Introduction
This article provides instructions on how to use the electronic classroom technology installed in Gaige Hall.
Quick Links
Use the links below to quickly find the topic of interest:
Electronic Classroom Technology Overview
Lighting Controls
Electronic Podium Overview
Extron Control Panel Overview
Turning Classroom Projector and Electronic Classroom Equipment On
Turning Off Classroom Projector
Connecting a Laptop
Adjusting Audio Volume Levels
Projection Mute
Blu-Ray Player Control
Document Camera
Other Installed Classroom Technology
Classroom Technology
Each Gaige Hall electronic classroom is equipped with the following technology:
- Touch control lighting with dimmer switches.
- Electronic Podium
- Extron Control Panel/Switcher
- Dell OptiPlex PC w/Monitor
- Blu-Ray Player
- Document Camera
- Laptop HDMI/VGA Input Cables
- Extron Control Panel
- Epson projector.
- Stereo speakers, located in the ceiling at the front of the room, installed on each side of the projector.
- Avaya phone.
Basic lighting controls are located near the door of each classroom. This includes three on/off switches with dimmers for each bank of lights.
A second light switch is located behind the podium adjacent to the white board in the front of the classroom. This switch has different pre-set scenes that adjust the lighting in different ways in the classroom. The switch also turns all lights on/off, and dims all lights in the classroom.
The podium is located at the front of each classroom, between class seating and the white board. The majority of classroom's electronic equipment is installed in the rack built-into the podium. Please note the following technology in the rack that's intended to be controlled by users of the classroom:
- (1) Blu-Ray Player (not installed in all rooms)
- (2) Dell OptiPlex desktop computer
Other equipment located/installed in this rack should only be configured by ITS staff as needed for troubleshooting.
Each classroom is equipped with an Extron control panel built-into the top classroom podium. This control panel allows you to switch between different sources, adjust the classroom audio volume, and turn the projector on/off. In the photo below:
- (1) Touch screen display.
- (2) Source buttons.
- LAPTOP - selects laptop or another computing device plugged into the HDMI or VGA cable at the podium to be displayed on the projector.
- PC - selects the Dell OptiPlex Windows PC installed in the podium to be displayed on the projector.
- BLU-RAY - selects the Blu-Ray player installed in the podium to be displayed on the projector.
- DOC CAM - selects the document camera installed at the podium to be displayed on the projector.
- TUNER - selects the television/cable tuner installed at the podium to be displayed on the projector (not functional in all classrooms).
- (3) Control buttons.
- SYSTEM OFF - turns off the projector.
- ADVANCED - provides additional controls to the room.
- MUTE - mutes and un-mutes the audio.
- (4) Volume Control knob.
- Turn clockwise or counter-clockwise to adjust audio volume levels in the room.
Turning on the projector in the classroom is completed by selecting one of the inputs to be displayed on the projector. If the projector is off when the input is selected, it will automatically be turned on.
Select the SYSTEM OFF button to turn off the projector and place it into stand-by mode. Select Power Down from the touch screen to confirm the change.
Each podium is equipped with an HDMI and VGA cable, as illustrated in the photo below.
Connect the laptop using the appropriate cables. Most laptops provide an HDMI connection for best quality. After connecting the laptop to the appropriate cable select LAPTOP input on the Extron Control Panel. While this input is labeled LAPTOP, it can be used for any device that can connect over HDMI, such as a tablet.
After connecting the laptop computer, the viewing settings may need to be adjusted. On Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers, select the Windows key and the P key at the same time (Win+P) to bring up options to duplicate the display, extend the display, or select only the laptop screen or the projector screen for viewing while the laptop is connected. The pop-up in Windows displayed will look similar to this:
On Macintosh computers running recent versions of macOS, select Control Center from the top right of the Menu Bar, and then select Screen Mirroring, which can be used to configure the display settings to the projector.
Additional settings can be done by going to System Settings (or previously System Preferences) and selecting the Display settings.
If unusual issues are encountered connecting a laptop to the projector, for example - where it's not being displayed as expected, please try performing a restart on the laptop while it's plugged into the HDMI or VGA cable at the podium to see if that resolves the issue.
Adjusting the audio/volume levels in the electronic classroom can be accomplished through the Extron Control Panel.
The volume levels can be adjusted using the Volume Controller (1). Turning clockwise turn increases volume, while turning counter-clockwise decreases volume. The MUTE (2) button will mute the audio. When using the Dell OptiPlex PC installed in the classroom or a laptop, verify that the audio output on the computer is not set to mute or off as well.
The video signal to the projector can be temporarily turned off by selecting ADVANCED and then selecting PROJECTOR MUTE on the Extron Control Panel. Select PROJECTOR UNMUTE to restore the video signal to the projector. Select BACK to exit the Advanced menu.
In classrooms where the Blu-Ray Player is installed, select BLU-RAY on the control panel to switch to the input. Controls for the Blu-Ray Player are displayed on the control panel's touch screen. Also, verify the Blu-Ray Player in the rack is powered on.
Select DOC-CAM on the Extron Control Panel to switch the video signal to the document camera installed at the podium. The power button on the document camera is located on the lower left on the front of the device. The other buttons control the viewing of documents.
Below are other types of classroom technology installed.
Monitor, Keyboard and Mouse
Note the highlighted location of the power button of the Dell monitor in the photograph below, in the event a monitor at the podium is powered off.
Projector
A projector is installed in the ceiling of each electronic classroom, located towards the front of the room. The projectors video output is displayed on the white board.
Speakers
Speakers are mounted in the ceiling to the left and to the right of the projector. The speaker shown in the photo is the right speaker.
Phone
An Avaya phone is installed in each classroom adjacent to the podium.
Troubleshooting Tips
Request Support/Report a Problem
In-person technical support is available from the ITS Help Center during our normal operating hours. These hours may vary depending on the term or intercession period.
Phone Support:
Call the ITS Help Center at (401) 456-8803 or x8803 from an on-campus phone to speak with technical support. Support can often be dispatched to a classroom to attempt to quickly resolve an issue. We recommend this method if a class or event is in session and you require prompt assistance to resolve a classroom technology issue.
E-Mail Support:
E-mail helpdesk@ric.edu and a service request will be opened for the issue. We may request additional information via e-mail for the request so that appopriate steps can be taken to resolve the issue. Due to the nature of e-mail, the receiving and responding to the e-mail may not be immediate.
Create a Service Request:
A service request ticket can be created via our self-service client portal to report an issue with classroom technology. Select this link to be re-directed to our Classroom Technology and Media services page, then select the service required to open the request:
https://servicecenter.ric.edu/TDClient/1794/Portal/Requests/ServiceCatalog?CategoryID=10243