Classroom Technology Overviews

General Purpose (GP) Classrooms

UMD Audiovisual supports 87 general-purpose classrooms, including a majority of the large lecture halls on Campus.

GP Equipment

General Purpose classrooms contain the following equipment:

• LCD Projector or Flat Panel Display
• Projection Screen
• Boundary Microphone
• Document Camera
• Wireless Presentation Capabilities

Boundary Microphones

Each General Purpose Classroom contains a boundary microphone with a 25' 180° cone for picking up the spoken word. This is a big upgrade from a laptops' built-in microphone. People speaking outside of 25' 180° cone range will be faint or unheard by Zoom participants. This is a technical limitation that will limit your ability to move freely around the classroom while being heard by all students.

The podium microphone is connected to your laptop via a USB cable labeled "Microphone". You will have to adjust your microphone settings on the device to make the boundary microphone the primary recording device

Document Cameras

Document cameras are standard equipment in general-purpose classrooms. The document camera is best used for writing on paper and can be excellent alternatives to using a whiteboard. Document Cameras can be:

• Used as a primary camera by connecting to via USB cable,
• Or, by plugging HDMI Cable directly into the back of the Document Camera as shown in the following image:

Classroom User Guides

• Hooking Up and Using a Laptop
• Wireless Presentation

GP Classroom Video Tutorials

• Audio Video (AV) Set up in UMD General Purpose Classrooms (3 Minute Video with Captions)
• AV Set up in General Purpose Classroom Tutorial (3 Minute Video with Audio Description)

Lecture Hall User Guides

• Using a Laptop
• Using a Wireless Microphone in a Lecture Hall

Lecture Hall Video Tutorials

• AV Set up for UMD Lecture Halls (3:53 Minute Video with Captions)
• AV Set up for UMD Lecture Halls (3:53 Minute Video with Audio Description)

Active Learning Classroom User Guides

• Using a Laptop at the Instructor Station
• Instructor Table Controls
• Using a Laptop at a Table

What Equipment is in My Classroom?

• For a description of classroom equipment in a specific room, please refer to Duluth Campus Astra Schedule.
• For support on using Astra and any software questions, please email [email protected].

Equipment Loans

TechCenter Classroom Equipment Checkout

Chromebooks, Chromebook carts, projectors, miscellaneous Audio Visual (AV) equipment (speakers, cabling, extension cord reels, etc.) are available.

Multimedia Hub Equipment Checkout

Video equipment such as cameras, tripods, Mac adapters, and other equipment are also available.

Consultations

If you have any special AV equipment needs, please email [email protected] for a consultation.