At NAB 2026, AIMS did something the IPMX community had not done before. It set aside a 1,600-square-foot room off the West Hall and ran classes. In the past, members of the community have given educational presentations, but never a sit-down training with an instructor and a curriculum. More than 40 people came through the first sessions, and for a format that had never been tried, in a market still forming its opinion of IPMX, that room was worth paying attention to.

A standard tends to become real in three stages. First it gets written. Then it gets built. And then people learn to use it. IPMX has cleared the first two. The core specifications are published, IPMX certification is in place, and certified products are shipping and running in real installations, from legislatures and universities to enterprise and government facilities. What the room at NAB showed is that the third stage had arrived. There is now a body of people who need to know how to design, deploy, and support these systems, and until recently there was no dedicated place to learn.

The timing is not incidental. AV over IP is no longer an emerging idea. AVIXA now describes it as a mainstream aspect of AV installations, and the wider Pro AV market it belongs to is forecast to grow from $332 billion in 2025 to $402 billion by 2030 in the association's Industry Outlook and Trends Analysis. Broadcast AV, the discipline closest to IPMX's roots, has climbed to become the second largest solution area in the industry, behind only conferencing and collaboration. The broadcast and Pro AV worlds that IPMX was built to bridge are converging in real spending, not just in theory. And the constraint on all of it has shifted. For years, the open question was whether the technology would be ready. Now it is ready, and the harder question is whether there are enough people who know how to work with it. Industry surveys consistently put skilled-labor shortages at or near the top of integrators' operational concerns, and the gap is increasingly about the right skills rather than raw headcount. A standard with no on-ramp is a standard that adoption outruns.

IPMX Training is Live

That place now exists. The IPMX training program is live at training.ipmx.io. It is free, it is module-based, and it is hosted on a learning management system open for sign-ups today. The first modules went live on June 15, 2026. Five are available now, with more scheduled to arrive around IBC. AIMS developed the program through its Education Working Group in partnership with AV Community, the AV education firm led by Patrick Killianey, and the material is delivered as professionally produced, self-paced video that a student can work through on their own schedule.

The model behind it is one the industry has watched work before. Dante did not earn its place in professional audio on technical merit alone. It earned it by becoming easy to learn, through free, tiered, online certification that produced a large pool of people who could confidently specify and deploy it. That pool became its own kind of advantage, because a technology many people already know how to use is a technology that gets chosen. IPMX is following the same playbook, with one important difference: it is doing so for an open, multi-vendor standard rather than a single company's ecosystem. That difference shows up in what the training teaches.

Most credentials in AV are either product certifications tied to one manufacturer's gear or general industry certifications that stay above the protocol layer. IPMX training sits in a different place. It goes deep on the transport itself, and on the networking fundamentals beneath it: multicast, PTP timing, and how media flows are described and carried over IP. What a student learns is the standard, not any one vendor's implementation of it, and those fundamentals carry well beyond IPMX. The skill is portable across every product that carries the IPMX mark.

The content is organized into three levels, each building on the one before. Level 1, Foundations, is the accessible on-ramp, written for the consultant or salesperson who needs to speak the language and specify a system correctly without necessarily configuring it. Level 2, Systems, moves into building a working system: media profiles, device capabilities, and how the pieces fit together into something that runs. Level 3, Networks, goes deeper into the layer underneath, the switching, timing, and traffic engineering that keep a live media system reliable at scale. Throughout, the courses address the standards IPMX is built on, AES67, SMPTE ST 2110, and NMOS, directly rather than only as background. Because IPMX is effectively a superset of ST 2110 and AES67, learning it well means picking up those standards and specifications along the way. A student who works through the program comes away understanding not just IPMX, but a good deal of the broader IP media family it belongs to.

One design choice runs through all of it: the program starts at the ground floor. It is built to be approachable to anyone with no background in networking or video, whether a junior engineer, a salesperson, or a consultant. That accessibility matters more than it might have a few years ago. As AI reshapes which careers feel secure, a generation is moving toward hands-on, hard-to-automate work, the so-called toolbelt generation that has been steadily filling vocational and trade programs. Skilled AV engineering belongs in that durable category. It is on-site, cross-vendor, and judgment-heavy, the kind of work that does not automate away, and IPMX training is a low-cost, standards-based way into it. The Education Working Group set out to lower the barrier to entry and grow the base of qualified professionals as fast as the demand is growing, and free, self-paced modules are how that scales.

This is a starting point, not a finished program. More modules arrive around IBC, and AIMS plans to organize additional training opportunities beyond the online modules, including on-site training. The longer arc points toward a recognized way for the industry to identify people who genuinely know IPMX, so that the skill carries weight in the market. The room at NAB was the first proof that the appetite is real. The site is the answer to it, and it is open to anyone. If you design, install, or operate AV and broadcast systems, or you simply want to understand where IP media is heading, the modules are free and signing up takes a minute.

Start at training.ipmx.io.

NETGEAR recently opened its NETGEAR Academy to manufacturing partners, creating a free, industry-wide education platform rather than a single-vendor training site. Partners such as Crestron, Q-SYS, Dante by Audinate, Sennheiser, Lightware, SDVoE, AVB Academy, and Powersoft are now contributing their own certified courses alongside NETGEAR's training. We sat down with Gus Marcondes, global training manager at NETGEAR Enterprise, to ask him some pointed questions about the program.

AVN: How is this training different than what manufacturers would offer on their own?

Marcondes: What makes the NETGEAR Academy different is that we’re not just teaching our own products. We’re helping people see the whole system. Each manufacturer usually focuses on their specific solutions, which makes sense, but real projects don’t work that way. In the field, switches, endpoints, and protocols all need to coexist. That’s why we’ve opened our platform to include training content from our partners.

By bringing all these courses together, we are giving students a smooth, unified learning experience where they can understand how the entire ecosystem fits. The goal is to make networking feel less intimidating and more connected to what professionals actually do every day.

AVN: You noted that the training is geared toward Pro AV and broadcast. How is the content geared toward each audience?

Marcondes: For Pro AV professionals, our focus is to help them grow from basic networking skills to full AV-over-IP design and deployment.

We cover topics from simple VLAN configurations to multicast design, clocking, and troubleshooting. At the advanced level, students design a complete network project based on customer requirements. Each project is personally reviewed by our instructors, and every student receives individual feedback. It’s an online course, but there’s always a real human behind the screen.

For the broadcast community, the focus is on IP media standards like ST 2110 and IPMX. We help engineers understand the network layer that supports video, audio, and timing, because that’s where the future of broadcast is heading.

We also show how open standards are connecting both worlds: high-end broadcast and simpler AV distribution, into one scalable IP foundation.

And since the lines between IT, AV, and broadcast are disappearing fast, we’ve added courses on Cloud, Pro WiFi, and Cybersecurity to help everyone build the confidence to manage connected environments.

Below are the topics covered in the partner trainings, with more to come:

AVB Academy: Training around Audio Video Bridging standards for synchronized, low-latency AV over Ethernet.

Crestron: Courses focused on control systems, room solutions, and AV integration with Crestron ecosystems.

Dante by Audinate: Certification and how-to content for Dante audio networking, routing, and deployment.

Lightware: Switchers, signal management, and AV-over-IP workflows with Lightware solutions.

Powersoft: Amplification, audio system design, and tuning using Powersoft platforms.

Q-SYS: Training on Q-SYS platform design, control, and DSP for integrated AV environments.

SDVoE: Education on Software Defined Video over Ethernet for uncompressed, low-latency video distribution.

Sennheiser: Pro audio, wireless systems, and microphone solutions training.

AVN: Please discuss the benefits for end users and integrators.

Marcondes: For end-users, it's all about removing barriers to professional development. The Academy is completely free, on-demand, and designed to make complex topics simple. Whether you're just starting out or already experienced, you can learn at your own pace from practical, real-world examples. What's particularly valuable is the AVIXA accreditation. Professionals can earn AVIXA RUs at no cost, which addresses a real pain point around continuing education expenses.

The curriculum is comprehensive and constantly evolving, with regular content updates that keep pace with industry changes. You're learning from experts who bring field experience directly into the training.

For integrators, the Academy gives their teams a structured way to grow their skills, earn recognized certifications, and demonstrate to customers that they truly understand AV-over-IP systems. The certifications provide tangible credentials that differentiate them in competitive bids. For our official partners, these certifications are directly tied to the NETGEAR Partner Portal, where higher certification levels unlock stronger incentives, co-marketing opportunities, greater visibility in our partner directory, priority technical support, and deeper engagement with our team.

Our third-party manufacturer training section is growing quickly, with eight manufacturers already participating. This is particularly exciting because it demonstrates that education isn't a competitive advantage to be hoarded; it's a rising tide that lifts all boats. When manufacturers collaborate on education, we're collectively raising the technical bar for the entire industry. Partners who invest time in the Academy are building a holistic understanding of how different technologies work together in modern AV installations, which ultimately makes them more valuable consultants to their customers.

LG Business Solutions is marking the first anniversary of its LG Educators ambassador program and exclusive LG Education Advisory Board by expanding its programs designed to meet the needs of educators seeking the best ways to use technology in their curriculum.

“Technology and curriculum increasingly go hand-in-hand in every school district, and our goal is to provide educators with the classroom solutions that best meet their needs for the long term,” said LG Business Solutions USA’s education director Victoria Sanville.

[UNLV Takes SCN's Wayne Cavadi Back to School]

The LG Educators initiative is a growing army of tech-savvy educators, with experience using LG technology, who show other teachers how to get the most out of modern ed-tech tools. This program gives education professionals platforms to share their best practices and ed-tech success stories with their peers in the education community.

Participants share innovative ways to use technology to improve learning outcomes with fellow educators across school districts spanning the country. Highlights of the program’s first year include the launch of the new LG Educators Training Program and introduction of the “LG Educator of the Month” social media highlight.

This program leverages the knowledge and experience of teachers, school technology professionals and thought leaders to “help make sure technologies being developed truly meet the needs of today’s dynamic learning environments,” Sanville explained.

[Class of 2024: University of Arizona]

“Educators who use LG products are empowered to promote their experiences through LG’s social media channels, marketing materials and trade show participation, all of which helps innovative ideas and new education technology reach a much wider audience to improve learning outcomes,” she added.

Also building on the momentum of its first year, the LG Education Advisory Board is being expanded in 2024 to bring together the expertise of more school leaders from across the country, including superintendents, principals and chief information officers, to envision the future needs for technology within learning campuses.

RGB Spectrum is launching comprehensive training courses tailored for end users, integrators, manufacturer representatives, consultants, and partners.

RGB Spectrum's training curriculum encompasses various modules, including the popular 201 and 301 series. These modules offer detailed insights into key products, including the Galileo video wall processor, XtendPoint networked KVM, and the Zio platform. Participants can access these courses on-site at RGB Spectrum headquarters or through the company's eLearning System.

[RGB Spectrum Releases the Zio Recording System]

RGB Spectrum's commitment to quality education is further reinforced by its collaboration with AVIXA. Many courses offer Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) Renewal Units (RUs). This partnership underscores the company's dedication to upholding industry standards and empowering audiovisual professionals with recognized certifications.

• 201: Galileo Overview and Use (CTS: 0.75 credits). This module provides an overview of the Galileo video wall processor and how to use it.
• 201: XtendPoint Overview and Use (CTS: 0.5 credits). This module provides an overview of XtendPoint networked KVM and how to use it.
• 201: Zio Overview and Use (CTS: 0.5 credits). This module provides an overview of the Zio platform and how to use it.
• 301: Galileo Installation and Configuration (CTS: 0.5 credits, CTS-D: 0.5 credits, CTS-I: 0.5 credits). The course provides installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and maintenance instructions for customers preparing to install Galileo video wall processors.
• ·301: XtendPoint Installation and Configuration (CTS: 0.75 credits, CTS-D: 0.75 credits, CTS-I: 0.75 credits, ANP: 0.75 credits). This training course provides installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and maintenance instructions for customers preparing to install an XtendPoint.
• 301: Zio Installation & Configuration (CTS: 0.25 credits, CTS-I: 0.25 credits). This training course provides installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and maintenance instructions for Zio products.

has signed an agreement with Microsoft to offer Microsoft Teams Rooms training to AV professionals. This technical training to deploy, configure, and manage Microsoft Teams Rooms is now available for free through AVIXA’s training catalog. Individuals who complete the Microsoft Teams Rooms Training and 50-question test are eligible to receive 10 CTS (Certified Technology Specialist) renewal units.

“Employees want to have a high-level communication and collaboration experience whether they’re working from their home office or in a meeting room at headquarters, and Pro AV professionals play a major role in creating that hybrid workplace of the future. According to AVIXA’s latest research, $58 billion will be spent on conferencing and collaboration solutions globally in 2023 and grow to $68.2 billion by 2028,” said Pam Taggart, AVIXA’s vice president of content creation. “The addition of Microsoft Teams Rooms Training to our training catalog is a huge benefit to AV professionals—they can now layer product-specific education on top of AVIXA’s foundational training. This training also brings together the distinct skills of AV and IT—professionals from both fields will broaden their knowledge and career potential.

The Microsoft Teams Rooms Training provides technical knowledge and resources using the Microsoft Teams Admin Center, PowerShell, and the Microsoft Teams Rooms Pro Management. This training starts with a technical introduction to Microsoft Teams Rooms, covers the importance of room design and ensuring network readiness, and details the process of creating the resource account.

The introduction is followed by a detailed technical coverage of features, functionalities, and best use scenarios, and then a deep dive into configuration, deployment, and troubleshooting. The training covers monitoring and management of Microsoft Teams Rooms devices using Microsoft Teams Rooms Pro Management. Training is covered in great detail, including a live walk-through training of the service portal.

“We are thrilled to partner with AVIXA to provide the Pro AV industry with the best training on how to use Microsoft Teams Rooms to enhance their collaboration and productivity,” said Mehryn Corrigan, worldwide channel sales lead, Microsoft Teams Rooms, Microsoft. “By working together, we hope to empower more businesses with the tools they need to succeed in the hybrid work environment.”

Planar and OptiTrack, global leaders in visualization and 3D tracking systems, today announced the launch of the Planar Studios Virtual Production Workshop, a week-long, immersive series designed to help the AV and IT communities effectively identify, design, deploy and support virtual production (VP) and extended reality (XR) projects. The workshop will feature technology sessions covering LED display technology, motion capture, video processing, content engines, video cameras, studio lighting and volume integration.

Planar Studios is a cooperative initiative designed to bring together experts, thought leaders and companies dedicated to the advancement of VP and XR. The Planar Studios Virtual Production Workshop reinforces Planar and OptiTrack’s ongoing commitment to helping make VP and XR solutions more accessible and streamlined in mainstream markets. 

[Wait Until You See This 'LED MegaWall' Virtual Production Stage from Planar]

“VP and XR is a fast-growing market and as global leaders with established histories of delivering state-of-the-art display and optical tracking technologies, Planar and OptiTrack are strongly positioned to lay a framework for the AV and IT communities,” said Planar and OptiTrack executive vice president Stephanie Hines. “The potential of VP and XR is widespread, transforming the way companies present content in entertainment, corporate, education and beyond. Planar and OptiTrack are dedicated to helping make this a reality for all.”

Kicking off this month, Planar and OptiTrack will host the workshops at Planar’s Hillsboro, OR headquarters and offer hands-on learning experience in the many critical elements integrated in a VP and XR volume. In addition to learning about LED display technology design and motion capture for VP and XR applications from Planar and OptiTrack, August workshop attendees will experience trainings from a broad range of organizations, including experts from Brompton Technology, Pixera, RED, optic8 and Kino Flo Lighting Systems. Participating organizations will vary from workshop to workshop, but topic areas will remain consistent.  

The new workshops are being held monthly and will feature a special guest sharing real-world experience and key learnings. Registration is currently open for workshops taking place Aug. 21–25, as well as periodic sessions in the coming months. 

