innovative teaching room technologies chris mckenzie assistive technology adviser university of...

Innovative Teaching Room Technologies

Chris McKenzie

Assistive Technology Adviser

University of Strathclyde

7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability, Innsbruck, Austria


• Introduction• Visual Display Equipment• Audio Equipment• Live Remote Captioning• Automated Video Capture (‘web lectures’)• Video Streaming & Captioning• Conclusions

Introduction

The University of Strathclyde

‘A place of useful learning’John Anderson, 1796

Introduction

• Around 3,200 staff• Around 26,000 full and part time students• Currently around 1000 Disabled students known to the

Disability Service• Approximately 200 centrally managed teaching &

learning spaces across 2 campuses.• Over 700 departmental teaching rooms• Most equipped with Audio Visual Technology

Visual Display Equipment

Innovative Teaching Room Technology


• Initial Position• No clear consensus among teaching staff• Need to develop an agreed standard:

• Enhance Teaching & Learning experience• Improved Technical Support• Efficiency gains

• Disabled Students and Staff

Visual Display Equipment• No clear consensus among teaching

staff...

Image of a standard central lecture hall, based in the Engineering Faculty. There are 2 high quality data projectors, 2 electronic screens, document visualisers and a room control system. On one side of the lectern there is a piano.


• Impact Assessment Process • Using newly developed Impact Assessment guidelines

• Identify aims of the practice• The use of Visual Display equipment in teaching and

learning

• Consider data• Viewing Angles and distances from surface• Information from Service Managers• Information from Academics• Student feedback


• The Impact Assessment findings demonstrated that:• 72% of students wanted to see Blackboards used less, • 43% wanted less use of whiteboards and • 86% wanted less use of OHP's.

• Alternatively: • 71% of students strongly agreed and 29% agreed that the

Document Visualiser was easy to see from everywhere in the room,

• 86% strongly agreed and 14% agreed the same about computer data projection,

• 72% of students wanted to see the Document Visualiser used more and,

• 86% wanted the data projector used more.


• Conclusions• Flexibility is important• High quality electronic visual display is most

accessibleData projectorPlasma/LCD screen

• Availability of electronic copy crucial


• Room Control SystemsTouch ScreenWall Mounted

Buttons• Need for support in

infrastructure essential


This image is a screen grab of a typical touch screen room control system. The room has 2 data projectors that can be independently connected to any device, either built in to the room system (e.g. DVD player, PC, CD player, Document Visualiser) or external (e.g. Laptop, iPod).The lecturer chooses which device they want displayed on which screen (can be the same on both if desired) by touching the appropriate on screen button. The system then automatically switches devices on and connects them. The system can also control microphone levels and room lighting, as well as giving room information to the lecturer (such as fire safety information, and nearest accessible toilets).

Each room system is customised for that room, and can be controlled from a central point if required.

Audio Equipment

Teaching Room Technology

Audio Equipment

• Room Specification• Based on room size• Installed microphones• Radio microphones• Sound Reinforcement• Loop systems

• Teaching Room Audio Survey• Intended to compliment Visual Display Equipment

Assessment

Audio Equipment

• Student Survey• Delivered online to all current students• Option to remain anonymous• ‘User-centric’ focus on user experience

Audio Equipment Survey Results

During classes can you hear the speaker comfortably?

90% Yes, 8% No

Series10%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100% 90%

8%

Yes No


Is the speech easily intelligible?

90% Yes, 8% No

Series10%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100% 90%

8%

Yes No


Do you have to sit in specific areas of the room to hear clearly?29% Yes, 68% No

Series10%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

29%

68%

Yes No


Would your experience in some classes be improved by better audio amplification?

74% Yes, 25% No

Series10%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80% 74%

25%

Yes No


Do lecturers always use the available microphone and audio system?

12.5% Yes, 87.5% No

Series10.0%

20.0%

40.0%

60.0%

80.0%

100.0%

12.5%

87.5%

Yes No

Audio Equipment

• Strong agreement that speakers could be heard during class

• However, results showed that almost 1/3 of student had to sit in specific areas to hear clearly

• Over 70% felt that the teaching experience could be improved by better use of audio technology

• 87.5% reported that speakers did not always use the available systems

Live Remote Captioning


Live Remote Captioning

What is Live Remote Captioning?• Service for deaf and hard of hearing students• Live speech converted into text

How does it work?• Audio transmitted to captioning studio via mobile

phone• Captioner uses voice recognition software to re-

speak• Text returns to students laptop within seconds

Live Remote Captioning: Technology

Image of our Live Remote Captioning Hardware.

Housed in a custom carry-case:• lapel microphone• Radio transmitter microphone• Audio distribution box• Spare batteries• System documentation• Mobile phone• Mobile phone charger

Live Remote Captioning: Why was it introduced?

• To explore an alternative to the current services i.e. electronic notetaking, speedtext and manual notetakers

• Aim is to improve reliability, flexibility and scalability of services for students• Mobile technology • Accessible for numerous students simultaneously• No travel required• Remote institutions

Video Clip

Live Remote Captioning in use

Live Remote Captioning: Service Development

• Liaising with Service Providers• Initial work in Australia

• Sourcing equipment• Audio-visual expertise in-house

• Testing• University of Strathclyde• University of Aberdeen

• Consultation with Scottish Government• Co-ordination of service

Live Remote Captioning: Trial

• Rolled out September 2009, Completed June 2010• 2 students, 2 departments, 2 campuses• Accuracy of transcription excellent• Positive student feedback• Initial technical issues overcome• Ongoing improvements

Video Clip

Student Feedback

Live Remote Captioning:Next Steps

• Improving service

• Presenting success of trial to Scottish Government

• Going beyond Strathclyde

• Procurement issues

Automated Video Capture‘web lectures’


Automated Video Capture (web lectures)

• Introduction• Introduced in 2005/06• Initially a pilot project within Faculty of Education

• Background• Managed by Learning Services• Around 140 recordings per annum• Fixed installations 2007

• Installed systems less obtrusive• Faster turnaround of video onto server


• Technical specifications• Installed system• Portable systems• Windows Media Format

• Process • Integrated with Virtual Learning

Environment• Transcriptions & Captions


• Feedback• Initial concern about attendance• No significant drop in attendance demonstrated• Could students film classes themselves?• Fixed systems only work perfectly if they are

installed everywhere.• Only as good as infrastructure that supports it.

Video Streaming & Captioning


Video Streaming & Captioning

• 24/7 access to video resources• Access on and off campus• Flexible approach to learning

• Searchable Database (eStream)• Large volume of data, with user control• meta data (including deletion date)• Intellectual Property/Ownership/Copyright

• Transcriptions & Captions• Outsourced• Expensive!• On Demand/Track Disabled students?

• Moving past technology?

Conclusions



• Accessibility requires partnership working• Disability Service,• Learning Services,• IT Services, • Estates Services, • Students

• Innovation doesn’t need to be complex• Student opinion matters!


• Questions?

• Contact details:

Chris McKenzieAssistive Technology Adviser

University of Strathclyde

[email protected]

innovative teaching room technologies chris mckenzie assistive technology adviser university of...

Documents

audio visual technology

room audio survey

room system

audio equipment survey

austria slide

audio equipment student

room information

audio system