Overview
Request classroom technology help
What Technology is in My Classroom?
Multimedia equipment in UI technology classrooms is generally controlled via touch panel. These touchpanels will allow you to operate most of the classroom technology from one convenient location. As there is some variation between classroom equipment there is also variation on touchpanel layouts, however they have been designed to provide a consistent experience across classroom spaces.
A list of the technology in each general classroom space can be found in this article: What technology is in classroom spaces on the Moscow campus?
Touch Panel Notes
Most of these touchpanels are capacitive, which means they require far less pressure to operate but do not function while wearing gloves.
The touchpanels are easy to damage with many of the cleaners that are commonly used in the classrooms. DO NOT SPRAY THE TOUCHPANELS WITH CLEANERS!!! Only wipe the touchpanel with a soft cloth.
The AMX 7 inch touch panels are the standard control interface for the classroom equipment.
The touch panel Start screen.
You will be brought to the Main page when you Touch the screen to begin. The top row of buttons are controls. The bottom row selects which source should be sent to the projection system. The projector controls will automatically be displayed in the center of the screen. The example below indicates the projector is waiting to be turned on.
This is the main page for the touch panel. It allows access to all the controls for the system.
Back to top
Classroom Help
eHelp Button
If you are experiencing an issue with the classroom equipment in a general classroom scheduled by the registrar's office there are multiple methods of requesting prompt help from the nearest ITS TSP or Local Support technician. On most classroom touchpanels you can press the eHelp button to open a keyboard. Type in a short description of the issue and press Send. If you are logged into the classroom Windows PC, your user name is automatically filled in. If not, please press in the Username field and type in your NetID before sending your help message. This will send your help request to a centralized system that will notify the nearest TSP for assistance.
Use the eHelp button to enter and send a help message to the nearest TSP.
Requesting Help via Ticket
If you are in a room that does not have a touch panel with an eHelp button you can log into the computer click on the Classroom eHelp shortcut, with the big yellow question mark, on the desktop. This will present you with a form to request help in the classroom. If you find yourself here after searching for a way to get help in your classroom you can press the button below to access the form.
Note: if the computer does not have the eHelp shortcut then it has not been designated for immediate response and, most likely, provided by by the department not ITS.
Request classroom technology help
Help via Phone
Finally you can request classroom assistance by calling 208-885-0570. Note that this method is generally the least effective method of contacting a TSP for help. It is recommended to use one of the two methods above, if possible.
Back to top
Projector/Display Controls
Press the Turn on button to start up the projector. A countdown will start on the touchpanel and it will take 15 seconds for the projector to be fully powered up. If the projector is already on then the On button will be grayed out and the options to either turn the projector off or mute the video is enabled.
The projector controls change based on whether the projector is powered on or off.
When the video is muted the projector will project a black image. The Mute video button’s background will blink red as a reminder the video is muted. Another press of the button will restore the video of the currently selected source. If you are transitioning between materials it is best to mute the projector instead of turning it off. Turning the projector off will start a 15 second timer. It will then take another 15 seconds, or more, for the projector to start back up again. In addition this causes unnecessary wear on the hardware. If you no longer need the projector to be on you can turn it off by pressing the Turn off button.
Similar controls will be presented when a classroom is equipped with LCD displays, however the power up and power down times are reduced. Otherwise the controls are identical in function.
The red background of the Video Mute button means that it is enabled and the projector is displaying a black image.
Back to top
Dual Displays
If you are in a room that uses dual displays please refer to the following article for more information on how those systems function: How do I operate dual displays?
Back to top
Volume and Microphones
Classrooms with wireless microphones have will have multiple volume controls: one for the content (PC, HDMI, Blu-ray) playback, and one for each microphone. Otherwise a single volume control for content volume will be displayed. The content and microphone volume controls are Mute, - and +. The mute button backgrounds will flash red when active. Pushing the mute button again will un-mute the content audio or microphone. Increasing or decreasing the volume will also un-mute the audio.
The volume controls on the Main Page of the touch panel. Not all classrooms will have the microphone volume controls.
The microphones available will be wireless lavalier microphones that can be used for sound reinforcement of the instructor's voice.
A diagram of the the Mic
Turn on a microphone by holding the button on the top of the transmitter pack for two seconds, or until the green light comes on. Microphone volume control is on the main page of the touch panel. The microphone can be muted from the touch panel or by a short press on the button on the transmitter top. The light on the transmitter will turn amber when it is muted.
There is a battery charger with spare rechargable microphone batteries in the lectern drawer. Squeeze the battery cover tabs to access the battery compartment.
Back to top
Screen Control
The Screen button is present in classrooms that allow control of the projection screen from the touch panel. The Up, Down, and Stop buttons mirror the controls on the wall switch located in every classroom. If the touchpanel in your classroom does not have these controls you will need to either find the wall controls or it has LCD displays equipped in the room.
Some classrooms allow the raising or lowering of the projection screen from the touch panel.
Back to top
Lighting Control
Some classrooms have the ability to control the room lighting via the touch panel. These buttons mirror the wall switch controls in the room.
