One-on-One with Dr. Michael Rossi

Vicom One-on-One is a new series where we sit down with an Account Executive here at Vicom and pick their brains on what’s happening in their industry. For its debut, I sat down with Dr. Michael Rossi to discuss what’s happening in education today.

Dr. Rossi is Vicom’s Education Specialist, Consultant, and Master Trainer at VIcom. Before Vicom, He has years of experience as a teacher, coach, and Headmaster/Head of School for multiple Schools and Academies that enables him to provide a unique perspective both as a technology consultant and as a previous educator.

“To think things are going to go back to the way they were – it just isn’t going to happen.”  This was the common theme in my discussion with Dr. Rossi. Referencing the challenges that remote learning brings, Dr. Rossi explains, “Teachers are being told, ‘You’ve got to do this. They’ve got the ‘how-to’ down, they’ve got the mechanics down but it’s being done on the fly.” It’s not basic knowledge of the common platforms that is the challenge (Zoom, Teams, Google, Etc.), the real challenge is to combine the right equipment with the right teacher training to replicate the classroom for the remote student.  Additionally, Dr. Rossi has discovered in talking with teachers that they would like technology solutions, both hardware and software, that allows for a more seamless and fluid integration of various educational platforms that they presently utilize in conjunction with the school/district chosen remote platform (i.e. ZOOM, Teams, etc.)

Replicating the classroom for a student learning from home is a challenge that cannot be met with an oversimplified, or one size fits all solution. Multiple components require consideration. A well-rounded solution will be customized for the classroom and combine the right hardware, software, training, and implementation that all work together to provide a student experience that is free from distraction and caters to learning.

“Many school leaders are making decisions about equipment for remote learning without fully considering the experience of the student participating remotely”. Dr. Rossi explained that the best approach for these solutions likely starts with the teacher in the classroom. Assessing what works well for them and what they wish worked better. Additionally, it would be beneficial to receive input from students or parents about areas that are working well at home and areas that need some more attention. This makes perfect sense. How can one effectively address a need without a full understanding of the current circumstances? In the same way a classroom may require specific equipment or student layout based on the unique nature of the class (Chemistry, Culinary, Math, etc.) , the technology in the classroom should be appropriate and specific to the needs of it’s teacher and students.

Once equipped with a proper understanding of what’s working and what isn’t, schools can partner with a solid technology provider to create solutions that meet the needs of each educator and their students, both in the classroom and at home. If things are indeed not reverting to the way they were, as Dr. Rossi told us at the beginning of our conversation, then it would be wise for all schools to adjust their approach and standardize on an effective and scalable long-term solution. The key to that begins with effective communication.

If you’re interested in speaking with Dr. Rossi regarding your school, please fill out the form below.