AV Systems in Mezzanine Teaching Spaces
See Teaching & Meeting Rooms for a list of teaching spaces, capacities and locations. See Room Booking for details of how to book teaching rooms.
Overview
The lecture theatres/rooms (L1-L6) each have 3 sets of roller white boards and dual projection AV systems (two screens), while the class rooms (C1-C6) have 2 sets of roller white boards and single projection AV systems (one screen). Each has two desktop PCs (Windows and Linux), plus connections for laptops (HDMI and USB-C for output; USB-A for input). The projectors run at Full HD (1920x1080) resolution.
Basic usage
The AV setup across these 12 rooms is designed to be familiar and as consistent as practical across the spaces for ease of use without significant demonstration or instruction. As you approach the lectern, the touchscreen will detect presence and light up. If it does not, you can tap the screen.
The initial screen allows you to select which device you to use:
- PC (Windows)
- PC (Linux)
- Laptop (HDMI)
- Laptop (USB-C)
- Visualiser
In most cases you would select from the top (larger) row of buttons, which will turn on both the projector and the lectern monitor. Alternatively, select from the bottom (smaller) row to turn on the lectern monitor only while you set up.
When you are finished, please tap the power button icon at the bottom of the touchscreen, then tap "Power down" to return the system to standby mode - this resets everything ready for the next event. (Note: It does not stop the lecture capture system.)
Audio
In general, the acoustics of the lecture theatres, and the ceiling mics used for recording, mean it is not necessary to use a microphone when giving a lecture. However, if one is needed, please take a lapel microphone from the cupboard under the lectern and clip it as high as possible on your shirt. It should turn on automatically, and can be muted/unmuted by briefly pressing the button on the front.
When you are finished, please return the microphone to the charging cradle and make sure it is seated firmly - otherwise it may not make contact, which may result in it staying switched on and recording the sound of the cupboard instead of the room!
Lighting
In L1-L3, the room lighting will be adjusted automatically when you turn the projectors on/off. We generally recommend using the default settings to ensure the best visibility for your audience, but you can override it from the touchscreen (lightbulb icon at the bottom) or using the controls on the wall if you need to.
In the other rooms, you will find standard light switches on the wall.
Projector controls
Only one projector will be turned on by default - the one furthest from the lectern. If you would like to use both projectors (L1-L6 only), select an input source for Display 2 from the touchscreen - you can use the same input for both projectors, or a different input for each.
If the lecture is being recorded in Panopto, it will automatically switch from the left/right whiteboard camera to the input that you select for the respective projector. When you power off the projector, it will switch back to the board camera.
The "Blank" button will cause the projector (and Panopto) to temporarily switch to a black screen, without turning off fully.
The "Freeze" button will cause the projector to temporarily freeze on the current image. However, Panopto does not support this and will continue to display the live image.
Lectern monitor, keyboard and mouse
The lectern monitor will display the same input as Display 1 by default, but you can change it independently from the touchscreen if you need to.
The keyboard and mouse are automatically switched to the device chosen for display on the lectern monitor. If you are using a laptop, you will need to plug in the USB-A cable for them to work.
Visualiser
In the lecture theatres/rooms, there is a document camera/visualiser in a drawer on the side of the lectern. To use it:
- Pull out the drawer
- Pull up the visualiser camera arm until it locks in place
- Press the power button of the visualiser to turn it on
- Place your document/object on the device
- Select "Visualiser" as the input for one or both of the projectors
Lecture capture (Panopto)
L1-L6 each have a main room camera, which captures all three whiteboards and the lectern, plus individual cameras focussed on each of the three whiteboards. C1-C6 each have a single room camera, which captures both whiteboards and the lectern.
Lecture recordings are set up by Academic Admin at the start of each term, and can be accessed by students via Moodle. Please notify Academic Admin if a lecture is rearranged or cancelled so the recording can be rescheduled accordingly.
If you need to arrange for a seminar to be recorded in Panopto, please contact the Academic Admin team. Such recordings are accessible only to students and people within the department, so are not suitable for sharing externally, but have the benefit that each whiteboard camera is captured in addition to the main room camera (L1-L6 only).
If you are arranging an event that you want to be recorded, please talk to the Events team.
Intercollegiate classes and consultation sessions are generally not recorded because it can discourage student interaction.
Microsoft Teams/Zoom/etc.
The teaching rooms do not have dedicated Microsoft Teams Room (MTR) devices, but you can use the desktop PC or a laptop to join a call, broadcast to an external audience, or make a recording.
If using a desktop:
- Select "PC (Windows)" or "PC (Linux)" on the touchscreen (for Display 1, or just the Lectern Monitor if you prefer)
- Launch Microsoft Teams and join the meeting as you would on your own desktop
If using a laptop:
- Connect either the USB-C or HDMI cable to the laptop
- Also connect the USB-A cable to the laptop (if you do not have a USB-A port, or do not have enough ports, you will need to use an adapter/hub)
- Select "Laptop (HDMI)" or "Laptop (USB-C)" on the touchscreen (for Display 1, or just the Lectern Monitor if you prefer)
- Launch Microsoft Teams and join the meeting as normal
- Select the appropriate devices for the video and audio inputs
The USB-A cable provides the main room camera feed and the room audio as standard video/audio input devices. The individual board cameras in L1-L6 cannot be used in this setup, so you may find C1-C6 or VC1 preferable if you are using the whiteboards.
Please note that changing the Display 1 or Lectern Monitor inputs on the touchscreen will interrupt the feed, the same as pulling out the cable would.
Support
If you need further help with the system: