Classroom Podiums

Resource Overview

CS Classrooms are DUE1114, DUE1116, and DUE1117. All classrooms are equipped with integrated Crestron Audio/Visual management systems to make it easy to change display sources for projection and audio sources for the classroom sound system, as well as recording capability to capture the selected inputs for distribution outside of the classroom. All of this equipment is contained within and managed from the instructor's podium in each classroom. The instructor can control the entire system from the control console on top of the podium.

Basic Podium Use

What you see on the podium monitor is generally what students see on the projection screen. When you run a presentation from Powerpoint, you may use the podium monitor as a second monitor for presentation mode, unless you choose to mirror your displays. The tablet on the podium is the controller for the system. All management is done from this tablet.

Turning on the system

If the display is off, tap the tablet screen once to wake it up, then again to turn the system on.

In DUE1114, the projector screen is motorized and will roll down when the system is turned on. In DUE1116 and DUE1117, you will need to manually pull down the screen if you want to use it.

Podium Computers

Each podium also contains a computer to provide the instructor the same experience as the computers in the lab. If the computer is not powered on, you may access it by opening the podium cabinet to do so. You will need to login on to the computer using your CS account credentials. In DUE1114, choose an appropriate desktop session and login to it. Once logged in you will have access to all the files that are in you CS home directory.

Selecting an Input Source

Projector Management

If you don't see any video on the projector after turning on the system, it may be because the projector is muted. To unmute it, press the home button on the tablet if not already there. Once on the home screen, press the mute button to unmute the projector. The mute button should be black when not muted, and blue when muted.

Camera Control

There is a pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) camera located at the back of the classroom. It is generally pointed at the front of the room, but can be manipulated to point nearly anywhere in the room.

On the camera control screen on the tablet, we have up to 4 preset positions (only 3 are currently set) for the camera. <PICTURE> The first one gives you the entire front part of the room. Then the second preset moves the camera so its focused on the instructor podium, then the third preset stays focused on the podium, but zooms in so you can only see the podium and instructor.

Shutting Down the System

Please shut down the system when you are done so we can conserve the life of the projector lamp.

Hit the power button the tablet

When wanting to turn through the tablet just hit "yes, power off room"

Recording

When you record a session, the video captured will be whatever is displayed on the projector. The audio captured will be either from the podium computer or laptop, whichever is currently being displayed, and any microphones that are turned on and not muted at the time.

Audio Capture

You can change the volume of the main source with the buttons on the left side of the home screen. You can also change the volume of the mic and source on the volume screen.

Each classroom is equipped with three microphones:

wired stick microphone on the podium
wireless clip-on lavalier microphone
wireless hand-held microphone

Both wireless microphones are charged from their stand in or on the podium and should be returned there after every use.

Important Note: Make sure at least one microphone is on, or no sound will be recorded.

There are no microphones pointed at the classroom to pick up student voices. Instructors that wish to record audience input can either pass around the hand-held mic, or should repeat questions or statements so their own mic can pick them up.

Hand-held Microphone

The power switch for the hand-held mic is in its handle.

OFF
ON

Turn it on when using it and turn it off and return it to the charging stand when done. This mic works best if the speaker holds it pointed directly at their mouth (like a rock singer) about six inches or so away from their face.

Lavalier Microphone

The power switch for the lavalier or clip-on mic is on its body-pack.

OFF
ON

Turn it on when using it and turn it off and return it to the charging stand when done. Clip the mic mid-way on your shirt near your chest or on collar for best results. The body pack may be clipped anywhere on your belt or a pocket within reach of the cord.

Podium Microphone

The stick mic is wired (not wireless) and so not mobile, but can be moved anywhere on the podium. The power switch is the only button on the base of the mic.

OFF
ON

There is a blue LED on the mic base. If the mic is on, the light is on. If the light is off, the mic is not on. This mic does a pretty good job of picking up sound, so long as it is generally pointed towards your face and you are talking in its direction.

Recording a Lecture

In rooms 1114, 1116, and 1117 we can record presentations and lectures using the hardware and software built into the podiums

How to Retrieve Video

You must have a USB stick plug into the podium that has the label 'RECORDER' above it. This will automatically save it to the USB stick. (We recommend a USB stick of size 16GB or more for videos longer than an 30 minutes)

It will be saved as a smp file

  example.smp

USB Slots

Selecting a Source

When wanting to record a lecture or presentation you have to select what you want recored, what on your laptop or on the podium computer.

Computer
Laptop

Showing Projector

When recording you will need to make sure the projector is not muted during the recording, and if you need to hide your screen temporarly you may the mute the screen, BUT DON'T FORGET TO TURN MUTE OFF! :)

Not Muted
Muted

Recording Page

When wanting to start recording you must navigate to the recording page, which has the controls to start and stop recording, the way to get to this page, is by touching the silver circle that says recorder underneath it.

Navigation Bar

Start/Stop Recording

Instructors wishing to record a lecture should bring a USB flash drive to store the captured video. Plug your USB drive into the port labeled "RECORDER" on top of the podium. Videos will also be stored on the recording unit, but there is a limited amount of space there and cannot be stored indefinitely.

On the recorder page on the tablet, you can see the button to press record (silver circle), then you can see elapsed time of the current recording, and how much disk space it is using. Then you have pause and stop for the recording. <PICTURE>

On the left side of the recorder page, you decide the layout of the screen.

When finished recording, remove your USB flash drive from the port on top of the podium. Videos are saved as MP4 files, which you can distribute any way you like. If you only saved your video to the recording unit, please see IT support staff to retrieve it. Please do not make a habit of this as we cannot guarantee they will be retained there for an extended period of time.