AVer & Sennheiser Power Hyflex Innovation

• University of Greenwich, London, UK
• ．Established over 125 years
  ．3 campuses: Greenwich and Avery Hill (London); Medway (Kent)
  ．Public research university with 4 faculties: Liberal Arts, Business, Education, Engineering
  ．Part of University Alliance, achieving a silver rating in Teaching Excellence Framework
  ．Globally recognised for research: 9 Times Higher Education Awards & 5 Queen’s Prizes
  

The University of Greenwich, a prestigious institution boasting over 125 years of academic excellence, faced a unique challenge in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As lockdowns disrupted traditional in-person learning, the university pivoted to remote instruction using Microsoft Teams. While this ensured course continuity, a university survey revealed drawbacks – students and faculty alike reported fatigue and difficulty focusing during online discussions.

Necessity Fosters Innovation: Enter Hyflex

Mark Affection, Head of Digital AV Solutions at the University of Greenwich, recognized the need for a more engaging and inclusive learning environment. Leveraging the familiarity of MS Teams and valuable insights from the student/faculty survey, Affection spearheaded the development of Hyflex, a groundbreaking blended learning system.

Hyflex: Redefining the Classroom Experience

Hyflex seamlessly integrates MS Teams with cutting-edge audiovisual technology. Here's what sets Hyflex apart:


• Dual Monitors for Enhanced Interaction: Lecturers benefit from a second monitor, allowing them to view participants on the right while presenting on the left. This fosters a more connected learning experience, ensuring remote students feel seen and heard, as noted by Mark Affection: "During remote delivery, teaching staff reported struggling to see when a student raised their hand to ask or type a question. The second screen needed to be replicated on a large display monitor on the wall facing the podium to ensure the remote students are visually present to both the rest of the remote audience and the speaker. They hoped that this would help foster a sense of inclusivity."
• AVer PTC310 Auto Tracking Cameras* Keep the Focus: AVer's PTC310 auto tracking cameras ensure the camera automatically focuses on the active speaker, eliminating the need for manual adjustments. This keeps students engaged and eliminates the frustration of missed visual cues online. Bally Hunjan, AVer Europe, Channel Sales Manager, discussed the benefits: "The cameras were put through their paces. The team evaluated the camera’s AI functionality in detecting, recognising and switching video between different speakers and different zones."


• Crystal-Clear Audio for All: Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2 Microphones (TCC 2) with advanced audio processing capture clear audio from all corners of the classroom, ensuring excellent sound quality for both in-person and remote participants. Mark Affection further explained the selection process: "Given our extensive use of Sennheiser audio solutions, like the Evolution Series and SpeechLine, we were confident in the superior quality technology offered by their products for our classrooms and lecture halls."

Hyflex in Action: A Seamless Rollout and Positive Impact

The Hyflex system was swiftly implemented across the university's three campuses, encompassing classrooms, lecture halls, and IT labs. The user-friendly design minimized disruptions for faculty and students accustomed to MS Teams. The AV solution empowered new teaching methods, particularly in science and technical courses, fostering deeper engagement for remote participants. Importantly, Hyflex resulted in increased remote attendance and improved student satisfaction overall.

Beyond Education: Hyflex Promotes Sustainability

The benefits of Hyflex extend beyond the classroom. By facilitating remote participation, Hyflex reduces the need for commutes, contributing to the university's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Mark Affection noted the positive environmental impact: "University staff had reduced the amount of travel between the three campuses for meetings since the implementation. It’s become De facto for our staff to hold meetings online now. The auto tracking doesn’t hinder or stifle conversation."

Looking Forward: Hyflex as the New Normal

Feedback from both in-person and remote participants has been overwhelmingly positive. The Hyflex system isn't just a temporary solution – faculty and students alike are requesting the cameras, microphones, and dual-screen configuration as the new standard. Mark Affection sees Hyflex as the future: "Feedback from non-remote rooms is that the Hyflex configuration is needed as the new normal. ‘We want the cameras; we want the microphones and dual screen’ they say. We aim to continue to work this way."
The University of Greenwich is proud to be at the forefront of educational innovation, and Hyflex represents a commitment to providing a flexible, engaging, and sustainable learning environment for all students in a post-pandemic world.