Engineering a More Powerful Remote Learning Experience

Welcome to Voices of e-learning reflecting the people living and breathing the future of education and online learning with your host Jay w Marshall. Hello, and welcome, everyone, to today's podcast. I'm GW Marshall with Marcus gill and we're glad you found us today. Our guest today is Dale Krall. He is the National sales manager for Panasonic and we couldn't be more excited to have you on today. How are you doing today. Dale great to W. Glad to be here. Excellent and to get us kicked off and get our audience a little bit of a baseline on yourself and your role at Panasonic. If you could just give us a quick intro and overview that would be a great way to start. Absolutely so I've been with Panasonic for 10 years, but I've been in the Navy IT industry for over 25 years and the majority of that time has actually been actively involved with education. I was an adjunct faculty member for many, many years. And consider myself an advocate of lifelong learning and support that philosophy throughout my business career. So this conversation is near and dear to my heart. We're doing a lot of exciting things that I look forward to sharing with you today. And your listeners. Excellent and let's first talk about before we get to the pandemic transition pre pandemic. Talk to us about Panasonic and the trends towards digital learning that you guys were already seeing coming into 2020. Absolutely so Panasonic has been in the classroom and on campus for over 40 years. And as I had mentioned education is very near and dear to not only my heart. But a lot of the team here at Panasonic. So in the classroom you know we had a lot of technologies that were taking the curriculum and content that was coming from the classroom and migrating it online to those students who either couldn't get into class or wanted to review the course information in their dorm or in their home, wherever they were. So that lecture capture and taking that content and generating new content that supported professors curriculum or the school's curriculum was something Panasonic has been doing for many, many years. Because if you look at Panasonic many people know Panasonic as a consumer company. But the majority of our business in 2020 is actually coming from the business and education side. So whether it's broadcast cameras or displays interactive displays and projectors that are used in classrooms taking all those bits and pieces together and providing a functional classroom that not only works inside the campus. But obviously taking that content and sending it to wherever those students may be. Absolutely and so now kind of the big question. Can you tell us kind of walk us through the stages of how Panasonic has addressed this accelerated digital transformation throughout 2020 and the pandemic and how you've been able to step up or change what you've been doing to meet your customer needs. Yeah, it's definitely very, very interesting having good relationships with a lot of educational customers already pre pandemic kind of helped us understand what many of those concerns are we have a lot of factory representatives who come to the United States to talk to customers and listen to what their needs are. And for years. It's really been about student engagement. You know one of the things that we find with our conversations with education customers is making sure that those students that curriculum and that content is engaging with students. And as we all know, it no matter what the generation is millennials or Gen X or whatever they've grown up with technology. So technology has really become an integral part of being able to communicate and collaborate and to connect with student learning. So Panasonic has been a big part of that. And obviously in March, the big rush to get online. So that the students wouldn't have to come on campus to protect and say and have safety is key. You know we worked very, very closely not only in the classroom, but making sure that those students were able to finish up that particular quarter or semester, with a lot of these new tools that would help them get through what we thought would be Semis short term. But as we all know, it's taking a little bit longer just to try and get through this process. And we'll talk a little bit more about what we continue to do to help ease some of that pain or at least attempt to. Absolutely and maybe you can give our audience a few examples of these digital natives these gen-x these millennials and how they are learning differently today as most of our audience is going to be older than Gen X. What are some maybe some key takeaways or insights or things that might be surprising for them to learn about the way these modules and Gen X learners learn. Yeah, I think the key is the delivery system. And then what is that content in what you are delivering. So as we talked about in March, the rush to get online. So that the students and professors would be safe. Now kind of have a hybrid and a flex classroom that will continue to provide some new technology. So just providing a class that's on, let's say Zoom or Microsoft Teams, or blue jeans or whatever is kind of that first step. But then the professors and the instructional designers were challenged with. OK It's not about just taking your PowerPoints and presenting them on Zoom because we're all finding out that that is not as effective. And then you get into other areas of the curriculum that can't really be taught online. So we're working very closely with those institutions to help them not only with the technologies, but also with some professional development tools that help them retool the curriculum and the delivery of that content and information. So it's something as simple as having what we call a remote learning package where you might have a professor who prefers not to get go on campus at this point in time that they could have a simple Panasonic display a camera and their computer and whether Zoom or Microsoft Teams, or whatever they can basically teach their classes up to something that's