About Sheldon College
Sheldon College is an independent college located in the beautiful Redland Bay area of South East Queensland. The school caters to 15 month-olds and up to students in year 12.
This state-of-the-art school boasts the latest technology infrastructure, business entrepreneurial suites, modern library, resource centers, and more. Sheldon College has integrated industry facilities and training opportunities across the campus as part of their strategic vision and curricular priorities.
One major curriculum-building project has been the construction of a truly collaborative learning precinct. The Learning and Innovation for a New Queensland Precinct (LINQ) is designed to provide opportunities for collaboration among the curricular areas of Business and Enterprise, Computer Aided Design (3D Printing, Robotics, and Engineering) Film & Television, and Online Media Production.
Challenge
Sheldon College was looking for a way to encourage collaborative thinking and enhance their students’ learning experiences. They wanted to make presenting and sharing content in the classroom easier and more efficient. One of their principle challenges was compatibility due to their Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy for the students.
The devices students bring to school have replaced traditional pen and paper. Ideas are hashed out and classwork is now completed with multimedia.
“We needed a solution for the wireless connectivity of the students’ portable media devices,” said Julian Stirling, Design Manager for Integration Partners Australia, the Brisbane-based pro AV integrator on the project. The students’ devices include iOS and Android Tablets, Windows and Mac notebooks and laptops. With a variety of operating platforms and release versions, the system designers had a complex hurdle to overcome — until VIA entered the picture.
Solution
To help further develop their training programs, Integration Partners Australia and Kramer installed VIA Collage. VIA Collage became an integral element of the new LINQ Precinct training facility. The integrator chose the solution after comparing multiple products on the market.
“We tested and evaluated a number of the leading brands of wireless collaboration systems, and the VIA Collage was chosen as the best of its kind currently on offer,” he added.
The integrator and Sheldon College worked together to install the AV system for the new building. The building includes ten collaborative classrooms, a fully equipped TV production studio with satellite editing suites, and a lecture theatre that doubles as a digital 7.1 cinema and performing arts space. Outside the building is a huge video wall that showcases the learning activities happening inside. Several centralized Kramer VIA Collage units are integrated into the design and are available to all students as a shared resource.
Results
“We particularly liked the quality and responsiveness of the live video scaling, the ease of set-up and use across all device platforms, the high build quality, and general affordability,” said Stirling.
This installation marked a shift from the traditional approach of the teacher’s PC projected at the classroom to a more immersive collaborative environment. Students can now participate more interactively, sharing ideas and information with the class straight from their own devices.
This is transforming how students learn and prepare for 21st century working environments.
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
