The Benefits of Unified Communication for Education

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boy working on school work while video conferencing

Collaboration technology has changed the education sector as we know it. We already know the internet has altered how people consume information, but the pandemic has shed light on the interconnectivity of educational opportunities and how the latest technology has allowed teachers and students alike to overcome the challenges of distanced learning. The pandemic shifted our perceptions of education, but what benefits of collaboration solutions can educational institutions take with them as we move forward? Let’s take a look.

Improved Collaboration

Most institutions of learning are no longer using the internet just to find information. One of the most attractive aspects of unified communications (UC) is an improvement in how teachers can support different learning styles, promote teamwork and facilitate parent interactions—linking all communication into one system. When the pandemic forced an upheaval in distance learning, many schools struggled to implement tools and processes that would allow a smooth transition from face-to-face instruction to virtual learning. More than a year later, we know collaborative learning has the potential to increase student engagement in the classroom and encourage conversations outside the classroom as well. Technology makes it easy for teachers to track who is contributing, intervene sooner where there are problems and identify student growth trends. Plus, teachers and administrators can communicate with parents and guardians more directly through messaging apps, email and video conferencing that allows for more flexibility and engagement in their children’s learning environment and progress.

And it’s not just for student-teacher relationships either. Cloud-based communication tools not only connect teachers with students and parents but also with one another. Unified communications allow faculty to connect through voice, chat and video whether on a desktop, laptop, tablet or phone. Easy-to-use tools help teachers and professors collaborate to adjust curriculum changes, coordinate plans and lessons and offer support without difficulty.

Emergency Response Management

We recognize the importance and need for maintaining safety and security in K12 through postsecondary institutions. Integrating telecommunications into your emergency response plan helps school administrators and public safety officials communicate more efficiently during emergency situations resulting in faster actions when seconds really count. VoIP solutions can be paired with other applications to ensure that emergency alerts and notifications are accessible by faculty and staff on other web-enabled devices.

Cost Savings

Advanced phone and communication systems were once reserved for enterprise-level corporations; however, that’s no longer the case. UC solutions have allowed schools and districts to operate more efficiently through end-to-end solutions. Combining high-quality voice, video and collaboration tools over one single network improves operations while being affordable. The flexibility of unified communications eliminates capital expenses and reduces monthly costs so that educational institutions are able to achieve a higher standard of education and better IT infrastructure.

Interested in unified communications as a service (UCaaS) and cloud-based solutions for your educational institution? At Computer Solutions, we work with leading providers in UC and UCaaS solutions like Cisco and 8×8 to help you build a customized UCaaS solution that includes emergency notification tools to improve the flexibility of in-person and remote learning needs. See how we worked with Trinity University to transform their network and infrastructure with collaboration tools and contact us today to get started.

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