Technical Training and Best Teaching Practices

Today’s Agenda Technical Training Start-Up Procedures The 3 Modes Video Conferencing Tools Content Sharing Document Camera Shut-Down Procedures 10/15 minute break Best Presentation Tips Broadcast Etiquette Remote Students Presentation Materials Pedagogical Thoughts

Start-Up Information AMX Touch Panel - Touch anywhere on the screen to activate the system. - The following screen will appear.

Start-Up Continued Presentation Mode: - All participants present in room. - No video conferencing element. Receive Site Video Conference Mode: - Podium Mat is deactivated. - Student camera is set as default. Broadcast Site Video Conference Mode: - Podium Mat is active. - Podium camera is set as default.

Start-Up Continued Once you have chosen a mode: - The projector will warm up. - This message will be displayed. - The screen will automatically lower.

Start-Up Continued The projector screen can still be raised & lowered manually. There is a picture mute button in the program – displayed on the lower right hand side of the screen.

Start-Up Continued Lighting & Blinds

Activity #1 Introductions: When it is your turn to share … - Please press the green button closest to you (You will need to hold this button down while you are speaking.) - Please wait until the camera has focused. - Please tell us your name & your PSU position.

Presentation Mode You will first need to choose a media type. If one is not chosen: - the system default to Room PC - the projector will eventually shut down The controls for each are the same in all modes.

Switching Modes To Switch from Presentation to Video Conferencing: 1 st – Select the “System Off/Back” button – located in bottom left corner of screen. 2 nd – Select the new mode that you would like to use. To Switch Between Receive & Broadcast Modes - Simply push the “Receive Site” or “Broadcast Site” button under the main control tab.

Video Conferencing Modes Three Main Areas to Consider 1. Dialing/Connecting to Remote Sites 2. Camera Views & Controls 3. Sound Systems & Controls

Dialing Procedures 1. Go to the Dial Menu at the top of the screen. Select Manual Dial. 2. Enter an IP address or bridge number in the black box, using the numbers on the AMX Touch Panel (2222 is the bridge used for classes). Press the green call button. 3. When dialing a bridge session, you may need to enter a conference ID followed by a #. ( 1234#)

Using the Directory – 2 sites only 1. Use up down arrows to find the correct location 2. You can enter the first few letters of the location and then hit the down arrow to search). 3. Touch the site you want to call. 4. Press the green “Call” button to dial that location. Note: To disconnect, press the red “Hang Up” button.

What is a bridge? The bridge is a physical appliance. It handles many conferences at once. This is why you need to enter a unique ID if you aren’t scheduled to be in a conference – you don’t want to end up in someone else’s conference or class! It takes the video feed from several locations and generates the multiple boxes that you see. You can “reserve” a bridge for a specific time and location on the TNS website. ( You shouldn’t need to do this for a normal class Any staff member can do this. Must be done 48 hours ahead of time

Cameras

Podium Mat Instructor on Mat Note: Any weight will activate the mat. (Instructor, Chair, or Briefcase) Instructor not on Mat

Camera Control The following controls are under the “Camera Control” tab.

3 Sound Sources 1. – Presentor’s Wireless Microphone 2. – Students’ Push-to-Talk Buttons 3. – CPU, DVD, VHS Extra batteries Be aware of placement Must hold to speak Two second delay Data shares to follow

Volume Control Note 1: Muting the volume from this area will only mute the local end. The far side will still hear. Note 2: This means that the speakers are on.

Activity #2 Proceed to the following url: click here Click on “AMX Touch Panel” Choose to “View” the attachment Complete the activity.

Four Types of Content Sharing Room PC Laptop Document Camera DVD/VHS Note: You may only share one of each type of content: “Video Share” or “Data Share”

Connecting a Laptop Connect VGA cable into laptop (may need adaptor for Macs). Connect VGA cable into the external computer connection on the right side of podium. Connect audio cable to headphone jack on laptop. Connect audio cable to small hole on right side of podium. Note: If the desktop doesn’t appear on the screen, push Fn+F8 for PC & Fn+F7 for Mac.

