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Introduction

TECs (Technologically Enhanced Classroom) with Document Camera, also known as Smart Classrooms. There are two versions of console these classrooms may contain: the black console and the gray console. Black consoles are equipped with a networked computer, a DVD/VCR combo unit, data projector, overhead transparency projector, and speakers. The computer in a grey console will accept the following media: DVD, CD-RW, floppy, 100 MB zip, and external USB memory devices through the USB extension cable. Grey consoles have the same configuration minus the overhead transparency projecector and floppy and 100 MB zip drives. TECs are secured with either an Eagle One Card ID or an Omni Lock. The code must be obtained through the college dean's office responsible for that room. A faculty NIS account is required to use the faculty workstation.

                               Black Console                                Grey Console

TEC Room Equipment  Computer console afar  console closed

Below are some general instructions for faculty using equipment in Technologically Enhanced Classrooms. To watch a video presentation, please, follow the link: http://www.calstatela.edu/its/helpdesk/video/tecdc/.

Using the Computer

  1. Turn on the PC and the Monitor.

                               Black Console                                Grey Console

Black CPU Monitor Grey CPU Grey Desktop

  1. At the log in screen, type in the personal NIS user name and password.

  2. Select the NIS domain.

noteNote:  On some screens, only the user name and password fields can been seen. Click the Options button to reveal the Log On To field.

  1. Laptop port, USB extension cable, PC-Laptop toggle button, and the remote control for the Multimedia Projector are located next to the monitor. 

    Black Console        Grey Console   

    Control and Cables cords and outlets
     

  2. Locate the PC-Laptop toggle switch and make sure the PC switch position is selected. 

    PC and Laptop Toggle Button
     

  3. Point the remote directly at the Multimedia Projector, and press the Power button to turn it on. It takes a minute to warm up.

Orange - Projector is Off

When Power is pressed on the remote the steady orange light will change to a blinking green light. This means that the Multimedia Projector is warming up. After it finishes that phase a steady green light will appear, meaning that it is done warming up.

Projector is Warming Up  Projector is ON

  1. Pull down the Projection Screen.

  2. After the Multimedia Projector has warmed up, aim the Remote Control at it and press Comp 1 to select the computer as the display source for the Multimedia Projector. Whatever appears on the monitor will appear on the screen.

    noteNote: Remember: this is a SVGA (800x600) resolution projector capable of compressed XGA.

    remote
     

  3. Adjust the audio volume by pressing on the Volume button on the Multimedia Projector control.

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Using the Laptop

  1. There is an external VGA cable next to the monitor, plug it into the laptop’s external monitor port. Switch the laptop port on from the laptop keyboard and set the laptop monitor resolution to 800x600.

  2. Locate the PC-Laptop toggle switch and make sure the Laptop switch position is selected. 

             Black Console       Grey Console                                     

    Laptop Port, and PC and Laptop Toggle Button  Grey ConsolePC and Laptop Toggle Button
     

  3. To display what is on the laptop, press the Comp 1 button on the remote.

remote

  1. Adjust the audio volume by pressing on the Volume button on the Multimedia Projector control.

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Using the DVD/VCR Combo

  1. Turn on the Multimedia Projector by aiming the Remote Control at it and pressing the Power button. The projector fan will come on.

  2. Power on the DVD/VCR system.
  3. After the Multimedia Projector has warmed up, aim the Remote at it and press Video.

Multimedia Projector remote control

  1. Select the device (DVD or VCR) to use from the DVD/VCR Remote Control. A video image will appear on the screen.

                            Black Console        Grey Console

DVD/VCR Combo DVD VCR Combo 2 DVD/VCR Remote Control

noteNote:  Adjust the audio volume by pressing on the Volume button on the Multimedia Projector remote control.

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Using the Document Camera

  1. Turn on the Document Camera by pressing the Power button.

Document Camera Power Button

  1. Swing the left and right lamps out.

Document Camera Left Lamp Document Camera Right Lamp

  1. Rise and adjust the camera lens before use.

Document Camera Lense

  1. To display what is on the Document Camera, press the button labeled Comp 2 from the Multimedia Projector remote control.

noteNote:  There is a 3 second delay before the lights turn on.

  1. Place the material to display on the tray.

  2. Adjust the Zoom, Focus and Iris (brightness) as needed.

Document Camera Control Panel

  1. Press the Lamp button to select the proper lighting.

noteNote:  Refer to the following table for Document Camera Control Panel buttons' description.

Button Description
Main Displays the image of document or object placed on the Document Camera tray.
RGB1 and RGB2 Switches the signal between the two devices possibly connected to the back of the document camera.
Pause Freezes the image on screen.
Iris Controls brightness. The Open setting is used when the item is dark. The Close setting is used for bright items.
Auto Focus Automatically adjusts focus for the item placed on the tray.
Zoom The Tele button zooms in on the object or document placed on the tray. The Wide button zooms out.
White Balance Automatically corrects for color shifts in different lighting environments.
Image Rotation Rotates the image .
Posi/Nega Used for transparencies. The Posi mode is for regular films, and the Nega mode is for negative films.
Lamp Switches between upper lamps, lower lamps, or no lamp. The Upper mode controls the two overhead lights and is used for displaying documents and 3-D objects. The Base mode lights the image from underneath, which is recommended for transparencies.

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Controlling Room Lights For a Better Picture

Many of the rooms have multiple light switches; find the set of switches that will turn off the lights directly above the screen. This will enhance the picture quality.

Troubleshooting

  1. Equipment is not working. - Make sure the power is on for every device in use, that means the Multimedia Projector and the device feeding it.
    Verify that the projector is on by pressing the Comp1 button on the remote; words will appear on the screen if the projector is on.

  2. Showing a tape and there is no picture? - Go over the first step first. If the situation persists, then maybe the tape is at the end and needs to be rewinded.

  3. No sound? - Adjust sound level using the Volume button on remote.

  4. It takes a long time to rewind! - Press stop first and then press rewind.

  5. Using a laptop and having no picture? - Make sure to turn the external monitor port on. Also make sure the desktop computer is turned off.

  6. No picture from document camera. - If displaying an image of the document or object placed on the Document Camera tray, press the Main button, otherwise press the RGB1 or RGB2 button depending on the image source.

  7. Image from document camera is not in focus. - Images of some objects cannot brought into focus with Auto Focus button, for example images of low contrast objects, reflective objects, and 3-d objects . Press the Tele and Wide Zoom buttons to manually focus the image.

  8. Document camera image is too dark. - The light intensity is not sufficient. Press the Lamp button to turn on the Upper lamp. Or, if the Iris adjusted toward Closed, click the Open button.

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