The HELM classrooms have been enhanced with the following abilities.
- Show the instructor at the podium or turn and show a view of the classroom via a web camera set on the podium.
- Capture the instructor and students via a ceiling microphone array.
The following information is meant to quickly orient you to the room as well as provide a few how to’s specific to the technology in the room.
Room Control
Use the control panel mounted on the podiums to control these aspects of the room technology.
Power On/Off (lower left) – powers on/off the projector
pointed to in picture by the green arrow (1)
Computer Inputs (top left) – selecting PC will project the computer in the classroom; selecting Laptop will project a laptop plugged into the HDMI cable.
pointed to in picture by the red arrows (2)
Volume (upper right) – up and down.
pointed to in picture by the grey arrows (3)
Audio mute (lower right) – this is used to mute the overhead audio
pointed to in picture by the yellow arrow (4)
Room Microphone
Select Dante USB Receive for audio source.
In the enhanced rooms you will see a square ceiling mounted microphone array. The array is designed to pick up the speaking from both the students in the room as well as the instructor. The input goes directly in the computer.
Room Camera
Select “Aver…” for the camera source to show the room.
The Aver camera is a point-zoom-pan camera. By default it is set to show the full front of the room.
Using the remote you may zoom and pan the camera to a desired location. Note, the location will be reset to the default when the room is powered off and then back on.
The top of the remote is pictured on the right.
Zoom in and out – use the toggle button pointed to by the yellow arrow.
Pan – use the arrow keys toward the top pointed to by the purple arrow (2).
Presets – there will be preset views configured (up to 10). You will be able to select the preset by holding down the M key in the middle and selecting the appropriate numbered key below, pointed to by the red arrows (3).
Preset 1 will by the wide shot to the front of the room.
If a preset needs to be reset, hold the M button for a count of 2 then select the number.
Auto-focus – focuses on faces. The option is set to on by default. You may turn it on and off by the button on the middle left pointed to by the green arrow (4); hold it for 4 seconds. This option is set by each user on the specific classroom computer and, currently, cannot be set globally for all users.
Camera app – the camera tool is built into Windows. You may find it by typing in the search bar in the lower left or over the Windows icon. With this tool you may show the camera while sharing your screen. You can also use it to see the status of the auto-focus toggle.
Troubleshooting
Focus - If the camera continues to focus then select the Auto-focus (4) button above to turn off the auto-focus.
Document Camera
Open the “Flex …” application on the desktop to show the document camera.
In Collaborate you can share camera or share screen/application to show the document camera in a window.
The document camera can be projected by using the application on the Desktop called Flex 11 (note, 11 is the version number and the current icon is green). It’s pointed to by the red arrow in the picture below.
When recording with Panopto (pointed to by green arrow) you want to use the above application and record the screen and do not select the doc camera as a primary source.
With Collaborate you may select the document camera in the Share Camera option (select Hover… as the source) or use the application/screen with the document camera Flex app open.
The document camera has zoom, auto-focus, and flip image controls.
Flip image – middle button on the camera.
Autofocus Lock – bottom left button on the camera.
Troubleshooting
- Image Display - If the image is displayed with an incorrect orientation see the “Flip Image” button above.
- Focus – if the focus continuously shifts then try the Autofocus lock above.
Software Tools
Collaborate – use this tool to bring students and guests in synchronously to your classroom. You may also record your session.
Panopto – use this tool to record your class for asynchronous viewing later meaning no one is joining the class during the class period or you are recording a flipped or online lesson.
VLC – use this tool to show your DVD’s.
Camera – use this tool to open the camera view in a window.
How to’s on several of these tools and how to use them can be found in Harvey in the FRC-Technology Teaching and Learning org. Contact the Faculty Resource Center (frc-help@utulsa.edu, 918-631-2056) for training with Collaborate and Panopto.
For self-help documents go to help.utulsa.edu.
Checklist for the end of class
- Power off the system unless someone is coming in after you.
- Make sure your Panopto recording is in the “processing” stage.
- Sign-off the computer.
Need help?
Classroom Support – 918-631-3500 then press 1
General Tech Support – 918-631-3500
Faculty Resource Center – 918-631-2056 (for faculty help)
Self-help – help.utulsa.edu