As we approach the fall, officials are examining how they may be able to safely welcome students back into school buildings. Although the future is still uncertain, there will undoubtedly be a need for schools to revamp their former operating status to accommodate for social distancing and other safety guidelines. Let’s discuss some of the ways AV can play a role in ensuring that guidelines are met and children as well as teachers can remain separated even within the confines of a school campus.
Audio Distribution for Larger rooms and Outdoors
The governor of Florida just announced a plan for a full-scale reopening of schools in the fall. As part of this plan, the use of auditoriums, cafeterias and libraries is included to allow for students to expand beyond a typical classroom and enable safe distancing. There have also been discussions about using outdoor areas when there is limited space to maintain six feet of distance between students. In larger or outdoor areas, which may not have the best acoustics, audio distribution can ensure that every student can clearly hear what the instructor is saying while at the same time saving teachers from having to strain their voice or from repeating themselves because someone in the back couldn’t hear. Whether individualized headsets for students or a speaker system that allows sound to be distributed to multiple areas, sound distribution systems can bring clarity to the classroom, wherever it may be.
Temperature and Mask Detection
CDC guidelines for schools recommend the wearing of facial coverings by students, teachers and staff, as well as daily temperature and symptom checks. Detection displays such as Goodview’s line of temperature scanning kiosks offer contactless instant temperature scanning as well as facial covering detection. These can even be linked to door locks that will only allow entry with an acceptable temperature and facial covering.
Video Conferencing for Collaboration
In the 62-page guidebook California recently released on the reopening of schools, they detail different learning models. This includes a blending learning model, which would entail half of students engaging in distance learning while the other half attends in-person learning, with the two groups alternating each week. Teachers can utilize video conferencing to engage students who may be at home while simultaneously teaching those who are on site, encouraging collaboration between the two groups and eliminating the need to teach material twice.
Cameras for Distance Learning
Auto-tracking cameras can automatically follow and record a teacher as they move about a room teaching students. The lesson can be provided live to distance learners or recorded for students who may be ill or for those on a flipped schedule, so the teacher can playback the lesson or allow students to review when they are ready. This also offers students the opportunity to go back and review material that they may need to brush up on.
