The CED has an experimental classroom in building 1910, room 228, filled with modern technology. Here you can experiment with the interplay between teaching and technology, including lecture capture and streaming.
An experimental and flexible classroom has been established to allow the opportunity to experiment with a pedagogically reflected use of technology as part of the educational IT (EDU IT) initiative. Educators can use, test, and receive guidance on how technology can be used as an educational lever to strengthen and support different teaching formats.
The classroom can be used for a long-term course, typically over a semester, or a short course that stretches over a few teaching sessions.
Flexibility has been a keyword in the choice of interior and technology in the room. The entire interior is on wheels, and the room’s technology can easily be adjusted to support a range of different educational needs and teaching formats.
Remote-controlled cameras and microphones are installed in the room’s ceiling. An 85” touch-screen and a regular whiteboard with a projector are installed in the back of the room. Students can be involved in the teaching with Catchbox microphones and screencast from their device to one of the room’s fixed or portable screens.
It is also possible to present physical objects to the whole class. A camera films an illuminated surface on the main desk, and the output image can be sent directly to the screens in the room.
There are many pedagogical potentials, and educators at AU are very welcome to use the room. The classroom supports both conventional and experimental teaching formats. In the unit for EDU IT Development, we are at your service with advice and guidance on the teaching formats the room supports.
With lecture capture, the teaching is recorded and subsequently made available online.
Lecture capture has many advantages. Recording the teaching and subsequently making it available on, for example, Brightspace allows students to access the teaching irrespective of time and place. They can use it in connection with repetition before exams or as a quick brush-up before the next lesson.
Lecture capture allows students to bring the lecture on the go with their smartphone or other devices and rediscover parts of the lesson that can help them solve assignments individually or in groups. In addition, lecture capture can help students who are unable to attend classes not fall behind. The students can access the lecture online, and if there are parts they do not understand, they can rewind and watch it again.
Lecture capture requires no more preparation than a regular lesson as the CED will handle all the technical aspects. In our classroom, we can switch between six different camera angles, zoom in during post-production, and add an intro and outro, so you can get a professional and dynamic video that can be reused.
We can also add interactive quizzes to the video to activate the students by presenting them with questions they need to consider. Typically, we record lectures. However, if desired, we can also record dynamic formats of class teaching, such as small-class teaching or group work.
Livestreaming is a video format with continuous online transfer and playback of video and audio without prior storage. This format can facilitate different types of distance teaching.
Livestreaming teaching enables students to follow in real-time without being present in the room. The only prerequisite for participation is a computer, tablet, or smartphone connected to the internet. During the teaching, the student can ask questions via text message, Twitter, or Mentimeter. The best questions can be selected and answered in the concluding part of the lesson. Many students will already be familiar with the format and can access the stream easily via a link.
We take care of all the technical aspects and ensure good sound as well as live edit the stream by switching between different camera angles to achieve a professional and dynamic video stream. If desired, we can also add an intro and outro. When the stream is over, we can store the video file. You can bring it with you on a USB stick, or we can make it available online.
