Michigan Tech Classroom Audio Upgrade Supports Hybrid Learning

Michigan Technological University has outfitted two of its on-campus spaces with ClearOne BMA 360 Beamforming Microphone Array Ceiling Tiles. According to a news release, the technology offers wall-to-wall microphone coverage in large spaces, ensuring that each student in the space — and at home — can fully engage with the material or conversation at hand. The solution has been installed in a lecture hall and a multi-purpose space in the campus library.

"Digital connectivity and communications is central to virtually every discipline we teach at MTU today, and our students both expect and deserve class-leading tools that optimize efficiency and improve educational experiences," said David Chard, MTU's director of Media Technology Services. "The ClearOne BMA 360 ceiling tile microphones now being used in the DOW 642 lecture hall and the library's East Reading Room immediately transformed how each space could be used by enabling clear, crisp audio pickup of any voice in any seat through the units' intelligent Voice Lift capabilities."

Whether the space in question is being used for lectures, meetings or remote collaborations, the solution helps every voice in the room be heard. The units' Voice Lift capabilities eliminate the need to pass around a microphone or for speakers to move to another part of the room before speaking. Microphone pickup is played back in real time, ensuring full audio quality for those both in and out of the room — ensuring that remote learners don't miss anything going on in the classroom. In addition, the products' ease-of-use and reliability has reduced the need for student tech associates' assistance before and after class.

"We only install technologies that provide reliable experiences for users, and after years of success with various ClearOne products, we know these solutions are both easy to use and deliver industry-leading capabilities and performance," Chard said.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • MathGPT

    MathGPT AI Tutor Now Out of Beta

    Ed tech provider GotIt! Education has announced the general availability of MathGPT, an AI tutor and teaching assistant for foundational math support.

  • stylized illustration of a global AI treaty signing, featuring diverse human figures seated around a round table

    World Leaders Sign First Global AI Treaty

    The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and several other countries have signed "The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law," the world's first legally binding treaty aimed at regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

  • stylized illustration of a portfolio divided into sections for career training

    St. Cloud State University Adds Four Tech Bootcamps via Upright Partnership

    To meet the growing demand for tech professionals in the state, Minnesota's St. Cloud State University is partnering with Upright to launch four career-focused bootcamps that will provide in-demand skills in software development, UX/UI design, data analytics, and digital marketing.

  • wind turbine and solar panels with glowing accents on the left and a digital shield surrounded by binary code on the right

    Educause Horizon Report: Sustainability Pressures Lead to Increased Cybersecurity Risks

    Educause recently released the 2024 Cybersecurity and Privacy Edition of its Horizon Report series, forecasting key trends, technologies, and practices shaping the future of cybersecurity and privacy in higher education.