Classroom Technology
All of Logan’s main teaching rooms have “smart” classroom
Technologies employed. There are 5 different controllers, with the
room breakdown listed below.
The 5 System Controllers
Small Crestron touch/button panel: 156A&B, 142A&B, & Anatomy amphitheater
The following is a brief description of the different controllers set-ups, configurations,and procedures. The small Crestron button & touchpad controller-(rooms 142A & 142B, 156A & 156B & the Anatomy amphitheater). The left hand row of buttons consists of FULL LIGHTSON, PRESET 1(a good video screen viewing brightness) and OFF (all lights). The CAM1& CAM2 buttons don’t work. On the right side are the sources, PC, ELMO (doc cam), SLIDES, VCR, & DVD. While showing on the Title screen that DISTANCE LEARNING & CONFERENCING are possible selections, the Controller is not currently wired to do those options. The bar at the touchscreen top labeled PRESENTATION is what you want to select. This then allows you to pick a (right side button) source.
When any source is selected, the touchscreen then gives you access to microphone and source Program volumes, video projector (muting/unmuting) and screen control (up/down). The screen will comedown and the projectors turn on when a source is selected. When you select a source, you are then shown the machine control functions for that source on the touchscreen.
The Large Crestron Touchscreen controller-(rooms G46, G102, G105)
Touching the bottom center of the controller turns the system and projector on and lowers the screen. On the left side are sources to select.
When a source is selected, the function controls for that source are shown in the large center area. On the right is a preview window showing the source screen and below that the audio program and microphone volume. To have the selected source shown on the large class screen you must also press the PROJ to SEND TO button on the bottom center of the touchscreen. On the left hand side bottom, are ENVIRONMENT controls for projector muting, lighting presets and screen up/down. ADMIN is for AV personnel ONLY!. A HELP! screen for assistance is next down. EXIT SYSTEM is the last button, it asks if you want to shut down the system (YES/NO). When selected the projector turns off& goes into cool down mode, the screen rises, and the system isshut down.
The Small AMX button/touchscreen controller-(rooms G48, G49)
The left bank of buttons consists of fluorescent lights on, (2) canned light (video watching presets) and cans up/down in intensity. The right bank hast the sources (computer, ELMO document camera, slides,and VCR. The system “ON” button takes you to a page on the touchscreen showing mic and program volume and muting. In the lower left of the screen is “System Configure”. In this page you can select the mode of operation (normally select slide & video projectors). Select the mic you want to use (wireless or wired). And for computers select“internal” for the podium PC or “external” for a laptop. Then press the“accept configuration” button. You can now select your source. The projector should now turn on.
When you select a source the control functions for that source are shown on the touchscreen. In the screens center bottom is a green projector mute/unmute button. The “Exit” button tab on the screen takes you to a system off? Yes/No. When “yes”is selected, the system and projector are shut down, and the projector goes into cool down mode.
The Large AMX touchscreen controller-(room G107)
Touch the panel surface & the screen changes to ask a startup mode, (audio and video, or audio only). Select audio and video, and the main screen page comes on. This controller is setup identical to the large Crestron model with the left side being sources, environment,admin, help and exit. The right side has a window showing the source, the program and mic volumes, and mutes.
The main center of the screen shows the function controls for whatever source is selected. Press shut down and “Yes” to exit and shutdown the system & projector.
The Extron push button controller-(rooms G2/3, SB9, & SB10)
These have a Display ON/OFF button for turning on the system. The volume control turns up/down the source that is selected. To the right are the source select buttons for (VCR, DVD, PC, Laptop, Document Camera,& ceiling camera). The overhead camera is still going to use the function controls on it’s remote control, attached to the computer/doc cam cart.
Room Features
Sound Systems
The classrooms all have a wireless microphone (SB9, SB10, & G2/3 have 2), and most rooms have a back-up wired microphone on a podium shelf or in the drawer. When using wireless mics check that your batteries are fresh, and when finished be sure to turn the microphone transmitter (the body pack & mic you wear) OFF!, and return it to the podium.Batteries can be obtained through the Class Coordinators, Post-Grad Dept.AV helpers, or the Media Center. Speakers in the ceiling carry the sound from the room mic’s or from whichever source is selected for projection. All the controllers have a space on the touchscreens (or a knob) to adjust mic and program (VCR/DVD/PC) audio levels. Up arrows raise the volume, down arrows lowers it. Mute on mutes it. Mute off allows the source to be heard.