a little bit more elaborate where you maybe have some additional audio you might have a larger display and an improved camera for greater functionality of professors like to walk around or whether they're in their home or whether they're on campus was few or no students in the classroom. We have some virtual remote packages that would enable the institution to utilize these systems and have consistency not only for the professors, but for the individual classrooms because that's been kind of the challenge as well, that when we rush to get online, there was a myriad of different tools out there to use. But there is inconsistency. So for the larger medium and larger institutions where they needed to have consistency in the technology. So of course, we all know supporting IT remotely is a big challenge. You might have different cameras, you might have different displays, you might have different audio. So just trying to provide a more consistent package at multiple levels that scalable you could start small and grow bigger into the application that you need. So just really being part of that whole ecosystem of getting online improving the delivery content and the content delivery. If you will. And what that content is. And then continuing to grow post pandemic, which is where we're all aiming for at this point in time. Absolutely and in our experience on the podcast the learners expectations have evolved quickly in 2020 from being pretty understanding in the fall and the spring sorry with the transition happening almost overnight or within a week or two to expectations rising over the summer. And now this fall, maybe even over expecting experience that schools and universities aren't quite there yet. And a lot of cases. So I love that you brought up professional development for instructors. Can you tell us a little bit more about what that looks like. I'm assuming it's virtual at this point is it on demand is it a combination. What would that look like. Absolutely so we have about a year ago. So pre pandemic started working with great individual doctors sunny morgana and his Oxford reviewed research on transforming transcending cyber learning for today's classrooms and campuses. So you know, pre COVID this was something that we knew more and more institutions were interested in helping their faculty and their professors and their instructional designers to make that transition into this online world, whether we knew that we would be 100% or 90% online at this point in time was not really part of the equation. But what we knew is that more and more institutions, whether they prefer to be 95% online there's still, no matter what your institution level is. There is still that component of online learning that can enhance many students' experiences. So working with Dr. sunny Yeah and his 23 framework that basically applies this new modality of cyber learning. It's not just hardware specific but the hardware can enhance the process. It really focuses on next generation digital pedagogy pedagogy for instructional design and professional development. So working with sunny McGahan you're right now, we've had a number of pioneer groups who have given us feedback and we're looking to roll this service out. And this community out because you're basically building a community that will help current faculty members. Current instructional designers and current curriculum development folks to help them teach better not only online, but in the classroom as well. That's amazing. And as far as the T3 framework goes, what are kind of the basic tenants of that framework. Absolutely so the past in the March or this accelerated need as we talked about the shifting the classes to online. But long term, it's just not about presenting the current content on whatever delivery mechanism you use. It's basically trying to minimize Zoom fatigue, which we all have experienced in the last couple of months. But that Panasonic T3 framework assists with higher Education's response to shifting to that online environment. But still part of that hybrid and because we have kind of these hybrid multi-purpose applications where it's not just about always going to be online. It's this is long term in post pandemic as well. But basically the framework guides universities that helps them professors and administrators to implement these online techniques that actually quadruples students learning. So this T4 3 framework supports the curriculum and the instructional design by providing tools. These are Oxford research tools peer review tools that enable them to successfully shift shift into an online hybrid or high flex classroom designed for the curriculum. This also helps the institutions deploy these new solutions through to these new teaching modalities where, like you said, there's going to be a little bit of in classroom that will continue to grow because obviously, that's where most institutions want their students to be part of the campus. Part of that community. But there's still going to be for a while a lot of this online interactivity and so we're providing these tools to help tweak the current curriculum to have it more effective and like I said potentially quadruples the student's learning experience, which is really exciting. Absolutely and for this community instructors instructional designers. Does your institution have to be a Panasonic institution or can any instructors get involved. Great question. So you could be any instructor in our institution. And that's what's revolutionary about when we started talking about this, we certainly have a lot of great Panasonic institutions and they might have multiple technologies but this T3 framework is agnostic. So these are basically just the tools to develop your curriculum to be more adaptive and more effective in providing the students a better learning experience. So you you don't even have to have a single piece of Panasonic product on your campus and still you may still take advantage of the T3 framework. So we'll be talking a lot more about how we can roll this out. We're working with a number of