SubscribeOver the past few months, UBC Okanagan has made significant investments into upgrading classroom technologies to support faculty and students for the upcoming academic year. Each centrally managed classroom is now equipped with a camera and microphone to enable classroom recording and/or hybrid teaching. Please see below for detailed information about using new classroom technologies and how to access support services.
Getting Started
Each classroom has detailed instructions on how to connect to the system and use the new technologies to support your teaching and learning activities. We encourage you to go to a classroom and orient yourself to the technologies available before classes begin.
Detailed instructions and how-to videos to help you navigate the new classroom technologies are available online: https://it.ok.ubc.ca/services/audio-visual-creative-services/self-support/. If you have questions or to learn more about other technologies in the classrooms (including the use of document cameras or air media display), please contact IT Audio-Visual Services in-person at ADM024 (8:00am-4:00pm), on the phone at 250-807-9000 or online at: https://ubc.service-now.com/selfservice.
For assistance with using new technologies for streaming/recording in the classroom, or if you would like any additional support for course design and delivery, do not hesitate to reach out to the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at 250-807-9293 or ctl.helpdesk@ubc.ca. A resource page to support course design and delivery for the Fall 2021 semester is also available online: https://ctl.ok.ubc.ca/teaching-effectively/fall-2021/.
There are four different in-person workshops being held in the classrooms for any faculty interested in learning about the use of the new classroom technologies on Sept. 1st and 2nd. Learn more or sign-up online: https://ctl.ok.ubc.ca/events-awards/events/
What to expect in the classroom
1. Getting Connected
In each classroom there will be two cables –one HDMI and one USB– to connect to your laptop computer. The HDMI cable connects your device to the projector and to the speakers in the room (if you are playing any audio). The USB cable connects your computer to the camera and microphone in the room for purposes of streaming or recording your classroom. In some of the larger classrooms, a computer is provided and already connected to the projector, camera and microphone, should you choose to use it rather than your own device.
2. Streaming and Recording
Once your device is connected, you can either stream or record what is happening in your classroom. If you would like to live stream so that students can participate online synchronously, then you will need to use Zoom. Zoom can also record the session while streaming, and the recording can be distributed to students later via Canvas. To just record the session and distribute to students later, we recommend using Kaltura. It will be up to faculty to start and stop their recording or live stream.
3. Cameras
In each classroom there will be a small A/V control panel. This panel determines what is displayed through the projector (the computer in the room, your laptop, a document camera, etc.). It will also have some pre-set controls for the camera. Each camera is set up to either track the faculty member at the front of the room, display a wide angle shot of the front of the room, or focus on the white boards (if you are using them for teaching purposes) based on your preferences.
Principles for recording live sessions
We are currently working with colleagues at UBC’s Vancouver campus to develop a set of UBC principles for recording classroom activities that will provide information related to the protection of student privacy and faculty intellectual property. These guidelines are in the process of being finalized and will be made available online and distributed to the campus community as soon as possible.
We will continue to share information on the CTL News page as it becomes available. Thank you for your patience as we navigate these uncertain times.
Sincerely,
Brad Wuetherick
Associate Provost, Academic Programs, Teaching and Learning
University of British Columbia – Okanagan campus
Fellow, John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education
UBC Okanagan is located on the unceded territory of the Syilx (Okanagan) Peoples.