Future-Proof Schools using CARES Act and American Rescue Plan

When the United States government released $190 billion in CARES Act and American Rescue Plan funding for the education sector, it paved the way for school districts across the country to take necessary steps to cover expenditures incurred during the recent pandemic.

"If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that nobody was as prepared as we thought we were,” says Travis Askew, regional vice president at Solutionz, Inc., a national provider of end-to-end AV solutions backed by leading support services for commercial, SMB, education, healthcare and government organizations.

Askew also optimistically points out, “There has never been a better time in the education market to close the technology gap that the pandemic has exposed. CARES Act funding makes it possible.”

An Opportunity to Look Ahead

Funding from these recent stimulus packages can be used to cover costs related to necessary expenditures with respect to the pandemic. School districts have utilized the funding to purchase hardware, software, connectivity and a host of other educational technology products.

Educators hesitant to jump on advancing technology can find peace of mind that these investments have a place in the future of education; they were also gaining traction prior to the pandemic.

“Technology can create an all-inclusive, positive education environment that gives students access to what they need to learn at their own pace, hear or see the lesson more clearly, and add flexibility into the teaching/learning environment,” says Sheri Murphy, education business development director for Liberty AV Solutions, a subsidiary of Wesco. “The technology that we used throughout the pandemic, and will continue to use as the pandemic winds down, is very similar to where we saw trends veering pre-pandemic.”

Education Trends During the Pandemic

Technology plays a huge role in improving the student’s learning experience. According to the Alliance for Education Solutions, “research shows that a high-quality learning environment significantly and positively impacts a student’s educational and life outcomes."

According to an April 2020 Household Pulse Survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics—the primary federal entity that collects, analyzes and makes available data related to education in the U.S. and other nations—72 percent of adults reported that their children’s classes had moved to a distance learning format using online resources.

Many common education trends we have seen in recent years have gained momentum during the pandemic. These trends are only going to continue to amp up and demand for the technology will follow suit.

Hyflex: Hybrid classrooms, sometimes referred to as “hyflex” or hybrid flexible in higher education, enables students to learn wherever they are and on their terms. This flexibility creates more equitable access to education and equality in learning outcomes.

Audibility: Ability for all students to hear clearly, no matter where they are in the room.

Nanolearning: Allows students to receive information in smaller chunks and over shorter periods of time. Prerecorded content or learning modules can be viewed on a range of devices.

Flipping the Classroom: With the flipped classroom approach, students are introduced to a new topic prior to coming to class, so when they meet, their time is used to process and apply what they initially learned. Prerecorded lessons are key in a flipping-the-classroom scenario because it lets students watch lessons as often as needed—a beneficial resource when introducing new or difficult content.

Experiential Learning: This learning model involves immersing students in real-world situations.

Augmented and Virtual Reality: AR and VR can be used in conjunction with experiential learning.

AI-Based Chatbot: Chatbots can be used to deliver personalized learning content.

Integrators can proactively help school administration and education technology directors establish a core technology infrastructure that can be used as a springboard for futureproofing learning environments, positively impacting the overall education experience for their students, teachers and even parents.

Top Tech: Product and Solution Considerations

As you design or build out a technology-enhanced classroom, consider these solutions for your next project.

Wired content sharing: Premade cables such as HDMI and VGA, bulk wire and cable such as category and speaker cable, connectivity wall plates, and wall plate extenders for HDMI.

Wired interactive sharing via HDMI + USB: Premade cables such as HDMI, USB and USB-C, interactive display, and USB and a combination of HDMI/USB extenders to connect the teacher’s computer to the interactive display.

Going online: HDMI and USB signal extenders, USB peripherals such as USB and collaboration hubs to expand the connectivity, premade cables such as HDMI and USB, and network infrastructure including cabling and hardware.

Interconnected classroom: Premade cables such as HDMI and USB, camera, ceiling microphone, room microphone, speaker, large format display, keyboard, mouse, docking station, wall plate, and connectivity kit.

You can build upon the solutions with these additional products listed below.

• Audio: Speaker (sound reinforcement), speakerphone, microphone (voice reinforcement) and all-in-one devices.
• Video: PTZ and/or wide-angle USB camera, interactive learning display, document camera, display and monitor.
• Connectivity/Accessories: Signal extender, connectivity kit, HDMI cable, USB cable, USB hub, analog and digital wall plate, display mounting equipment and cable management.