Technology

Teaching a Blended Class

Last modified 9/14/2023

Several campus classrooms are equipped with technology, making it possible to teach students who attend in person and remotely. Many of the following items are available in the General Use Classrooms. For information on this technology and how to use it, see below.

Note

Equipment names are approximate and may differ in each classroom. Please reference the cheat sheet on the instructor station for the exact name(s).

Zoom

All classroom instructor stations are equipped with Zoom for teaching a hybrid course or recording your in-person course for later review.

Zoom

The following equipment is available in classrooms to assist with teaching and learning. These options are only visible at the instructor station and MUST be selected through Zoom. Use of the document camera on the instructor control panel will not be visible to remote participants.

Webcam and Microphone

All general use classroom instructor stations are equipped with web cameras with integrated microphones. The webcam may be used for your students to see you presenting or can show the classroom whiteboards to those attending remotely. To select this option in Zoom, do the following:

Webcam

  1. In your Zoom meeting, click the carrot next to Video.
  2. Click LIHAPPY.

Your webcam is now enabled.

If the text appears reversed, turn off mirror my video. To do so, go into Zoom settings and uncheck mirror my video under Video.

Microphone

  1. In your Zoom meeting, click the carrot next to Audio.

  2. Click USB Mic.

    Note

    The “USB mic” is selected and used regardless of the camera option (e.g. “USB Mic” should still be selected and used when using the doc cam as the webcam).

Important

Wireless microphones are located in all lecture halls, however they are not available in smaller classrooms. Desktop microphones may be requested from the Equipment Request Form for temporary use. These microphones are not integrated into the rooms sound system but will provide additional audio for Zoom attendees.


Document Camera

Document cameras are available that present your materials to in-person and remote participants. To use the document camera, do the following:

  1. In your Zoom meeting, click the carrot next to Video.
  2. Click LIELMO.

The document camera is now active.

If the text appears reversed, turn off mirror my video. To do so, go into Zoom settings and uncheck mirror my video under Video.

Wide Angle Camera (if equipped)

Some classrooms on campus are equipped with a OneLINK Bridge, also known as wide angle camera. This camera allows for a wider angle, useful for wider classrooms or when a larger section of the whiteboard needs to be included for remote students. Locations with this camera can be found here. To use the wide angle camera, do the following:

  1. In your Zoom meeting, click the carrot next to Video.
  2. Click OneLINK Bridge.

The wide angle camera is now active.

If the text appears reversed, turn off mirror my video. To do so, go into Zoom settings and uncheck mirror my video under Video.

Personal Voice Amplifiers

A personal voice amplifier is available for use when teaching in spaces while wearing a mask. These devices consist of microphone and speaker, worn on the body, which will allow students to hear you speak clearly. These devices are able to run for several hours between charges. Information on pickup locations and times can be found here.

Note:

These devices are meant to overcome the slight muffling of your voice caused by wearing a face covering - they are not meant to be a replacement for in-room table-top or wireless microphones and speakers, especially in large lecture halls.


Other Tips

Pinning Participants

When using Zoom, you can pin yourself so your camera always remains visible even when others are speaking. This feature is useful for recording or when an item is displayed using the cameras. To pin your camera, do the following:

  1. At the top of your meeting window, hover over the video of the participant you want to pin and click …
  2. From the menu, click Pin.

Showing a video

To ensure all participants, virtual and in-person are able to hear audio of videos being shown in class, ensure sound is shared. When choosing the screen or window to share, check Share sound in the bottom-left.


See Also

Additional Resources

Training videos for using technology in the classroom may be found here.

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