David Brodosi

Technology Reviews

Higher Education Instructional Technology 

Software Reviews

Higher Education Instructional Design Tools

Customer Service

This weeks Review - Extron's new NBP 1200C Network Button Panel

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm I a big fan of Extron technology. I have two full-time staff members who oversee 90 academic spaces (classrooms, auditoriums, and conference rooms). We are able to do this because of Extron's robust hardware and easy programming interface.

When we purchase technology to rehab a building, we always purchase two or three spare pieces of technology. This way if we should have an issue, we can swap out the tech and send back to Extron or repair. The great thing is, when the item is outside of the warranty period, it only costs around $250 to have them refurb the unit. This is pennies on the dollar for what we paid for the technology. This allows my institution to push technology infrastructure beyond the five-year mark. We just replace data projectors. - David Brodosi

If you ever have any questions about Extron technology for the classroom, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'm happy to share my 15 years of experience using Extron technology and interactions with Extron professionals. - David Brodosi

Responding to Covid-19 Disruption to The Education Sector: Microsoft Teams Transformation 


The onset of the COVID 19 crisis saw the suspension of physical learning in all educational levels as learners and educators were forced to stay home. For continuity of the educational process, we have seen a swift transition from traditional face-to-face models to virtual learning platforms. As many educators and institutions scrambled for a secure and reliable virtual learning solution, Microsoft Teams, an enterprise-level digital collaboration, and communication tool, is turning out to be the ultimate platform for remote learning.

MS Teams has been around for some time but in response to the significant growing demand for a convenient “learn from home” platform in the wake of the Covid crisis, Microsoft has sprinted to transform conference rooms into classrooms. This has made it the educational tool of choice for schools, colleges, and universities for seamless communication, sharing content, giving and grading assignments as well as sharing recourses.

How has MS Teams Transformed?

One of the changes made by Microsoft is an expansion to a 7x7 grid for video conferences. This means a large classroom of up to 49 students can be captured within a single video conference. A large class, however, would not be productive without engagement. Teams keep teachers and learners connected via chats, group meetings, and channeled conversations, ensuring no learner will ever complain of being left out.

Microsoft has also developed “Together Mode” a futuristic feature that is geared at making virtual learning less stressful than traditional video conferencing. Together Mode allows the placing of all participants into an auditorium, class setting, or meeting so that they can appear like there are in the same place together. This creates a uniform virtual space that makes learning more inclusive and streamlined.
David Brodosi

Class Management

Microsoft is optimizing online classroom instruction by enabling tutors to analyze class attendance and engagements. Teachers can trace the time learners accessed virtual assignments, shared documents, submitted their assignments, or missed a class. Educators are given the power to set learning guidelines and protocols ensuring time is used more effectively and set objectives are easy to accomplish.
David Brodosi

Security and Privacy

While security and privacy might not be a factor considered by many players in remote learning, Microsoft is following Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to ensure MS Teams is a secure learning platform for both learners, educators, and parents. Most functions, permissions, and guidelines are educator lead and managed. Teachers have the power to preselect a group to join, prevent learners from starting a virtual class or meeting unattended as well as managing sharing rights thought the session. It gives teachers the ability to decide which educational conversations, web pages, and videos to share and listen to during virtual class instruction.

Collaborative and Engaging Learning

Teams allow the creation of collaborative virtual classroom learning which ensures learning resources are readily available anywhere, anytime for optimal distanced learning. Teachers can now create meaningful assignments for learners with the ability to differentiate discreetly differentiate them. The app will auto-grade the assignments or allow the teacher to create a customized rubric. Teams also integrates Third-party learning apps such as Fligrid, MakeCode., Turnitin, etc, making remote learning more convenient and effective.

Going forward…

The impacts of Covid on education notwithstanding, the future of education just like that of working will be virtual. The timely rapid changes undertaken by Microsoft and other players such as Zoom for education to ensure learning does not stop are commendable and highly appreciated. Going forward it will be interesting to see how remote learning evolves and the amazing features developers come up with to keep up with future demands.

Cheers, David Brodosi




About David Brodosi

David Brodosi is an experienced team leader of faculty support services with a demonstrated history of success in the higher education industry. Provides guidance on tech strategies and trends for state-of-the-art classrooms, online course development, and faculty design support services. Recognized as a thought leader regarding the intersection of AV/IT and collaboration technology that supports his organization's mission to deliver world-class research and tech solutions for higher education institutions. Strong community and social services professional with a Post Graduate focused on curriculum and development.
David Brodosi’s Research/Specialty Areas: Emerging Educational Technology, Instructional Design Services, Online Learning, Faculty Training & Development, Team Leadership, and Management Theory.

Visiting Cozumel Mexico With Family - David Brodosi

Throwback Thursday - Brodosi Family 10 years ago - David Brodosi
Father and son Time - David Brodosi