[We Went for an Off-Road Adventure with Vú at InfoComm 2023... and It Was Awesome]

“The ProAV and IT industries are being called upon to deploy VP and XR solutions, which presents new questions and opportunities that are outside of the traditional AV or IT role,” said Planar and OptiTrack executive vice president Adam Schmidt. “Our new Planar Studios Virtual Production Workshop is comprehensive, offering a thorough overview of the many components that go into a successful deployment. We’re honored to help guide the industry with such a diverse and notable group of technology experts.”

Sessions include:

• Evening Welcome Reception: Check out the volume at Planar headquarters while connecting with other VP and XR technology enthusiasts.
• LED Displays: In this AVIXA CTS-approved course, learn how to implement LED into VP and XR, including an all-encompassing look at the important qualities, features and specifications. Learn about maximizing use of display technology, including display options, site preparation, mounting, installation and alignment.
• Video Processing: Explore LED processing functionality and key features such as on-screen image manipulation, color calibration and other workflows.
• Motion Capture: Dive into the essential elements of motion capture and camera tracking technology that enable accurate, dynamic on-screen content.
• Content Engines: Get an introduction to the media servers and software platforms used for VP, including best practices, tips and tricks.
• Video Cameras: Review digital cinematography options as camera manufacturers cover everything from shutter and lensing features to color control and more.
• Studio Lighting: Walk through cinema-graphic and studio lighting concepts and techniques, in addition to becoming familiar with using different fixture types for traditional and VP and XR-specific applications.
• Volume Integration: Combine the various technologies that are key in implementing a successful VP and XR volume and walk away with real-world knowledge from a special guest.

Prior to the pandemic, Webster University in St. Louis began remodeling its 66,000-square-foot Sverdrup Building, which houses its School of Communications. The school offers 15 different undergraduate majors including film/television/video production, media arts, and sound recording and engineering. Up until recently, one program was missing from the list: professional AV/IT.

Early in the renovation project, the school’s leadership noticed that CTI, its AV design and integration firm (also headquartered in St. Louis), employed a number of Webster alumni. This led to a conversation about the Pro AV industry’s demand for AV/IT skills, and the possibility of the university offering a program that taught them. Soon after, the School of Communications began exploring what a solid AV/IT curriculum should look like.

Sharing Knowledge

CTI shared its in-house training materials. It also put Webster in touch with the National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA) and learned about the organization’s Ignite program, which provides training resources to AV integrators and educational institutions. The university consulted with AVIXA for materials as well.

All of this led to the creation of Webster's first AV/IT-focused course, which focuses on audio and covers topics such as signal flow, circuit design, and cable management. “We developed an intro course for audio students who might be interested in this industry,” explained Eric Rothenbuhler, dean of the School of Communications. “They receive much more of a technical foundation than our filmmakers or journalism students.”

The university is currently working to expand its curriculum into a full-fledged AV/IT program, and Rothenbuhler hopes to develop a business course focused on sales in the future.

[Full-Scale Flexibility]

John Laughlin, CEO and president of CTI, noted that his firm shares the educational materials it has developed with Webster and the NSCA, as well as other organizations. The course content that CTI has created covers audio, video, and lighting.

“We’re definitely helping the [vocational schools] and the universities anywhere we can in sharing the programs we’re using,” Laughlin explained. “I think the NSCA does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to education, and through their programs and our programs, we’re able to share that information so that as [universities] build their programs, the students that graduate already have the skills necessary to step into the industry and be effective very quickly.”

CTI’s internal training program for interns and entry-level employees features boot camps and other education sessions that help the company identify strong job candidates for full-time employment. Laughlin said the efforts help employees develop good communication skills and wind up being a strong cultural fit, which contributes to employee retention.

[Bring on BYOD]

“With those individuals, when you put that kind of time and energy into their education, they tend to be more loyal,” he added. “It’s been a strategy that has benefitted CTI without question.”

While building its AV/IT program, Webster has also partnered with Gateway Studios & Production Services, a local production services firm that is currently building a new concert rehearsal facility with living and dining amenities in nearby Chesterfield, MO. The school is currently working with Gateway to develop an AV curriculum targeted at aspiring live production professionals.

These partnerships are important in the creation of solid course material. “Typically, in higher ed, the development of the curriculum is a faculty activity,” Rothenbuhler explained. But when entering new territory—as is the case with AV/IT and live production—Webster needs to solicit input from off campus. “We need industry consultants and friends to provide some of that immediate, first-step expertise.”

Career Path Consideration

Aaron AuBuchon, associate dean of Webster's School of Communications, noted that while most students want to pursue filmmaking or record production, an increasing number recognize that it can be extremely difficult to build solid careers in these disciplines. AV/IT offers the opportunity to work in a creative field that continues to grow, and at the same time provides financial stability.

“Students are looking more and more often for something that’s practical, that allows them to work with the kinds of things that they enjoy working with, that gives them an avenue to pursue their passions, but that’s realistic,” he said. “Everyone’s telling us that the doors are flying off of this industry, and that we need to be able to staff up these [companies]. I think we have a unique opportunity to provide that education and become a feeder for what might be an area of unlimited growth.”

At Advanced Systems Group (ASG), an AV design, integration, and managed services firm in Emeryville, CA, John Shike, key accounts manager, strives to introduce young people to Pro AV through the work that he does with the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). A membership director with SMPTE focusing on student outreach, Shike explained that SMPTE aims to introduce student members to emerging technologies, such as AI and virtual production. SMPTE has started a chapter at De Anza Community College in Cupertino, CA, and Shike and his fellow SMPTE members are working to launch chapters in other schools within the California State University system.

In addition to his work with SMPTE, Shike relayed that ASG works with organizations like the Audio Engineering Society (AES) and the Visual Effects Society (VES) on outreach and education to help young people understand what the technology, and the industry, is all about. They also assist schools in designing (or redesigning) their programs to align with the skill sets required in the professional world. Shike noted that working with schools on redesigning or updating their programs is especially important as job roles evolve. 

“It’s a great benefit for us as employers, that we can help bring in the new talent that we’re going to need and use trade organizations to help us with that process,” he said. “It’s not just about making sure we figure out what the jobs are, but what those jobs are going to be as something like AI comes into the business. Our broadcast business has already been greatly affected by the use of robot technology, and now we have to bring in AI as well. And so it’s important [for students] to understand: What are the jobs that are going to be available to me as I’m new talent getting started?”

Training Opps in Pro AV

Trade associations and manufacturers alike are working to educate industry newcomers as well as veterans on the latest developments in Pro AV. Here are a few examples.

AVIXA

AV-over-IP, IT, and networked AV are all areas of focus for AVIXA, which offers on-demand courses on these topics. Pam Taggart, vice president of content creation at AVIXA, explained that the association is seeing increased demand for Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) certification, as well as the need for skills that enable people to adapt to a changing business landscape. This is why AVIXA partnered with the NSCA, which hosted its BizSKills workshop at InfoComm 2023.

As more AV firms start offering managed services, AVIXA is also endeavoring to provide supporting education in this area. “After more than a year of conversations with AV companies on this topic, it clearly revealed that one size does not fit all,” Taggart said. “The size of your own company, the size and complexity of your customer’s company, the business need, financing model and scale, and additional factors all impact what or how many pieces of a full-fledged managed services scenario you might adopt.”

[SCN 1-on-1: AVIXA Industry Insights from InfoComm 2023]

AVIXA has responded to this with its Applied Monitoring for AV Systems training, which was offered earlier this year in virtual format as well as at InfoComm. Other courses and workshops, like Sustainable Customer Relationships with as-a-Service Business Models, also aim to address the topic. AVIXA’s AVoIP Foundations also provides education on all things AV-over-IP, and its Power Hour webinar series covers a host of topics.

Crestron

Crestron’s career-based training targets designers, programmers, salespeople, and technicians. Topics include how to sell systems, as well as design, configure, bring online and, of course, program them. “And no one’s ever limited to one training path—you’re not pigeonholed,” explained Richard Sasson, global director of Crestron’s pro community. “You are encouraged, in fact, to cross-pollinate, cross-platform, and cross-learn.” 

The Crestron Masters Education Platform covers a wide range of topics for those seeking continuing education in design, programming, and sales. In an effort to contribute to workforce development, Crestron is currently in talks with educational institutions and trade associations. “What’s clear is that one company can’t do this unilaterally,” Sasson added. “The AV industry needs to collaborate together to create a program that gets people interested at the high school level.”

NAMM

At its trade shows, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) provides training for those working in live production. NAMM 2023 featured its Tec Tracks series, comprised of 60 sessions dedicated to live sound and recording, including a dedicated track on house-of-worship audio and a keynote on immersive audio. Plus, the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) hosted training sessions on lighting, lighting networking, electrical, safety, and rigging. There was also a dedicated safety education track led by the Event Safety Alliance (ESA). Zach Phillips, director of professional development at NAMM, said the association will continue to provide educational opportunities like these at future shows.

NSCA

NSCA’s Education Foundation offers the Ignite program, which strives to expose industry outsiders to all the career opportunities Pro AV has to offer. “The goal of Ignite is to provide resources for integrators to market our industry to students at technical colleges and high schools,” explained Mike Abernathy, director of business resources at NSCA. The association urges AV integrators to develop relationships with schools with the goal of creating a talent pool interested in becoming AV professionals.

[NSCA: 6 Steps for Financial Success in 2023]

QSC Q-SYS

The Q-SYS training program provides classes online, free of charge, with most available in several languages. They cover a broad range of topics, including Q-SYS Designer training (introductory), Q-SYS Control 101, Q-SYS Video 101, Enterprise Manager technical training, as well as Cinema training. Control 101 is designed for those seeking first-time control programming, as well as for programmers who are getting acquainted with the Q‑SYS platform. Video 101 covers things like how to optimize the software-configurable NV Series network video endpoints for meeting rooms, as well as how to distribute native HDMI video on the Q-SYS ecosystem.

“Q-SYS has worked to change the online training game entirely with our unique brand of short, impactful, and entertaining courses that leave users wanting more,” said Nate Makaryk, senior training manager for Q‑SYS. “Our training capitalizes on the modern scripting languages and innovative tools within Q-SYS Designer Software, enabling programmers to grasp fundamental programming principles in a matter of days, rather than weeks or months.”

Aurora Multimedia will host two free AVIXA RU-certified courses next month at Infocomm 2023. Both sessions will be held at the Rosen Centre Hotel next to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, on June 13. 

"Fundamentals of AV over IP" runs at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Hosted by Chuck Espinoza, global director of education, the two-hour session will discuss what factors should contribute to design and project intent, what type of system infrastructure will be required, and what is needed to configure both endpoints, including the network switch. The course will also cover the relationship between the AV-over-IP system, as well as how to work with system administrators and IT project teams to ensure a smooth installation and transition to a working operation. Attendees earn 2 RUs.

"Fundamentals of ReAX/Core Studio" runs at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. In the two-hour course, instructor Marcus Yarborough, director of educational support, will discuss how to create items, assign functions, feedback, and add values to them. The class will also show how to make panels personal to every project, loading systems, and controlling third-party devices. Plus, it will review the RS-232, modules, telnet, and more. Attendees should bring a Windows-based laptop to participate in the learning activities. Upon completion, attendees should have a solid understanding of the basics of how to use Core Studio and how to successfully communicate with devices. Attendees earn 1 RU. 

Register here for "Fundamentals of AV over IP."

Register here for "Fundamentals of ReAX/Core Studio."

Introducing the Planar EduCare Program. The program from Planar is specially designed to address the challenges learning institutions face most frequently such as budget constraints and a lack of technical support and training. Available to K-12 schools, colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, the new program offers benefits that bolster customers’ investment, keeping displays viable for years to come. This includes exclusive pricing, technical pre-sales support, priority post-sales technical support, and access to private training courses via Planar Academy.

The new program is backed by Planar’s decades of experience deploying innovative display technology for customers in education. This spans installations in lecture halls, meeting rooms, student centers, rooftop terraces, athletic and performing arts facilities, and more. With the Planar EduCare Program, customers get first-hand access to Planar technical expertise, ensuring schools get the highly trained technology and product knowledge they need to identify the best display solutions for their project needs.

[AVT One-on-One: Planar Talks Displays]

“From large, attention-grabbing video walls to interactive displays and desktop monitors, education facilities have been turning to Planar’s award-winning display innovations to power next-level teaching, learning and recruitment experiences for decades,” said executive vice president Adam Schmidt. “Planar has long designed and developed solutions to help meet customers’ individual needs and Planar EduCare strengthens this commitment. This program allows us to deliver one-on-one attention to customers in education, one of our most successful markets, to create incredibly personalized projects and experiences that will inspire other organizations for years to come.”

Planar EduCare is available with all Planar display technology products. Registered program customers will receive the following:

• Exclusive Pricing: With special pricing discounts on every Planar display solution, Planar EduCare helps budgets stretch finances further.
• Technical Pre-Sales Support: Even before purchase, Planar EduCare customers receive first-hand access to Planar technical expertise. These highly trained product experts assist education institutions in designing one-of-a-kind video wall configurations or other installations that address their needs and deliver impact.
• Priority Support: Planar display solutions thrive in the most demanding applications. In the event technical support is needed, Planar EduCare customers can rest assured that dedicated technical support resources are available for strong and continuous operation.
• Planar Academy Training: Private training from Planar Academy instructors is aimed at helping universities and schools get the most out of their display investment as well as discover new and innovative ways to use the technology. Instruction covers everything from video wall content development and color adjustment to the basics of virtual production. 

“From rooftop terraces, classrooms and huddle spaces to auditoriums and executive boardrooms for the Dean, Clemson University continues to work with Planar and incorporate the industry leader’s state-of-the-art display solutions into our facilities to deliver immersive and unmatched educational experiences for students and staff,” said Paul Borick, project manager for capital projects at Clemson University. “With the new Planar EduCare Program, learning institutions will benefit from the support and product proficiency they need to make their dreams a reality.”

[The Mountains Are Calling, and Planar Meets You There...14,000 Feet High]

Planar was named a Tech & Learning Awards of Excellence Best of 2022 winner. The dedicated resource to help K-20 administrators and educators use technology to enhance the student experience and drive innovative learning recognized the Planar MGP Series as one of the very best products in EdTech from 2022.The program celebrates educational technology that has excelled in supporting teachers, students and educational professionals in the classroom, for professional development or general management of education resources and learning. Tech & Learning’s panel of expert judges selected the Planar MGP Series for its ease of use, value, versatility and utility, awarding the product in the category of higher education.

The Planar MGP Series makes fine pitch LED an accessible alternative to formerly projection or tiled LCD environments such as classrooms, lecture halls and student centers as well as retail settings, houses of worship and other digital signage applications. The series is available in 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, and 2.5-millimeter pixel pitches and features a 27-inch diagonal, 16:9 cabinet that is designed to support full front-service, wall-mounted installation.

Helping Pro AV integrators learn skills necessary to sell and install the latest products, LG Business Solutions USA has launched “LG|U,” a new training academy that will offer comprehensive product and installation classes for integration partners, starting with in-person accredited courses on direct-view LED (dvLED) technologies, in Lincolnshire, IL, the U.S. headquarters for LG Business Solutions.

According to James Pfenning, technical sales director at LG Business Solutions, LG|U will also offer more virtual courses and embark on a U.S. tour for in-person classes in 2023, providing more-accessible training programs to help professional integrators maintain industry readiness that is essential to satisfying market demand and maintaining competitiveness.

[Why dvLED Is Gaining Market Share] 

“Technology advances every day, offering new opportunities for businesses and integration firms that design and install AV solutions,” Pfenning said. “Technicians who are properly trained and certified to install, integrate and service the latest products are best prepared to capitalize on these opportunities. Without this education, firms limit their ability to bid on many projects. We want our partners to enjoy continued success and growth, and by opening LG|U programs to the professional integration community, we are providing easy access to valuable training with both in-person and virtual options.”

