loads of people that are very happy to share their experiences with you, too.”

“Put the user experience in the middle of all of your thinking. If you do that, you’re unlikely to go wrong.“

“Finally, plan for change. Don’t commit to long term technical solutions. Particularly where there’s uncertainty about what your customers are going to be teaching, where they’re going to be teaching it, how they’re going to be teaching it, and for how long they’re going to be doing that for.”

In conclusion, advancing the use of video technology in higher education requires a thoughtful, strategic approach that centers on understanding and addressing the needs of all stakeholders. As Gary Keene from the University of the Arts London highlighted, the key to success lies in several foundational principles:

1. Customer-Centric Approach

Prioritize understanding the outcomes that students and staff are looking for, rather than leading with technology.

2. Early Stakeholder Involvement

Engage internal stakeholders early in the process to leverage their support and avoid future roadblocks.

3. Peer Collaboration

Utilize the collegiate atmosphere within higher education’s audio-visual teams and participate in professional groups to share and gain insights.

4. User Experience Focus

Keep the user experience at the forefront of your planning to ensure that the implemented solutions meet the needs of those who will use them daily.

5. Flexible Planning

Be prepared for change and avoid long-term commitments to specific technologies, especially in a landscape where teaching methods and requirements are constantly evolving.

By following these tips, educational institutions can effectively harness video technology to enhance learning environments, ensuring that they remain adaptable and responsive to the dynamic needs of education.

To watch the full webinar, click here.

Alternatively, to learn more about DTEN’s solutions for Education, you can download our <a href="https://www2.dten.com/l/875071/2024-05-29/bnd3q6/875071/1716982307CYCbSuNY/DTEN_Success_Guide__Education_2024_v1.2.pdf">Success Guide for Education</a>.