institutions already that are saying yes all of these tools are something I can start using tomorrow to improve and enhance the online teaching and teaching experience and student learning experience. So it's very exciting. That's amazing. And is there a fee for this, or is it free to join. Currently we have a pioneer group that has a no cost. But we are looking to build up this community. So we're looking at some feedback from institutions to say these. This is the offering. This is what this community provides. And so we are looking to have some of that information here in the next month or so. Perfect this seems like it is a silver lining of the pandemic that some of these things that maybe were already happening, but are being accelerated are maybe they're brand new are coming out of this. And on the podcast, we're always looking for the optimism of getting out of this pandemic and what the world's going to look like afterwards and hopefully it's a better place. What are some other silver linings that you guys have found in 2020 or new innovations that have emerged maybe by necessity in a pandemic. Exactly I mean, if you're absolutely right. If there is anything that you could look at as a positive of this is that many schools had been I wouldn't even say dabbling but had been actively working to try and improve that student learning experience what the pandemic did is add urgency to higher Education's quest to enhance the classrooms and the curriculum off Syrians offerings. And like you said grow with the new kind of generations of students coming into their institutions. So instead of just all of a sudden, they're forced to provide classes online very quickly. Most institutions prefer from what the data states is in class and on campus learning experience. However, there are some elements of online learning that many students have embraced or the access to classroom lectures. The intimacy of an online lecture hall versus sitting in a 150 person auditorium sometimes gives that kind of intimacy with the professor and the student. So some of those elements of being online. Are are the attributes that we're trying to enhance and work with those institutions to take advantage of them and try and provide that better learning experience for those students. And I would think that. The other thing that was really inspiring working with higher education during the pandemic is the tiering was collaboration between institutions. And that's one of the things I love about working in education is that they are not afraid to collaborate and communicate. So there is a number of higher education and education associations that we actively participate in like CCU Ms C and Padma and Habermas now part of the family of the higher education higher Ed a V family and what we experienced even in March that there were online webinars and conferences and sessions listserv groups that really rallied together everyone in education to share best practices and ideas and technical support and even moral support quite honestly, to help this community get through a very, very difficult time. So it's really that collaboration. But again, also that urgency. It's hey, this is something we have to get through and we have to do some things very, very quickly. And a lot of institutions struggled and a lot of institutions had some great success to. So it was really great to be part of this community to help get through what is turning out to be a very difficult time. Absolutely and I can say and of my experience and all of our podcast guests the Ed tech community really did come together in 2020 in a way that has never come together before. It's always been a great industry and great collaboration amongst institutions, and companies, and even with some point companies partnering. But it has been amazing to see just everyone putting themselves aside and just saying, what can I do to help. And also really interesting to have a lot of these conversations start with, how are you doing instead of trying to sell or solve a problem right off the bat. So that's really important for our students, of course, their emotional well-being needs to be there before they can start the learning process. But also for our instructors and I think that's a really key component. So I would imagine this community has served a dual purpose, not only sharing best practices, but also sharing struggles sharing emotional challenges and just knowing that these educators are not on their own. It's probably really valuable as well. Yes all right. So ending on a positive note. What are the future trends that our listeners should be watching out for in 2021 and maybe even beyond 2021. Sure you know that's one of the things that I also enjoy about higher education is that things never stay the same. There's always some new things, whether it's technology or pedagogic elements. But one of the things that we've experienced in the last couple of years. That's growing voraciously fast is the eSports application. So esports has been growing over the past number of years in popularity and an interest in not only higher education. But K through 12 as well. Not only because of the potential revenue increase and really student engagement for institutions. But to me, it seems like it also provides a great competitive advantage for institutions kind of expanding into esports programs can be a great tool to entice prospective students in higher education that may also be interested in STEM programs. So as these students interested in gaming are often drawn into the fields of engineering design and science. And so this is something that I think really has exploded in the last year and a half. And will continue to grow post pandemic. It's growing during the pandemic, which is amazing. Obviously more just online kind of events and competitions. But it's also post pandemic where you've got more of this school building, you kind of engagement with a community of like minded people and competition is always good. So Panasonic been utilizing a myriad of different broadcast and visual systems solutions in this