The inaugural LG|U course, DVLED Installation, provides integrators with extensive hands-on training that prepares them to install and maintain both pre-packaged and customizable displays that come in a variety of pixel pitches, sizes, shapes and even curvatures. The company chose to start with this course based on current market demand and the major installation differences for dvLED displays compared with other large-format display options, including fine-pitch dvLED’s more delicate components that require greater care to install.

Pfenning said the dvLED curriculum will soon expand to include more courses, starting with DVLED Basics that explains terminology, how diodes work, what components are in a dvLED display and what the ingress protection rating means, while delivering a full understanding of LG’s growing dvLED product catalog. DVLED System Design will launch at about the same time, offering designers, architects, specifiers and integrators detailed instructions on how to select and specify the right dvLED product for each unique need, covering topics such as pixel pitch, viewing distance, room size, power requirements, brightness, and mounting options, as well as compatibility and use in rental and staging projects.

[New Aspect Ratios: Why You Should Go Wide with dvLED Displays]

To maximize value for participants, LG worked to achieve course accreditation from AVIXA. The two-day installation course provides up to 32 total renewal units (RUs), including 16 standard Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) credits and 16 CTS-I (Installation) credits. The upcoming dvLED courses will provide RUs as well, in addition to future courses later in the year focusing on CLOi robots and CreateBoard interactive digital displays.

Gearing up for the official launch of LG|U, the company hosted seven dvLED course sessions to date, with initial feedback from the 70-plus attendees suggesting that presentations and hands-on instruction are invaluable to integrators who are new to dvLED, or new to LG’s dvLED products specifically.

LG|U is also developing live webinar and online recording options for each course to ensure every integration partner can access training when they need it. Most online courses will not involve hands-on experience with products and will subsequently require less time and offer fewer RU credits. In addition to the new interactive digital displays and robotics courses launching later this year, the dvLED course list will expand to include specific product trainings for LG’s dvLED transparent film, MAGNIT Micro-LED displays, and exciting yet-to-be announced products.

[Here's How LG dvLED Displays Brings the Magic on Times Square Inside]

LG’s various dvLED product lines include proprietary innovations such as cableless cabinet connections and the webOS controller, so even integrators with experience installing other DVLED brands can benefit from the training course and feel confident to start specifying LG products. The inaugural dvLED course is accessible to all LG Business Solutions integrators free of charge. Future courses may include fees or require prerequisite courses or knowledge to attend.

There is big news from the SDVoE Alliance. Industry participants can obtain AVIXA Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) and Renewal Unit (RU) by participating in the SDVoE Academy’s SDVoE Certified Design Partner and SDVoE Certified Developer courses.

[Anatomy of SDVoE]

The mission of the SDVoE Academy is to establish a trusted resource for AV professionals—designers, installers, salespeople, and system owners—to take advantage of the latest AV signal management technology. In doing so, the SDVoE Alliance launched a free online learning platform, SDVoE Academy. SDVoE Academy is a self-paced online course offering two professional certification programs, SDVoE Certified Design Partner and SDVoE Certified Developer. SDVoE Academy has attracted more than 6,000 students and delivered more than 120 courses in video technology, network basics, and system design. Now, industry professionals can participate in SDVoE Certified Design Partner and SDVoE Certified Developer courses to obtain CTS RUs.

[SDVoE Alliance Introduces New Certified Design House Program]

“The SDVoE Academy has become a trusted resource for AV professionals gathering knowledge and experience to take advantage of the SDVoE Alliance’s flexible and scalable technology,” said Justin Kennington, president of the SDVoE Alliance. “AVIXA’s educational certification program is a mark of distinction for AV professionals, and we are thrilled to be included in their course offerings as we continue to build a strong community around the SDVoE Academy programs.”

The SDVoE Alliance is committed to interoperability and standardization, and above all to creating great AV user experiences. The more users participate in the SDVoE Academy, the more they will benefit. Industry professionals can get started today by accessing the SDVoE Academy.

Just Add Power has added new 2023 dates for its Certified Integrator Workshop. Offered in person at the company's headquarters in Seminole, Florida, the three-day training will provide foundational knowledge of networking, AV-over-IP best practices, and Just Add Power's award-winning equipment. Integrators will get a hands-on approach that they can apply to arising enterprise and residential installation opportunities while potentially earning RUs and CEUs toward AVIXA and CEDIA certifications.

[Just Add Power, NETGEAR Partner to Provide Certified Pro AV Switches]

"While the Just Add Power system is engineered to be truly effortless to install, there can be display variations and networking requirements that sometimes add complexity to the job," said Eric Martin, training director at Just Add Power. "Our in-person training offers installers a chance to roll up their sleeves, ask questions, and be prepared for anything."

Just Add Power's Certified Integrator Workshop provides integrators with all the information needed to design, install, and configure a Just Add Power AV-over-IP system while making the most of the features and functions of the company's product line. Integrators will also learn to anticipate and prevent issues that may arise with complex or enterprise integrations, and how to take over maintenance of an existing system. This is an in-depth workshop that includes extensive hands-on activities with Just Add Power equipment. Integrators completing this workshop may earn AVIXA RUs and CEDIA CEUs, as well as the company's Certified Integrator designation.

[AV and IT: It's Complicated] 

Just Add Power's in-person Certified Integrator Workshops will be offered four times throughout 2023: Jan. 17-20, April 18-21, July 18-21, and Oct. 17-20. 

Williams AV announced its Fall 2022 Pro AV training schedule. The schedule includes a variety of in-person and webinar training sessions spanning four countries. 

"We are excited to be doing live in-person training sessions," said Per Persson, vice president of international sales at Williams AV. "Virtual events and trainings were a great way to stay current the past two years, but in-person training sessions are much more impactful."  

[AV and Industrial Design]
 
Williams AV saw steady growth during the pandemic and continues to see strong demand for its products. The virtual and in-person training sessions are designed to strengthen channel partners' knowledge of the Williams AV product line of assistive communication technologies and provide them with the tools they need to succeed when working with their customers. Williams AV training schedule includes presenters from their partner, Ampetronic. 

"We are thrilled to have Ampetronic presenting with Williams AV. Ampetronic is recognized as a leading hearing loop technology company and a trusted member of the Pro AV community. We are fortunate to have Ampetronic team members share their expertise at several training sessions," commented Tony Braun, global vice president of sales and marketing at Williams AV.   
 
Additional Pro AV training sessions are under development for 2023, with an updated schedule planned for release later this year.  

[AV Network's top stories, product news, and expert insights] 

The October training series:

• Tuesday, Oct. 11, Advanced Hearing Loop Training: A full-day hearing loop training course designed to provide background on assistive listening, how hearing loops work, installing, and commissioning, and troubleshooting hearing loops. Attendees are eligible to earn eight AVIXA CTS RUs. Also available on Thursday, Oct. 13.
• Wednesday, Oct. 26, WaveCAST: Next Generation Audio via Wi-Fi: Learn about the future of assistive communication via Wi-Fi focusing on third-party control options. Attendees receive a free guide, "Real-Time Wi-Fi Audio for Assistive Communication.” 
• Monday, Nov. 14, Williams AV Assistive Communication Certification: Hearing, Interpretation, and Video Solutions: Dive into the right assistive listening technology for your project, the pros and cons of interpretation and AI translation, and the applications and designs for video annotation and captioning. Attendees will receive Williams AV Assistive Communication Certificate upon completion. Also available on Thursday, Nov. 17.
• Thursday, Dec. 1, Williams AV New Wireless Audio Technologies for Interpretation, Tour Guide, and Assistive Listening: Dive into FM and audio via Wi-Fi combo transmitter, third-party control integration, and the new functionality of Digi-Wave.  

As more people turn to wireless microphone systems for a variety of use cases across different verticals, Lectrosonics introduced LectroU. The new series of online training courses is geared toward anyone wishing to further their knowledge of and expertise in wireless microphone system technology, best practices, and Wireless Designer software. The course series contains five overall subject areas, with several subsections within each. Each of the modules include videos containing the training materials and detailed explanations, followed by subject area quizzes. Participants completing all modules will receive a certificate of completion from Lectrosonics. Registration for the series of LectroU training courses is free.

“At Lectrosonics, we want to be a source of information and education, so that wireless users can get the most out of the tools that they use for their creative work,” says Lectrosonics vice president of sales and marketing, Karl Winkler. “We are pleased to debut LectroU with this first series of courses and look forward to adding more material in the future.”

[Lectrosonics Turns the Southern California Real Estate into Reality TV]
 
Due to the importance of proper lavaliere microphone wiring for best wireless system performance, the first module covers this subject. The Lectrosonics TA5 wiring scheme is explained in detail, along with different types of microphones and other connection types as well such as line inputs.
 
Audio Gain Structure is one of the central concepts for all audio systems and thus is covered in the second area.
 
Since 2002, Lectrosonics products have offered different compatibility modes for inter-operability between product ranges and even with equipment from other manufacturers. Today’s digital products offer different compatibility modes as well, including receivers that are useable with prior-generation Digital Hybrid Wireless transmitters. Thus, the third subject area in LectroU covers the intricacies of the different compatibility modes offered in the Lectrosonics products.

[AV Network's top stories, product news, and expert insights]
 
Frequency coordination and RF band planning are central concepts especially for wireless mic systems of moderate to larger channel counts. The fourth LectroU module covers these important concepts.
 
And as Wireless Designer has become a powerful tool for all Lectrosonics wireless system users and even users of older or non-Lectrosonics systems, the next module area covers the use and best practices with this software package.

AtlasIED, a global electronics manufacturer providing comprehensive audio, communications, and security solutions for commercial markets, has opened AtlasIED Academy, an online continuing education platform for audio professionals. This all-new learning platform offers detailed AtlasIED product information and system design courses, short DIY tutorials, new content focused on industry trends and best practices, and in-depth product certification courses, including AtlasIED’s popular CTI GLOBALCOM certification program.

"During the pandemic, we saw participation in our live webinar-based training sessions increase substantially," said Brad Williams, training manager at AtlasIED. "But as the world continues to open back up, we are now being asked for more online, self-guided education and product tutorials that can be easily accessed anytime from anywhere, and at the user's own pace—AtlasIED Academy offers exactly that."

[AtlasIED Roadmap 2022]

Designed for people just entering this growing industry as well as for seasoned veterans wishing to fill any knowledge gaps, AtlasIED Academy provides comprehensive product, system and technology instruction to assist resellers, system designers and integrators, and end-users. Participants can find everything they need to confidently sell, design, install, configure, and support AtlasIED digital audio systems in commercial environments.

"Audio professionals are technologists at heart and they grow their business and services through continuously educating themselves," added Williams. "Specific product knowledge, general knowledge of acoustics and electronics, the latest tools, techniques, and industry best practices—these are valuable assets for system designers and users. With AtlasIED Academy, we're bringing this content into a single, free, easy-to-use platform."

[AtlasIED Atmosphere, IPX Family, and More—Here's What to Know]

Inaugural AtlasIED Academy offerings include:

• The Basics of Sound Masking
• Tuning Sound Masking Systems
• 70.7V Audio System Basics
• Using Audiovisual IP Endpoints to Extend the UC Ecosystem
• Audio System Gain Structure: Maximizing Your Audio Signal Chain
• Atmosphere Digital Audio Platform
• IPX IP Endpoints: Understanding IP Endpoint Technology Beyond Public Address
• Introduction to BlueBridge & Open Architecture DSP

"Education has always been an integral part of the AtlasIED experience, and the Academy is a leap forward in our instruction offering," added Williams. "With this advancement, we will continue to develop more training content and make it available more quickly. We encourage all users to explore the Academy, suggest ideas for making it better, and share any requests for new courses.”

With a commitment to support the expanding AV workforce with accessible resources, AVIXA (Audiovisual Integrated Experience Association) has announced that the Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) exam is now available to take through online proctoring. 

“AVIXA is dedicated to helping AV professionals around the world on their pathways to certification. Online-proctored CTS testing eliminates barriers like long distances to test centers and closures of test centers due to the pandemic,” said Adrienne Knick, senior director of certification, AVIXA. “The CTS program represents more than 13,500 AV professionals in more than 100 countries—a community of experts that will grow as the opportunities to sit for exams now reaches even more people.” 

[AVIXA Announces 2021 AV Professional Awards]

The AVIXA CTS online-proctored exam is available in English, German, and Spanish, and exam appointments are open 24 hours a day through Pearson VUE. Candidates can take the exam simply with a computer, webcam, and stable internet connection. Online proctoring is only available for the CTS exam at this time. CTS-D and CTS-I exams are delivered in person at Pearson VUE test centers. Candidates can also choose to take the CTS exam in person. 

AVIXA’s Certified Technology Specialist program is the only professional audiovisual certification program accredited by the International Organization for Standardization's (ISO) United States representative, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).  

[How AVIXA Councils Support the Pro AV Industry]

“Given the challenges associated with delivering certification examinations on account of the ongoing global health crisis, the ANSI National Accreditation Board commends AVIXA for earning approval as part of the pilot program to offer accredited programs through remote proctoring in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17024,” said Vijay Krishna, MBA, ED.D., Vice President, Credentialing, ANSI National Accreditation Board. 

In addition, AVIXA on-demand webinars now offer CTS renewal units (RUs) for AVIXA Premium and Elite members. AVIXA has nearly 100 webinars available on demand covering a wide range of topics from digital signage to conferencing and collaboration. AVIXA also has a roster of AV companies who are approved CTS renewal unit providers offering several online and in-person courses. 

“AVIXA is committed to helping AV professionals elevate their skills and careers,” said Knick. “By providing more online resources, we’re able to make our programs more accessible to the AV workforce around the world.” 

To learn more about the CTS program, visit www.avixa.org/certification.

Just Add Power is launching a flexible new training option for its dealers: the Remote Installation Training Program. Like the company's in-person training courses, the new program is designed to provide participants with an introduction to Just Add Power, HDMI over IP, and basic networking, while offering a hands-on experience setting up a system from beginning to end.

"Installers don't have to complete our company training to set up a Just Add Power system, but our Installation Training sessions have proven very popular for those who want to understand the products well and know that they are using all of the tools and features provided," said Eric Martin, training director at Just Add Power. "The Remote Installation Training Program was created to provide installers with the same knowledge and skills so that all of their Just Add Power projects will be a breeze."

Just Add Power's Remote Installation Training Program is designed to instruct the company's dealers on the planning, set-up, configuration, control, and troubleshooting of a Just Add Power system. Participants will also learn how to integrate control systems and endpoint control, create mosaic and standard video walls, and utilize the company's 3G Warp Engine and 3G+4+ Tiling transmitters.

To participate in the program, dealers in the United States are provided with a Remote Training Kit for 60 days, which consists of a variety of Just Add Power transmitters and receivers; an assortment of cables; wireless antennas; and RS232 accessories. Dealers outside the U.S. are provided with a list of equipment needed. Following along with a series of training videos, participants will build their kits into functioning systems, with Just Add Power support technicians available one-on-one for questions on training videos or system set-up.

"While our monthly, in-person training offers a great experience, we know that sometimes distance, scheduling, and other considerations make it difficult for people to travel to sessions in Florida," added Martin. "We've had a lot of interest in this program, especially for installers located outside of North America."

To register for Just Add Power's Remote Installation Training Program, visit http://justaddpower.com/remote-training-registration.html.

Depending on the individual, the reasons behind pursuing AVIXA’s Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) certification program may differ. For some, it offers a pathway to promotion (and a higher income); for others, it promises a more elevated status among one’s peers, as well as project stakeholders. Others still may do it out of sheer thirst for education and development, and then there are those who wish to achieve all of the above. Regardless, many argue the case for getting certified, if only because it stands to make one a better AV/IT professional overall.