Some classrooms allow the control of the room lights from the touch panel.
Back to top
Source Selection and Subpage Controls
Classroom sources are located on the bottom of the main page. The page to the left indicates that the PC is the current source displayed on the projector. When a source is selected on the touch panel, a subpage is displayed with additional controls.
The green button background on the bottom row will indicate what the projector is displaying.
If desired, the audio being played can be from a different source than the video being displayed on the projector. This can be accomplished by pressing the Audio select button. This will then display a window that will indicate the current audio source in green and allow a new source to be chosen. If a new source is selected to be displayed on the projector the audio will automatically be set to that source.
You can change the audio played through the classroom speakers. It will default to the same device that is displaying video.
On all sources except the PC, the video on the monitor can be changed from the current source to the PC and back again. To accomplish this press the Monitor select button and it will bring up the two options in a window.
At any time, you can bring up the PC on the lectern monitor only while showing the selected source to the class.
The Monitor select is replaced on the PC subpage by the Display mode button. This will allow you to use the Presenter View in PowerPoint to view the notes for the presentation while displaying the presentation to the class. You must be logged on to the computer to use this option.
PowerPoint's presenter view can be used on the classroom systems, but the control is through the touch panel.
Back to top
PC
The classroom computer has the same software as any of the Student Computing Labs on campus.
The PC control page.
The PC is set to logout automatically after 15 minutes of inactivity. A prompt will show up after 12 minutes of inactivity. Moving the mouse or pressing a key on the keyboard will remove this prompt. Active content, such as a Zoom meeting or video, will not count as inactivity in regards to this logout prompt.
Back to top
Document Camera
Wolfvision vSolution Cam
The physical controls on the document camera have been disabled. The camera zoom and light controls are along the bottom of the touch panel page. The Reset button is provided to reset all the settings on the document camera to default and can correct some issues experienced during usage.
The document camera control page.
If you are preparing materials for document camera use and you want to display a whole sheet at once, make them in landscape instead of portrait aspect ratio.
Use the light control button on the touch panel to turn the light off and on. Selecting the document camera as a video source turns on the light.
Use the preview display (monitor or touch panel) to see exactly what your audience is seeing.
The document cameras in the classroom spaces have been updated with a Think Board surface. This is a dry erase surface to allow for handwritten notes to be seen by students clearly whether they are in person or remote.
Instructions for using the Document Camera with Zoom
Please see the following article (How to use classroom document camera with Zoom) for detailed instructions on how to use the document camera in the general classrooms with Zoom.
Back to top
Blu-ray Player
The Blu-ray player in the lectern is available to play Blu-ray discs. You can also play other types of discs such as DVDs or CDs in the Blu-ray players. The Blu-ray players are only capable of playing region 1 DVDs and region A Blu-ray discs. To playback other international DVDs, please use VLC player on the classroom computer.
Oppo BDP-103 Blu-ray player.
Selecting the Blu-ray source on the touch panel will display the player's menu. We suggest you not use any of the applications displayed along the bottom of the screen. The PC is a better option to run these as the interface is more user friendly and you can be sure that your account credentials are not shared. The label below the disc icon will tell you whether a disc is loaded in the player or not.
Oppo Blu-ray player menu screen.
Many of the blu-ray controls will be unavailable and thus grayed out until a disc is read by the player.
The blu-ray control page. Most controls are not available until a disc is read.
Once a disc has been read, full functionality of the player is available. Basic controls are aligned along the bottom of the panel and menu navigation and more advanced controls are on the right of the screen. Please remember to remove your disc before you log off the touch panel as the player will be turned off at that time.
All controls will be available when a disc is inserted into the player.
Back to top
HDMI Input
There is an HDMI port on the top of the lectern for using an external device, such as a laptop or iPad, with the classroom system. Please use the HDMI button for any device that is outputting HDMI, DisplayPort or Thunderbolt. An adapter will be needed for DisplayPort and Thunderbolt to HDMI. Cables are not provided in the classrooms as they tend to not stay in the classrooms; you should bring your own cable to the classroom.
The HDMI control page.
Back to top
Analog Input
The Analog input on the top of the lectern can accept VGA video and 3.5mm (mini/headphone) analog stereo audio. VGA cables are not provided. Note that the analog video input will not be available in future classroom designs as the technology is being phased out.
The Analog input control page.
Back to top
Wireless Presentation Remote
All University of Idaho technology-enhanced classrooms are supplied with wireless RF handheld presentation controller. The same model is installed in most classrooms.
Button functions of the wireless presenter remotes.
Back to top
Logout
Every instructor is required to shut down the system after their class period has ended. The control system will automatically log the computer off 15 seconds after the touch panel has exited for most systems (this applies to AMX controlled systems). The projector video will be muted. If another instructor does not start the system within 15 minutes, all classroom equipment will be turned off, including the projector. Please leave the projector on for the next instructor to reduce wear on the system.
The system will ask if you want to shut down. Please save any changes made and remove all media before accepting.
Back to top