Document Camera Activities: Presentations (Instructor or Student) Peer Editing Experiments/Lab Work Jigsaw Notes/Topics 3-D objects/action

DVD/VHS Note: Is it better to show video from a computer or DVD player?

Shut Down Choose the “System Off/Back” button Select “Yes” Wait for the system to shut down

Troubleshooting Tips If you experience trouble with content sharing, try sharing another source first & then switch back. Also try having the remote site share first & then switch back. If you experience trouble receiving audio or video from the remote site, try hanging up & calling again. When in doubt, restart the system by going to the “System Off/Back” button – but be aware that this will take several minutes of class time & should be used as a last resort.

Support Projector bulbs burn out, dry erase markers… dry out. Chalk breaks, hard drives fail, VHS tapes unravel, PowerPoint images fail to display, web sites go down, Thunderstorms cause power outages, professors get flat tires, IT staff get flat tires… Photocredit: Mailer_diablo wikimedia commons

Activity #3 Work with the four other people at your table. Using the following chart, come up with two or more ways to promote a type of interaction through a video conferencing course. Write down your group generated ideas. We will each present these ideas using the document camera.

10/15 Minute Break

Best Presentation Practices

In the VLN Classroom … No food or drink Use the push-to-talk buttons while speaking Be patient with the VLN technology Advise of any audio/video problems

VLN Best Practices Students identify yourself Look into the camera Remind students to act as if being seen and heard Plan for push-to-talk delay

Presentation Tips Four Categories: 1. Awareness of Physical Appearance 2. Awareness of Broadcast Etiquette 3. Awareness of Remote Sites 4. Awareness of Presentation Materials

Physical Appearance Avoid busy or patterned clothing Avoid colors that “bleed” (white, red) Avoid noisy jewelry Wear solid pastel colors (light blue, pink) Consider needing to attach a clip-on mic (collar, pocket or button seam)

Broadcast Etiquette “You are always live” Direct questions and be patient in waiting for response (particularly when timing counts) Avoid side bar conversations (they can be heard) Speak clearly but never shout Allow speaker to fully finish before responding Consider using “show of hands” for feedback

Consider the Remote Sites Get to know your remote students (class roster)– advice on students that feel isolated Maintain an awareness of the remote site – body language, signals, etc. Announce actions to the remote sites as much as possible – changing sound levels, camera views, or content sharing

Consider a Variety of Teaching Techniques Do Not Lecture for Extended Time Interact with remote sites every minutes Call on by Name or Group (at both locations) Use Hands-on Activities Include Feedback Vary Delivery Styles

Verify access to libraries e-reserve materials List technology in materials list Upload documents for student access Check that distant sites have all materials available prior to class Consider the following for materials’ design … Course Preparation

Visuals Follow Aspect Ratio Always this! Never this! Allow ¾ inch or 10% around the outside of your slide as a “safe area” Use blue or green paper for document camera slides

Text Use readable font styles like: Arial Tahoma Don’t use detailed font styles like: Times New Roman Broadway BT Avoid using ALL CAPITAL LETTERS Use readable size font

This is 60 points. This is 48 points. This is 36 points. This is 32 points. This is 28 points. This is 20 points. This is 16 points. This is 12 points. This is 10 points.

Color Concepts Text and background must contrast Avoid contrasting colors and spectral neighbors RED YELLOW Light on Dark Dark on Light

Charts May Replace Words

Beware of Coloring/ Font Size

One Main Idea Avoid overcrowding Focus the audience Rule of Seven 7 words per line 5 lines per slide KISS!

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Fostering the Three Types of Interaction (Some Research Findings) Interactions with Content Interactions with Instructors Interactions with Classmates Provided by Karen Swan, Kent State University Wisconsin Distance Teaching & Learning Conference, August 2003

So what is different? What adjustments to we need to make for... Appearance Timing Remote learners--engagement Technology interface

Contacts Instructional Design: Joe Scott – Technical Support: Alice Shapiro –