“If you’re in the AV industry, I think you should seriously be considering your pathway toward one or more of the CTS certifications, depending on your role,” said Mike Pedersen, CTS-D, CTS-I, audiovisual experience manager at Iowa State University at Ames, Iowa. (Pedersen is also council chair for AVIXA’s Technology Managers Council, and is on the organization’s Certifications Steering Committee. In 2018, he was named AVIXA CTS Holder of the Year.) “It’s going to give you more credibility, and it’s going to allow you to speak in the language of of your designers, engineers, and installers.”

Recently, AV Technology examined what’s involved in acing the exam.

Program Breakdown

The CTS program comprises three certifications: the CTS, which focuses on the general processes and concepts involved in AV projects; the CTS-I, which covers the nitty-gritty aspects of AV installation; and the CTS-D, which goes in-depth on all things related to AV design. Before earning the latter two specialized designations, once must have earned their CTS. The CTS program is ANSI-accredited, and certifications must be renewed every three years (meaning that holders must demonstrate that they have completed a certain level of continuing education).

The “Certifications” section of AVIXA’s website provides a number of materials for certification candidates, including applicant guides, resources to help would-be test takers determine if they’re ready to go down this road, exam guides, sample questions, and other educational materials.

Preparing for the Exam (Read: You Have to Study!)

It may be tempting to rely on one’s daily experience in professional AV in lieu of studying, but Mark Higgason, CTS-D, CTS-I, executive vice president and partner at Encompass AV, an AV systems design and integration firm based in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, advised against this approach. (Higgason is also AVIXA’s 2020 CTS Holder of the Year.) “The test is set up to trip you up,” he said. It’s also worth noting that those providing CTS prep education are not the same people who put together the testing curriculum; practice tests will not be the same as the actual exam. “You are going to be tested on your knowledge of the concepts, so you really need to understand them.”

Pedersen confesses that his CTS-D exam—even after a considerable time investment in preparation—was one of the most difficult education-related things he’s done since his college days. “I put a ton of hours of prep into the CTS-D, and it is probably still one of the hardest things I’ve attempted to do post-university,” he said. “I would not go in cold. I can’t encourage people enough to take classes, get the exam guide, and study it front to back. You really need to go into those exams well-prepared.”

Higgason said that Encompass AV’s leadership attempts to give those employees pursuing their CTS certifications some office time for studying, “but we also make it very clear that this is going to have to be a personal commitment, and you’re going to have to invest in your own career.” He also pointed out that many employers seek these certifications in job candidates. “If you have a CTS certification, you go to the top of the pile. I can tell you that because I do the hiring at our company, and it is absolutely something that I look for,” he said.

Chuck Espinoza, senior staff instructor at AVIXA, echoed the sentiment that many experienced AV professionals rely too much on their experience when taking their CTS. While one may be a seasoned top performer in one’s specific role, that doesn’t mean that one has amassed all of the knowledge necessary to pass the exam. “There’s more to the industry than just that job,” he said. In other words, if you’re an outstanding sound engineer––and this is all you have been doing during your time in this industry––you’d be wise to study the ins and outs of, say, video networking.

There is also the push-pull relationship between AV and IT to consider, Espinoza pointed out: “Someone coming into AV from IT has to learn about experience and the ‘emotional’ side of technology, and professionals from the AV industry who are used to dealing with [experience] now have to learn how to transport it securely,” he said. He suggested that test-takers “study with a buddy” for a different perspective on what their weak spots actually are. “A lot of people—when they study things, they miss their knowledge gaps. They might look at something and say, ‘Yeah, I have a good understanding of that,’ when they really don’t.” Gaining insight on one’s grasp of certain concepts, as well as how other experienced professionals approach them, will help to fill in these gaps.

RELATED 

>> SCN's 2018 Hall of Fame: Chuck Espinoza   

>> AVIXA Releases CTS Certified Technology Specialist Exam Guide, Third Edition

>> AVIXA's 2020 CTS Holder of the Year: Mark Higgason, CTS-D, CTS-I

Determining Your Time Investment

While preparing for a certification exam requires a time investment, the question is: how much?

Higgason counsels CTS candidates to dedicate one hour per day to studying, up until the point they’re confident that they have a solid grasp of the material. “A lot of it is based on your experience,” he said. “A 20-year vet may be able to move through a lot of these concepts far quicker and then get stumped on networking, where someone younger may already be very familiar with it and they’ll get stumped on analog connections, or some of the math behind amplification.” At a rate of one hour of study per day, he said that within three to six months most people should be ready.

Espinoza noted that sometimes more experienced AV professionals struggle more with some content because they’ve had the opportunity to develop bad habits throughout their career. “If they don’t have the correct experience, it’s more difficult [for them] because it’s like unlearning a habit,” he said. “You can be smart, you can be well-practiced, but it’s going to take longer to destroy that habit.” 

That said, Espinoza estimated that candidates who have received good instruction (and who have identified and unlearned those bad habits) should be ready to take the test in 60 to 90 days. “But again, it depends on how fast the individual learns, what kind of training they get [and] how much time they get to train and study, and how much that’s enforced on a daily basis.” If, for example, one learns a concept and then moves on, never to apply it again, that knowledge is unlikely to remain top-of-mind. Espinoza continued, “If you get a concept and you reinforce it every day, then it becomes habit, and then it becomes behavior.”

While pursuing a CTS demands time and dedication, Pedersen believes it’s well worth the effort. “It gives you a level of credibility when you’re talking with others in the industry,” he said. “One of the best things about certifications is that those who have them have a minimum common baseline understanding of terminologies and concepts. And so you know that, ‘Hey, I don’t have to start from scratch when talking to this person––they have this baseline understanding of the terms that we’re going to be using and we don’t have to start there.’ That’s one of the great parts about them.”

Carolyn Heinze is a freelance writer/editor.

Telecine Multimedia is offering a free Digital Signage Master Class offered by their Content Queen, Nicky. This course will span eight weeks and cover a bevy of digital signage tips and resources like Project Planning, Software, Data Analytics, Digital Signage Templates, Audience Measurement and much more. 

“We designed this course for individuals or company’s looking to capture and engage their customers through digital signage content,” says Telecine President James Fine. “We compiled resources, tips and tricks to help communicate a company’s brand and messaging more effectively through compelling content. You’ve heard the phrase ‘Content is King.’ Well, Nicky’s our Content Queen and a fantastic (and quirky) teacher as well. After taking her eight-week course, a time investment of a few minutes a week, students will gain a solid understanding of how to create a digital signage experience that will keep patrons informed and engaged. After all, there are so many mistakes to make. Why not learn from the mistakes others have made?”

 For more information, or to sign up for Nicky’s Digital Signage Master Class, please visit their website or via the company’s social media platforms Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.  

Atlona has updated its Atlona Academy certification program for resellers and systems integrators. The newly enhanced Certified Atlona Advantage Partner (CAAP) program combines self-paced, online modules on foundational AV concepts and Atlona products with two days of hands-on learning and remote, instructor-led product training. 

[Check out the training programs that won Stellar Service Awards this year.]

“Remote learning became essential last year as the pandemic unfolded, but also has long-term advantages for our channel partners even once in-person training is back in full swing,” said Ken Eagle, senior director of global training, Atlona.  “Employees’ time is precious, and remote training lets learners set their own pace rather than committing to several days at our facility. The self-paced portion of the CAAP program also let us organize the curriculum into bite-sized learning activities that can be completed in pieces, even during evenings and weekends.”

The CAAP certification program begins with five online Atlona Academy learning modules: 100-level Foundational AV, 200-level Circuit-Based Solutions, 300-level Velocity Control Training, 400-level Networking for AV, and 500-level OmniStream Setup and Configuration courses. The Velocity Control Training module includes hands-on work using Atlona’s Velocity software on the learner’s own computer, with lab assignments evaluated by an instructor.

Upon completion of the self-paced modules, the learner enrolls in hands-on product training and receives a kit of key Altona products. The student then spends up to two days in a live, remote, hands-on training session with an Atlona instructor to master their AV and product-specific skills.

Learners in the CAAP program earn AVIXA CTS RUs upon successful completion. Certified dealers and integrators qualify for a variety of Atlona sales and marketing benefits, and on the way to earning their CAAP certification can also gain authorization to purchase, resell, and install key product lines including the Velocity System AV control platform and OmniStream AV over IP solutions.

The CAAP program is available immediately through the Atlona Training Portal at https://atlona.com/training.

AVIXA will host its second Congreso AVIXA on April 27-30 to explore pro AV solutions for the education sector. This free, virtual conference aimed at the Ibero-American professional community, will offer more than 35 sessions presented in Spanish and Portuguese by experts in audiovisual technology and educational innovation. The first Congreso AVIXA in October of 2020 drew more than 4,000 attendees from 35 countries.

AVIXA Congreso will collaborate with leading educational organizations, including RECLA (Red de Educación Continua de Latinoamérica y Europa), Edutechnia (Technology and Innovation Fair for Education), EUNIS (European University Information Systems), SCHOMS, FLEXspace (The Flexible Learning Environments eXchange), the Acreditta company, and ISE (Integrated Systems Europe).

Related: Entries Open for AVIXA’s AV Experience Awards

The sessions will focus on enhancing the learning experience through content creation, smart classrooms, virtual and hybrid education, interactive tools, and content distribution over networks.

Highlighted sessions:

Rodrigo Sánchez-Pizani, CTS, audiovisual solutions architect lead from King's College London (KCL), will present a case study on implementing flexible hybrid teaching (HyFlex) classrooms. The session "Preparing hybrid classrooms in response to COVID-19" recounts the KCL team's experience in adopting new teaching approaches during the pandemic.

Luis María González Lentijo from Convergencia Digital will present the digital transformation master plan that his company developed to take an elementary and K-12 school 100 percent online. The session "Colegio San Marcos Digital Education Journey" will showcase the challenges and opportunities for AV professionals in the education space.

Agustín Limón, managing director of Tecso Latin America, will speak about the concepts and trends that should be considered when choosing technologies that enrich the educational experience. His session "Technology in the Classroom: Trends and practices for new educational challenges" is aimed both at education institutions and AV integrators.

"How to certify your talent in the digital age: badges in blockchain add value to organizations and people" will be presented by Anabella Laya, CEO of Acreditta. She will explain how digital badges become a tool to stimulate engagement and completion of new learning experiences, both in the school and corporate settings.

In the session "Designing classrooms for flexible courses," Aurora Velasco and Rodolfo Arias from San Diego State University will share the details of the training projects and technological implementation that the university has developed so that 36,000 students can continue with their courses despite the restrictions imposed by COVID-19.

Registration for Congreso AVIXA is currently open at congreso.avixa.org. Individuals will have access to the entire conference program, activities, and networking tools. The Congreso AVIXA platform will be available for 30 days after the end of the event, providing opportunities to attend more sessions or revisit favorites.

One of the continuing challenges that organizations face is building the skills of their team. Whether it is to orient and train newcomers, advance the knowledge and capabilities of existing staff, or provide a path for career advancement, there is a real need for a training strategy with resources that will facilitate growth and keep with the latest industry trends. 

For decades, the AV industry has been plagued by the lack of a traditional career path. This begins with the absence of formal schooling and the lack of degree programs specific to learning AV technology. Without defined education tracks or majors specifically geared to the AV industry, the typical AV professional has had to find their own way of learning what is needed to pursue a career, establish their value, fulfill their job responsibilities, and maintain relevance. 

Related: How to Expand Your Network in the AV Community

Along with the common view that “nobody pursues a career in the AV industry, but rather everyone has ended up in AV accidentally,” the path to career development has been equally random and varied. Most often, AV knowledge has been passed down from one to the next through mentoring, word of mouth, real-world experience, and on-the-job training. In some cases, this can be the best way to learn; however, this undocumented method is difficult to replicate and scale. Additionally, progress will be dependent on the knowledge of those who are more experienced, creating limited opportunity and the potential of a growth ceiling. Moreover, those who have reached the top of the ladder for their role in an organization may find themselves with little opportunity to expand their own knowledge and capabilities. With the lack of formal training and the absence of documentation, organizations run the risk of valuable knowledge being lost as those with the most experience switch jobs, grow older, or leave the industry.

While there are options for learning base knowledge through industry association resources or training in manufacturer-specific solutions, few are comprehensive enough or specifically geared toward preparing someone to be successful in all aspects of their particular job or career. As a result, the onus is on the individual and the organization to pave a path to mutual success. 

Some individuals are self-starters and look to obtain the knowledge needed to succeed on their own, but most rely on their organization to guide them through the process of learning what is required for the job. On one hand, this can be thought of as an advantage to an organization as they can start with a blank slate and groom their team members specifically to meet their needs. However, it can also present a real dilemma for small firms or departments within organization where resources are at a premium, and monetary and time investments are not able to be easily absorbed. Aside from the financial aspect of hiring someone and paying them as they train, opportunity cost is also incurred when a seasoned person is tasked with grooming someone new rather than performing their income-generating role. Finally, organizations must bear the risk of having new hires not work out or leave prematurely before the return on their investment of bringing them up to speed can be realized.

What can businesses and organizations do to overcome the obstacles of training new team members and how can experienced AV professionals grow and advance?

Establish detailed job descriptions and an organization chart with specific responsibilities for each role.

While it is true that companies and organizations come in all shapes and sizes with various roles and positions, there is a common set of skills and responsibilities that need to be covered to fulfill needs on projects and conduct business. Many times, these can be found within detailed job descriptions or in an organization chart. Although some use org charts simply to illustrate a hierarchy of roles and direct reports, there is value in expanding this tool to include the key responsibilities that must be covered by one or more positions in order to make the company or team run successfully.

Define and prioritize all the skills required to fulfill the responsibilities of each role and identify corresponding learning resources.

Once the responsibilities of each role have been defined, it is important to dig deeper and identify the specific knowledge or skills required to successfully satisfy those responsibilities. Some skills may apply to general business traits and will be common to several roles, while others are very specific to one particular role and function.

When it comes to business skills, there are many avenues that can be pursued for education and training. Among these are online courses, professional development seminars, group or individual coaching programs, peer-to-peer mentorship, and on-the-job training.

Most roles in the AV industry include a combination of technical, non-technical, and manufacturer-specific knowledge that need to be learned and mastered. For example, a programmer’s role may include interfacing with team members, defining solutions, programming systems, providing documentation, managing projects and schedules, communicating needs and status, organizing information, troubleshooting issues, and supporting clients. This complex blend of responsibilities can only be satisfied through a variety of educational resources and training strategies.

Since learning resources are tougher to come by for specialized technical roles like those specific to the AV industry, the approach to training requires being more resourceful. After diligently defining the skills that correlate to the primary responsibilities of a specific role, sort them in priority order based on prerequisites and their importance in fulfilling requirements of the role. Beginning with the highest priorities, determine a learning resource, such as a subject matter expert, website, or guide, that can serve each educational need. This solution does not have to be perfect nor comprehensive. It just needs to establish a starting point for education and training related to the learning objective. 

By understanding the skills and knowledge that are priority needs and having resources for obtaining knowledge, the framework of a robust training program can be established. As it evolves and information is gathered, a continual knowledge base or wiki can be created documenting all the materials, resources, and individual contributions from all those involved in the instruction or learning process. This valuable asset not only provides a central repository to capture and compile relevant information, it also becomes a competitive advantage for the organization. Just as it is impossible for any one person to know everything, it is equally challenging for everyone to remember all that they have learned. Having a mechanism for storing, indexing, and sharing knowledge and experience collected from contributors of all types within an organization can be pivotal in achieving long-term success.

