Presentation at 2015 Association for Communication Excellence conference in Charleston, SC concerning the renovation of a distance education classroom and building a green screen and lab demo studio
1. Going Digital
Renovation of a Distance Learning Center
and Construction of a Lab Demo/Green Screen Studio
Ron Thomas
Coordinator of Distance Education
University of Florida/IFAS
2. Distance Education Center
Original DEC built in 1997
Instructor station with computer,
document camera, slide to video, 2
podium mics & wireless mic
48 seats, one mic to each 2 seats
Instructor camera and student camera
LCD projector and screen
Teaching and technology
philosophy
3. Distance Education Center
Four fixed monitors and one mobile
Adjacent control room with video and
audio switchers, monitors, CG, Gentner
phone system. Satellite, AT&T networking.
PictureTel videoconferencing unit
Approximate cost (technology only) –
~$50K
4.
5. Distance Education Center
1997-2012 modifications
Sony HD cameras and Vaddio controller
Half analog half digital video switcher
New LCD projectors
Switch from dedicated network to IP
Polycom videoconferencing unit
Accordent lecture capture system ~2008
6. The Switchover
Summer 2013 – Switch to digital
Two bids – Comprehensive Technical
Group and UF Office of Academic
Technology
Included DEC, control room and
renovation and repurposing of old video
studio
Scope of work
7. The Switchover
Bids very close – CTG ~$191K,
UF-AT ~$189K
Retained only classroom cameras, camera
control unit
Gutted control room
DEC – new mics
Five monitors
New LED projector
New screen
New speakers
12. New Control Room
Crestron touch screen controls
Digital video switcher and audio mixer
Two large flat screen monitors, eight
smaller monitors
Mediasite recorder
Cisco C40 videoconference unit
New microphone, speaker
14. Studio
Green screen painted wall
Blue screen frame
Newtek Tricaster 455 (in control room)
Lumens PS760 document camera
Sony EV1-H100S overhead camera
Panasonic P2HD camera, tripod
Diversified Mobile Lab Table 48”x 24”
25. Studio Examples
WIS 4934 Natural Resource Ecology
http://mediasite.video.ufl.edu/Mediasite/P
lay/15c813c8a22e4d02b5aa3758a58ed73
c1d
26. Studio Examples
AGR 4231 Forage Science and Range
Management
http://mediasite.video.ufl.edu/Mediasite/P
lay/14e920df17cf4e548406022faff8567b1
d
27. Current Use
Spring Semester – Two M-W-F courses,
one T-Th course, one course each on T, W
and Th
Average of three other events per week
(seminars, interviews, recordings for
courses in production)
Average of three studio recordings per
week (recordings for courses in
production, Extension video)
Was originally a Home Economics lab.
Much of original design remains. Seats, tables, instructor station, mics. Changes will be discussed later.
High lumens LCD projector so we didn’t have to dim lights. Needed lights up for cameras, keeping students awake.
Philosophy of teaching and technology: some installations around campus had instructors operating all technology. IFAS/CALS took the approach that we wanted instructors to focus on teaching, support staff would operate technology (except for instructor computer.) More expensive initially and longterm because of need to pay support staff, but we think it results in a better product.
Satellite truck, fiber optic feed from IFAS dish and UF dishes.
PictureTel additional $26K
Live videoconferencing of classes to IVN sites at night
Some classes originated at other sites around state
Also added electrical outlets and Cat5 connections to each seat for computer use. Wireless signal also available, but not as reliable at first.
Switching away from synchronous videoconferencing classes to recording content for asynchronous online classes.
Consult upgrade requirements
In DEC, also redid wall covering behind instructor, added acoustic paneling to walls, recarpeted.
Removed green wall covering behind instructor, painted wall gray. Added sound deadening panels on walls.
Added 4 additional eyeball lights on instructor.
Larger monitors about 18”x12”, smaller ones about half that
Most equipment choices reflected existing installations elsewhere on campus. Exceptions included our video switcher and audio board.
Tricaster. Teleprompter screen on right. Lighting board on left.