Using classroom based Audio Visual technology

A guide to Classroom AV and its services April 29, 2020

2 Classroom Audio Visual comes under the Office of the University Registrar. We are responsible for all the audiovisual equipment installed in the centrally scheduled classrooms. We also have a limited number of items for loan. We deliver to Departmental office’s or you may pick up at 204 Saunders.

Our phone number is 231-5684. Our office hours are 8am to 5pm Monday thru Friday. After 5pm you may leave phone mail. We are located in 204 Saunders Hall. Our web page is www.classroomav.vt.edu

3 We now have a web page. This page has information about our polices and the classrooms. There is a 20 page PDF file with updated information about what equipment is in the rooms. There is a link to another web page which allows you to give feedback about the teaching spaces. We will be adding more training and instruction sections.

WWW.CLASSROOMAV.VT.EDU

We would welcome any comments how to improve it.

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How to access the equipment

• • • • There are three methods we use to control access to the installed AV equipment. Keys, hard button touch pads and Crestron touchpanels.

You may come by 204 Saunders to sign out a key. You may come by or call for the passcode for the touchpads and touchpanels. Our phone is 231-5684.

All room reservations are made with Classroom Scheduling, University Registrar at 231-6888 or email at [email protected]

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Making a room reservation does not guarantee AV service.

You must call our office for AV service

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Types of classrooms

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Basic room

: equipped with a chalk or white board, manual projection screen, overhead transparency projector and basic TV with VCR or DVD/VCR combo player.

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Basic Projector room

: equipped with a chalk or white board, manual or electric projection screen, overhead transparency projector, DVD/VCR combo player and ceiling mounted data/video projector. Laptop capable. Standard projector resolution 1024x786 pixels. Projector controlled by projector remote control or Extron media Link panel or Crestron touchpanel.

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Types of classrooms

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Installed teaching computer room

: equipped with a chalk or white board, manual or electric projection screen, overhead transparency projector and DVD/VCR combo player. Ceiling mounted data/video projector. Installed Windows based PC. Laptop connection. Projector controlled by projector remote control or Extron media Link panel or Crestron touchpanel. •

Full service teaching auditoriums

: Full compliment of audio visual equipment, laptop connection and installed Windows based PC. These rooms may be self service or technician assisted.

These rooms are Hancock 100, Litton-Reaves 1670 and McBryde 100, Squires Colonial Hall.

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Types of controls for projector equipped rooms

Basic projector remotes

: Uses the projectors own remote to turn the projector on and off, select the input source and control the audio volume. Wall mounted switch for electric screens.

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Types of controls for projector equipped rooms

Extron Media Links

: These are hard button control panels located in the teaching station.

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Types of controls for projector equipped rooms

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Crestron touchpanels

A Crestron touch panel.

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Types of controls for projector equipped rooms • Crestron UPX touchpanel

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Using the AV systems

• • • All the data/video projector equipped rooms allow for a laptop video and audio connection. This will be either loose cables, one for the audio and one for the VGA signal, located in a lockbox that will need to be connected at the front of the room and to your laptop. Or a cable attached to the teaching station and only needing to be connected to your laptop.

The laptop video connection standard for our rooms is the 15 pin VGA connector.

The laptop audio connection standard is the 1/8 th » VGA 15pin » 1/8 th inch mini inch mini plug.

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Using the AV systems

One of the basic projector equipped rooms with our new AV cabinet. The key you get for these fits this style cabinets across campus.

This room uses the projectors remote control. The laptop connection cable is hardwired into the cabinet. There is an AC powerstrip on top. The electric projection screen control will be on the wall near the screen.

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Using the AV systems

Control for the AV systems varies. For all the projector equipped rooms we have three forms of control. The basic projector remote control, the Extron MediaLink and the Crestron active touchpanels. All provide basic control of the projector, image source selection and audio volume control. The Medialink and Crestron controlled rooms also provide control of the electric screen. Extron MediaLink in room 216 Randolph. The remote is for the DVD/VCR player.

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Using the AV systems

• The Crestron touchpanel systems offer the highest level of control. A pass code is used to access these systems. From the touchpanel you can control all aspects of the AV system. Newly renovated 209 Randolph and its Crestron UPX touchpanel.

You have to touch the panels to wake them up if they are dark.

These rooms have Windows based PCs.

15 • Using the AV systems We have developed a consistent user interface to all our Crestron touch panel controlled rooms.

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Using the AV systems

One of the new Crestron UPX systems.

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Using the AV systems

• • • • We have equipped most all rooms with a combination DVD/VCR player. If the room does not have a remote and you need one just call us.

Large rooms are all equipped with a lavalier style wireless microphone. If you have special vocal reinforcement needs please call us.

Learn to change the display properties of your laptop. All brands and models have different video cards. You can practice this by using a spare computer monitor in your office. A lot of the Apple laptops will need a special Apple adapter to go to the VGA connection in the room.

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Using the AV systems

• • • • All of the large rooms have assistive listen devices. We also have several stand alone units available for loan. These and other services can be had through the office of Services for Students with Disabilities, http://www.ssd.vt.edu/ .

We will meet you at the classroom to provide instruction or help with a problem. We have a limited number of technicians so book early. If you have questions about a rooms equipment please call.

Please call with any problems as soon as you can. This is a big help to us.

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What you can look forward to

The future for the classrooms on campus is the Crestron touch panel systems. We have 49 rooms so equipped. These systems can be monitored and controlled from the network. Their ease of use and quick access by calling for a pass code makes things a little easier for all. To make them even easier to access we are looking at using your Tech ID or a personnel pass code for all the rooms with touch panels.

We are in the process of renovating classrooms. Some with just paint and carpet to complete new AV systems. The Provost’s office is adding 7 brand new classrooms in the Surge building. These will have complete AV systems.

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Remember

: The most important thing you can do is ask. If you have any questions about any aspect of your classroom please call us. Important numbers: Classroom AV: 231-5684 Classroom Scheduling: 231-6888, [email protected]

Physical Plant Operations, Customer Service 231-4300 WWW.CLASSROOMAV.VT.EDU