Jorgensen, 'Distance Learning Classroom in Action', MC Journal 0401
URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/mcj/mcj-0401-jorgensen-distance



MEDIA WORKS COLUMN

Distance Learning Classroom in Action
by Peter Jorgensen

MC Journal: The Journal of Academic Media Librarianship, v4#1, Summer
1996:120-


Established with grant funds obtained by the State University of
New York at Buffalo's (SUNY Buffalo) School of Nursing, a state-
of-the-art video teleconferencing classroom was installed in the
University's Health Sciences Library. The grant allowed for the
necessary wiring and equipment to be installed in an existing
classroom seating 50 people.  The system has been in use since
January of 1995 to transmit classes to students in Olean, New
York, a rural community approximately 100 miles south of Buffalo.
The site is now maintained and supported by SUNY Buffalo's
Computing and Information Technology Department (CIT).

The core equipment of the site consists of a PictureTel(TM)
System 4000, a Socrates(TM) Podium and related peripherals. The
system communicates with other sites using the H.320 video
teleconferencing protocol over a one or two channel ISDN
connection. This means that you are not limited to linking up
with sites that have PictureTel equipment, but can communicate
with equipment from other manufacturers. The ISDN connection
utilizes telephone circuits which means a permanent, dedicated
communication line is not necessary.

The system can handle a variety of commonly used media,
simultaneously displaying them on several large screens in the
teleconferencing classroom and transmitting them to the remote
classroom. Color and black and white printed materials, such as
overheads (transparent or opaque), 35mm slides and PowerPoint(TM)
presentations (on DOS diskette) can all be incorporated into
classroom presentations, as can live writing on a convenient

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template or the blackboard. The system can be used to record the
class on a standard VHS video cassette. The VCR can also be used
to show a video. In addition to PowerPoint the PC has CIT's
standard communications software, including internet access.

All of the audio-visual aids are controlled through the Socrates
instructor's podium. The podium incorporates a touch-screen
display that shows what is being sent to the remote classroom and
has controls for all attached devices. Each device can be
selected by simply touching an on-screen button. Buttons for
controlling the device, e.g. for advancing to the next slide,
also appear on the screen.

A FAX machine is provided for sending last-minute handouts or
other instructional materials. There is a phone on the podium to
call for technical help if something should not work properly.
The system has two cameras, one that can automatically follow the
instructor as she moves about the class and the other for
transmitting an image of the class, or any individual in it, to
the remote site. The classroom camera is easily controlled
through the Socrates touch-screen display in the podium. It can
be panned (left and right), tilted (up and down) and zoomed (in
and out) to focus on a small group or even an individual student.
The instructor's camera has its own wireless remote control which
turns the auto tracking mode on and off and allows a full range
of camera adjustments from anywhere in the room.
The system also has a wired remote control that an operator
sitting in the front row of the class could use to control most

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of the functions of the system. This is especially convenient
when you have a guest lecturer who is not familiar with the
operation of the system.  The room is outfitted with eight
sensitive microphones in the ceiling to pick up questions and
comments made by students.

While the system was designed to be operated completely by the
instructor the School of Nursing has found that most professors
have enough on their minds while teaching a class. The additional
duties of cameraman, director and producer are a bit overwhelming
to the average teacher. This problem is even more acute for guest
lecturers who might only teach one class. This has lead to the
adoption of an operator-assisted model when using the room. Every
class held there is attended by a Nursing School staff member who
takes responsibility for getting the system running and connected
to the other site and shutting things down after class. Whether
or not faculty will ever become comfortable teaching in this type
of classroom without an operator present is an open question.
Perhaps the next version of the Socrates software will be a bit
more user-friendly, but this remains to be seen.

Training, technical support, and software installation are all
coordinated through CIT.  Scheduling for the room is handled by
the Health Sciences Library.  The School of Nursing distance
learning classes have been very successful ventures, and the site
has been a excellent example of several University departments
working together to achieve a common goal.


Peter Jorgensen is a member of the Instructional Technology Group
in the SUNY Buffalo's Academic Services Computing and Information
Technology Division.


This article is copyright (c) Peter Jorgensen. All Rights
Reserved. All commercial use requires the permission of the author and
the editors of this journal.


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