Troubleshooting Tips for Classroom AV

Troubleshooting Tips for Classroom AVTechnology glitches are inevitable no matter how hard we try to eliminate them! It’s even more stressful when you are standing in front of the classroom with all students staring at you! Here are a few troubleshooting tips to remember if you arrive in a room and the technology is not working as expected.

  • The Podium is the Host: If a podium computer is installed, it must be used as the source for your Zoom meeting. You may join with a personal device as a Co-Host, but the podium must be the main Host for the meeting
  • Run the Zoom audio test: When you first launch Zoom, it is always a good idea to run the quick test of your speakers and microphone. In most rooms, you will need to adjust the speaker setting within Zoom in order for your remote participants to be heard in the room.
    1. Click the arrow next to the Mute icon.
    2. Click Test Speaker & Mic.
      Don’t hesitate to try the different microphones and speakers until you have a successful test.
  • Microphone batteries are low: If a microphone battery is low, you can switch to either the webcam microphone or even the document camera microphone for that session.
  • Can’t hear audio: Double check the touchpanel and ensure that the room and microphone mute buttons are Off. In most cases, the buttons turn red if the mute is on.
    • Please Note: The projector must be ON for audio to transmit in the room. If you do not wish to see the content of the screen, hit the Blank Screen button on the touch panel. However, the projector must be turned ON for audio to work!
  • The projector isn’t working: Have the students join the Zoom session on their laptops or phones from within the room. The students will not need to join with audio from those devices.
  • Issues with the built-in camera: While this is a bit more difficult to troubleshoot, we can quickly deliver a webcam if needed to provide video. Of course, you could also join the Zoom session from your phone (with no audio) to provide video if needed.

Remember, if you encounter issues and need on-site assistance, please call the Classroom Support line at 214-768-8888. We will dispatch a technician immediately to assist in the classroom.

 

Need Help? We Got You Covered.

Help IconNavigating this semester will be challenging enough.  We know you’ll have questions, and we are here to help!

The IT Help Desk is available 7 days a week to answer your questions and resolve many technology-related issues.  If they are not able to assist with the issue, they will send a ticket for a resolution to the appropriate individuals.  So don’t hesitate to ask for help! Continue reading Need Help? We Got You Covered.

On Track for Fall 2020: Unprecedented Faculty Response to Fully Online & SMUFlex Instruction & Technology Readiness

Dear SMU Faculty,

Into this second week of July, we recognize the unprecedented effort and long hours that you are contributing toward Fall 2020 instructional readiness.  I’m pleased to report high levels of enrollments and participation in the Online Teaching and Canvas technology courses which are being expertly facilitated by SMU’s Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) and Office of Information Technology (OIT).  Over 120 faculty have already completed at least one of these two online courses in this first week!  Nicely done!  In addition to those making online preparations, some faculty are right now successfully teaching again on campus in classrooms equipped with new “SMUFlex” remote technology and their experiences are helping shape and improve support resources as we re-open our classrooms just next month. Continue reading On Track for Fall 2020: Unprecedented Faculty Response to Fully Online & SMUFlex Instruction & Technology Readiness

Ramping Up Support for Fall 2020: Resources for Fall Instructional & Technology Preparations

Due to the continued rapid pace of communications and many daily changes, your faculty teaching and technology support partners will begin to communicate with you more regularly regarding instructional and technology support and planning resources necessary to ensure academic continuity for the fall term. Starting this July, the Office of Information Technology (OIT), in direct collaboration with the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) and SMU Libraries, will be expanding the frequency of joint communications and resources explicitly geared toward SMU’s fall academic continuity. Our goal is to provide more regular information and clarity as you navigate the changing requirements and challenges of upcoming course preparations.

Fall 2020: I’m teaching fully online: What do I need to know?

Continue reading Ramping Up Support for Fall 2020: Resources for Fall Instructional & Technology Preparations

Classroom Technology Updates: Preparing for Fall

Simmons Instructor StationEach year, SMU leadership and the Academic Technology Council reviews and approves a collection of classroom upgrade projects to be funded by the University Technology Fund.  Project requests are submitted by each school in addition to identified major maintenance/fixes based on the age or current state of each room. These are vetted and prioritized to ensure we are providing stability across classroom experiences while also modernizing the technology in as many spaces as possible.  In addition to the classrooms funded by the University, several schools or departments independently fund additional upgrades that are critical to their environment.  The majority of these projects are conducted during either the summer months or during winter break to minimize impact to teaching.

The Covid-19 pandemic has drastically altered this year’s original upgrade plans.  Instead of the original proposal of work, Continue reading Classroom Technology Updates: Preparing for Fall