model technology enhanced classrooms
DESCRIPTION
With a mandate from our IT Steering Committee and a wee pot of money Okanagan College built Model Technology Enhanced Classrooms at each of our 4 campuses this past year. The intent was to provide instructors with an opportunity to gain familiarity with educational technologies currently in use but not available to everyone at OC. It also came at a time when we are wrestling with the demise of VGA as a universal connection standard, and instructors wanting to use iPads for teaching, and students wanting to be able to display on the projector, and bringing in guest speakers using Skype, and running a backchannel, and … So we built them. And we learned a lot of things along the way. And I’ll tell you about them. http://www.okanagan.bc.ca/Campus_and_Community/employees/itservices/edtech/Model_Tech_Classroom.html Since 2005 Mike Minions has been the Educational Technology Coordinator at Okanagan College.TRANSCRIPT
Model Technology Enhanced
Classroom Project at
Okanagan College
… or what I did on my summer vacation
2
How I Feel Every Day
Okanagan College IT Steering Committee
IT Priorities: 1. Fix wireless 2. Wireless in classrooms 3. Improve wi-fi coverage 4. More wireless bandwidth 5. Easier access to wireless 6. Wi-fi for Macs & iPads 7. Solve wi-fi login issues 8. Fix wireless disconnects 9. Help instructors use
technology for teaching !
Help instructors use technology for teaching
The Task: Create a model technology classroom at each campus where instructors can become familiar with technologies already in use at OC.
Activity: Make a List
• Make a list of what technologies you would put in a model tech classroom at your campus.
Research & Development Phase
Standard OC Classroom
• ceiling mounted LCD projector • pull down projection screen • ceiling mounted speakers • cable bundle • power • VGA cable • network • audio
• VHS/DVD player • Overhead Projector
Non-standard Classroom Equipment
• Interactive Whiteboards - Smart and Epson Brightlink
Non-standard Classroom Equipment
• Document Cameras
AverVision 300p
Non-standard Classroom Equipment
• Webcams for Skype, BlueJeans, BB Collaborate
Logitech C920
Non-standard Classroom Equipment
• Wireless microphone for lecture capture audio
Non-standard Classroom Equipment
• Student response systems - ‘clickers’
Non-standard Classroom Equipment
• Connecting iPads and Android Tablets to the projector
What instructors have been asking for
• Better wireless in the classrooms
• wireless connection to the projector for instructors and students
• be able to display 2 different inputs at the same time (split screen or 2 screens?)
• a way to combine small enrolment classes at 2 campuses
• a way to combine small enrolment classes at 2 campuses
France - fin de siècle
• a way to combine small enrolment classes at 2 campuses
Chaplin - Modern Times
• a way to combine small enrolment classes at 2 campuses
Support Constraints
• least requirement for software installation • minimize on-site tech service calls
Forward thinking
• BYOD trend for instructors
• impending demise of VGA • transition from analogue to digital connectors
Activity – Create a Budget
• Come up with a budget proposal for your model tech classroom – Something that
might have a chance of approval
OC MTEC Proposal
my rough list: • interactive whiteboard - smart or epson
($2000-$3000) • 2nd display - samsung 55-inch LED TV
($1000) • document camera
($500) • instructor computer (no cost - from existing IT stock) • webcam/speakerphone for Skype etc.
($200) • wireless USB mike for wandering lecture capture
($200) • free (or almost free) screencastomatic software for lecture capture • some kind of wireless system for getting student devices to the screens
($200) • some kind of HDMI matrix switcher to send various devices to either screen
($500) • total: $4600 - $5600 per classroom
OC MTEC Proposal
• $16,000 VC for Kelowna • $5000 x 4 classrooms • total: $36,000
OC MTEC Proposal
budget cycle: • submit Dec 6 • hear rumours April 1 • see actual money May 15 • ready for use Sept 1
Approval – what now?
