Classroom Solutions

Law School is moving from manually recording classes to an automated workflow using ncast and Google calendars for scheduling tied to a Crestron device. Currently have a mac mini with projectors connected to Crestron controller. Other rooms have camcorders with videographers and editors. Mac minis are configured simply with parental controls.
School of Medicine had a very similar workflow before LKSC. SoM has a requirement for delivering recordings of classes. 5 people on staff. LKSC custom capture system that allows anyone scheduled in the room to capture. Dual boot Mac minis are in each space. Pool of dual-boot MacBook Pros with custom profiles for mobile labs and exams. All of the rooms in Alway have computers with webcams and mic for integration with Blue Jeans. Medicine grand rounds will be done using Blue Jeans -- Trent Tanaka is working with VA. Anesthesia uses Panopto which synchronizes PPT and PDFs with lecture capture for searchable videos.
SF State Academic Tech office - echo360 in 20 classrooms. From manual approach (4-8 classes per semester) to automated system. Sends video from classroom to server to LMS. Pain point around manual management of Mac minis. Blue Jeans has just become accessible. Was using Zoom, interested to see how accessibility features work.
GSB Academic Technology team - ~30 classrooms with Windows computers in each classroom attached to Crestron. Limited Mediasite deployment. Not sure if they will be scaling up via Mediasite. ~100 terminals in conference room spaces.
Language Center (SULAIR) - Used to use a MacBook Pro with a camera, swapped out to an iPad with a shotgun mic (Røde Mic) that records in a small file format (Movie Pro) to be delivered to Coursework. Coursework team is testing Chromebooks instead of Windows laptops. Instructor managed, so training is involved. Using Blue Jeans for Navajo course.
Academic Computing oversees 1000 computers in 120 locations, virtual delivery is not available on Mac side. Happy to provide further information (Orlando Leon).
There is also a shift from class capture to custom content for online delivery.
Control Systems -- Are people happy with ease of use? It depends on who programmed it (Bob Smith). Stanford had Pixie panels reprogrammed to simplify use. Trent Tanaka is looking for AMX or Crestron programming experience as he's hiring people.
Lathrop Library -- Classroom holds up to 150 students, repurposed space from 30 offices. Intended for classes that are already flipped. Leveraged tech found during building Wallenberg Learning Theater: Computational Acoustics. Mics and speakers in ceiling. Current class: biology with a little lecture and little group work. Can turn system into audio masking mode for group work. From faculty request to be able to break a class up into small groups. Faculty input is solicited in the build out of spaces. Near throw (interactive) projectors on white board walls have been installed. Faculty need to learn about use cases and pros and cons for all technologies.
Do faculty complain about too many technology options? How do you balance using options vs. simplicity. Kenneth Romero (AComp) looks at pedagogical objectives which feeds into what technologies to use. An ongoing conversation with faculty of what is needed and what the limitations are of each option is required. There is a need for someone to help navigate those options, not many places/groups have such a person.
It would be nice to standardize on spaces.
There are currently informal networks around classroom tech. It would be nice to formalize that. Bob Smith (Registrar's Office) will create and manage a mailing list. A quarterly or monthly meeting would be great (or through Blue Jeans). Send an email to bobsmith@stanford.edu to be added to distribution list.