How to Build a “Walking Classroom”

Large events like trade shows let utility professionals and construction contractors see hundreds of manufacturers, test drive the latest technology, evaluate options and improve their skills with continuing education. The best way to take advantage of the atmosphere is in a walking classroom.

A walking classroom takes students out of a secluded lecture hall and inserts them into an active environment. At ICUEE 2017, Sonetics sponsored walking classrooms featuring exclusive access to industry experts while participants explored the indoor and outdoor exhibit spaces.

Walking classrooms are also gaining popularity in construction, public works and manufacturing. Experienced workers are hard to find, training is mandatory, and technology is enabling innovation, so walking classrooms are being used more often for training, certification and safety.

The key to an effective walking classroom is communication. Instructors or leaders need to be heard and participants need to be able to hear and respond. On a loud construction site, plant floor or show floor, communication is challenging, especially if all participants want to move freely. Overcome the noise and spatial challenges by building your walking classroom with a team wireless communication system.

Sonetics team wireless communication systems give you a walking classroom that features:

• Clear communication: DECT7 wireless allows for full-duplex communication, which allows all participants to speak and listen simultaneously. This encourages greater participation and discussion in the walking classroom for groups up to 10.
• Scalable for large groups: Sonetics’ broadcast mode lets larger groups (up to 99) connect in “listen-only” mode. Instructors have an open mic; students press the push-to-talk button to ask questions.
• Active hearing protection: In each headset, personal sound dosimeters, stereo listen-through microphones and noise suppression technology provide an NRR of 24dB plus protection from high impulse events such as gunshots, pile driving or jet engine starts.
• Uncompromised situational awareness: Listen-Through Technology is a separate volume control from voice communication. Users can adjust how much environmental noise they want to let in so they don’t feel isolated.
• Productive learning: Traditionally, trainers rely on books, videos and slide shows in a nondescript conference or quiet room. Then they expect trainees to retain and transplant that all of that knowledge to a work zone. Walking classrooms allow trainees to learn in context, so questions that arise in the field are answered during training instead of on the job.

Combine Sonetics team wireless communication with mobile devices and trending augmented reality technology and your walking classroom may end up being the only classroom you ever need.