Remote learning students in Canutillo ISD now have a new way to experience classroom instruction in much the same way that on-campus students do.
The District has invested in nearly 300 Swivl integrated robotic cameras that will improve remote instruction by keeping students engaged and connected. Swivl integrates with the Zoom video conferencing solution and allows teachers to have real-time smart cameras that would follow the learning environment for synchronous lesson delivery while simultaneously creating a recording for asynchronous learners.
With the Swivl system, teachers can move around their classroom and the students at home can see and hear the teacher and the rest of the class. Groups of students also have the ability to participate and collaborate both in-person and online.
CISD Technology Executive Director Dr. Oscar Rico says that the level of integration of the Swivl system on a large, district-wide scale is unique to the region and Canutillo ISD is the first to do so.
“We are really able to bring the classroom to the students learning at home,” Rico said. “The smart camera system makes the classroom more interactive and they very much get a sense of being in the classroom itself.”
The Swivl system was approved by the CISD Board of Trustees last August and costs about $273,000.
Canutillo ISD Superintendent Dr. Pedro Galaviz says that the new system aligns with the District’s strategy of offering flexible learning options to support students who wish to learn remotely.
“We need to provide safe learning spaces for our teachers and students,” Galaviz said. “This helps us teach in-person to a reduced student population while also serving students, not in the classroom. And, teachers don’t have to be chained to their computer to do it.”