DoIT Upgrades & Adds Classroom AV for Return to Campus

As the University prepares for a return to campus this Fall, DoIT’s Audio-Visual and Desktop Support units have been busy upgrading classrooms and equipping instructors with new technologies to support hybrid and in-person instruction. 

For example, the University Center (UC) Ballroom has now been turned into a hub for 25 large-enrollment lecture courses that can meet in person, as well as in the adjacent Ballroom Lounge (302) and nearby 310 and 312 rooms. In addition to cameras, mics and monitors peppered throughout these spaces to provide a synchronous, socially-distanced learning environment for students and faculty, DoIT and Commons staff will be available on-site to provide support. DoIT is also reaching out this week to faculty teaching in these spaces to provide on-site training next week.

In addition, AV has added a variety of mobile carts specifically design to support synchronous lecture capture (SLC). The intent of these carts is to provide a higher level of video and audio quality to an instructor's streaming application (Webex, Bb Collaborate, Zoom, etc.) than is possible with a laptop alone. A secondary purpose is to provide a backup for any built-in system that is experiencing technical difficulties. DoIT AV Student Specialists designed and assembled these carts, which include the following:

Monitor SLC Cart(4 units available)

• 55” monitor with HDMI cable for user’s laptop
• Logitech Meetup with remote
• Single USB connection to user laptop
• Camera with pan/tilt/zoom control
• Array microphone
• Sound bar
• Built in echo cancellation
• No software download required

Projection SLC Cart(5 units available)

• Epson projector
• Dell PC built in
• User may opt to use own laptop with HDMI cable
• Huddlecam ePTZ camera with remote
• Use for marker board capture
• Reposition for instructor or classroom view
• Built in microphone array
• Yamaha speakers

BYOD - SLC Cart(1 unit available)

• Epson projector
• Attach user’s device with supplied HDMI cable
• Huddlecam ePTZ camera with remote
• Use for marker board capture
• Reposition for instructor or classroom view
• Built in microphone array
• Attach to user’s laptop with supplied USB cable
• Epson Document Camera
• Dry erase surface attached to cart surface
• Attach to user’s laptop with supplied USB cable

AV Services is also equipped with approximately 200 bluetooth headsets faculty can use in class -- even when masked -- to support lecture capture with Blackboard Collaborate or Webex. 

Finally, as announced late last fall, a handful of classrooms were converted to be HyFlex capable rooms in which students can choose (during course registration) to meet in person or remotely. These include ADMIN 101, SOND 105, ITE 227 and ITE 233.

For more information about classroom upgrades or additions, please visit DoIT’s Desktop Support and AV Services site. To request help, please submit a myUMBC request via my.umbc.edu/help. 

By Steve Anderson & John Fritz