CBA 5.328-5.330 Active Learning Classrooms

Active Learning Classrooms (ALC) offer a teaching and learning environment that makes it easier for faculty who want to expand their course design "beyond the lecture" to engage the imagination of students. The two McCombs Active Learning Classrooms are custom-designed to provide students with a diverse and interactive learning environment that takes full advantage of state-of-the-art technology. 

ALC highlights

• Cooperative learning environments that motivate collaboration among students
• Technology that lets students and instructor easily present work to each other
• Flexible furniture designed to facilitate small-group work
• The ability for instructors to interactively coach students during activities
• Increase our ability to emulate real-world practices

Through an innovative layout of the space and flexible furniture students can collaborate in groups and have access to dedicated technology, including computer screen-sharing, whiteboards and projectors. With this equipment the instructor can employ new ways of engaging with students using collaborative learning activities and an inviting use of media that encourages participation.

The design of the space lets the instructors easily switch between presenting to the entire class and consulting with individual student groups on their work. Both instructor and students can move freely around the room to collaborate and engage in conversation. In short, the ALC accommodates all different teaching modes including lecture style, team-based collaboration and group discussions to offer a well-balanced learning experience. 

ALC Instructions

Presenter Computer Projection
Student Computer Projection
ALC Interface Controls

Presenter Computer Projection

ALC MAIN

AirMedia Connection and Computer Presentation

The ALC classrooms employ the Crestron AirMedia solution to allow you to present, collaborate, and share content wirelessly from your computer to the room displays.
To connect a computer wirelessly to the displays using AirMedia begin by connecting your computer to the utexas wifi network. Next, turn on one or more of the displays in the Display column by pushing the red power button adjacent to the projector or monitor of your choosing.

From the Source column select Presenter 1 or Presenter 2 and then choose a Display that you would like to use by pressing one of the rectangular Projector buttons. Repeat this process to have your source presented on multiple displays.
The source being displayed will appear in the Showing column next to the display.
The picture below will appear on the display(s) that you have selected:

In your web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.) type in the Address of the wireless display indicated on the screen (in this case ipresent1) followed by “mccombs.utexas.edu” e.g. ipresent1.mccombs.utexas.edu
The following screen will appear in your browser: 

Click on Download for your platform (Windows or Mac) and follow the onscreen instructions to install the AirMedia application. Note: Mac users will need to manually run the installer that was downloaded to your machine.
When you run (launch) the AirMedia program the following window will appear: 

Enter the code from the projector screen that you have selected, (in the example below 5918 in the red oval.) The code will be different each time that you connect.

After you enter the screen’s code, a control panel will appear which has a square Stop button and a triangular Play/Pause toggle button.

• Use Pause to temporarily freeze your computer’s screen on the projector, but remain connected to the display
• Use Play to resume from pause
• Use Stop to disconnect from the display, allowing another device to project to it. While "Stopped" your computer will still remain connected and pushing Play will project your computer again
• The X in the upper right corner of the Crestron control panel will disconnect you from the system

Several presenter computers can connect to the projectors but only four can be displayed at the same time. To switch between more than four connected computers, push Stop on the machines that are not in use.
If you use a Mac and want to project audio through AirMedia, you will need to install SoundFlower.

Student Computer Projection

ALC MAIN

AirMedia Connection and Computer Presentation

The ALC classrooms employ the Crestron AirMedia solution to allow you to present, collaborate, and share content wirelessly from your computer to the room displays.
To connect a computer wirelessly to the displays using AirMedia begin by connecting your computer to the utexas wifi network. Next turn on the display(s) you would like to use by pushing the red power button adjacent to the Team display of your choosing.

Login to AirMedia

When one of the rectangular Team buttons is selected the picture below appears on the display that you have selected: 

In your web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.) type in the Address of the wireless display indicated on the screen (in this case iteam1) followed by “mccombs.utexas.edu”
e.g. https://iteam1.mccombs.utexas.edu
The following screen will appear in your browser:

Click on Download for your platform (Windows or Mac) and follow the onscreen instructions to install the AirMedia application. Note: Mac users will need to manually run the installer that was downloaded to your machine.
When you run (launch) the AirMedia program the following window will appear:

Enter the code from the projector screen that you have selected, (in the example below 5918 in the red oval.) The code will be different each time that you connect.