Reading Light
Most of our podiums have a Littlilite gooseneck reading light. The light is controlled by a knob at the base of the light. Beware! as the halogen lamps can become very hot.
LCD Projectors
In each of the rooms is a LCD/DLP video/data projector that will project the selected source (PC/Laptop, DVD, VCR-VHS, Document cam, or room camera). On many of the controllers when you turn on the system or select an input source, the projectors automatically come on, and when you select System “OFF” this shuts down the projectors as well. The projector has about a 2 minute warm up & 2-5 minute cool down time. If you know you will be using the projector warm it up ahead of time. Don’t turn the projector off unless you are through with it, as you cannot turn the projector back on during it’s cool down mode.
Projection Screens
In most rooms when the system is turned on the projection screen(s) comes down automatically, but in some rooms (i.e. G107, G48, G49) there is a wall switch in the podium area to raise or lower it.
The Podium Monitor
When a laptop, doc camera or other source is connected and selected, that source will be displayed on the podium’s computer monitor.
Remote Controls
Some sources like the room ceiling cameras and VCR/DVD players have remote controls that are kept in the podium drawers. After using, please return them to the podium drawer.
Room Ceiling Camera
The room (ceiling) camera is routed through the document camera (rooms 142A & 142B/156A & 156B) so on the controllers the “Doc” cam source must be selected. On the doc cam itself the second input must be selected. Then the ceiling cameras robotics and zoom/focus can be controlled from it’s remote control. In other rooms this camera has a direct source input on the controller, and on the touch screen you can control the panning, zoom & focus.
Media Sources
PCs and Laptops
PC towers and laptops are selected on the controllers under source inputs. The PC must be turned on. Laptops can be plugged into the AC(there are AC outlets on the podium top) and there is a 15 pin VGA cable usually on the Podium top, as is a USB input cable for “JumpDrive’s” (sometimes this USB cable is on the top of the tower PC, or the front of the PC). When the Rooms PC is turned on or restarted, a startup password must be entered. If you do not know the password,please contact the “HELP” desk, or the Media Center X1824, you can use the hotline phone in the classroom. When using the classrooms PC’s be sure to restart or shut down the PC when finished to prevent others from accessing your files. On PowerPoint presentations, for best contrast use light colors on dark backgrounds, and make sure the font sizes are at least 18 points. You cannot save anything to the desktop as it is deep frozen, & anything put there will vanish, unless you contact the IT dept. and have them unfreeze the PC and allow your info to be saved & then refreeze it. For Mac Laptops the user must supply their own 15 pin to Mac converter adapters.
VCR-VHS/DVD Player/Recorders
Will play VHS & DVDs by selecting the source on the controller. The Operating controls (play/stop/FF/RW) will show up on the touch screen.Or the unit can be controlled manually or with the remote control.Rooms G2/3, SB9, & SB10 have the VCR/DVD function buttons on the Extron controller. To eject a tape/DVD, you must hit “eject” on the VCR/DVD player itself.
Document Cameras
The “doc” camera can be selected from the source columns on the room controllers. Within many of the “ELMO” units there is an iris control behind a small door on the camera head. The Samsung units have this feature on the front panel, and the large controller touchscreens have an Iris up/down shown on the screen when the Doc cam is selected. (NOTE: Small type must be zoomed in on or whole lines of text cannot be easily read.)
Slide Projectors
There are four different slide projector types in the classrooms.
- The traditional Kodak Ektagraphic III's, these operate as stand alone units on carts. (Rooms 156B & G2/3)
- Kodak Ekta III's on carts that have slide controller boxes that plug into a wallplate on the front center of room step. Then the projector can be operated from the controller on the podium by selecting "Slides" on the controller. (Rooms G107, G105, G48 and G49)
- Navitar slide to video projectors. These units are found on podium shelves. Power up the unit on the projector itself, then select "Slides" as the source on the controller. (Rooms 156A & 142A)
- An ELMO slide to video projector, like the Navitar unit above, turn the projector on, on the unit itself (an ON/OFF button the rear), then select "Slides" as the source on the Crestron controller. Then you can control the unit from the projector itself, or the controller. (Room G46)