Enterprise Communications Featured Article

Do you remember video day in school? This was my generation’s version of bringing technology to the classroom. It often involved a projector – and I mean the kind that had two rolls to manage the film. That’s right – it was even before the VHS player was affordable enough for the school environment. That meant the actors were ancient and their clothing laughable. It was the best entertainment we could get in a seven-hour day.

Reality is very different for my teenagers today. Yes, there is still movie day, but it consists of the DVD or download version the teacher launched on a computer. And when it comes to technology in the classroom, this really only brushes the surface. With the right access – and the necessary budget – students could even attend class without ever leaving home. Enterprise communications are no longer confined to the enterprise and it’s creating opportunities.

A recent blog posted by enterprise communications solutions provider Tadiran (News - Alert) highlights how easily the educational process is streamlined with unified communications (UC). This integration of real- and non real-time communications into a single interface is creating opportunities in the educational sector. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages the UC system can bring to a school near you.

Collaboration – typically speaking, teachers can collaborate with teachers, as long as they are in the same building. This doesn’t lend much advancement for the physics teacher who is the only one in the building. If he or she could easily connect with others in the same position to share information and solve problems, the educational environment would improve.

Video Conferencing – when my younger brother was in college, he had the opportunity to take a distance learning class. This meant that he picked up a VHS tape from the library that contained the professor’s lecture and he did his lab work on his own. Today, the same thing can happen in real-time. Students can attend class through a video connection without ever leaving home or a dorm room.

Virtual Field Trips – there is nothing better than taking the kids on the road to see something up close and personal, but ideal locations aren’t always an option. If you can incorporate video to enhance the experience without leaving the classroom, their world is instantly expanded.

Stay Competitive – colleges and universities thrive by staying abreast of the latest and greatest when it comes to technology. Every advancement added into the curriculum is a nod for attracting more students. Unified communications and enterprise communications allow for the introduction of things not previously known in the educational environment.

If keeping quality students and staff is a priority, than educational institutions need to consider the high quality functionality available in enterprise communications. It may not be as interesting as the spinning film on the projector at first, but the access to a bigger world is worth the journey.