Remote-ready classrooms for Fall 2021

Example remote-ready lectern with installed webcam and document camera

In-person classes are resuming in Fall 2021. There will be a continuing need to provide flexibility for remote instructors, staff, and students.

OIT Classroom Technologies prioritized readiness for Fall 2021, ensuring that general assignment classrooms are equipped to facilitate a blended environment of in-person and remote instruction.

General assignment classrooms have been equipped with web and document cameras that can be used with the lectern computer for lecture capture and live streaming.

Additional microphones for both amplification and audio capture have also been added to classrooms that did not previously include that equipment (particularly smaller classrooms).

General Assignment Classrooms

OIT Classroom Technologies manages the equipment in all general assignment classrooms. We include detailed information about equipment, layout, and more for each classroom.

Web & document cameras

Example document camera

Each general assignment classroom’s lectern PC is now equipped with an installed web camera that works Zoom and YuJa.

Audio can be captured from the webcam or the triangle microphone mounted to every lectern. In most cases, the webcam will be attached to the monitor and can be repositioned by slightly adjusting the monitor. In some cases, the webcam can be pointed to a whiteboard.

Document cameras are connected to the lectern computer. Instructors can use software on the lectern computer to display the document camera on the desktop, which then allows the document camera to be projected on the screen for the benefit of in-person attendees while simultaneously being captured by YuJa or sent through Zoom for recordings and live remote attendees.

There is also a setting in Zoom to share the document camera directly as a “Screen Share.” The document camera can be positioned from a down-facing view to a front-facing view, which may also be helpful as a more portable web camera for group work or to capture writing on a whiteboard.

We now provide a general guide for working with web cameras, document cameras, Zoom, and/or YuJa in general assignment classrooms and have updated each individual classroom’s information page to include further details.

Important note about personal devices (e.g. laptops)

The webcams and document cameras are installed and configured for use with the lectern computers. The equipment connected to the lectern computer cannot be connected to a personal device (e.g. laptop).

Instructors who want to use the webcam and/or document camera provided by Classroom Technologies will need to use the installed lectern computer. Instructors who prefer to use a personal device will need to provide or arrange to borrow separate peripheral equipment (see: equipment rental).

Microphones

Example lavalier microphone

In past years/quarters, shared microphones have been provided in large general assignment classrooms.

Instructors who use wireless microphones in large classrooms will now be able to check out a personal microphone (lavalier mic) for the duration of the quarter in order to reduce the need to share devices that come in close personal contact with others.

Live streaming and recording

Instructors who are using Zoom to live-stream their courses from their classrooms can use Zoom’s built-in recording. Instructors who are not using Zoom can still record their classes using YuJa.

Instructors teaching in selected lecture halls can also request automatic, scheduled YuJa recording.

Learn more about Zoom

Learn more about YuJa

Equipment Loans

Instructors who do not want to use shared microphones provided in general assignment classrooms can now request a personal microphone for the quarter.

Other Spaces

Individual schools and departments maintain a number of specialized classrooms. These spaces are not general assignment assignment classrooms, but are reserved for use in relevant programs. The equipment in these spaces is provided, maintained, and supported by the individual school or department. Instructors who are teaching in spaces other than general assignment classrooms are strongly encouraged to work with their school or department IT to ensure their technology needs are met.

Questions

For questions about classroom technology and blended in-person/remote teaching in Fall 2021, please contact us.