FOR the longest time, our educational system has remained basically the same since the time of our great grandfathers. Despite the use of new technologies and various reforms, students still followed the same routine: wake up in the early morning, head to school, sit in front of the teacher for the rest of the day, then go home to do more homework. Dress codes, school facilities, and technology may have changed but what students and teachers actually do has not.
Then came the Covid-19 pandemic that shut down schools and forced educators to think differently about educational delivery. These closures shattered those familiar routines and interest in homeschooling and other alternatives exploded. All of this loosened the status quo’s grip on school norms, parental expectations, and the public imagination.
The sudden shift to remote learning urged new practices, leading teachers to discover new skills and strategies. It also created unparalleled transparency for parents regarding what happens in the classroom and changed how parents interacted with their children’s schools. The disruption brought about by this once-in-a-lifetime pandemic also gave educators a chance to try out different methods of teaching.
In an effort to address the need for a shift in learning setups to accommodate the growing needs of students and educational institutions, Epson introduced the HyFlex Classroom, a hybrid-flexible classroom designed to accommodate the simultaneous teaching of in-person and online learners by reflecting real-time changes directly on the screen. HyFlex is short for Hybrid-Flexible learning.
At the recent Epson Fusion Lite Thanksgiving event held at the Marco Polo Hotel in Manila, Ed Bonoan, marketing division head of Epson Philippines, discussed how this new HyFlex Classroom could benefit our schools.
“The pandemic caused a shift in learning setups. Educational institutions have recognized the need for online blended learning but have also continuously expressed doubts about its effectiveness and readiness to implement such setups for longer periods. This new HyFlex Classroom will ensure that educational institutions have the opportunity to innovate their system and operation to match the evolving needs of the students. Furthermore, the easily accessible and seamless features of Epson’s interactive projectors serve as the perfect companion for hybrid learning setups,” he said.
The HyFlex setup works by having interactive projectors flash learning materials on the classroom’s whiteboard, screen, or wall, allowing teachers to use them as visuals, and to freely annotate on the projected content to further explain them.
The teacher can see and monitor the students at home using a secondary projection (optional setup) at the back of the classroom.
Meanwhile, students on site can connect their laptops to the main interactive projector to view and annotate on their own screen using the annotation feature of the video conferencing app—seeing real-time changes and annotations projected on the screen.
DISPLAY SIZE MATTERS
ACCORDING to Radius research, more than half of the students are unable to read certain contents displayed on a 70” flat panel display. By using Epson projectors, teachers can display larger, clearer and more immersive pictures to fully engage young students. Equipped with advanced technology, these projectors are designed to recognize full-touch gestures for easier rotating, zooming, moving, and drawing functions. The projected image or screen doubles as a digital whiteboard where the students and teachers can freely annotate using an interactive pen and/or their fingers.
Epson’s interactive projectors are built with functionality that allows them to be projected on any flat surface without requiring a special board. They also produce vivid and natural color which ensures readability and a wider view for students in the classroom. Built with 3LCD technology, these projectors can be expanded to a flexible display of up to 300” in size, without compromising the projected material’s resolution and quality.
The interactive projectors are equipped with wireless connectivity, which allows students in school to instantly project what is on their gadget’s screen using the Epson iProjection App. Additionally, teachers can instantly save the presentation materials with annotations in the projector and directly send them to the students afterward, without the need for a personal computer. Teachers can simply input the recipients’ e-mail addresses in the projector and click send.
Epson’s line of interactive projectors for the HyFlex Classroom includes the EB-73Fi Interactive Laser Projector, the EB-1485Fi 3LCD Projector, and the EB-695Wi Ultra-Short Throw Projector.
CRAFTING ARCHITECTURAL AND DESIGN EXCELLENCE
BESIDES its latest lineup of projectors, Epson likewise showcased its T-Series Corporate printers for architectural and design firms.
In today’s world, the power of visual communication is undoubted, and true excellence is coveted. With the steady increase in professionals who rely on visual formats to deliver their impact, it is imperative to have the right set of tools at their disposal to bring their creativity to life. Specialized printing ensures the final print or outcome is completed in the highest quality.
“The Epson T-Series Corporate printers incorporate the company’s leading core technology and cater to the most detail-driven projects—ensuring clarity down to the finest of details,” said Bonoan.
“Designed, developed and built by our engineers, Epson’s technology offers improved print speeds, better precision and output quality to printouts, and excellent durability.”
The Epson T-Series can print on various media—from traditional paper to board media and more, depending on the objective of the firms or the vision of the creative.
With this series, innovation isn’t restricted by size: users are encouraged to go big because there’s no concern for a loss of quality.
The Epson T-Series is small in footprint but large in output. The series is notably sleek and minimally designed, allowing for non-invasive positioning in the office. Convenience is enhanced by the printer’s ability to hold on to printouts until the user initiates cutting, preventing the printout from falling to the floor.
A majority of the Epson T-Series range has built-in connectivity features that support better workflow. The series is integrated with Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct allowing you to print from smart devices anywhere in the office.
Although architectural and design firms differ in the final output, a commonality is that each print needs to exceed expectations to best represent its business. Across the range of models, the T-Series is underpinned by a commitment to ensure that regardless of how they’re used, the quality is consistent and delivers a distinction against other printers.
In addition, as a leader in sustainable innovation, Epson’s extensive line of products addresses the continuously growing demand for sustainability. Epson’s T3130X printer comes equipped with a refillable ink tank system, using high-yield ink bottles to minimize wastage. This further contributes to making a collective industry impact for a sustainable future.