Forward to Fall 2020 Classrooms FAQ

Forward To Fall 2020 FAQs about our Classrooms

What is the state of the CoE Classrooms?

Traditionally the college maintains a number of interactive distance classrooms. Among them are SEC 237, PKI 164, and STC 102.  These rooms have multiple cameras for both instructors and students, multiple displays to show the remote participants and content  as well as in-room ceiling mounted microphones so instructor and participants may be heard. That has changed. Our Forward to Fall refrain is, "Every room is a distance room!"

Classrooms controlled by the College and its departments will be equipped as Zoom-enabled rooms for the start of in-person classes on August 24th. In those classrooms which had no remote teaching capabilities, a small webcam will be mounted on the instructor monitor. The cameras are scheduled for installation on August 19th and 20th.

You can view updates about our rooms at https://engineering.unl.edu/it/coe-learning-and-collaboration-spaces/

What was the original plan to equip the rooms?

The original plan was to equip the College and Departmental rooms with a high-quality video camera with pan, tilt and zoom functions. Instructors would be able to select a variety of camera presets including a view of the markerboard. Additionally, ceiling mounted microphones were to be installed above the instructor's desk and the center of the whiteboard.  Scheduled delivery of the cameras and microphones was set for the week of 8/10. However, manufacturers have been unable to meet the demands for audio and video equipment this summer. Our equipment order is now delayed indefinitely. We were able to obtain a number of webcams to serve as our backup plan.

How do the CoE Classrooms differ from the General Purpose classrooms?

Deliveries of video cameras for the General Purpose classrooms have also been delayed. Many General Purpose classrooms on campus will be equipped to provide screen capture and instructor audio. Information Services also suggested the use of the document camera as an instructor camera if desired. In the CoE classrooms our webcams will provide an instructor view to the remote students.

How do I use Zoom in a CoE Interactive TV room?

If you are scheduled to teach in our traditional distance classrooms, you will not notice a change. A technician will still be responsible for setting up your class, connecting to Zoom, controlling the cameras and watching the audio. In fact, we have been using Zoom in our distance classrooms for nearly three years.

Can I use Zoom in any CoE Classroom?

Yes. The greatest difference is using the CoE College and Department rooms in Fall of 2020 is requirement to use Zoom as the content source. In the past you would select the doc cam, the room PC or your own computer using the touch panel. For Fall 2020 you will not use the touch panel. The doc cam and your own computer will be managed through Zoom. Think of the classroom as your office. Log into Zoom on the Room PC and run the meeting in the same way you would if you were teaching or collaborating with colleagues on your home computer. You'll use Zoom's screen sharing function to display your content to the classroom and your remote participants.

Remember "Every Room Is a Distance Room!"

What do I do if my class is split between two rooms?

Think of the other room as another participant in a Zoom conference. A technician will be assigned to connect the 2nd room to Zoom. For the student view we will turn the webcam and point it toward the classroom.

Can I use a document camera in my class?

Yes, if there is a document camera in the room.

When you share your screen in Zoom, select the Advanced tab at the top of the popup screen. On that tab you will find a Use 2nd camera button. We will connect all document cameras to the room computer to enable the use of those cameras.

We did plan to install document cameras in all our rooms. The supply chain for document cameras has also been disrupted and delayed.

Can I bring my own computer to class?

Yes, but you will need to log into your Zoom meeting with both your laptop and the in-room computer for your class.

Will assistance be available?

Yes. We are in the process of hiring a number of students specifically trained to assist with the Zoom enabled rooms.