Lightware Powers Hybrid Learning Transformation at Finland’s Centria University
The university has adopted a technology standard based around Lightware’s Taurus UCX-4x3-HC40-BD solution to unify classroom devices and provide a smoother experience for teachers and students alike.
Situated in the town of Kokkola, Centria University of Applied Science offers higher education across five core fields: engineering, business, social and health care, humanities and culture. With degrees taught in both Finnish and English, the university has a diverse mix of international students and offers remote and flexible learning options. Over the past few years, the university’s in-house IT department has developed a cross-university initiative to upgrade its education environments in order to better support hybrid teaching and learning. Led by Centria’s AV and education specialist, Janne Torvikoski, the university has adopted a technology standard based around Lightware’s Taurus UCX-4x3-HC40-BD solution to unify classroom devices and provide a smoother experience for teachers and students alike.
Shortly after the pandemic, we began an investigation into the performance of our classrooms to understand the main pain points of teachers and, in turn, develop a solution that would address these concerns. Through interviews with our teaching staff, it became clear that the lack of permanent hybrid devices, such as microphones and cameras, and the need to set up the room peripherals for every class, was a huge drain on teachers’ time and caused stress. We needed to rethink our classrooms and develop a more user-friendly solution.
- explains Torvikoski. The interviews also revealed that most teachers preferred to use their own laptop, rather than the in-room PC, which also shaped the new classroom AV designs. Through testing of alternative solutions and consultation with local AV specialists, Torvikoski discovered the Lightware Taurus UCX-4x3-HC40-BD, which offered plug-and-play connectivity for the new, permanent room devices, reliable USB-C charging, integration with any type of laptop (Mac or Windows), as well as the ability to configure a custom welcome screen.
Our goal was to make the teacher’s life easier, allowing them to go into the classroom, connect their laptop to the camera and the smart microphone and enjoy laptop charging and wired LAN/Ethernet, which is important to us due to the age of some of our buildings. So, we began to build our room designs around this solution.
- continues Torvikoski.
The general classroom set-up is based around a single Taurus UCX-4x3-HC40-BD unit, with HDMI output to the local monitor on the desk for the teacher, with the same output also routed up to the room projector via HDBaseT transmitters, some of which are also from Lightware. The teacher retains their own laptop screen as a private display. Shure MXA920 ceiling microphones and Telycam PTZ USB cameras ensure speech and visuals are clearly picked up from the room. Audio playback, for presentations and videos, is via Genelec active loudspeakers. When the teacher plugs in their laptop via the Lightware full-featured USB-C cable provided, their display and audio are automatically connected to the room devices, whilst also providing reliable charging. There is no interface or touch panel, so additional points of interaction or potential confusion are eliminated. A custom welcome screen displays instructions on how to start the hybrid class, further simplifying the process of starting a class.
For the IT department, Lightware Advanced Room Automation (LARA) and Lightware Smart Device Controller have proven to be standout features of the Taurus UCX.
We use LARA for scheduling, such as nightly power-off, auto reboots and camera resets, and Lightware Smart Device Controller for troubleshooting, monitoring the systems, and for remote management, which is essential as in our smaller campuses, where there is not always a member of the IT department present. The high level of control we have is essential for us.
- explains Torvikoski. The Dante support provided within the Taurus UCX-4x3-HC40-BD was also important to the Centria classroom upgrade project. Facilitating two-way Dante functions, there is no need for an external DSP or Dante adapter in order to connect with the room’s audio devices. Audio devices can also be easily selected during video calls, which further empowers teachers to select the correct sources during hybrid lessons and avoid classroom delays.
Around 40 classrooms have already had this new technology standard installed, and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Looking to the future, Centria is already trialling a proof of concept for their auditoriums, based around Lightware’s Taurus TPN product. Our auditoriums can be used as large classrooms, or as venues for events, and we are currently working on a trial of Taurus TPN to explore it as an option for managing these multi-use rooms,” says Torvikoski. “The flexibility of Taurus TPN and an AV-over-IP network is key for this next phase of the project as we want to build a system that can be scaled across multiple zones.
- says Torvikoski.
The proposed system in the auditoriums will function in three ways. Firstly, as a hybrid classroom, it mirrors the same experience as the existing classrooms, allowing teachers to plug in their devices and be connected to the audio and video system for teaching. Secondly, for small events, allowing for the connection of additional audio and video sources and finally for larger events, with the integration of audio mixing equipment and multiple cameras. Through the Taurus TPN, Centria will also be able to share video or audio from the auditorium to other areas such as the restaurant or amphitheatre. This level of flexibility is a key advantage for the team.
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Throughout the development of this project, Centria University has had consistent support from the Lightware team in Finland. From supplying demo equipment to providing direct technical support and training, having dedicated experts on hand has been pivotal for Janne and the IT department.
“The support has been excellent, and we have learnt a lot whilst also being able to give feedback. Having direct access to engineering knowledge has helped with many parts of the project.”
Centria’s classroom upgrades have already solved the common challenges faced by teachers, creating a simplified yet sophisticated hybrid teaching experience. As the project scales to new areas of the Centria campus, Lightware’s solutions have proven to be a powerful tool for building future-proof AV infrastructure that supports remote and in-person learners equally.
Reaching New Heights with Taurus TPN
In response to growing demand from various markets for a networked USB-C-based solution to complement the popular Taurus product family, here is the Taurus TPN.
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Centria University has adopted a technology standard based around Lightware’s Taurus UCX-4x3-HC40-BD solution to unify classroom devices and provide a smoother experience for teachers and students alike.
