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Next Generation Smart Classrooms

Next Generation Smart Classrooms (NGSCs)

CSUSB Information Technology Services is currently upgrading all 280 classrooms on the San Bernardino and Palm Desert campuses with state-of-the-art audio-visual communication equipment. Our purpose is to facilitate faculty's excellent teaching in whichever mode they choose, including cosynchronous mode - that is, simultaneously teaching on-site students face-to-face and remote synchronous students connected via Zoom.

NGSC Equipment

The NGSC's new equipment was chosen and configured with the pedagogical priorities of helping in-classroom faculty stay aware of the remote students Zooming into the class session and of engaging both on-site and remote students. Each NGSC will have:

  • Ceiling mounted Aver pan-tilt-zoom camera 
  • Extron control panel to control the AV equipment, including four preset Aver camera angles
  • Biamp microphone array
  • Dell 24" widescreen touchscreen monitor
  • Webcam mounted by gooseneck on the instructor podium
  • Epson video projector and projection screen
  • Ceiling-mounted audio speakers

Please see the following for more information on the NGSC equipment and how to use it:

Best Practices for Cosynchronous Teaching

  • Make full use of your Canvas or Blackboard course site so that on-site and remote students have equal access to course content.
  • Create a Zoom link in your Canvas or Blackboard course site for each class meeting.
  • Log into Zoom on the NGSC's Dell touchscreen monitor a few minutes before class begins to give a minute or two for the remote students to be present before the start of class.
  • Use the Dell touchscreen monitor to display lecture content, such as a PowerPoint or video. Use Zoom Share Screen to show this content to remote students. The content also will be displayed both in the room via the video projector and screen.
  • Use the Google Jamboard app or the Zoom whiteboard function to write handwritten notes which you can save to a file and share with all students on the Canvas or Blackboard course site.
  • Avoid using the physical whiteboards or chalkboards in the classroom since any writing on those will be hard for the remote students to read. Also, unlike notes written in a digital format like described above, you can't save those notes to a file.
  • Choose the best angle on the Extron panel for where you plan to stand in the classroom (e.g., at the podium or the center-front of the room).
  • Ask one or more on-site (F2F) students to bring their laptops to each class session, log into the class Zoom session, and monitor questions or comments coming in from the remote students via Zoom Chat.
  • Promote activities that involve both on-site students and students attending synchronously by Zoom.
  • Using polling to engage both groups of students.
  • Use Google (Docs, Jamboard, Currents, etc.) for students to collaborate on documents in real-time whether in the classroom (with computer) or online.

Resources