18: Out of the Box | brAVe [skills]

June 16, 2026

Higher Ed AV Awards 2026 Recap

The 2026 Higher Education AV Awards saw a record number of submissions, with strong work across institutions, manufacturers, and integrators. The field was competitive in nearly every category, with projects pushing classroom design, infrastructure, and support models forward. This year’s group reflects a clear shift toward more reliable, scalable, and practical AV environments in higher education. Read More

Articles, Content, News

My Take: Higher Education Summit 2026 Day 2 Part 2

Andrew Vogel reflects on Day 2 of the HETMA Higher Education Summit at InfoComm 2026, focusing on the systems, training models, and talent pipelines shaping the future of higher ed AV. From Jennifer Weaver’s challenge to the “sink or swim” mindset to practical frameworks for student worker development, this recap highlights how intentional structure and mentorship can scale what works across institutions. Read More

My Take : Higher Education Summit Day 2 Part 1

Written by Chris Kelly, this summary of the Higher Ed Education Summit at InfoComm 2026 looks at how campus AV teams can build standards that scale. From keynote themes to lightning talks, breakouts, and ScreenBeam’s sponsor perspective, the day focused on making good learning experiences repeatable through practical standards, stronger documentation, remote support, and refresh planning. Read More

My Take: Higher Education Summit 2026 Day 1

In this recap from Teddy Murphy, Day 1 of the HETMA Higher Ed Summit focused on what inclusive design actually looks like in practice. From keynote conversations about belonging and universal access to practical sessions on audio intelligibility, captioning, and real-world system design, the day balanced big-picture thinking with actionable takeaways. The strongest moments came from shared conversations, where higher ed AV professionals worked through real challenges together and reinforced a simple idea: inclusive technology is not a future goal, it is work we should already be doing. Read More

Spotlight on St. Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FL | Campus Spotlight

Kyle Bell walks through how St. Petersburg College supports 550+ classrooms across 10 campuses with a highly standardized, remotely managed AV approach. From a 15-minute response guarantee to a custom monitoring system that flags issues before anyone reports them, this is a practical look at scale, simplicity, and what it takes to keep spaces running with a team of one. If you want to see this environment up close, check out the St. Pete Roadshow at SPC on November 6. It’s a full day of networking, campus tours, and hands-on demos with manufacturers. Read More

Content, Features

337: The One To Start InfoComm 2026 | The AV Life Podcast

Recorded on June 11, 2026: This week’s AV Life Podcast is the one to start InfoComm 2026! Join our full panel of hosts Tim Van Woeart, Nancy Blanchard, Murphy Daley, Brandy Johnson, Joe Way, and James King as they welcome guests Michael Gunderson of Highland Community College and Steve Borho. The lively conversation includes reflections... Read More

Content, Media

Eleven Audio Lessons I Wish Someone Had Taught Me Earlier | Sound Perspective

In this Sound Perspective, Teddy Murphy shares eleven audio lessons he wishes he had learned earlier in his career. From microphone placement and gain structure to acoustics and troubleshooting philosophy, the focus stays on practical fundamentals that make systems easier to support and easier to use. Read More

June 14, 2026

2026 Higher Ed AV Awards Finalists: The People

Higher Ed AV Awards Finalists: The People The 2026 Higher Ed AV Awards are coming to #InfoComm25 this Monday at the Cabaret Theater at the Westgate Hotel, on Monday, June 15, 2026! The finalists for the “People Awards”are out. Help us congratulate our esteemed finalists who helped define the higher ed vertical over the previous... Read More

Content, News

June 12, 2026

My Take : Zoom EDU Summit at Notre Dame

Troy Powers takes a step back to reflect on the Zoom EDU Summit at Notre Dame, looking at more than just the sessions. From the structure of the event to the sense of place on campus, he highlights the conversations, connections, and small moments that often matter most in higher ed AV. Read More

June 12, 2026

My Take: NW/MET 2026 – Learning, Community, and a Look at What’s Next

In this recap of NW/MET 2026, Teddy Murphy reflects on a conference that stood out for its strong sense of community, practical sessions, and opportunities to connect. From campus tours to conversations with peers, the experience reinforced the value of learning from one another in higher education technology. Read More