When it comes to teaching new concepts to students, there are many tools at a teacher’s disposal to help kids understand and retain the information, but the most helpful, in study after study, are audio and visuals aids.
In the Cognitive Model of Multimedia Learning by Mayer, it was shown that audio visual (AV) aids are helpful in learning because they trigger those processing channels of the brain that register pictures, words, sounds, and memory.
When you compliment information with sounds and images, it triggers sensory memory, working memory, and long-term memory.
While classroom audio visual equipment used to mean film strips or overhead projectors, today’s students can learn with the benefit of technologies like electronic whiteboards, laptops, and cutting-edge sound systems, offering a much more robust experience that encourages participation.
In a national survey of pre-K-12 teachers by PBS LearningMedia, it was clear that teachers see the benefit in technology when it comes to teaching:
- 74% of teachers said technology enables them to reinforce and expand on content
- 74% of teachers said it helps motivate students to learn
- 73% said technology allows them to respond to a variety of learning styles
- 7 in 10 teachers said education technology allows them to do much more than before
How AV Technology in the Classroom Benefits Learning
Any child of the 70’s that passed a history or multiplication test thanks to some help from the School House Rock cartoons, can attest to the power of music and visuals when it comes to learning and retaining information.
Text with images is comprehended 83% more effectively than text alone.
Following are the ways that having a good classroom AV setup can benefit both students and teachers.
More Student Participation
Audio visual learning aides are designed to engage students and promote participation. With the use of Wi-Fi, classrooms can be connected and can share images, documents, and videos with each other through the use of “huddle spaces” and collaborative white boards that allow them to cast images up on a screen.
Students that may have difficulty speaking in front of a group, may feel much more comfortable sharing video storytelling assignments they’ve created, giving them another way to participate.
Helps Students Visualize Concepts
When students have a visual to go along with a difficult concept it can trigger that lightbulb and help them gain a better understanding of the lesson. Today’s technology allows teachers to use much more than static images. They can use moving models of a concept on a screen that students can interact with to click and expand areas of a concept and gain a more in depth understanding.
Helps Teachers Keep Up with How Students Learn
Technology has definitely changed our world, but its impact is arguably highest on children. Now kids grow up interacting with technology before they can walk, which is going to drastically change the way they learn compared to when their parents were in school.
39% of parents say their children have their own smartphone, and multiple homes have smart devices like Alexa that children interact with daily.
Use of audio visual tech in the classroom can help teachers keep up with the evolution of how students learn and interact with technology.
Present More Information at Once
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and visuals can help teachers present more information in a condensed format. One image or video sequence can help students grasp and retain data that would’ve taken several paragraphs of text to explain. AV gives teachers a way to combine different teaching methods for maximum effectiveness.
Helps Make Teachers’ Jobs Easier
Using an electronic whiteboard or shared storage that can instantly send a new assignment to each students’ laptop helps streamline a teacher’s day. From organizing lessons to creating engaging classrooms, tech can make lesson planning faster and reduce the time it takes to deliver an engaging learning module.
Can Better Reach Students with Learning Disabilities
A voice amplifier microphone worn around a teacher’s neck can help students with hearing impairments feel like they’re part of the class because they’re not missing things.
Touch screens with interactive features can also help students with ADHD remain focused on the subject at hand.
From sounds to visuals, AV technology offers teachers more tools that can help all types of students learn in a variety of ways helping them overcome any learning challenges they may have.
Reach a Larger Classroom
When you get into colleges and large high schools, the class sizes can make reaching every student more challenging. AV aids help boost a teacher’s presence through use of screens and live streaming, which gives them a better chance at reaching everyone in the class with the lesson objective.
Get Your Classroom Technology Set Up Effectively!
Cris’s Tech Repair specializes in audio video technology setup in classrooms of all types. We can work with you to ensure the best placement of your tech to promote an engaging experience for your students and teachers.
Contact us today to schedule a setup or IT consultation for your classroom. Call 561-985-4961 or reach out online.