“Since the pandemic, the need for digital transformation and technologies has increased rapidly and governments in countries across the world are increasing their investment in the digitalisation of schools, universities and education industry more broadly,” according to Gaut, Samsung Electronic Australia’s Senior Director and Head of Division, Display, Brand and Memory.
Admittedly, Gaut says the trajectory towards digitalisation in educational institutions has been on an “upward spiral,” but the global pandemic acted as an accelerant, igniting a global rush to invest in digital tools for schools and universities.
“Digitalisation of classrooms is something that has been widely adopted. We’ve seen monitors in the classrooms and teachers using interactive screens for a few years now, so the next step for us is building an intelligent educational ecosystem that allows for seamless learning experiences across the entire campus – our Connected Campus vision.”
Enter the Connected Campus
Certainly, a significant trend set to unfold in 2024 is the 'Connected Campus,' Gaut says, explaining the concept integrates digital technologies to support innovative learning environments that extend beyond traditional classrooms.
“The complex educational ecosystem involving students, parents, teachers, and school systems is highly interconnected. Digital technology is one way to help encourage positive learning outcomes, inspiring and motivating students as learners in a digital world beyond the constraints of the classroom.”
Gaut elaborates on how Samsung’s educational offerings are “redefining the education landscape,” spanning from primary school to university, while enriching the experiences of both students and teachers.
"The Connected Campus vision revolves around crafting a captivating educational setting to enhance a more personalised and intelligent learning experience for both students and teachers. In a digital era of learning, the goal is to leverage the potential of technology for a more interconnected learning approach, extending beyond the confines of the traditional classroom," notes Gaut.
What’s more, he highlights that workplaces and education campuses alike are transitioning into open, transparent, flexible spaces designed to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, creativity, engagement, and collaborative decision-making.
Real-World Success Stories
Already, the impact of Samsung's educational solutions is evident in real-world case studies.
At St. Joseph’s College in VIC, the classroom experience for its 120 teachers and 1,000 students underwent a significant transformation upon equipping its new, modernised building with Samsung’s Flip Interactive Displays.
“By integrating this technology, the college has witnessed increased student engagement and elevated digital communication throughout the school. The displays have become a vital tool for both teachers and students, fostering collaboration and engagement,” he says.
“Students are even using the tool after school, as they tutor each other using the same methods they saw their teachers use through the interactive display.”
Across the border in the Lang Lang catchment in NSW, where the unique challenge of remoteness can hamper learning, Samsung's Flip has reshaped how students learn and teachers collaborate in a group of rural primary schools.
“Teachers within the Lang Lang catchment identified an opportunity to elevate student learning through innovative technologies. The challenge lay in seamlessly implementing these technologies within the classroom environment, ensuring a smooth transition from traditional teaching tools,” Gaut says.
“Samsung's solution addressed these challenges head-on, offering intuitive, user-friendly, and highly functional technology. The Samsung Flip quickly became a staple for both students and teachers, seamlessly integrating into lesson plans and becoming a powerful tool for collaboration and teaching.”
Fundamentally, the technology surpassed the limitations of traditional whiteboards and butcher's paper. “Its seamless connectivity across multiple devices facilitated the easy sharing of images and documents, streamlining collaborative efforts. The Flip's ability to save work simplified referencing past lessons, enhancing consistency in teaching methods and collaboration among teachers.”
Samsung's Educational Solutions
Gaut highlights the expansive reach of Samsung's solutions, transcending traditional classrooms to reshape school halls, multi-function areas, and walkways into dynamic, interactive learning spaces. The suite includes digital signage, Biz TV, and LED displays, ensuring real-time communication and adaptability for engaging and accessible educational content.
Key transformative solutions include:
Samsung's Flip Interactive Display: A versatile tool streamlining classroom usage with high-resolution screens, powerful speakers, and features like fast pen-to-paper writing. Its wireless connectivity allows seamless mirroring from compatible smartphones, tablets, and PCs.
WAC eboard: An Android OS-based product delivering an intuitive user experience and compatibility with Android devices. Teachers can customize their home screen, activate multiple screens for enriched student learning, and utilize a 3-in-1 USB-C port for hassle-free screen connections[1]. Integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity enhance its value for interactive lessons.
Tablets: Samsung's tablet range, from the Galaxy Tab S8 to the dynamic Galaxy A52, caters to digital learning needs. Slim, lightweight, and equipped with long-lasting batteries[2], these tablets are ideal for everyday school use.
A Bright Future for Education
As governments and educational institutions continue to invest in technology to elevate learning experiences, Samsung's commitment to innovation and education remains unwavering - and Gaut says he’s excited about what lies ahead.
“We believe in the transformative power of technology to inspire both students and teachers. Our commitment to education goes beyond the classroom, as we aim to create connected campuses that enable innovative, immersive, and future-ready learning experiences.”
Peering into 2024, Gaut anticipates the integration of AI tools in Australian education with excitement.
“I believe we’ll see these emerging technologies (AI, VR and AR) play a significant role in education. These technologies can enhance interactive and immersive learning experiences, making education more engaging and effective. It also has the capabilities to make more personalised learning experiences, tailoring content to individual students’ needs and learning styles.”
[1] Screen sharing is available on devices with the following conditions: Windows 10 and higher / Mac OS X 10.11 and higher / Chrome 38 and higher / Android 5.1 and higher / iOS 10.0 and higher.
[2] Battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
