Contents: main | setting up | before class | in the room | classroom management
A typical IVC room has an instructor camera on top of the monitors allowing you to look at your remote students and view the monitors simultaneously. One monitor always shows your site while the other monitor pictures the last site that spoke. You are able to stand, sit, or (if a tracking microphone is available) roam as you teach. The document camera, PC, instructor microphone, and instructor console are all within reach and enable you to easily control the graphic environment. With so many graphic options it takes a little getting used to but, with practice, the technology will become more transparent enabling you to concentrate on your instruction.
In the center of the instructor station is a touch screen. It is used to vary the camera angle, change cameras, zoom, pan, and is also used to select the image source sent to the other sites (camera, computer, document camera, or video player). It also has limited control of the audio sent out. This includes the ability mute and vary the volume of the audio for the room.
The instructor mic is an open microphone that will pick up your normal speaking voice assuming you stay in the general area as the instructor station. The student microphones are either the same as the instructor mic, or are push to talk microphones. Push to speak microphones will pick up the speaker while the button is depressed. After the button is released the microphone will turn off. regardless of the style of the microphone, instructors and students alike should be careful around the microphones. Food and books can damage the microphones. Even a single piece of paper can send a roar out to any remote site.
Most rooms have both and instructor and a classroom camera. The instructor camera is located in rear of the room and points toward the instructor station. The class camera points at the classroom and in rooms with push to talk microphones the camera will move toward and focus on the person pressing the microphone. It is up to the instructor to choose which local camera is broadcast to the remote sites. This is done through the instructor console.
Often called by its brand name 'ELMO', the document camera can be used to display anything that can fit on the display platform: text, slides, small pictures, three dimensional objects and can zoom sufficiently to clearly read the lettering on a business card. When using the document camera, try to avoid using glossy documents like photos or transparencies. The over head lights can cause a glare that make images dificult to identify. It is also important that any text or handwriting is presented in a bold high contrast color. Avoid red at all cost.
In each classroom there is a Windows based computer for you to use. Some rooms also have a Mac and a place to plug in your own laptop. This enables you to show PowerPoint slides, websites, etc. If you have any programs or files that you wish to install on the classroom machine, please consult with the VBS technician asigned to your course. Keep in mind that the quality over the camera based system reduces the clarity of the image transmitted.
A VCR is available allows you to show VHS tapes in your classroom as well as broadcast them to the remote sites. In several classes your technician will need to assist you to set up and operate the VCR.
Next: Classroom Management
*IVC - Interactive Video-Conferencing