Since there is no magic pill or quick way to master specialized skills, it is important to value and respect all the knowledge and collective experiences that are available. While difficult and daunting, AV organizations and their team members must not only make an investment in themselves by committing to continual learning and training, they must also implement strategies to serve both their immediate and future needs. Without a focus on identifying, documenting, and sharing tribal knowledge, resources, and skills, valuable content will inevitably be lost and businesses will continue to struggle to groom newcomers, establish paths for career growth, and scale their teams efficiently.

Steve Greenblatt, CTS, is president and founder of Control Concepts, a provider of specialized software and services for the audiovisual industry.

Due to the exploding use of virtual software platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex, and Crestron, Almo Professional A/V announced it will offer training services for these platforms thanks to a new partnership with OfficePro. As a result, these training packages can be incorporated into an AV project to add incremental revenue and ensure user adoption following an installation. OfficePro is also sponsoring Almo’s spring 2021 E4 Evolution (E4v), a live digital education event for the design and specification of AV systems.

Taking place March 9-11, 2021, E4v offers three days of unique content worth up to 14 AVIXA CTS Renewal Units (RU). Registration for E4v is free to integrators, end users, and tech managers. OfficePro is participating in a Subject Expert Insight interview during E4v on March 10, 2021, to discuss the pros and cons of three popular software platforms.

“Now more than ever the use of soft codec systems like Zoom and MS Teams has become widely adopted, which in turn increases the demand for training on how to use these platforms effectively,” said Brian Rhatigan, director of business development for Almo Professional A/V. “This training service helps the integrator add value to the installation while ensuring the end user’s greatest chance for success with the software technology.

“Since almost everyone now relies on these systems and organizations have shifted to a remote workforce, it is important that professionals are educated on how to most effectively use them to conduct day-to-day business.”

“OfficePro’s partnership with Almo gives the AV reseller access to training content from an organization that is uniquely focused on the AV community,” said Michael Doolittle, vice president of client engagement, OfficePro, Inc. “It enables resellers to generate incremental revenue by offering a critical product without having to add staff.”

OfficePro Training Packages Available Through Almo

• Cisco Webex
• Cisco Webex Rooms
• Crestron Mercury
• Crestron UC Rooms
• Microsoft Surface Hub
• Microsoft Teams
• Zoom
• Zoom Rooms

As knowledgeable as they may be, not every tech-minded individual is gifted at imparting their wisdom. And, as tech managers know, the systems they deploy are only effective when they’re actually being used. Training end users to get comfortable with the AV/IT tools that enable them to do their jobs better is crucial to adoption—which means that having skilled trainers on board is just as paramount as well.

Techies often poke fun at themselves for speaking a language that laymen don’t comprehend. While this may expedite conversations between peers, it’s not at all effective during end user training. “One of the skills or characteristics good end user trainers in this area possess is speaking in understandable terms, with minimal tech jargon or industry acronyms,” said Georgina Lopez, project manager at Almo Professional A/V, an audiovisual equipment distributor that offers education to both integrators as well as end users. Patience is a must, she said, and trainers must be prepared for basic questions. “The best trainers go that extra mile ahead of time and explain the basics before the questions arise.” 

Related: Maximizing the Adoption of Your AV Systems

Stephanie Stilson, PhD, is a cognitive developmental psychologist with a focus on experiential learning. She is the EMBRACE strategist for advanced visual environments at Diversified. Developed to promote tech adoption, the firm’s EMBRACE approach is based on three pillars: discovery (gaining an in-depth knowledge of client use cases prior to deployment); empowerment (helping people understand how to use the technology); and metrics (measuring tech usage and comparing it against desired outcomes). Additionally, she works closely with the company’s ADOPT team, which provides both onsite and remote support. While she shies away from saying only certain personality types make for good trainers (she prefers the word “facilitators”), she concedes that there are certain traits some people possess that make for good learning moments. “People who are a little more capable of stepping away from themselves—getting out of themselves—and making it more about the client,” she said.

Stilson said that a big part of this is investing the time to learn about the user, how they work, and what they need to accomplish. “That individual [the trainer or facilitator] really needs to understand what your objective is in the moment. How do you collaborate?” she said. “Maybe you’re in an executive team and you don’t even want to touch the system. I have to know that about you. Or, maybe you’re someone that’s very hands-on who brings teams together frequently for decision making. I have to listen to your questions; I have to anticipate some of your situations.” The ultimate goal, she adds, is empowering the end user to the point where they have the tools to, in certain instances, become their own facilitators.

One of the challenges trainers face is striking the balance between covering enough material and bombarding end users with too much. “Even though you want them to have all the tools needed to be successful when using the platform, too many details could create confusion and result in post-training support questions,” Lopez said. And, like Stilson, she emphasizes the importance of understanding use case. “For example, if I know an end user will only need the BrightSign platform for full-screen display, then there’s no need to cover zoning and special functions they won’t need to know. The goal of the training is to have the end user feel confident enough with the platform to begin using it comfortably.”

Arguably the biggest challenge these days is delivering effective training in the virtual environment. While remote learning is nothing new, the fact that now most (if not all) education is being delivered via conferencing platforms can be taxing on both trainers and participants. (Not to mention that certain sessions—hands-on hardware training, for one—are difficult to adapt for an online class.) 

“If we’re talking about software training, it’s super easy to share your screen or just play a presentation and demonstrate the software,” said Juan Cuellar, MCT, senior training instructor at OfficePro Inc., a firm that specializes in delivering both AV and IT-based end-user training. “But what if I need to teach somebody how to use the [Cisco] Touch 10 panel? Or the reservation panel outside of a conference room? Or how to adjust the drop-down screen for a projection?” When faced with this challenge, Cuellar sets up a multiple camera configuration—one webcam that captures the hardware in question; one on him; and one on the screen displaying the unit’s user interface—and toggles back and forth. 

The virtual environment also makes it extremely difficult for trainers to read the room, Cuellar noted. Do the students understand the material that’s being covered? Are they engaged? This is even harder to determine when not everyone has activated their camera, or if they’re dialing in via audio conference. He said that the best way to gauge how the courseware is being received is to ask specific questions (not just “are there any questions?”) and encourage participants to pose questions through the medium they’re most comfortable with. “I encourage people to ask questions through the chat because sometimes they don’t feel comfortable un-muting themselves,” he offered. “If there’s a way for them to ask questions anonymously, that goes a long way a lot of times because they don’t feel shy about sounding silly.” He also addresses attendees by their first names—and not just because it’s widely known that we all like hearing our names. “If you’re calling people by their name, then other people are going to be like, ‘Oh, wait. Is he going to call on me? Is he going to ask me a question? Maybe I should pay attention.’ It encourages people to stay engaged, and stay focused.”

One method that Chuck Espinoza, senior staff instructor at AVIXA, has been applying is the flipped learning model. He said this helps him to avoid long online sessions where participants ultimately lose focus. “Instead of giving the lesson in the class, I give the lesson on a video. I tell the students to watch this video at their leisure to make sure they know the gist of the lesson, and I tell them to write down questions,” he said. This not only helps cover ground before the actual class, it also lets participants digest the course material at their own pace—and, in many cases, pose deeper questions. “Class time is not about delivering content anymore, it’s about exchanging ideas. If we can spend more time exchanging ideas to come up with solutions instead of just going over content … this makes my classroom time so much more efficient.”

AVIXA Provides Self-Service Training

As tech managers well know, end users need basic instruction on how to navigate the technologies for remote learning and working from home. Espinoza highlights the organization’s Learn With AVIXA YouTube Channel, featuring short videos that walk end users through how to achieve good lighting and audio, how to set up cameras (and even what not to wear) for videoconferencing sessions. “We have been working really hard to try and give our technology managers and other representatives that have a lot of end users to train the best tools possible,” he said. 

Carolyn Heinze is a freelance writer/editor. 

While AV/IT convergence happened a while ago, creating synchronicity between AV and IT support teams still remains a challenge. When team members in both groups are knowledgeable in each other’s specialties, however, it stands to reason that the end user’s experience is that much better. The trick is establishing cross-training that not only expands the organization’s AV/IT knowledge base, but also recognizes when a more seasoned specialist is needed to provide support. 

Miro Humer, associate vice president of client experience at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, oversees a broad spectrum of AV and IT operations, including enterprise applications, digital media, classroom support, system architecture, project management, and the IT helpdesk. He explained that the university’s AV and IT support teams don’t work in separate bubbles; AV follows IT service management processes, such as the ticketing system. “They are part of our regular support cycle, and if they’re rolling something out, they include our IT group and they lead the effort on how to cross-train IT on it, and they also lead the effort on the training of our faculty,” he said. He clarified that while the AV team doesn’t conduct the training, it does define what needs to be covered during training sessions.

In his role as director of technical services at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Tristan Cary oversees IT and AV helpdesk support, as well as the school’s laptop program. “One of the things that we tried to do early on was we tried to make everyone fluent in everything else; we had this idea that IT people and AV people should be able to do each other’s jobs and help [each other] out,” he said. After a while, however, it became clear that while some tasks were interchangeable, there was still a need for subject matter experts in each domain. “There is always going to be our AV people that understand the ins and outs of classroom technology, and the Crestron programming language and ecosystem, and exactly how every single component in the room works,” he said. Still, the members of his IT team have enough familiarity with classroom systems that they are capable of doing basic troubleshooting and support, with AV specialists taking up the reins in the event of a major failure. 

Basic Best Practices

Humer counsels organizations to train IT specialists on systems such as Crestron and AMX, while at the same time providing education to AV staff on networking, telephony, and enterprise operating systems. “In both cases the focus should include key terms and conditions unique to the location’s IT and AV environments,” he said. He also emphasized the need for regular communication between both teams. “At CWRU, we conduct a regular meeting between our deskside support team and our classroom AV support team to discuss current issues, future projects, and overall needs.”

Hands-on training is also something Humer encourages tech managers to provide: “The best way to troubleshoot an AV or IT problem in the field is to understand the audio or video signal, or the network flow, from start to finish,” he said. “Beginning at a basic level and advancing over time, IT and AV expertise can evolve and spread through the teams, resulting in an improved culture and advanced technical agility, creating a positive, total client experience for the end user.” 

Know When to Keep Them Separate

While Case Western’s AV/IT teams work under one umbrella, there is somewhat of an exception to this rule when it comes to the work performed by the digital media group in the university’s Samson Pavilion, a 500,000-square-foot building that houses medical sciences facilities, including a school of medicine, a school of nursing, and a school of dental medicine. With three control rooms, an auditorium featuring a 40-foot video wall and audio support (including microphones) at every seat, and sophisticated classroom recording systems, Humer said that this building requires highly trained, dedicated AV staff. 

“The rest of the campus is pretty standard: [in each classroom] we have a projector, a document camera, and a PC, and maybe a camera to record the sessions,” Humer said. “The level of technology in [the Samson Pavilion] is much higher, and the AV skill set [required] is much more technical than in any other area on campus, and so this is the building where we have a distinction between AV and IT tech.”

At the same time, Humer said that a great effort is made at keeping the two teams in sync. “They meet regularly; they talk about their issues, what kind of help they need, and [they do] cross-training on some of the triage-type things,” he said. Typically, support calls are directed to the IT group, which dispatches a tech to perform a primary assessment to determine if IT can fix the issue, or if deeper AV skills are required to resolve the problem. “The training is really based on that initial evaluation, because we have a larger IT support staff than we do AV, and we want to make sure we’re making the best use of the AV skills that we have.”

Standardization Helps

Cary relayed that at the beginning of each semester, AV and IT support teams perform a walkthrough of the classrooms to refresh their familiarity with the systems. He noted that almost all of the classrooms at Wentworth are equipped with the same user interface. He said this not only makes it easier for users traveling from room to room, but it also streamlines helpdesk support. “If someone calls and says, ‘I’m having a problem in this room,’ we don’t have to look up that specific room to see what’s in there,” he said. 

Communicate, Then Communicate More…

Regardless of an organization’s specific needs, Humer underlined that if AV/IT teams adopt an “us and them” attitude, it can lead to territorial disputes. “As long as a wall is allowed to exist between the AV and IT teams at any level, technology coordination of the environment will be difficult,” he said. “If they remain separate and don’t have that communication, they develop their own reasons and stories on why things are or aren’t happening. As long as they talk, those stories don’t get created in a vacuum.”

…and Start Small

For those organizations that are launching AV/IT cross-training initiatives, Cary said a simple start is the best approach. “Really focus on core competencies, and don’t expect everyone to pick everything up all at once,” he said. “Just like everything, it’s education, it takes time, it takes patience, it takes practice, and especially in the environment we’re in, it’s very hard to have a full-time IT person shadow a full-time AV person, so you’re going to have to take that into account as well. Look at what your top three or five issues are, focus on those, and then start expanding that knowledge base out and start going into more of the nitty-gritty.” 

COVID-19: Lessons Learned

With the pandemic mandating major changes pretty much overnight—especially for organizations that hadn’t previously supported remote learning and work to a large extent—it’s demonstrated how important it is to be able to adapt to change quickly. “I think we’ve learned where we can make things more flexible: what we need to do, how we upgrade our classrooms, what kind of technology we implement,” Humor said. “We have to remain flexible, and we have to be ready for whatever the future brings, [and] that everything we implement is as flexible as possible.”

Carolyn Heinze is a freelance writer/editor.

The volume of partners utilizing D&H's Solutions Enablement Team has tripled since its late-2019 relaunch, increasing across all its service areas—despite the pandemic that has dominated much of 2020. Headed by sales engineer manager Jeff Hunt at D&H, this team of subject matter experts and certified engineers works closely with AV providers and integrators during the pre-sales process, determining each partner’s unique needs for implementing complex, multi-vendor deployments.

“The team gives our AV partners access to professionals who have demonstrated hands-on success with deployments,” said Hunt. “We help those providers build a total solution, not just an isolated piece of one, with consideration for their costs and the requirements of their end-users. It’s about bringing people together and accomplishing their goals.”

“Training our partners one-on-one is a rewarding proposition,” Hunt added. “It’s a challenge to find this range of product knowledge and practical experience through a single source, especially for categories that are only beginning to gain traction in vertical markets. We help those partners become early advocates of these technologies, taking advantage of opportunities before their competitors can gather the resources to do so.”

Partners can call 888.325.1246 to speak to a D&H representative about the program, or visit dandh.com/dhss for more information.

The Center for the Future of Surgery (CFS) at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine is a world-class facility dedicated to advancing surgical techniques. In 2019, the CFS underwent a major expansion, incorporating cutting-edge technology to support the latest surgical trends with an emphasis on both brain and nervous system treatments. Combining imaging and surgery in real time, the center now melds state-of-the-art AV with advanced medical equipment.

The centerpiece of the upgrades, which were carried out by San Diego-based integrator Fluid Sound, is the “Wall of Knowledge,” a 3x3 interactive video wall from MultiTaction. Running a complete suite of collaboration and visualization software, real-time visual information can be captured, explored, analyzed, and compared by a surgical team directly in the operating room. The result is both better instruction and learning as well as a top-notch facility for developing and refining new techniques.

Related: Columbia University’s Jonathan Kornberg on the Future of Instructional AV

The Vision

Dr. Santiago Horgan, MD is both the director of the center, and the visionary driving new technology into the operating room. He first experienced MultiTaction’s touch technology during a visit to Stryker Corporation where several MultiTaction panels were installed in their California headquarters. He could immediately see how having an interactive wall in the hybrid OR would add functionality for both the surgeons teaching courses and for those learning.

The camera-based touch was a standout and set the stage for the wall to be incorporated into the hybrid operating room. Working with Fluid Sound, the school designed the wall into the space along with a myriad of other AV technology.

The Design

A project of this scale requires a lot of planning, and plenty of infrastructure behind the scenes. Getting a room to work organically and intuitively requires having a partner that has a passion for the details and that shares the vision of the project.

Local firm Fluid Sound was UCSD’s choice due to their record of work and their partnership with MultiTaction. The firm was able to leverage their experience to make the space a cohesive digital experience that ties medical and AV devices together into a complete solution that is as functional as it is high tech.

