Technology@Wooster

In response to the VPAA’s solicitation of IT equipment requests, the Psychology Department reqested two personal response systems. This request was approved and the department is now in possession of two systems acquired from Turning Technologies. Each system consists of 20 wireless response keypads (”clickers”) and a small receiver that connects to the instructor’s computer via a USB port. Each system also includes software that integrates its operations with Microsoft PowerPoint.

These systems can be used to conduct anonymous polls and to assess the students’ collective understanding of particular points. Special slides are created in PowerPoint to present questions and possible answers. Students’ responses are entered via the keypads and captured by the receiver. Responses can be automatically summarized for presentation via PowerPoint. Instructors can then tailor subsequent instruction and activities based upon the results. Responses can also be retrieved for later analysis. It is also possible to use the system to track and record the responses of individual students.

The personal response system is easy to use—instructors already familiar with PowerPoint can become comfortable with the system’s essential functionality in less than five minutes. If you would like more information on personal response systems or would like to see a demonstration of this technology please contact Jon Breitenbucher or Joe Benfield. You can also learn more about personal response systems by visiting the vendor’s website.

The media cabinet in Kauke 237 has been equipped with a drawer to permanently house a document camera. IT hopes to make similar modifications to other media cabinets in the building, thereby increasing the number of cameras in permanent locations. This will allow faculty members who rely heavily on document cameras to request rooms permanently equipped with these devices. This action will reduce the number of the mobile cameras that are reservable through the administrative coordinators. Comments about the document cameras in Kauke or the cabinet modification should be directed to David Waldron.

In an effort to better inform members of the campus community about the various information technology resources available to them, the Office of Information Technology has launched an effort to enhance the documentation of these resources and to improve its organization and accessibility.  New documentation is being created in the College wiki and links to it can be found under the “Computing Resources” tab of the IT website. Currently, the wiki contains information about audio and video production resources, copying and printing services, classroom technology, IT help desks and networking services (including wireless).  The documentation initiative will continue throughout the Spring 2008 semester and into the summer, and many new documents will be created. The initiative is being guided by User Services Intern Catherine Grandgeorge.

Five classrooms are receiving technology enhancements over winter break.  Academic departments requested these upgrades in response to the VPAA’s solicitation of information technology requests and proposals.  These particular classrooms–Taylor 111, Taylor 302, Wishart 101, Morgan 105 and Scovel 004–were selected, in part, because the modifications could be completed between the fall and spring semesters.  The remaining requests and proposals are still under consideration and it is hoped that additional classroom upgrades will be carried out once the spring semester concludes.

In Taylor 111, the ceiling-mounted projector and speakers are being replaced. A media equipment rack is being incorporated into the lab table in the front of the room. The rack will house a new dvd/vcr combo unit, cable TV tuner, amplifier, scaler, power conditioner and Mac Mini. A sympodium will sit atop the lab table. The classroom technology will be controlled by a Pixie Pro unit which will also be located on the top of the lab table.

A new ceiling mounted projector will be installed in Taylor 302 along with a new projector screen and new speakers. A new media cabinet will be installed. The rack inside the media cabinet will contain a new dvd/vcr combo unit, amplifier, scaler and power conditioner. The room will also receive a new Mac Mini. The technology will be controlled by a Pixie Pro unit.

Wishart 101 will receive a custom-built podium. This podium contains an equipment rack which will house a new dvd/vcr combo unit, cable TV tuner, amplifier, scaler, power conditioner and Mac Mini. The classroom technology will be controlled by a Pixie Pro unit mounted atop the podium. New ceiling-mounted speakers are being installed, along with a new ceiling-mounted projector and a projector screen.

Morgan 105 will receive a custom-built podium. This podium contains an equipment rack which will house a new dvd/vcr combo unit, cable TV tuner, amplifier, scaler, power conditioner and Mac Mini. The classroom technology will be controlled by a Pixie Pro unit mounted atop the podium.

A new ceiling-mounted projector and projector screen are being added to Scovel 004. A new media cabinet is being installed. The rack inside the media cabinet will house a new dvd/vcr combo unit, cable TV tuner, amplifier, scaler and power conditioner. The room will also receive a new Mac Mini. The technology will be controlled by a Pixie Pro unit.

