Active Learning Classrooms (ALCs) are flat floor spaces designed to facilitate active learning strategies. Many ALCs also have multiple sharing options allowing students and staff to share their screens in various ways and supporting the use of online collaborative platforms.
To operate the Audio and Visual Equipment in the Active Learning Classroom:
Turn on the Lectern computer if it's switched off.
Start the ALC AV system.
Click Advance Controls to individually turn off any of the display devices. Click done to return to the previous menu.
Click Audio Setting to control the microphone volume levels. Click done to return to the previous menu.
Click on Light Controls to control the lighting in the ALC. The Lecture Mode preset turns off the lights in front of the projector screens for a clearer projection.
Turn on the microphone. Press and hold the power button until the green indicator lights up. The ALC is equipped with handheld microphones as well as a clip-on microphone. Always remember to turn off the microphones after use.
Active Learning Classrooms are also equipped with various sharing options that can enhance the teaching and learning experience. These options are listed below and will be detailed in this module.
Split Screen
Group Presentation Mode
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
Split Screen
This options enables the user to share two windows simultaneously to all available displays.
Open Microsoft Powerpoint, PDF reader or any app of your choice. Click and drag the top of the app window to the right of the screen until half the screen is highlighted and drop it.
Open the Whiteboard app (aka-Easy Interactive Tools) on the lectern computer and minimise the window. Click and drag the top of the app window to the left of the screen until half the screen is highlighted and drop it. The writing pad may now be used to annotate on the whiteboard app. The document camera (via the windows camera app) may also be used instead of the whiteboard app.
Turn on the document camera.
Open the Windows Camera app on the lectern computer and minimise the window. Click and drag the top of the app window to the left of the screen until half the screen is highlighted and drop it.
Click the switch camera button if the document camera doesn't appear on screen by default.
Group Presentation Mode
This option enables a student to physically connect their device to any available TV within the ALC. It provides the lectern user the ability to share the students presentation with all available displays.
Click TV’s from the main menu and the options screen become available. The TV’s are numbered and labelled in each ALC.
Choose the input TV display. If the Lectern user wishes to stream from TV number 1, click TV1. If the lectern user wishes to stream from TV number 2, click TV2. This facility allows a different device to be connected to each TV but the lectern user has the ability to choose which device is being shared to the overall class.
BYOD - Fliptop
The ALCs are equipped with a variety of inputs. This allows you to use your personal devices for teaching. Available inputs:
HDMI
VGA
Displayport
3.5mm Audio jack
Usb extension to the lectern computer (usually for thumb drives)
Power sockets are also available in the fliptop interface. To retract any of the fliptop cables, press the illuminated button beside the cable.
Here is how you plug your device according to each input:
Identify the VGA display cable and the 3.5mm audio jack.
Connect the VGA display cable to the VGA port of your computer. A similar approach may be taken with other available display inputs such as the HDMI or display port interface. If your device is equipped with a Type C port, a Type C to VGA/HDMI adapter will be required.
Connect the 3.5mm audio jack to your device. Note that this is only needed if the VGA connection is being used.
Click the keys on your device to open the windows projection-menu. Then select from the four options presented to you.
Now that your device has been successfully connected, let's discuss the various display switching options available to you. Click on the fliptop option on the home screen. Here you may choose to do the following:
Share your device to just the TVs by clicking Share to All TVs.
Share your device to just the Projectors by clicking Share to All Projectors.
Share your device to all available displays by clicking Share to all.
Keep in mind that the Share to All TVs and Share to All Projectors option will no longer be available once the Share to All option has been selected. To make the Share to All TVs and Share to All Projectors options available once again, click Lectern PC on the home screen followed by Share to All TVs. Then repeat the steps above based on your shared device preference.
BYOD - Barco
NOTE: This mode is currently only available in the following rooms: 6315, 6002 & 6003.
This option enables the user to wirelessly stream their portable devices (smartphones, tablets and laptops) to the various displays available.
Download the BARCO ClickShare application from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. If you are using a Laptop, download the app from the Barco Website using the link.
Click on the Barco option on the home screen. Here you may choose to do the following:
Share your device to just the TVs by clicking Share to All TVs.
Share your device to just the Projectors by clicking Share to All Projectors.
Share your device to all available displays by clicking Share to all.
Keep in mind that the Share to All TVs and Share to All Projectors option will no longer be available once the Share to All option has been selected. To make the Share to All TVs and Share to All Projectors options available once again, click Lectern PC on the home screen followed by Share to All TVs. Then repeat the steps above based on your shared device preference.
If you are using a smartphone or tablet, open the Barco Clickshare app.
Key in the IP address shown on the bottom left of the projector screen/TV.
Once completed, a password will be shown on the top right of the projector screen/TV. Key in the password.
Click on the share button and then the start broadcast button. Your device will be mirrored wirelessly on the displays available in the ALC.
If you are using a laptop, launch the Barco Clickshare program.
Key in the IP address shown on the bottom left of the projector screen/TV and click enter.
Once completed, a password will be shown on the top right of the projector screen/TV. Key in the password and click enter.
Click on the share button and your device will be mirrored wirelessly on the displays available in the ALC.
ALCs are able to stream the Lectern PC onto the projector screens while simultaneously streaming another device (connected by the fliptop interface) to the TV’s and vice versa. Here is how to configure this option.
Note: This is an Advanced Module. Do not hesitate to rewatch the video to understand the functionality of this Hybrid Sharing Option.
MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output)
The Hybrid sharing option, MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) can be set up in the following configurations.
Fliptop - lectern combination
Barco - lectern combination
Fliptop - Barco combination
Connect your own device to the Fliptop or Barco interface.
Click on the Fliptop' or BARCO option (depending on step 1) on the home screen. Click Share to All TV’s or Share to All Projectors.
Click Lectern PCon the home screen. Now depending on the Share to option previously chosen in step 2, choose the other option.
keys on your device to open the windows projection-menu. Then select from the four options presented to you.