PSU Outreach VLN

Technical Training and Best Teaching Practices

Technical Training Agenda

Technical Training• Start-Up Procedures• Video Conferencing Tools• Content Sharing• Document Camera• Shut-Down Procedures

Start-Up Information

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

Start-Up Continued

• Once you have chosen a mode:

• The projector will warm up.

• This message will be displayed.• The screen will automatically lower.

Mode switching • To Switch from Presentation to Video Conferencing:

1st – Select the “System Off/Back”button – located in bottom left corner of screen.

2nd – Select the new mode that you would like to use.• To Switch Between Receive & Broadcast Modes (turns floor mat

on and off and changes default camera view, all sites CAN be either one)- Simply push the “Receive Site” or “Broadcast Site” button under the main control tab.

Please select “Broadcast Site”

Cameras

Podium Mat

• Instructor on Mat

Note: Any weight will activate the mat. (Instructor, Chair, or Briefcase)

• Instructor not on Mat

3 Sound Sources

1. – Presenter's Wireless Microphone

2. – Students’ Push-to-Talk Buttons

3. – PC, DVD, VHS

• Extra batteries (where applicable)

• Be aware of placement

• Must hold to speak• Two second delay

• Data shares to follow

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.

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

• If using the directory (Two sites only):– Use up down arrows to find

the correct location – You can enter the first few

letters of the location and then hit the down arrow to search).

– Touch the site you want to call.

– Press the green “Call” button to dial that location.

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 (http://tns.its.psu.edu/videoConferencing/videoBridge.cfm)– 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

Camera Control

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

Volume Control

Note 1: Muting the volume from

this area will only mute the local end. The far side will still hear.

You can only control your own volume!

Note 2: This means that the

speakers are on.

Four Types of Content Sharing

• Room PC• Laptop• Document Camera• DVD/VHS• One site at a time,

we’re going to try sharing content.

Document Camera

Activities:

• Presentations (Instructor or Student)

• Peer Editing• Experiments/Lab Work• Jigsaw Notes/Topics• 3-D objects/action

DVD/VHS

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.

SupportProjector 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