It took over six years in planning and a year of development for Dr. Horgan and his team to bring CFS 2.0 into existence, but the results have been well worth the effort. The CFS Hybrid Operating Room remains, in Dr. Horgan’s words, “the most advanced in the country and worldwide.”

The Implementation

Incorporating a large touch video wall into an operating room comes with certain challenges. The wall needs to be responsive to both gloved and ungloved hands, and it needs to have a touch system that allows for many people to be working simultaneously and quickly. It needs to have a robust touch system that can stand up to hard everyday use and have the best possible uptime and connectivity. Live video feeds will need to be captured and manipulated easily, and the software solution needs to allow cross referencing archived data with live data, access to web content, remote controlling network connected computers, plus allow for seamless annotation while multiple users are operating the wall in different ways.

MultiTaction’s solution features integrated camera-based IR touch with 32 cameras embedded into each display panel. This allows for extremely responsive touch for all hands, gloved or otherwise. The panels are each independent of one another (unlike traditional IR bezel systems), so no amount of misalignment will lead to phantom-touches or reduced touch performance. 

MultiTaction’s Canvus software provides the ability to combine live video feeds, archived videos, images, PDFs, websites, and more, and have all these assets available for multiple users to interact with concurrently. The system accepts live streaming feeds, RDP connections to remote machines, and more. To further expand capabilities, the center has the option to add a Canvus Connect server, which adds the ability to link sites or allow multiple remote users to connect to a collaboration session.

MultiTaction’s Showcase presentation software was also installed on the wall to address the center’s need to build interactive and engaging presentations for visitors and guests to the facility. Showcase allows CFS to produce, customize, and update this content like this in-house quickly and easily to further enhance the visitor experience.

The Future

Not one to just sit back and relax, Dr. Horgan has said that in the next 10 years he hopes to have CFS 3.0, the next iteration of the center and the most advanced robotic surgery facility in the world. One can only imagine what that will look like.

For now, the AV technology in the CFS helps provide a working operating room simulation where procedures can be practiced and developed without risk to a live patient.

“The Center offers surgeons of all specialties a rare opportunity to train on the newest techniques and technologies outside of a live operating room,” Dr. Horgan said. “This is where the next generation of surgeons is acquiring hands-on knowledge and experience to provide patients with the best, safest operations possible.”

SMB and consumer technologies provider D&H Distributing has launched an esports certification program in collaboration with the High School Esports League (HSEL), the Varsity Esports Foundation (VEF), the Esports Education Network (EEN), and the Middle School Esports League (MSEL). The program delivers resources, materials, guidance, and a video-based training curriculum to help dealers better market esports technology. The certification will include a badge that D&H partners can use on their websites and social media outlets that documents their expertise in these technologies.

The EEN “K-12 Esports Provider Certification” program came about when D&H conferred with its K-12 Advisory Board, a partner engagement group that D&H established to discuss best practices and real-world needs in the education marketplace. These providers expressed a need for an organized curriculum to help them capture the growing high school esports opportunity, including a certification insignia that could be leveraged with end customers. 

Related: National eSports Association’s Lori Bajorek to Keynote AV/IT Summit

D&H has been cultivating relationships with professional high school and higher education esports organizations such as the HSEL, VEF, EEN, and The National Association of College Esports (NACE), emerging as an early supporter of the collegiate and K-12 gaming category. The program is the only such esports-based certification offering in the channel marketplace today, according to the company. It leverages expert content and business acumen from some of the category’s foremost associations and educators, providing comprehensive resources and information to allow partners to sell and market solutions in this invigorating, youth-oriented sector.

The curriculum includes a series of on-demand units and lessons presented by coach Connor Alne, former esports arena manager for the National College Gaming Association. The certification is available as of July 1 and will cost $200 per registrant, but D&H is offering its partners vouchers to complete the program at a discount. The goal is to educate more D&H partners on these solutions and how they can best be marketed to school district decision-makers. 

“As this sector grows, D&H will work with dealers to become the early authorities in esports deployment,” said Peter Hurley, director of D&H’s pro AV business unit. “This will involve pro AV categories such as direct-view LED video walls, traditional LCD/LED video walls, auditorium-venue projectors, large-viewing-size projector screens, professional audio, networking, and IT solutions of high-performance gaming hardware, components, and accessories. Each district that adds an esports program represents a potential sale of thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment, or even installation of a full-on gaming arena. The possibilities of this burgeoning field are considerable.”

“D&H’s proactive approach to engaging partners in esports is admirable,” said Bubba Gaeddert, the executive director at the VEF. “They’ve helped drive the category to the forefront in their channel, including by recommending the launch of this program. We’re excited to dedicate our resources to this exceptional certification, and we appreciate having an impressive partner like D&H working alongside us.”

Want to learn more about pro AV's role in facilitating the future of esports? Don't miss the AV/IT Summit Keynote by the National eSports Association's president Lori Bajorek on Thursday, August 6. For more information, click here.

Shift, a futuristic technology company based in Oregon, is offering free virtual reality (VR) training for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the company's website, the Shift training program uses immersive VR training that was developed with content from the University of Portland School of Nursing to serve healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Watch the video below to learn more about Shift's COVID-19 VR training.

“Our goal was to provide virtual reality COVID-19 training for healthcare workers and those working in post-acute care and long-term care facilities who are being asked to engage in care that is outside their normal practice as well as for those whose training is out of date,” Wendy Morgan, the company's CEO and co-founder, told VR Scout.

The free training is currently being offered in Oregon. To learn more or to register, visit shiftbias.com/register-for-training

To stay up to date with the impact of coronavirus on pro AV, subscribe to our enews. 

QSC has launched QSC@Home, an online launch point dedicated to users’ success across a vast range of solutions and applications. Through its “Connect, Learn and Experience” architecture, QSC@Home visitors are treated to a collection of online training, tutorials, certification, webinars, entertainment, and live online support from company experts, all of which is constantly curated and updated. QSC@Home is aimed at everyone from systems contractors, integrators, AV/IT technicians, AV consultants, musicians, artists, DJs, live sound engineers, recording pros, HOW musical directors, and end users at all levels of expertise.

QSC@Home programs are offered free-of-charge and are available in a variety of time zones and languages.

Related: Pro AV Education Resources

QSC Work at Home Webinar Series features live interactive webinars covering system installation topics across the Q-SYS Ecosystem, all in a small, virtual classroom setting to allow maximum individual user benefit. Topics include AEC best practices, conference room configuration, Zoom Rooms integration, networking, and more.

Q-SYS Training Final Design Office Hours is a new program designed to allow those Q-SYS Level 1 and Level 2 students to review their final design requirement with a live Q-SYS trainer. These one-on-one, 30-minute sessions provide a unique opportunity for students to get actual live feedback to bring them finish line for their certification.

QSC Fresh Bytes, a series of live, online training sessions dedicated to live sound, led by a team of QSC experts. These intimate interactive sessions allow students to ask questions live as well as interact with colleagues. Recent topics include: Sweeten your Mix! A deep dive into the TouchMix effects and TouchMix for Recording!

QSC is also presenting Play Out Loud at Home, an extensive schedule of live “edutainment” streams on Facebook each day where QSC friends, artists, and product specialists share their music, conversation, and professional advice on a wide range of topics. 

QSC Cinema customers can benefit from QSC@Home offerings including Q-SYS Level 1 Certification for Cinema with more topics to follow. 

QSC@Home also provides free, open access to systems, live sound, and cinema training at QSCtraining.com, a training platform featuring hundreds of hours of on-demand, searchable training sessions in a variety of languages for learning the Q-SYS Ecosystem, TouchMix Series Mixers, K.2 Series loudspeakers, Cinema systems, and more. 

“QSC has always engaged its customers with training that was as informative as it was fun, so that our students can feel a deeper connection to the learning process and with us!” said Patrick Heyn, QSC senior director of marketing, Systems. “We’ve infused that same formula into these new short bursts of learning, and I’m thrilled that our customers are thriving in these new virtual settings.”

“Training and education have always has been at the forefront of what we do at QSC, as our relationship with our customers only just begins at the point of sale,” said Ray van Straten, QSC senior director of marketing, Live Sound. “Now, more than ever, we remain committed to empowering our customers with the knowledge and support they require to build skill, gain confidence, and achieve success in their endeavors. Investments in learning today can only result in a faster and more rewarding commercial recovery once we’re past our current season.”

SMPTE has announced changes to its educational programming designed to make it easier for industry professionals to keep up with the latest technology and to learn new skills. In addition to supporting professional development, the society's array of webcasts, meetings, and online courses offers members a way to connect with colleagues and to prepare for future opportunities in a changing industry and world.

"We know that many industry professionals are working longer hours to keep news and entertainment running, while others are working from home and some have been laid off," said Barbara Lange, executive director at SMPTE. "It's a difficult time for our industry and all our members worldwide, no matter what their situation. Our hope is that improved access to SMPTE webcasts, virtual courses, live-streamed meetings, and a set of standards and journal articles will help our membership maintain connections with peers and mentors, continue to benefit from the experience of industry leaders, and expand their own knowledge, expertise, and readiness for whatever the future may bring."

Related: AVIXA Opens Online Training Through June 12

SMPTE has made the following changes to its educational and technical offerings:

• Virtual course prices have been cut by 50 percent. Details are available under the Instructor and Self-Study options, accessible from the education dropdown menu on the SMPTE homepage.
• SMPTE technology webcasts are all available online to everyone here.
• The society has also opened a collection of freely accessible SMPTE Standards and articles from the SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal to help professionals in their work. See the list here. 
• The society is working with local SMPTE Sections to get meetings streamed so that every member can stay on top of technology, no matter where they are. The latest news on Section meetings is available at smpte.org, in the society's newsletters, and in local Section emails. Subscribe to general and Section-specific communications here.
• SMPTE's microsites help professionals obtain insights under one theme. Themes established so far include Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Media, Blockchain in Media, and Microservices in Media. More sites are currently under development.

"Throughout SMPTE's history, the society has responded to the demands of evolving technologies through our Technology Committees, educational offerings, access to thought-leading engineers and creatives, and more," said SMPTE president Patrick Griffis. "The situation we face now is generating a new set of demands and challenges for our membership and industry. To respond to these challenges, we are making some of our standards documents and SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal articles freely available and access to our extensive library of motion-imaging technology and professional media education options more affordable to engineers and technologists worldwide."

Audio-Technica is offering a series of resources that help users adjust to the circumstances brought about by the health crisis, including blog posts and tutorials educating on best practices and ideal solutions for content creation and live-streaming, developing a home setup, and more. Since stay-at-home orders have essentially turned us all into self-taught video producers, of particular note is the “Basic Audio Techniques for Video” tutorial series on YouTube, which features 13 different videos covering the basics of handheld and lavalier mics, wireless systems, boom mics, and more—concepts that are more important than ever in the DIY era of social distancing. The videos are short and engaging, easy to follow and filled with useful info. Most of the techniques outlined in these videos are applicable to both a home setup and the wider world of video production in the field (once our lives return to normal).  

Related: Audio-Technica Releases Wireless Manager Software

In the clip “Selecting the Right Handheld Mic,” different types of handheld mics are compared and contrasted, with a short demonstration of the properties of cardioid pickup patterns. Additionally, lavalier mics are outlined in multiple videos, with an overview of different types of lavaliers and their uses, the technique of “reflected lavalier miking” (which uses a lavalier taped to a hard surface as a boundary-type microphone), strategies for hiding lavaliers out of sight, how to use a tie bar clip to fasten a lavalier to a video subject, and the basic use of lavalier windscreens. Boom-miking fundamentals are also explored, with “Intro to Booming” comparing different types of audio capture to demonstrate the clear and crisp audio offered by boom placement of shotgun mics.   

The entire playlist can be found here. 

Harman Professional Solutions has announced the continuation of the free Learning Sessions eLearning program in conjunction with Harman Professional University. Available Learning Sessions include lighting or audio experts who have worked with Maroon 5, Bad Wolves, Halsey, Taking Back Sunday, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, Queens of the Stone Age, My Chemical Romance, The 1975, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 

The Learning Sessions and Live Workshop Series provide a range of free on-demand and instructor-led webinars hosted by leading knowledge experts from around the world. The Industry Expert workshops feature tips and tricks from front of house engineers, lighting designers, technicians, and other industry experts, while the Harman Expert workshops feature in-depth product and solution webinars by Harman product specialists.

Related: Harman to Offer Free Training

Related: AVIXA Opens Online Training Through June 12

“We have planned a very robust online curriculum over the next couple months to serve a variety of learning needs and we’re excited to announce the webinars open for registration through to the end of April,” said Steve Mathis, senior manager, Harman Professional University. “Our internal product and industry experts are very busy developing new content for May and beyond. Industry professionals should also explore our course catalog for new online training certifications at Harman Professional University.”

The Harman Professional University training portal has been updated with nearly 30 courses for April, including five recorded webinars from the Live Workshop Series. Below is a list of upcoming live sessions, which are currently available for registration.

• April 22—Martin Lighting 101 with Marion Hall
• April 23—Performance Manager Applications for Corporate Audio with Nowell Helms
• April 23—From Stage Plot to Doors in 5 Hours or Less with Dustin Dunsmore
• April 24—How to Program a Show for a Festival Rig with Lauren Sego
• April 24—Club Level Touring with Eric Price
• April 27—Architectural Lighting Products with Robert Svensson and Henrik Kristensen
• April 27—MQTT – “What It Is and Why It Matters” with Ian Craigie
• April 28—FOH/Monitor Mixing Fundamentals with Robert Brown
• April 30—Line Array Calculator III Advanced – Subwoofer Arrays, EDS, Ground Stacks with Chris Gavin (Two Sessions)
• April 30—Mixing Tips from Clubs to Stadiums with Vincent Casamatta and Jay Rigby
• April 30—Color Theory for Concert Lighting Design with Craig Rutherford

More sessions are in production for release in the coming months. Click here to learn more and register early.  

Due to overwhelming response to an initial daily offering of online training content the past few weeks, Meyer Sound is launching an ongoing comprehensive webinar program.

The content blocks will offer a natural progression of subject matter, providing attendees both practical knowledge for honing skills as well case studies for reference. The instructors will review specialty tools that cover a diverse set of solutions across all industry verticals. The education team also welcomes attendees to choose from an à la carte menu to create every other Friday “On Demand” programming via a weekly poll through the Meyer Sound Users Community Facebook group.

“Education has always been a pillar of the holistic Meyer Sound core brand philosophy of sharing knowledge.  Recent events have put the spotlight on the importance of offering our public training not just with in-person seminars but via online platforms,” says John McMahon, Meyer Sound senior vice president of sales and marketing. “Our global team was quick to respond to the need by curating an informative and engaging program.”

The team will continue its established format of Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in English led by Merlijn van Veen, Meyer Sound senior technical support and education specialist. Tuesday and Thursday sessions will be in Spanish with the first sessions featuring Oscar Barrientos, Meyer Sound technical services manager, Latin America.

Click on the Zoom link to join the English sessions at the scheduled times: https://zoom.us/j/598994117

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Meyer Sound Mexico will host a Spanish language session at the same time. To join, click the Spanish-language Zoom link at the scheduled times: https://zoom.us/j/439882997

Sessions run approximately one hour, are complimentary, and no registration required. Upcoming training sessions are listed in the Meyer Sound events calendar at https://www.facebook.com/meyersoundlabs

The webinars are recorded and archived on YouTube at www.youtube.com/thinkingsound.

Just Add Power will be holding its Spring Webinar Series April 14-16. Hosted by Brian Sandifer, regional sales director at Just Add Power, and Juan Pablo Garcia, technical manager at Polaris Controls, and designed for customers who are new to the company’s products and training, the free webinars will explore the capabilities of Just Add Power’s solutions. Each session will conclude with a Q&A period.

