Panasonic’s AW-HN38H PTZ Camera for Distance Learning
By Adam Noyes
The Panasonic AW-HN38H is a powerful tool when it comes to the future of education. With distance learning on the rise, devices like this have found their place in the classroom, making lessons more and more effective.
Check out some highlights from this article from Panasonic to learn more.
Teachers and school districts across the world are having to address the challenge of migrating from classroom learning to distance learning. Many are looking at ways that technology can ease the transition and encourage remote collaboration with students to best replicate the in-class experience. Panasonic recently caught up with Kevin Morse, Science Department Content Area Director and grades 10-12 Chemistry & Physics Teacher at Westfield Washington Schools in Westfield, Indiana to discuss his transition to remote learning, which included the adoption of Panasonic’s AW-HN38H PTZ camera for live streaming chemistry lessons.
1. What was the reason behind implementing remote learning?
I teach two levels of chemistry at Westfield Washington Schools. A regular course for grades 10-12 and advanced placement (AP) chemistry for grades 11-12. Even before COVID-19 and the current social distancing measures, I had created content for distance learning for my advanced courses, which helped me to be more prepared when the mid-March closure of our school district forced teachers and all classes to quickly transition to remote learning for all forms of instruction. As a result, I was teaching two different courses remotely while simultaneously creating content for both. We had 7 weeks of school to finish, with the goal of all students earning credits for the courses they had started.
2. Can you describe your setup and transition a little further?
As my school district transitioned unexpectedly to remote learning, it was important that we provided options for asynchronous learning to create an environment in which differences in access to technology, family needs, and work schedules were minimized. At the beginning of the transition, I offered one hour-long live Zoom sessions per course each week to supplement online assignments. I also recorded short “selfie” videos to maintain the personal connection with students giving daily or weekly updates, telling jokes, attempting to motivate, and giving them insight into my family’s quarantine experience. Many were recorded and shared with the entire class, but I also recorded personalized videos for every student to respond to their specific learning and personal needs.
3. What devices did you use to assist learning?
To facilitate different assignments, I used a variety of tools. Initially, I used my phone to record experiments and the built-in webcam on my computer for videos. The webcam continued to be the easiest tool for small picture-in-picture video accompanying the screencasts, but once I received the AW-HN38H PTZ camera and controller from Panasonic, I was free to be more creative with my videos and lessons. The camera gave me more freedom in Zoom sessions to transition between face-to-face conversations and practicing problems on a small whiteboard that I brought home from school. This eliminated the awkwardness of positioning of my laptop while hoping to show multiple things at once.
