Recently, the first 5G smart classrooms entered use at the Open University of China (OUC), marking the introduction of a new generation of digital technologies, including 5G, AI, and big data, into classrooms. The visual impact of the huge touchscreens, and the experience of high tech such as 5G distance interaction in 4K, intelligence-assisted teaching, flipped classrooms, and other novelties, make teachers and students feel as if the campus of the future has arrived.

With the government promoting use of high tech in education, the OUC has contributed with 5G smart classrooms as one of the demonstration projects. According to the personnel involved, these classrooms combine 5G, AI and big-data technology, and use cutting-edge smart-classroom systems and advanced hardware. The 5G network of China UNICOM enables students to access the university’s high-quality teaching resources in place and with low latency.

What has amazed teachers and students the most is the way these classrooms are able to give real-time feedback on points that are under-explained, issues that arouse the most interest, and other details of classes, providing them with targeted and data-based support.

In the future, the OUC will collaborate with the external partners and explore further applications of digital technologies so as to continue to enhance smart-campus capabilities.

By He Yuanjing, OUC