IT is very pleased to enhance these learning spaces and looks forward to enhancing others.

Persistent problems with the classroom technology in Kauke 141 were tracked to the room’s scaler.  That unit has now been replaced.  Similar problems had been encountered in Kauke 037 and Kauke 243.  Those units were replaced earlier with positive results.  As reported earlier, the problems with the scalers are the result of a manufacturing defect.  The units with this defect are being repaired under warranty.

The Office of Information Technology is very pleased to welcome Daniel Krites.  Dan has just joined us as Presentation Technology and Event Support Specialist.  In this role, Dan will provide multimedia support for events on-campus.  He will also play a key role in the installation and support of digital technologies in our learning spaces. As Media Services shifted to NTS last summer, Dan will be reporting to NTS Director Vince Di Scipio. Dan comes to us with significant experience in the consumer audio/video electronics field and in customer service.

Dan Krites

Persistent problems with the technology in Kauke 243 were tracked to the room’s scaler.  That unit was replaced yesterday.  Similar problems have been encountered in Kauke 141 and that scaler will be replaced as soon as possible.  The scaler in Kauke 037 was replaced two weeks ago. As reported earlier, the problems with the scalers are the result of a manufacturing defect. The units taken from Kauke are being repaired under warranty.

Each of the learning spaces in Kauke Hall includes a scaler as part of the multimedia equipment. Kauke 037, 141 and 243 have experienced persistent problems with their scalers. Faculty members teaching in these rooms have reported problems with the projection of video from the classroom computer and the DVD/VCR combo unit. At times no images from these devices could be projected and the input source could not be changed via the Pixie Pro control unit. These issues stemmed from the problems with the scalers. Booting the scaler, which required the intervention of an IT technician, typically restored normal operation.

The scaler manufacturer has now acknowledged that the issues we have experienced are associated with a known manufacturing defect. The problems occur when the scaler’s main control unit is not properly seated in its socket. The manufacturer will repair these units under warranty.

As previously reported, the scaler in Kauke 037 has already been replaced by a unit from a different manufacturer. The original unit has been shipped back to the manufacturer for repair. Its return is expected within the next few days. When it arrives, it will be installed in Kauke 141. The scaler in Kauke 243 will also be replaced witin the next few days.

We very much regret the difficulties associated with the defective scalers.

Faculty members teaching in Kauke 037 reported problems with the projection of video from the classroom computer and the DVD/VCR combo unit. At times no images from these devices could be projected and the input source could not be changed via the Pixie Pro control unit. After firmware updates to the multimedia equipment and reprogramming of the control unit failed to resolve these issues, the problems were traced to the audio/video scaler. That unit has now been replaced with a scaler from a different manufacturer. IT will take careful note of the performance of the new unit.

In conjunction with the replacement of the scaler, IT has installed a new equipment rack inside the media cabinet in Kauke 037. The rack provides for better organization of the multimedia equipment and cabling. The rack slides out from the media cabinet and can be rotated to provide easier access for technicians servicing the equipment.

Amber Garcia and Michael Casey, both of the Psychology Department, recently authored a successful Hewlett-Mellon grant proposal to equip the Human Interaction Lab (Morgan 117) and the Learning Lab (Morgan 119) with digital video cameras and digital audio recording equipment.  The two labs are separated by an observation room (Morgan 118).  One-way mirrors allow unobtrusive observation from this space of activities in each of the labs.  The proposal included equipment for the observation room–a computer to control the recording devices, and storage units to store the generated content.

The grant authors anticipate that this new equipment will greatly facilitate the use of labs for undergraduate research, allow a greater range of Independent Study theses to be undertaken, result in increased student-faculty collaboration on observational research topics, and provide additional support for courses in research methods. The equipment will also allow activities in the labs to be recorded, edited and stored for further analysis and research.  The resulting files can be brought into the classroom for presentation and discussion.

The Office of Information Technology’s Media Services group consulted with the grant authors to select appropriate equipment for the labs and the observation room. Equipment installation was overseen by Vince Di Scipio, Director of Networks, Telecommunications and Systems (NTS). This role fell to Vince as a result of the shift of Media Services into NTS. IT is very pleased to have played a supporting role in this project and congratulates Amber and Michael on their successful proposal. We wish them the best as they begin use of the enhanced labs.