“While our on-site training program is on hiatus due to the COVID-19 crisis, we thought it was a good time to offer a series of webinars that provide a primer on Just Add Power products for installers who are less familiar with our solutions,” said Taft Stricklin, sales team manager at Just Add Power. “The sessions are free, and there is no cap on attendees, so be sure to join Brian and Juan to learn about a wide range of topics and get any questions you have answered.” 

Related: AVIXA Opens Online Training Through June 12

In the “What Makes Just Add Power Unique?” and “Just Add Power Overview” webinars, Sandifer will outline the differences between Just Add Power and other AV-over-IP solutions, discuss the features of the company’s product line, and share tips and tricks to make installations simple. Garcia will present “Luxul & Just Add Power” in Spanish. In the session, he will discuss how the integration of the companies’ solutions keeps video distribution simple.

Webinar Schedule:

What Makes Just Add Power Unique?         

April 14 and 16, 4-5 p.m. EDT         

Topics covered: IGMP vs. VLAN switching; video walls vs. tiling

Luxul & Just Add Power (in Spanish)          

April 15 and 16, 12-1 p.m. EDT       

Topics Covered: Networking, matrixing, and distribution

Just Add Power Overview    

April 15; 4-5 p.m. EDT          

Topics Covered: Product basics and new tips and tricks

Just Add Power will resume its on-site training program when it is safe to do so. In the interim, the company’s technical support team is available by phone or email for installers requiring assistance.

Registration for the webinars is available here.  

AVIXA is opening online training to all AV professionals, regardless of membership level. Effective immediately, the association is waiving online access fees and Elite seat limitations through June 12. 

"AVIXA, continues to make your education and professional growth a priority during a time when events and projects are put on hold," the association said in a statement. "We invite you to take advantage of AVIXA’s deep educational content to learn new topics, work toward CTS certification, or earn CTS‑RUs if already CTS certified—even if you are home."

Related: Harman to Offer Free Training

Related: Kramer Offers Industry Training

Related: Extron Announces Free Online Certifications, Extron Institute Classes

The trainings include selections like CTS Prep Online, Audio Troubleshooting, and Choosing USB-C for HD Video Transport. Instructor-led training, such as skills credentials and virtual classrooms, are not included. If you are not an AVIXA member, you can sign up as a free basic member to take advantage of the offerings.

Click here to access the training offerings.

It’s one thing to deploy sophisticated AV technology that promises to streamline an organization’s processes and allow it to rise to the top of its category—it’s quite another to get people to use it. All too often, companies integrate new systems that are never leveraged, largely because no one asked the real end users about their actual needs, (which the new AV investment doesn’t meet). In other cases, the training that end users require in order to be able to operate the new tech wasn’t adequate, or didn’t exist at all. If a tech manager is to get an acceptable ROI out of a new deployment, user adoption is necessary.

Related: Making a Case for Tech Upgrades

Related: Pros, Cons of Deploying Cutting-Edge Tech

One factor that hinders adoption is an issue that AV integrators have been struggling with throughout their history: they’re often brought into construction projects late in the game. Kay Sargent, senior principal and director of workplace at HOK, a global architecture, design, and engineering firm headquartered in St. Louis, said that this compromises how the systems will be able to perform. “Today, when our clients are asking us for seamless integration, that really means that [AV] needs to be brought in early on in the process, and it needs to be well thought out,” she said. “As designers, we have often seen where our clients want something, and you get down the line and the AV people come in and they can’t provide the right solution because of the configuration of the room or the confines of the space.” For example, ceiling heights may be too low to accommodate adequate sight lines and sound reinforcement, or the dimensions of the space may prohibit the correct equipment configuration. “We really believe strongly that AV is something that needs to be brought in very early, not only so it can be seamless, but so the design of the spaces is appropriate from the beginning so that the AV can be more successful.”

It’s also necessary to conduct a thorough examination of what kinds of gatherings specific spaces are destined to accommodate, Sargent noted—and this goes far beyond deciding how many people a room will hold. “So many meeting rooms are designed simply for PowerPoint presentations, [and] they’re not really designed for equal input, or ideation, or posting things up, or encouraging people to get up and move around,” she said. Not all meeting rooms should look alike, she said, explaining that while some may be better off with a traditional, formal design featuring a conference table, others might work better if they were furnished with couches, or even an array standing-height tables. “You need to truly understand: what is the gathering type that is happening? That will then determine the configuration of the room, and that also then determines the configuration of the AV and what you need.”

Establishing the desired business outcome of the AV deployment also plays a role in adoption, noted Rob Gilfillan, president of Cenero LLC, an AV/IT/UC systems design and integration firm headquartered in Malvern, PA. “There are so many things that we have in the workplace that just function and we know what the intrinsic value of it is because it just exists, like a phone, or a copier, or a printer,” he said. “But video and UC are very different; it’s definitely not an ‘if you build it, they will come’ type of thing.” The larger focus should not be on what these systems do, but why this investment is being made. “You’ve really got to flesh out what the real outcome is—what the goals and objectives are and what’s measurable—to make sure that when you finish the deployment, there are actually some measurable KPIs that tell you yes, this has been successful, or no, it hasn’t. The fact that it’s got a green light—that it’s got pulse and power—doesn’t mean that it was a successful deployment and it’s adding value to the business.” 

Dr. S. Ann Earon, founding chairperson of IMCCA and president of TRI Inc., a technology consulting firm based in Waretown, NJ, urges tech managers to exchange with their users to learn about where and how they work. “It’s a combination of: Are they happy with the environment in which they work? Are they frustrated with communications not necessarily just internally, but with partners, suppliers, and customers?” These conversations will direct the design of a more people-focused workplace, she said. “You can ask things like: ‘What needs to be improved with the way you communicate? What annoys you about your work environment? Of the technologies we’ve already deployed for you, which do you use and like? Which don’t you bother using, and why not?’”

Also at the user level, Sargent encourages tech managers to, as she puts it, assess the “digital fitness” of the people that will be utilizing the AV systems that are being deployed. “In a lot of cases, what we’re finding is that a lot of the technology that people want to put into solutions is more sophisticated than what is needed, or what the users are ready for,” she said. She likens this to a Jaguar: it’s a high-performance car with a number of fine-tuned feature sets, but she wouldn’t necessarily allow a 16-year-old to drive one. “Digital fitness can vary significantly in an organization, and there are a whole lot of tools that are out there that people are barely even using because they don’t understand how to use them. I think a part of it is understanding: what is the digital fitness of the users? And what is actually needed? Just because we can do stuff doesn’t necessarily mean people want to.”

Another roadblock to user adoption is when new technologies are deployed without adequate user-facing communication. “All of a sudden they get into an environment—let’s say it’s a video room—and things don’t work the same way,” Earon illustrated. “Well, that’s because IT has upgraded things, but they haven’t communicated the upgrade to the users.” This scenario combines two problems: inadequate information-gathering prior to the deployment, and communication during and afterward. “And they can’t do it once—they can’t say, ‘We sent out one notice and everybody should have read it,’ because it doesn’t work that way.”

Earon believes that when tech managers invest the time in understanding their users and how they work, the user/tech relationship will evolve into something much more productive. “They will be looked at as the people that solve issues for [users],” she said. “Then when they want to introduce a new technology, they have a group of champions they can go to: ‘This is what you told me you wanted us to do. Here’s how we’re going to do it—will you trial it for me?’” In most cases, she said, the answer will be affirmative, “and that’s how they then work out the bugs in whatever may have been deployed.” 

For Sargent, the ideal way to drive AV adoption is to bring architects, designers, IT executives, and AV professionals together from the outset, giving everyone the opportunity to deliver systems that users will take advantage of. “The digital and physical worlds are running on parallel paths right now, but they’re about to collide,” she said. “Right now, there are not a lot of venues where IT, AV, and architects all come together—architects tend to go off to their meetings, designers go to their furniture shows, and AV people go to theirs. What we need to do is really start bringing them all together to come up with smarter solutions.”

Avoid AV as an Afterthought

Gilfillan noted that while AV and conferencing is much less an afterthought than it was in the past, not all organizations understand the value of upfront preparation pre-deployment in the interest of driving adoption.

“Companies that have never gone through the growing pains—that have never done this and failed at it—end up going down a path where they don’t spend a lot of time on it and they don’t understand the importance of it,” he said. “Companies that have gone through this—and that have seen what can happen if they don’t spend enough time on it in terms of thinking about how the systems correlate to each other, and service and process protocol, and escalations, and the importance of data in an enterprise and how people are using it—they know it’s worth spending time on it, and they understand how important it is to flesh out the business objectives.”

Carolyn Heinze is a freelance writer/editor. 

Extron recently announced it is waiving the fees for its online certifications. In addition, it is conducting free live online instructor-led Extron Institute classes to help technology professionals who are working remotely.

[Harman to Offer Free Training]

Extron online training has always been free and AV professionals now have an opportunity to earn their AV Associate or Extron Control Specialist certification without charge. Online Extron training and certification programs are available via any platform. The courses cover a wide range of in-depth AV technology topics and all of them provide additional opportunities to earn required industry certification Renewal Units. Extron recently added live, instructor-led Extron Institute classes designed to help participants master 4K AV technologies in a weeklong series of two-hour sessions. The student-instructor ratio is kept low to enhance the student experience.

"We are very excited to offer these award-winning certifications and live classes at no charge to help AV professionals stay on top of their game while working from home," said Casey Hall, vice president of worldwide sales and marketing for Extron. "Extron certification is recognized worldwide and our online courses provide the best technology training, as well as the latest on trends and best practices, in the industry."

Extron online training and certification offerings include:

• NEW - Live Online Instructor-Led Training (seating is limited)
• AV Principles Course
• AV Associate Online Certification
• Extron Control Specialist Online Certification
• ProDSP Specialist Online Certification
• Extron Video Resources
• Publication Review Program

For complete details on courses and how to register, click here. 

Disguise has launched “disguise OnDemand,” a virtual hub that features access to free training and webinars exploring key features and elements of the disguise workflow. Held in multiple languages, multiple times a day, the platform will feature exclusive content, including the opportunity for the community to take part in specialist discussions on key industry topics, and hear from customers during spotlight discussions on show-stopping case studies.

[Disguise Adds AR Enhancements in Designer r17.1]

Designed as a place for the community to learn and keep up to date on all things regarding disguise, free online training sessions take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They are planning on running a condensed version of the Fundamental and Pre-Production Workflows Training, broken down into a series of six one-hour sessions where attendees can learn the core features, including the timeline, stage, configuring output feeds, and how to set up devices. 

As part of a wider initiative to reach out to the disguise community, disguise is also offering the Designer software free until September, and giving a series of discounted USB dongle giveaways, as well as partnering with Notch on a “codemeter” dongle sharing scheme, allowing more people to access to both their software. 

“We understand this is a really hard time for our industry, and disguise is committed to doing what we can to support our community of freelancers, partners, and customers across the globe,” said Fernando Kufer, CEO at disguise. “These initiatives are vital to support our community and key industries, enabling more people to access our software, and learn new ways to maximize efficiencies. We’re looking forward to joining forces and hearing from our users.”

Harman Professional Solutions has launched a new Learning Sessions eLearning program offered for free in conjunction with Harman Pro University.

The Learning Sessions—along with the Live Workshop Series—provide a range of free, on-demand, and instructor-led webinars hosted by professionals from around the world. 

The Industry Expert workshops feature tips and tricks from front of house engineers, lighting designers, technicians, and other industry experts, while the Harman Expert workshops feature in-depth product and solution webinars by Harman product specialists.

“We are thrilled to offer these free resources to help professionals in our industry connect and further their skill sets from the comfort of their own homes,” said Steve Mathis, senior manager, Harman Professional University. “The Live Workshop Series provides people with a way to learn about the latest equipment and techniques directly from the experts.”

Nearly 30 courses will be uploaded in April, including six Live Workshop Series courses currently available for registration with topics covering live sound and pro lighting. Many more courses are in production for release in the coming months.

• April 1—Microphone Applications For Stage And Sound with Chris Pyron
• April 7—Lighting for Churches: Live and Video with Lucas Jameson and Chris Pyron
• April 9—Audio Challenges in Esports with Cameron O’Neill
• April 15—Special Martin Lighting Product Launch with Markus Klüesener
• April 16—Lighting Programming Workshop with Susan Rose
• April 23—Performance Manager: Beginner to Expert with Nowell Helms

To  learn more or to register, visit pro.harman.com/lp/learning-sessions

Kramer is now offering free access to its online Kramer Academy courses.

“Education is one of the fundamental pillars of our industry," said Clint Hoffman, CEO, Kramer US. "Until further notice, Kramer is pleased to offer its online Academy curriculum to pro AV professionals at no cost. Many of these courses carry CTS Renewal Units as well. We are hoping that people will take advantage of these educational offerings to enrich their AV knowledge during these difficult times.”

Available courses include:

• AV Fundamentals
• Secure Wireless Presentation
• AV over IP A to Z
• Audio
• Control

For more information, visit kramerav.com/us/academy

Powersoft has ramped up its investment and capacity to deliver online training courses worldwide in a bid to mitigate the increasing difficulties in organizing face-to-face meetings and group sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions.

Starting on March 17,  Powersoft will provide more e-learning content and extensive distance learning tools to customers and users alike. Building on its existing e-learning and e-training courses, each course will be conducted by Powersoft trainers and application engineers. These one hour long interactive sessions are free of charge and can be joined by customers and users around the world who want to increase their knowledge and capabilities of Powersoft products and software.

All training sessions will be divided by regions (APAC, EMEA, CALA, and NA), available in Spanish and English language, and will be hosted by Powersoft’s application engineers: Davide Quarto and Thiago Terra for the EMEA region, Raymond Tee for APAC, Thiago Terra for CALA, and Rick Woida for North America.

“In these challenging times, we wanted to make sure that our clients and users receive the same level of professionalism and support from us," Powersoft’s business development manager Marc Kocks said. "We have put a number of measures in place, from production to after sale services, and while we are already offering online training on a regular basis, we decided to further increase and generalize their adoption.”

For more information on these sessions, email training@powersoft.it or visit powersoft-audio.com/en/educational/online-training-eng.

To stay up to date with the impact of coronavirus on pro AV, subscribe to our enews. 

Varjo Technologies, provider of industrial-grade VR/XR headsets, has announced a cooperation agreement for technical and business collaboration with Lenovo. The new partnership will create Certified for Varjo pairings on Lenovo desktop and mobile workstations for all Varjo head-mounted displays (HMDs). This combines world-leading professional VR/XR products with powerful, high-end computers, enabling enterprise organizations to adopt and implement VR use cases more quickly. 

[Behind Varjo's ‘Human Eye Resolution’ VR Headset]

“Our partnership with Lenovo helps drive a monumental shift in enterprise usage of immersive technologies,” said Timo Toikkanen, president and COO at Varjo. “Combining our products with Lenovo’s pioneering enterprise portfolio products into readymade bundles eases adoption hurdles and quickly gives organizations the tools they need to start taking advantage of the many benefits of virtual reality.”

Professional VR applications including research, training and simulation, industrial design, and more require the most powerful and sophisticated technologies in order to create a valuable user experience. Varjo’s human-eye resolution VR devices, matched with the processing and compute power found in Lenovo’s workstation portfolio products, push the limits of spatial computing forward and deliver the most natural visual experience for exploring and interacting with high-resolution models and simulations.

“When you’re looking for the ultimate VR and XR viewing experience, you look for the only human-eye resolution display available,” said Rob Herman, general manager, Workstation and Client AI at Lenovo. “The technology Varjo brings to the table is extremely sophisticated and requires professional workstation power to bring that clarity to life. That’s why I’m excited to see the partnership between Varjo and Lenovo come to life after months of development and collaboration—certifying several desktop and mobile workstation configurations across our ThinkStation and ThinkPad P Series portfolio. This certification ensures the highest-quality experience for professional applications—spanning across automotive, simulation, training, architectural visualization, and more.”

