February 2018
The latest in classroom technology from DCS.
New Synchronous Classroom
Tillett 224 is DCS's newest Synchronous Learning Space. Video conference equipment in Synchronous Classrooms can be used to teach a class of students from a second location, enable students to participate remotely, or invite guest lecturers from around the world to speak with a class. Tillett 224's video conference equipment is designed to limit the feeling of distance between participants. Screens at the front of the room enable classes to view the presenter and their shared class materials side-by-side, using sightlines that allow in-class and remote participants to look at each other. Classroom cameras are capable of identifying speaking audience members and zooming in on them as they participate to better allow for fluid back and forth. While DCS's Immersive Synchronous Lecture Halls are designed for room-to-room connections that create an identical experience across both spaces, Tillett 224 is capable of connecting with remote participants regardless of whether they are connecting from another video conference room, a computer, or even a cell phone. Contact DCS if you are interested in using Tillett 224 for your class.
Art History 200 Upgraded
Art History Hall Room 200, on Cook/Douglass campus, is the latest DCS room to be upgraded with a Digital Classroom Podium. This space is one of 240 rooms that have received a new version of the Podium since the project's launch in 2012. As a result, 86% of the general purpose classrooms we support have a Digital Classroom System, which also includes Digital Classroom Flip-Tops, Immersion Lecterns, and Collaborative Instructor Hubs.
Watch Active Learning in Action
A new video chronicles the exciting ways that John Kerrigan, Adjunct Faculty with Mathematics, uses various active learning techniques in his Calculus II class. In this video John details his use of think-pair-share activities and peer teaching to get his students to directly engage with class content and one another. His students, sitting in group tables, utilize tablet and wall whiteboards to work through problems individually and in teams, helping each another identify issues as they work towards solutions. John sets up concepts and analyzes solutions using Tillett 204's document camera and computer projection. Visit the https://dcs.rutgers.edu/about-dcs/spotlight/watch-active-learning-in-action to watch for yourself.
Fall Tech Point Winners
Every semester, DCS recognizes our top Support Specialists through the Tech Point Awards Program. Support Specialists fill a variety of roles central to our daily operation. They open podiums and prepare them for classes. They respond to requests for help from faculty using DCS equipment, perform regular tests of our equipment, and fix technical issues. This past December we honored our top Support Specialists for the fall semester: Angela Bozek, Isaac Chang, Vivian Chen, Jack Deming, Alec Fray, Nick Galiatsatos, Faithe Gerol, Chantelle Glowacki, Roger Sheng, and Abi Singaram. Congratulations to our winners!