Typical Classroom - Overview

A typical smart classroom consists of an equipment rack located in the teachers station, a touch-screen, a wireless mic, a projection screen, and a LCD projector. Each station can project both the video and the audio from the following sources; a Room PC permanently installed in the classroom, a laptop, a DVD or VHS player, cable TV, an auxiliary video source (such as a small video camera), and a document camera (which is not kept in the room).

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Quick Guide: | Room PC | Laptop | DVD Player | Videotape Player | Doc Camera | Aux Video | Cable TV |  

Basic Instructions

1. All functions are controlled from the touch-screen. The ONLY buttons not on the touch-screen that you may need to press are the EJECT buttons on the DVD/VCR player. These should be marked with small red dots for easy identification. Remember: don't touch the buttons or knobs on the equipment in the equipment rack!
2. When you first get to your classroom the touch-screen may very likely be in "sleep" mode (blank). Just touch the face of the screen to wake it up. If a slight touch does NOT wake up the touch-screen try a slightly longer, firmer touch. These sorts of devices work by sending a small amount of electrical current through your finger. Some people have fingers that seem to work better than others.
3. Depending on what state the touch-screen was left in you will probably next see a logo/spash screen which should look like the following. Simply touch this screen again to get to the main control screen.
   
   
    
4. The main control screen follows. On it you have you "Sources" listed as icons across the top. Selecting a source will load whatever associated controls they may be for that source in the empty area directly below. To the right there is a volume control and progress bar with an UP and DOWN volume button as well as a MUTE button. In the top right corner of the "Sources" section you have an icon which brings you to the controls for the ceiling mounted projector (ON/OFF/MUTE) and at the bottom right corner you have the EXIT button you will use when it comes time to shut things down.
   
   
    
5. Your first step, in most cases, will be to pull down your projection screen and to turn on your projector. The projector will take 1 or 2 minutes to warm up before it can be used. You can use this time to prep your computer or to load whatever DVD or videotape you may have brought. Touch the "Projector Control" icon to load the controls into the lower part of the screen. The Projector Controls include Power: ON and OFF and Video Mute: ON and OFF. Tip: "Video Mute" will blank the screen without actually turning the projector off in case you need to temporarily interrupt your presentation.
   
   
    
6. Next, you will want to select a source from the list of sources to display. Remember, as you select a source, it's associated controls (if any) will appear below. For example the following displays the controls associated with the DVD player;
   
   
   
   Most of these control, such as the Stop, Play, and Pause buttons should be familiar to anyone who's ever used a DVD. The Menu, Enter, ad cursor buttons allow you to maneuver a DVD's menus (for things such as chapter selection or subtitles) and the grayed out area in the image above will actually show a small preview of the movie. Tip: if you touch the screen within the small video preview area you'll get a full-screen preview. Touch it again to get back to the control screens.
7. Once you have finished with the equipment simply press the "Exit System" icon in the bottom right of the touch-screen. You will see a confirmation screen next - press the Yes button to shut down the system. This will turn off the projector and all of the equipment in the rack. There is nothing else for you to turn off. If you have logged onto the Room PC be sure to log off before you leave. Tip: Remember to eject your DVD or videotape BEFORE you turn the system off or you will have to turn it back on to get the eject buttons to work.