How To's: Using Classroom Technology

Most classrooms have built-in projectors or displays to show content from laptop cables at the podium or the front of the room, as well as room speakers for computer audio. There are a variety of methods for presenting in these spaces: 

• Podium PC - see classroom section for rooms with a dedicated podium computer\
• HDMI Cable input
• Solstice Wireless Presentation App

Solstice Wireless Presentation Technology - In many spaces, you now have the ability to present wirelessly. Mersive Solstice Pod and the Solstice App allow any device to connect and share content to a projector or display. We recommend downloading the Solstice App before the start of your course or event to be best prepared.

To view classrooms and their technology, visit our classrooms section.

Please tell us your event’s technology details using the AV Tech Needs Form after you receive your room reservation.

Here is a video tutorial for using the control panel in our large classrooms:

Automated Classroom Recordings

• Many classrooms have built-in recording capabilities. Click here to see which rooms feature integrated Classroom Recording technology. If your classroom is not on the (this) list, see “Ad Hoc” section below.
• Recordings can be scheduled to record and upload to UMN’s Kaltura Mediaspace content management system.
  • Kaltura Mediaspace UMN-IT Services Page
  • Log-in: mediaspace.umn.edu
• Course recordings can also show up in a Canvas site automatically.
• Non-course content can be shared via public links

Requesting Recording Service

To request recording service when you request a room, check the Classroom Recording box (and provide a UMN Internet ID). After receiving your room confirmation PDF, you can provide details of your tech needs via AV Needs Request Form. Please note: HSCS only facilitates recordings. Faculty or staff will need to manage the content. This is typically done in Mediaspace.

Live Streaming

Live Streaming is also possible through Mediaspace or a YouTube channel that is set up to do so. Consult with our Service Coordinator, V. Paul Virtucio 

Ad Hoc Recordings

Record-Ready rooms in HSEC have the ability for anyone to start a recording from the podium touch panel. Enter a UMN Internet ID, a recording duration, and hit record. Once uploaded, the recording will show up in your UMN Mediaspace “My Media” tab.

Recording in rooms that are not set up to automatically record is possible, inquire for more information. Consult with our Service Coordinator, V. Paul Virtucio ([email protected]).

Recording Using Zoom

You can use Zoom to record your course or event. See a list of Zoom-capable rooms here. Please note zoom recordings are typically recorded to a computer for Health Sciences users  (your laptop or a classroom podium PC). Once the recording is complete, users need to manually upload the recordings to Mediaspace.

Joining a Zoom just to watch and chat can occur in any of our classrooms with a built-in Room PC. The image will display on our large screens and audio will fill the room from our ceiling speakers.

If they plug their laptop into any of the classroom systems, they would rely on their own mic and camera to participate in the Zoom. The image and audio would still come out any of our classroom systems.

For room users who want to use a classroom that has professional mics and cameras, here is a list of classrooms:

• HSEC 2-101A, 2-101B, 2-110, 2-132, 2-138, 3-110, 3-150, 4-101, 4-103, 4-105, 4-107, 4-191, 4-193, 5-191, 5-193, 7-150, 7-152
• Jackson Hall 2-137
• Mayo Auditorium & 3-100
• Moos Towers 2-520, 2-530, 2-650, 2-690
• Nils Hasselmo 2-101
• PWB 2-350, 2-360, 2-362, 2-364, 2-366, 3-102, 3-150, 3-152, 3-154, & 3-156

For the two classrooms below, your own laptop hosts the Zoom. But you can plug our Camera/Mic/Speaker device into your laptop's USB port for video and audio that's better than what comes from your laptop. Our classroom camera will auto-follow the speaker and the mic is sensitive enough for a group standing up front.

• Mayo A110, D199

For assistance starting or preparing for your Zoom session, email our service coordinator V. Paul V. at [email protected] and fill out the AV Tech Needs Form at least one week in advance after receiving your room reservation.

Here's a video tutorial for using Zoom in the HSEC building: 

Here's a video tutorial for hosting your own Zoom session in one of our classrooms that has an AV Bridge in-line (Jackson 2-137, Mayo Aud, Mayo 3-100, NHH 2-101) 

Room users who need to connect from the Twin Cities campus to another site's videoconferencing room using traditional room-based systems have these classrooms to choose from:

• HSEC 2-110, 2-132, & 2-138
• Mayo Auditorium, 3-100, & D325
• Moos 1-450, 1-451, and 5-125

We would need to know the IP address or SIP address of the site we're calling. We provide staffing for academic courses that use videoconferencing, and at times, we can also staff departmental events if capacity allows. Otherwise, we will provide training to an event organizer to manage the videoconference connection.

Health Sciences Classrooms Services manages 11 Active Learning Classrooms in HSEC that are Zoom-capable and can provide automated recording.

Setting up your SHORT LECTURE or introduction to the small group work

1. Tap your chosen presentation button on the touch panel to turn on the AV.
2. The podium mic is always live and is sensitive enough to catch your voice if you’re within 3 feet. Tap MICS for muting or changing volume.
3. Computer login info for the Room PC is on the keyboard. The computer is on the lower shelf inside the podium for you to plug in a USB drive and/or a bluetooth clicker to advance your slides. If you download your content from the internet, make sure to log out of all your email or cloud accounts before you leave. To see your notes on the podium monitor while your slides are on the main displays, press Windows + P on the keyboard, and then select Extended Desktop.
4. Laptop users must be able to connect to the HDMI cable on the podium. Bring your own adapter, if needed, as we do not provide them. You can also use the HDMI cable for any medical equipment whose screens need to be displayed.
5. The Solstice wireless presentation device allows you to show content on the displays via WiFi from a PC or Mac laptop, a tablet, and a mobile device, whether one at a time or simultaneously. Visit z.umn.edu/nocables for information.

Displaying Active Camera to the screens allows you to demonstrate an action or magnify the image of a small device in your hands.

Setting up SMALL GROUP WORK followed by REPORT-OUTS

All our ALC classrooms have the potential to set up pods of 8 or 9 students for group collaboration.

• Five classrooms have flat screen monitors at each pod for students to display content for all in their group to see as they work. These same classrooms also have table mics for students to address the class as they show their work or ask questions. 
• When it’s time to report-out, students can present their screens to the whole room via WiFi using the Solstice wireless presentation devices.
• Multiple students can show work simultaneously, as 2-up or 4-up, which can be moderated by the instructor through the Solstice App.

On the first day of class, have all the students go to z.umn.edu/nocables to set up their laptops, tablets, and mobile devices for Solstice wireless presentations.