space. So whether it's a small startup club to some of these larger arenas that we've participated in. It's just a very exciting segment of the educational market space and like I said, it's growing. You know very quickly in K through 12 becoming kind of I wouldn't say the norm. But really one of those extra values that institutions can provide to their existing and prospective students. So definitely be interesting to see how this plays out where we're actively engaged in this market. And like I mentioned staying in close contact with some of the eSports associations, the CCU emcees of the world and the headquarters of the world understanding where those institutions see esports as part of their overall academic strategy is going to be an exciting thing to participate in the next couple of years. Looking forward to it. Absolutely and then there's been a push recently towards making it an NCAA sport and some ways. Yes which is exciting. I mean, that just gives greater visibility and opens up you call it athletics. I mean, that's the kind of conversation now it's party should it be part of the athletics group, or is it a club sport. So just being part of this embryonic growth within a very much larger institution vertical is exciting to watch and be part of. Absolutely and even intramural sports 30 sports are getting bigger. Is that something that Panasonic would help facilitate directly with the University with the rec division of University or directly with students. That's a great question. So what we've experienced is it's pretty much all three. You have institutions who want to start in a mural or club esports programs and they don't know where to start. You know there's a number of great organizations out there that will help institutions. And we work with those associations. So we talk to different departments within higher education. So it might be the athletics group or it might be facilities that has a space that they'd like to use multipurpose space and they might want to use this area for esports applications or events every so often. So just working with facilities working with different individuals within higher Ed and even K through 12, because I don't think there is a current cookie cutter to say you might already have any sports program where do you go next. You might not have an esports program. How do I start. So we're even in this infancy stage kind of looking at all those different legs on the table within academia to help either start or promote and grow those existing esports. So it's kind of exciting because there is really no playbook per se. There's a couple of scenarios that work well. But there's new ones that are being developed all the time in regards to either starting any sports program or growing and developing an existing one. So definitely very exciting time. That's great. And even at the K-12 level. I've heard a lot of stories of esports inspiring K-12 students to learn coding to learn how to make their own games and kind of to see a tangible end product that they love and be able to learn math because they know that's important for a reason. Now Is that something you've experienced as well. Absolutely you know it's just not about gaming. I was never a huge gamer but you know played enough to say, well, this was fun. And I just wouldn't say wasted an hour of my life. But today the games are so more engaging and stimulating. In regards to you can not only have the gratification of playing the game and competing with others online from around the world. But like you said, there's the technical side and the science side of building designing and gaming in general. That was certainly not part of it when I was gaming back in the day. So it's just much more of an engaging activity that grows into potential financial reward. And as you said learning new skills, especially at a younger age. So it's a completely new way to look at what gaming was just more passive. Many many years ago is now just much more engaging and growing to help students become better learners, which is the ultimate end game here. I think, for all of us to participate in. Absolutely And kind of I liken it to a cell phones first coming out in schools banning cell phones. And now years later, they're embracing BYOD, bring your own device and OK we can't keep this technology out. Let's you leverage it for good. Kind of the same thing with gaming I was kind of outside of school a waste of time you know you should be out playing and now this embrace of what. There's team building aspects of gaming now there's connections that some students that are not physically athletic, can make. Now and B and they have those experiences. So it's really interesting to see that the positive coming out of gaming now that schools at K12 and higher Ed are embracing that this is here to stay. And let's make this a positive experience for our students. And teach them. Just like with all digital technologies how to use it for good. And healthy ways instead of kind of isolating yourself in technology. That's right. It's you know from playing pong by yourself to. Now playing with somebody across the world. It just it's a completely different ballgame which is really exciting. And you're speaking my language. I grew up with a sorry Atari and Nintendo original Nintendo. So I didn't know myself, but I Yeah Yeah. If you look back and I mean, I'm kind of an aviator archaeologist and I just look at it. And like you said, this the cell phone analogy is fantastic. But just if students learn from whence we came. It's an amazing time to be alive. So even with pandemic. We're going to get through a lot of shows challenges, but it's a very exciting time to be in this industry for sure. Absolutely well I think that's a good positive note to end on. So Daryl. Thank you so much for your time today. We really appreciate you joining the podcast. Thank you JW was great talking to you look forward to future conversations. Be safe, everyone. Absolutely and thank you to everyone out there listening. Check out some past podcast episodes and remember to always keep learning.