Presentation Media

A variety of presentation media are available in the teleclassrooms. Instructors can choose from the overhead camera, whiteboards, or the computer.  Thirty-five mm slides and VHS video can also be shown during class. Instructors often combine more than one presentation format.

OVERHEAD CAMERA
The overhead camera is the most versatile and convenient presentation medium. Any form of printed matter, as well as 3 dimensional objects, can be presented on it. The camera can be zoomed in to a 4.5 inch wide view and zoomed out to a 3 foot wide view. The operator cannot pan or tilt the overhead camera so you must position materials for them to be framed properly.

When you tell students the name of an article or book you want them to read, they will write down the title quicker and more accurately if you lay the book or a copy of the article beneath the overhead. The same is true of phone numbers, new office hours or whatever comes up during class. By visually reinforcing information that students will be writing down, you can make life easier for your students and yourself.

WHITEBOARDS
There are three whiteboards in each teleclassroom. The whiteboards are often less effective than the overhead for communicating information on television. One reason is that while you are writing much of the text is concealed from the camera's view, which makes for slower notecopying by your students.

35G SLIDE PROJECTOR
The slide projector we use in the teleclassrooms has a built in television camera. When this projector, called a "35G", is connected to one of the ports in the instructor's desk, it becomes another camera that the operator can put on program. The slide projector does not "project" an image, rather the image is routed to the television monitors in the classroom.  The projectors have a zoom control which enlarges or reduces the view on the television monitor.  Your student producer will need to know in advance if you plan to use the slide projector.

COMPUTER SOFTWARE
The computers in the teleclassrooms have Microsoft Office installed. This includes PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and other common applications. Also installed is Adobe Acrobat Reader for your PDF format presentations. Additional software can be installed at your request (please give your producer advance notice).