A forming mind is ageless; its value lies in the energy that animates its reasoning. The same electricity can be felt when experiencing the spaces of the University of Insubria, a young university that shapes the intelligence of a vibrant and renewing territory, including on the technological side. The Varese and Como campuses inaugurated in December are cutting-edge examples of a hybrid educational approach, thanks to the AV project curated by Adicom Group with Shure and Epson technologies.
The technological selection of the new classrooms was developed having as a key factor compatibility with Microsoft Teams, an integrated web conferencing and collaboration system chosen to ensure that teaching could take place both remotely and in hybrid mode. It is now well known how the pandemic has overwhelmed the classic perception of the face-to-face lecture for which the tried-and-true combination of projector, goosneck microphone and an (analog) amplification system was sufficient.
“I developed the project to upgrade the audio-visual infrastructure of the classrooms with the goal of achieving an environment in which teachers and students could experience the lecture naturally, empowered by the technology, never hindered by it,” explained Luca Mondini, Head of the Front and Backoffice Service and User Support Office Digital Learning and Multimedia Systems within the University’s Information Systems Area who oversaw the project.
Today, lecturers at Insubria University use a 50” Microsoft Surface HUB as visual support for interactive and usable explanations in various modes, amplifying the value of teaching far beyond the end of the lecture or the confines of the classroom. In addition, they can move freely around the area in the vicinity of the teacher’s desk certain that students, whether in attendance or remotely, will not miss a single word, thanks to a carefully calibrated microphone pickup and sound amplification system.
“The intervention involved 30 classrooms, with an approach that disrupted both the classroom experience and the management and maintenance of the technical team,” added Cristina Avella, BU Multimedia Manager in Adicom Group “Networking all components, from the display to the speaker, simply opens up a new way of experiencing education and the potential of environments over the years and in different scenarios.”
The technology renewal project was structured in three different models specific to size and use replicated for all classrooms with similar characteristics.
Small Classrooms
With a seating capacity of 50 or 60, these classrooms were upgraded with an MXA910 or MXA710 ceiling-mounted microphone array. With multiple microphone coverage lobes that can be individually configured, they ensure timely pickup of the teacher’s voice throughout the chair area. The teacher will be able to have his or her back to the students or speak to them from the front, write on the surface or conduct demonstrations with other instruments while leaning on the desk, without any change in voice pickup.
“For the proper implementation of the networked speakers [Shure MXN5W-C], we performed an acoustic survey for each room in order to identify the optimal positioning that would not interfere with the teacher’s reprise and that would ensure even amplification,” added Anna Buticchi, account manager for Adicom Group.
The Epson laser projectors combined with the motorized screen and a simple yet intuitive room control system allow the teacher to freely choose the right media and style for each lesson, whether he or she prefers a PowerPoint presentation or a whiteboard exercise. The cameras, enhanced by a tracking system, are synchronized with Microsoft Teams ensuring the same ease and accuracy of use as the audio component. Even the mute function is made easier by the Shure networked button, which allows the audio component to be muted with a touch.
Large Classrooms
They accommodate 150 to 300 students and add the complexity of large distances to the AV project. The audio-video solution must ensure equal involvement for those seated in the front row as well as those who have found seats only at the back of the classroom.
The video support is duplicated: two canvases on either side of the blackboard and two in the middle of the room, with a total of four laser projectors, Epson BL 530U and BL 630U models, ensuring equal visibility for all present.
“Some of the larger classrooms are housed in a truly impressive medieval cloister, with a ceiling built of wooden beams that constrained the installation. However, thanks to the appropriate mounting accessories, we were able to implement all the useful technologies to guarantee the potential for multimedia use required by Insubria University,” added Avella.
On the audio front, the new system integrated the previous goosneck microphones, juxtaposing them with an MXA910 ceiling-mounted microphone array and two networked loudspeakers. The result is an extremely flexible configuration that allows the rooms to be used in various modes, whether for lectures or conferences.
“The many implemented microphone arrays are enhanced by the P300IMX processor, which enables better audio signal management by eliminating echo, reducing background noise and optimizing all parameters to ensure crystal-clear audio under all circumstances,” Buticchi pointed out.
Conference rooms
The two locations count on a total of five magne classrooms, with very high ceilings, traditionally used for conferences (both in presence and video) and therefore already equipped with the appropriate technology. For these multipurpose environments, Adicom implemented a four-channel radiomicrophone system with handheld microphones and headset that could also support the theatrical performances, concerts, and graduation proclamations often hosted in these rooms.
“On a structural level, the project revolutionized the university’s audio-visual system, allowing us to offer an extremely flexible use that can readily respond to any teaching need. Being able to rely on a fully networked infrastructure was one of the main goals of the project. Having every component on an IP network allows us an optimization of the investment and resources useful to keep it perfectly operational and up-to-date, even in anticipation of future remodeling or expansion,” concluded Luca Mondini.