This global partnership announcement comes on the heels of Varjo’s recent launch of two VR headsets: the VR-2 and the VR-2 Pro.

In the AV industry, there are no specific degrees, formal education tracks, or comprehensive training programs that truly prepare someone for a successful career. While our industry associations and manufacturers offer training and certifications, the content is incomplete and not easily accessible. Ranging from broad-stroke knowledge to details that are technical tasks or role specific, to information biased toward certain technologies or equipment, the spectrum of educational offerings that currently exists within the AV industry is difficult to digest. There are a lack of go-to resources available for neophytes seeking knowledge, training, and career development for roles such as engineers, technicians, programmers, project managers, salespeople, and administrative professionals.

While the challenge of finding new talent and attracting young people to the industry may be paramount, providing effective training and the ability to bring newcomers up to speed quickly and efficiently or offer a pathway for those within the industry to advance is perhaps of even greater importance. It makes sense that the technical side of the AV industry is the natural focus for curriculum development, knowledge, and training resources and that a greater number of avenues exist for development in these areas. However, no single resource provides a turnkey solution for development of talent. What needs to be considered is the importance of general business knowledge, understanding of industry roles and responsibilities, and development of professional skills for any position within an organization, whether technical or nontechnical. Aside from the challenge of identifying and recruiting new talent, it is the absence of comprehensive training and educational resources limiting skills and professional development that serve as the greater obstacle to businesses and organizations looking to grow. 

[Tips for Finishing Strong on Your Project]

Instead of investing in those new to the industry, the default strategy for many businesses and organizations has been to pursue an industry veteran or reinvent a retread who requires minimal training or education to get up to speed. What makes this situation worse is what is often overlooked: many veteran AV professionals who have had years of experience and success in one organization require a sharpening of knowledge, a re-tuning of approach, and a commitment to learning new skills in order to be successful in another organization. What can be more concerning is overcoming ingrained habits and needing to learn modern technology, yielding an advantage to candidates from the younger generation. 

There is no doubt that one of the biggest challenges that the AV industry faces is bringing in new people, but without a pathway for effective training, how does someone new to the industry get up to speed or advance? 

Here are some ideas that should be considered for developing talent within an AV business or end-user organization:

Develop Your Own Internal Training Program

Each leader, team, or enterprise has their own unique set of rules and processes that define them. A learned skill or practice is likely to be applied differently in varying environments and situations. Providing guidelines and reference material in the form of standard operating procedures (SOPs) will help newcomers to an organization get acclimated and up to speed quicker. With the abundance of options to create video for the purposes of training, tutorial, or enhanced communication, the ability to create a reference library for instruction simply requires planning and willingness to explore new solutions. Additionally, any time live trainings or webinars are offered formally or informally within an organization, they should be recorded and stored. A 30-minute recorded video can serve as many hours of instruction to future viewers.

Connect with a Mentor or Mentee

On-the-job learning is likely the most valuable way of developing skills and gaining tribal knowledge. One of the best ways to do so is by learning from others’ experiences, and most importantly, their mistakes. The bigger the error, the more lessons learned! Finding and building a relationship with a mentor provides an incredibly valuable opportunity to learn. Especially in a niche industry like AV, each individual develops their own knowledge database from their unique journey that they rely upon for problem solving, decision making, and navigating their career. The ability to either work alongside a mentor and/or tap into a mentor’s knowledge database will accelerate learning and growth and minimize undesirable outcomes. On the flip side, having a mentee provides a mentor the opportunity to refresh knowledge and see things through a new lens, while leaving both parties feeling rewarded by acquiring new knowledge or skills passed up from the mentee to the mentor.

Empower Individuals to Learn Independently

Training cannot be the sole responsibility of any one party or individual. It requires effort and contribution on all fronts. While businesses and organizations need to allot time for training and professional growth, individuals receiving training need to do their part in investing in the process through personal development, self study, and bettering themselves. Embarking on personal projects, pursuing opportunities to learn new skills, volunteering within the industry, and pushing oneself outside of a comfort zone are all opportunities for growth and development and activities that will yield great results. In order to be effective, the benefit of training requires use and repetition of skills, similar to working out in a gym. Constant iteration and improvement are the only ways to become stronger and fitter. 

Hire a Coach, Consultant, or Training Resource

One thing that is certainly true is that virtually no one in the AV industry is successful entirely on their own. It’s very difficult to exist in a bubble. Seeking knowledge form others is critical. Without a go-to resource for learning specific skills or reference for information, the ability to grow is severely inhibited. Many can exist for some time doing what has worked in the past; however, the opportunity to improve by learning a new skill, approaching a task in a new manner, or addressing a pain point with a solution rather than a workaround can be a difference maker.

Working with an outside resource like a business or professional coach, consultant, or trainer is similar to a professional athlete who hires a coach to help them rise to the top. Whether it yields a training regiment, a few helpful tips, a fresh perspective, a solution to problems, or an accountability partner, a relationship with a professional coach or consultant can change the dynamic of working independently or within an insulated environment to benefiting from the vast knowledge and experience of a highly successful talent pool. 

Since everyone learns differently, effective training needs to be a combination of classroom, independent study, opportunity to apply skills, and mentorship. Businesses and organizations need to be aware that it is not enough to simply recruit and hire talented prospects or industry veterans and rely upon the hands-off approach of industry and manufacturer trainings with expectations of high return. Instead, in order to capitalize on the investment of a quality team and ensure their success, an equal commitment needs to be made to training and professional development.

With the rate of change in technology and business, if you are not continually learning and evolving your skill set, regression of knowledge and capabilities will occur. Whether you are a newcomer or an industry veteran, access to training, education, and developmental resources is key to a successful career.

Steve Greenblatt, CTS, is president and founder of Control Concepts, a provider of specialized software and services for the audiovisual industry.

VuWall has announced its AVIXA accreditation of the VuWall Certified Specialist training program. Designed for system designers, technical sales, consultants, and field and service technicians, the training is free to qualified resellers and is offered several times each year at VuWall’s Montreal and Stuttgart locations. Resellers who complete the training can earn up to 17 renewal units (RUs) toward AVIXA’s Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) credential after successfully completing written and practical exams. 

“With the increasing demand for video wall and visualization solutions globally, we’re invested in providing AV professionals with training resources that will allow them to take advantage of these opportunities,” said Paul Vander Plaetse, CEO. “This program will give them the assurance that they need to expand their expertise confidently. They will tackle several facets that must be considered when designing, configuring, and maintaining VuWall’s video wall systems."

VuWall’s certification program includes hands-on training and is divided into three levels:

Level I: VuWall Designer (7 RUs)

Participants who take this course will be able to present VuWall's entire line of solutions to potential end users and assist in designing a video wall project, primarily for the VuWall VuScape series of video wall processors and TRx AV Network Management System. 

Level II: VuWall Field Technician (7 RUs)

This training will enable graduates to deploy and troubleshoot VuWall's line of products autonomously. By the end of this course, they will feel comfortable providing onsite technical support to end users. They can expect a deep dive into the configuration of the system for a single and redundant setup. This course also covers scripting, troubleshooting with the most common scenarios, handling updates, and licensing.

Level III: VuWall Service Specialist (3 RUs)

Level III completes the certification training, enabling graduates to feel confident in being the end user's first line of support for the VuScape and TRx series, with a much deeper understanding of the processors. This course examines the database, video card information, maintenance, installation procedures, servicing, and troubleshooting.

VuWall already has close to 40 certified VuWall specialists from 23 resellers in 20 countries. These include AVI-SPL, CBCI Telecom, Mindstec Distribution, and Solotech, among others. 

CompTIA and Google's Grow with Google initiative are teaming up to address growing employer demand for tech support specialists.

The two organizations announced Sept. 19 that they are offering a co-skilled badge of completion to individuals who successfully complete the Google IT Support Professional Certificate program and earn their CompTIA A+ certification. The dual credentialed badge can be posted on LinkedIn and used in job searches to catch the eye of potential employers.

"There are immediate employment opportunities and long-term career growth options in the tech support field for anyone with the right mix of technical and business skills," said Kelly Ricker, executive vice president for events and education at CompTIA. "The good news is that these skills are teachable; and there's no better option to learn them than through the credentialing programs offered by Google and CompTIA."

"We're excited to offer learners the chance to receive a dual credential for completing the Google IT Support Professional Certificate and CompTIA's new A+ exams," said Natalie Van Kleef Conley, Google Product Lead. "We believe that Google's hands-on program, combined with CompTIA's A+ exam, will give learners a clear path to advancing their skills and displaying their capabilities to employers."

The Google IT Support Certificate program aligns with the objectives covered by the CompTIA A+ exam, introducing learners to the fundamentals of IT support that are critical for success in the workplace, including troubleshooting, customer service, networking, operating systems, system administration and security.

Updated earlier this year, the CompTIA A+ exam focuses on the critical skills that IT professionals need to support and secure today's end points, from traditional and mobile platforms to cloud-enabled IoT devices, as well as new and emerging technologies that are changing the way businesses operate.

CompTIA A+ also stands out from other credentials through its use of performance-based exam items. Test-takers must demonstrate the ability to perform critical IT support tasks in complex IT environments, from security operations to cloud and network administration to platform support. IT professionals who become CompTIA A+ certified are prepared to be contributing team members from day one.

That level of readiness is critical for employers. Professional credentials in the IT field can give job seekers a distinct advantage, whether they're looking for their first job or a promotion from their employer.

A June 2019 white paper produced by IDC and commissioned by CompTIA examined the impact of certifications and training at different points during a tech professional's career. For example, technology professionals who are certified before their first position are 50 percent more likely to get a promotion within one year of hiring than a "never certified" worker. The whitepaper also concluded that CompTIA-certified tech professionals consistently outperform non-certified workers in most security-related and network administration activities.

Vistacom's David Jaques, director of operations, has received PSNI Global Deployment certification. This certification ensures that customers receive a standardized approach to service and integration no matter where in the world their project is located because they are working with a PSNI certified integrator. With integrators on six continents and more than 170 offices around the world, PSNI Global Alliance is a fast-growing private network of technology integrators and service providers.

“By having this certification process in place, our member's customers can be assured they’re always going to get the same standardized, superior service from region to region, country to country,” said Chris Miller, executive director of PSNI Global Alliance.

To become certified for Global Deployment, employees of the member company must pass an exam that demonstrates mastery of global audiovisual deployment practices as outlined in the PSNI Global Deployment handbook.

Skill areas include contracts, meetings, expectations, design, programming, end user training, project templates, project workflow, and more. To ensure each project strictly adheres to PSNI Global Deployment practices, PSNI integrators provide peer reviews focusing on response time, information accuracy, and whether they met or exceeded expectations. 

“We’re excited that Dave has been certified for Global Deployment with PSNI on behalf of Vistacom,” said Angela Nolan, COO, and PSNI Global Alliance Board Member. “Dave is a valuable part of our operations team, and this certification allows us to work in sync with other integrators so we can focus on the same goals for the best outcome for our customer.”

Vistacom joins an elite group of certified PSNI members. The Global Deployment Committee holds an annual peer review of each certified member company.

The SDVoE Alliance announced that it is an official AVIXA Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) Renewal Unit (RU) Provider. The online SDVoE Design Partner Program now offers AVIXA CTS RUs along with SDVoE certification. This online program, available through the SDVoE Academy, publicly recognizes experts in the creation of SDVoE systems that take advantage of AV-over-IP scalability.

The growing list of more than 300 Certified SDVoE Design Partners is published on the SDVoE Alliance website. End users interested in leveraging SDVoE technology to meet their business needs can tap into the expertise of this specialist community.

“With the future of AV being network centric, the importance of the right training, backed by AVIXA’s high standards for education, is paramount,” said Justin Kennington, president of the SDVoE Alliance. “The SDVoE Academy provides entrée into designing with products from all 41 members in the growing SDVoE ecosystem as we work together to support the alliance’s mission of transforming the matrix.”

“Organizations like the SDVoE Alliance who invest in education resources enable AV professionals to continue to grow their expertise, and in turn, propel the entire industry forward,” said Amanda Beckner, CTS, vice president of learning. “We’re thrilled that the SDVoE Alliance recognizes the value of AVIXA’s CTS program and has made this commitment.”

For more than 30 years, AVIXA has administered the CTS program, which is recognized as the leading AV professional credential. There are three CTS credentials: general (CTS), design (CTS-D), and installation (CTS-I). There are currently more than 12,000 CTS holders and over 2,000 of those are CTS-D or CTS-I holders.

To obtain approval, RU programs must feature experienced instructors with clear evidence of qualifications in the session topic. Each class must contain at least one relevant learning objective or industry-related purpose, relate to a specific exam topic area and exam level, and conclude with an assessment tool to demonstrate participants have grasped the objectives. These criteria are vigorously reviewed by AVIXA’s Certification Renewal Committee.

As the demand grows for professional training and certification in the AV-over-IP industry, Atlona has updated and expanded the quality, relevance, and value of the accredited online courses offered through the Atlona Education Portal.

Specifically, Atlona has streamlined and revised its 100 and 200 level online certification courses. These changes provide the most up-to-date instruction and information for rolling out, configuring, and using Atlona’s complete suite of AV-over-IP products and solutions. Atlona has also added new accredited courses for its Velocity IP-based control AV control platform.

“This update aligns with the evolution of Atlona as a company, as we help our customers transition from foundational HDMI and HDBaseT technologies to IP networks,” said Ken Eagle, director of field training and technical sales, Atlona. “AV professionals will now gain comprehensive knowledge, tools, and industry best practices on the entire end-to-end process. This spans the design, rollout, and integration of AV-over-IP systems, as well as setup, management, and control of the underlying AV network.

The Atlona Education Portal is one of many training resources Atlona offers. Atlona’s overarching goals are to teach established and aspiring AV industry professionals how to maximize the company’s AV and control solutions, as well as the broader array of AV-over-IP technologies on the market today. Atlona also offers a video on demand Education Video Library and periodic webinars.

For those seeking more personalized training and hands-on product experience, Atlona will offer eight Atlona AV Factory Training events in 2019, including four to be held at its San Jose, CA headquarters. Internationally, Atlona will offer four multi-lingual events at its Zurich facility in English, French, or German. Eagle expects to also announce up to 18 dates for Atlona’s 2019 Roadshow.

Atlona’s current course offerings has been updated to include 100-Technology Specialist, 200-Atlona Certified Technology, AV-over-IP-Technical Networking Certification, and Velocity Control Certification. The newly revised course materials, as well as quizzes and tests, have been approved for AVIXA and CEDIA certifications and credits. These credentials, which are awarded upon completion of a course or program, signify the qualifications achieved by AV professionals, and are especially valuable to those seeking to advance within the industry. 

“We’re offering free, award-winning training, industry accreditation, and occasionally, an opportunity to win rewards such as select Atlona products,” said Eagle. “Most importantly, AV professionals acquire an invaluable understanding of the key technologies that empower the networked AV user community.”

The Atlona Education Portal is accessible to anyone here. 

Kramer is bringing its in-person Kramer Control Certification to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area on March 20. Held at the Courtyard Minneapolis St Paul/Roseville, attendees will learn how to configure and program a Kramer Control system—all in one day.

“Kramer US is excited to once again be conducting our training classes around the nation, on the latest solutions in our ever-growing product portfolio,” said Clint Hoffman, Kramer US CEO.

The training is free to attend, but space is limited so Kramer encourages integrators to register as soon as possible. Attendees are eligible to earn AVIXA RUs at the event. More information on the Minneapolis event can be found here. 

For a full listing of Kramer Academy trainings, visit https://www.kramerav.com/us/academy/overview.