• Start buying gear • Figure out what rooms
to turn into model tech classrooms
• talk to scheduling offices in Kelowna, Vernon, Salmon Arm & Penticton to identify suitable spaces
• goals: get as many instructors as possible into these classrooms • let instructors request the room when building the schedule • make sure there is sufficient free time for drop in and exploration
classroom selection - a study in conflicting priorities
significant confusion around process for requesting a classroom
Kelowna campus has serious shortage of available space
classroom selection - a study in conflicting priorities
fully booked for classes is not compatible with readily available drop-in times
instructional support not easily available at smaller campuses
classroom selection - a study in conflicting priorities
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equipment selection process
34
Interactive Whiteboard - Smart or Epson Brightlink?
equipment selection process
35
Epson Brightlink
485Wi Interactive Projector
+ Epson 96-inch Whiteboard
equipment selection process
36
Samsung 55-inch LED display (3xHDMI inputs) w/ Chief wall mount
equipment selection process
37
Instructor Computer w/ video card for HDMI out to projector/TV
VGA to local display
equipment selection process
38
Standard Lenovo laptop
VGA to HDMI converter
various adapters: miniDisplayPort to VGA
miniDisplayPort to HDMI DisplayPort to HDMI
DVI to HDMI
equipment selection process
39
Epson DC-20 document camera
(HDMI out)
Logitech BCC-950 USB conference cam
RevoLabs xTag wireless
USB mic
equipment selection process
40
Edimax wireless HDMI transmitter/receiver
system
Gefen 4:2 HDMI matrix
switcher
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computer
laptop
document camera
wireless HDMI
switcher
interactive whiteboard
LED display
1
2
3
4
1
2
How do signals get from one place to another?
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Testing / documentation• Figuring out how things work
Discoveries: • HDMI switching delay • Can annotate over other
sources (but requires menu on remote)
• Document camera software too complex for untrained user
Installation Challenges
• Pre-conceived notions of how teaching works • “Why would the instructor want their
powerpoint on 2 screens at once?” • Ownership vs. standards
• 4 instructor workstations each set up in a different way
• 4 campuses of equal value = lowest common denominator
• Leave existing projection screens in place
Installation in-progress - D223 Vernon
User training
• Demos • connections • at each campus • 1:1 by request
Why would you want to use these technologies in your teaching? • collaboration • student engagement • flexibility
User training
• User guides
E208 Model Technology Classroom - Kelowna
E208 Model Technology Classroom - Kelowna
E208 Model Technology Classroom - Kelowna
E208 Model Technology Classroom - Kelowna
E208 Model Technology Classroom - Kelowna
E208 Model Technology Classroom - Kelowna
E208 Model Technology Classroom - Kelowna
E208 Model Technology Classroom - Kelowna
E208 Model Technology Classroom - Kelowna
How to ignore all the technology in this room and use it like a regular classroom
Survey Results
Classrooms went into operation Sept. 1 2013
Survey conducted Dec. 2013
n= 47
Did you use the equipment in the model technology classroom this term?
No, I didn’t know there was a model technology classroom = 21
No, I was too busy this term = 7
No, the technology is not relevant to how I teach = 2
Yes, I went in when the classroom was not in use = 13
Yes, my class was scheduled in that room = 2
Overall yes = 33%
Overall no = 67%
47% of respondents were unaware there was a model technology classroom
20% heard about it, but didn’t try it
29% of respondents were scheduled into the room
general confusion about the process of requesting to be scheduled into a particular classroom
Did you use the tutorial materials posted?
No, I didn’t know they were there = 20
No, I just figured it out on my own = 4
Yes, I printed the user guide = 6
Yes, I watched the video tutorials = 1
Not applicable = 13
Overall yes = 20%
Overall no = 80%
of the 15 respondents who used the model tech classroom only 7 found and used the online tutorials. However paper copies of the user guide were posted in each model classroom
Which model classroom technologies did you use?
Two displays at the same time = 10
Document camera = 7
Interactive whiteboard = 6
Instructor workstation = 3
Wireless HDMI connection to projector = 2
Webconferencing = 1
limited use of new capabilities of model technology classroom
difficult to adapt teaching practices on the fly - requires significant time and guidance
Is the model technology classroom and effective way to provide an opportunity
to explore educational technologies?
Yes = 25
No = 3
Generally positive response to the intent of the project - even from those with no intention of using it
A selection of interesting comments:
What worked, what didn’t, what would you change?
I found it complicated. Setup was difficult. I had to get AV help at least five times this semester.
The wiring was so jumbled, and other users kept changing the plugs and settings.
Sometimes multiple display use seemed like overkill.
The document camera would be more useful if it was elevated so I could stand and see my class.
TV has a wide aspect ratio which doesn’t fit well with the usual course content.
What to do next?
• $8000/yr ongoing funding • clickers? • replace HDMI matrix to solve delay? • tidy up cable runs? • ???