by Gerard Anazia, Mokai Balogun, and Cassie Pineda

Background Information.
Portal Learning is a non-profit program at DaVinci’s Connect High School in El Segundo, that connects high school students with real-world work experiences through internships, mentorships, and career workshops. The Portal Learning program aims to bridge the gap between education and employment, empowering students with practical skills and industry insights. Portal Learning is based in the Global Headquarters of Belkin International, a worldwide global accessories leader delivering award-winning power, protection, productivity, connectivity, and audio products over the last 40 years.

Project Overview.
In the Portal Learning classroom, students often faced significant technology challenges during their study sessions and presentation preparations. The primary issue was the lack of accessible charging solutions for their computers and phones, leading to constant interruptions and scrambling for available power outlets. This hindered students' productivity and ability to focus on their academic work. Without reliable access to power, students struggled to maintain their devices' functionality, directly impacting their learning experience and overall academic performance.

Challenge.
How could Belkin increase productivity in a modern classroom, such as Portal, that operates in a fast-paced mixed environment in which the students and instructors are constantly moving between small to large groups within the space?

Solution.
Leveraging insights gathered from a 2-week in-person assessment and additional student-led survey, Belkin identified four products across the brand’s education portfolio that would address the classroom’s charging needs: the BoostCharge Pro 4-Port GaN Charger, the 3-Outlet Power Cube, the 12-Outlet Surge Protector, and various BoostCharge charging cables. Additionally, Belkin provided SoundForm Adapt headphones for virtual collaborations when needed, and a Multiport to HDMI Adapter for student and instructor presentations, making it easy for presenters to share their screens from MacBook, Chromebook, and tablets.

• The BoostCharge 4-Port GaN Charger delivers fast charging speeds for laptops and tablets through its 60W/96W USB-C port, and for smartphones through its 30W USB-C port. Additionally, it provides standard charging for smartwatches and earbuds with 2 USB-A ports. Leveraging Gallium nitride (GaN) technology, it’s able to deliver high power safely and efficiently.
• The 3-Outlet Power Cube adds an additional 3 AC outlets for charging devices – laptops, smartphones, tablets, etc. – at the highest power with wall charger/power supply. It also includes 3 USB-A ports for standard charging up to 12W.
• The 12-Outlet Surge Protector extends protected power for up to 12 devices. Students can optimally charge their devices by directly plugging their chargers into the surge protector.
• The SoundForm Adapt is equipped with a boom mic and environmental noise cancellation to ensure that the student’s voice is clearly heard on calls without the background classroom chatter. It works wired or wirelessly with 65 hours of battery life on a full charge.
• The Multiport to HDMI Adapter connects Mini DisplayPort, USB-C, HDMI, and VGA inputs to an HDMI display. It is a single cable solution that eliminates the need for multiple single-point adapters from varying devices that cause clutter and are easily misplaced.
• A variety of cables – BoostCharge USB-C 240W, BoostCharge USB-C to Lightning, BoostCharge USB-A to USB-C – ensures that each student has the ideal cable for optimally charging their device.

Additionally, Belkin teams provided an infographic outlining the charging capabilities of each product, noting each port’s charging speed and which devices optimally charge with each port.

Result: Student productivity increased by 89% in 2 weeks.

Key findings.

• Usage Patterns and Preferences
• The 108W GaN Charger was preferred over the Power Cube due to its simpler design and more available ports.
• Power Cube was primarily used for charging laptops and favored for faster charging needs.
• Students showed a strong preference for USB-C over USB-A cables.
  
  
• Challenges and Observations
• The provided infographic detailing which devices and cables should be used with which ports/chargers was beneficial.
• Prior to infographic, there was a common lack of awareness among students regarding the differences between USB-C and USB-A, often leading to slower charging when using USB-A.
• Students tended to use whatever port or cable was available without understanding the optimal choices for faster charging.
• Flexibility in the placement of charging stations was appreciated as it allowed students to move around and group together as needed.
• Students typically did not consult the Quick Start Guide (QSG) for the SoundForm Adapt, instead relying on intuition for setup.
• The necessity for a USB-C cable and AUX cable for SoundForm Adapt was not clear to the users.
  
  
• Suggestions for Improvement
• A 4-Port USB-C GaN Charger would likely be more useful than a mixed USB-C/USB-A charger.

With the new charging installations in place, Portal students experienced a noticeable improvement in their day-to-day routines. They no longer had to wait for power outlets to become available. Students were able to focus more on their studies and collaborations.

Conclusion.
Belkin's initiative at Portal Learning is a testament to the power of listening to user feedback and addressing real-world problems with innovative solutions. By providing essential tech resources and education, Belkin has enabled students at Portal to enhance their learning experience and improve productivity.

The collaboration has shown positive impacts on both students and instructors, and Belkin employees, enhancing career readiness and fostering community engagement.