During the summer, the AV team tackled a large number of projects to refresh technology in over 116 classrooms. The list of items was presented to the Academic Technology Council last spring after gathering input from the Schools on wish list items. Towards the end of the semester, six rooms were added and funding authorized to prototype new technology in conjunction with various pedagogical styles. Continue reading OIT Updates Technology in SMU Classrooms Over the Summer
Category: Classroom Support
Classroom Technology Planning Report for 2017 Now Available
As we began planning for the summer classroom upgrades, we took a more collaborative approach to the planning and design.
- Completed a full inventory of all the classrooms including researching the original installation date of the equipment.
- Categorized the rooms into three distinct types that would help guide the design of the technology.
- Met with each of the Academic Technology Service Directors to obtain a wish list of classroom upgrades and changes.
- Identified rooms from the OIT perspective that needed to be addressed based on the number of support calls and maintenance issues.
- Reviewed the full list and assigned estimated quotes for each room.
- Determined the rooms that could be completed utilizing the $500,000 allocated for Classroom Upgrades for FY18.
Continue reading Classroom Technology Planning Report for 2017 Now Available
Classroom Technology Refreshes with New Collaboration Devices
Working closely with the Academic Technology Service Directors and the Academic Technology Council, we have identified approximately 70 rooms to receive classroom technology upgrades this fiscal year. We are currently in the process of scheduling the rooms and finalizing bids with our vendors. The scheduling component will largely determine how many of those rooms we are able to complete over the summer months. SMU classrooms are still in such heavy use during the summer months that it leaves little time for major upgrade work.
There are a few exciting new changes that are included this year. Continue reading Classroom Technology Refreshes with New Collaboration Devices
Improved Classroom Controls Now Available
There is little question that the classroom is the most prominent place on any university campus. With all of the frequent changes in technology utilized in the educational process, our classroom equipment requires constant attention to make and keep SMU on the cutting edge of what’s needed to shape the next generation of world changers.
OIT has taken immense strides over the summer to update and improve classrooms across campus. One of the largest projects has been to consolidate the multiple types of control systems into fewer and simpler configurations. This means that no matter what classroom you’re in, the controls for the audio/visual equipment will be the same or very similar. Plus the controls will be easier to understand and more reliable when it matters most. Continue reading Improved Classroom Controls Now Available
Remote Control Assistance in the Classroom
Technology plays an vital role in classroom instruction. When it doesn’t work as expected, it’s not only a tremendous disruption but it can be quite stressful as well. Knowing that time is of essence, we began planning for a way to decrease the amount of time a class is interrupted due to technology issues or waiting for help to arrive. Continue reading Remote Control Assistance in the Classroom