After you enter the screen’s code, a control panel will appear which has a square Stop button and a triangular Play/Pause toggle button.

• Use Pause to temporarily freeze your computer’s screen on the projector, but remain connected to the display
• Use Play to resume from pause
• Use Stop to disconnect from the display, allowing another device to project to it. While "Stopped" your computer will still remain connected and pushing Play will project your computer again
• The X in the upper right corner of the Crestron control panel will disconnect you from the system

Several presenter computers can connect to the projectors but only four can be displayed at the same time. To switch between more than four connected computers, push Stop on the machines that are not in use.
If you use a Mac and want to project audio through AirMedia, you will need to install SoundFlower.

ALC Interface Controls

ALC MAIN

The interface to control the room is located on the wall next to the main projector screens. It displays controls for the various media sources and projectors as well as the built-in document camera, lighting, volume and lecture capture.

AirMedia Connection

The ALC classrooms employ the Crestron AirMedia solution to allow you to present, collaborate, and share content wirelessly from your computer to the room displays.

To Begin Using the Room

Please login to AirMedia by following the instructions on the appropriate link below:

Presenter Computer Projection
Student Computer Projection

Computer Presentation

The ALC interface shown below has controls on its main screen for the multiple content sources and screens/projectors that can be controlled in the room.
After you have logged in to the AirMedia system and turned on the displays that you would like to use, you may present content from your computer to any of the screens by touching the rectangular button of the Source and then the rectangular button of the Display.
For example, if you touch the Presenter 1 button and the Projector Stage Left button your content will be displayed on that screen

• The Showing column indicates the source that is being presented on the display.
• To temporarily blank a screen, press the Blank icon next to the display.

Wall Jack

The Wall Jack source will display what is connected to it’s available HDMI, VGA and audio ports. Note: the USB connector is disabled at this time.

Lights

The Lights slider button adjusts the room lighting.

Volume

The Volume slider button adjusts the room volume.

System OFF

The System OFF button will shut down the room

Document Camera

Pressing the Document Camera button brings up the screen below. Place a document on the ALC room’s wheeled lectern and move it into the square of light that is projected from the document camera mounted in the ceiling. Your document should now be displayed on any screen that you select by touching the display’s rectangular button. For example, if you touch the Document Camera button and the Corner Projectors button your document will be displayed on those screens.

• The Showing column indicates the source that is being presented on the display.
• To temporarily blank a screen, press the Blank icon next to the display.
• Touching the red power button button next each display toggles it on or off, allowing you to present on all of the monitors/screens or none at all.

You may enhance your document’s image by using the additional controls in the Document Camera window located beneath the Display buttons.

Lecture Capture

Touching the Lecture Capture button brings up the screen below. To begin using Lecture Capture press the Camera On button and select a Capture Source and Capture Format by pressing their rectangular buttons.
The Capture Format buttons allow you to pick what is recorded, here are their settings:

• Presentation Only: Records only room audio and content from the computer, wall jack or document camera sources. This setting does not record room video.
• Video Only: Records video and audio from the ceiling-mounted video camera.
• Side by Side: Records the room audio and both the content presentation and room video and displays the two visual sources side-by-side.

Video as PIP: Records the presentation content full-screen with the room video in a small picture-in-picture window.

Lecture Capture Setup Controls

Pressing the Setup button in the Lecture Capture window displays the screen below. With these controls you may customize your recording by setting camera position presets, allowing you to focus on individual groups or presenters in the room at the press of a preset button.
To begin, use the round control pad in the Setup window to move the camera to your desired focus point. Press one of the Preset buttons (1-4) and then touch Save Preset to lock the camera focus at that point. Touch the Done button to return to the main Lecture Capture screen. Now while you are recording you may press a programmed Preset button to shift the camera to the position of your choosing.