Interactive Video Typical Classroom Equipment

The equipment and placement of the equipment at each university, community college, or high school electronic classroom may vary. However, there are common pieces of equipment that will be at each site. Common equipment in the classrooms are:

Codec

The codec is the main “computer” for the classroom and serves as the coder-decoder for the compressed transmission signal. Each classroom at Mississippi State University has a Poly codec.

Cameras

• Student Camera (usually located on the wall, at the front of the classroom, above the lecturer)
  
• Teacher Camera (usually located on the wall, at the back of the classroom, above the students)
  
• Document Camera (Elmo Visual Presenter and computer)

TV Monitors

“Local Site” TV monitor – This monitor will display the video that will be seen by the other sites connected to a class. Please note that only one camera can be displayed at a time.

“Remote Site” TV monitor – This monitor will display the “remote” or distant sites during a class. Please note that only one site can be displayed at a time.

Microphones

Microphones are located on the students’ desks and on the lectern. When talking, the red light on the microphone must be on for the audio to be transmitted.

VCR

“Record” VCR – The “record” VCR is used to record the class. The “record” VCR will record what is shown on the “Local Site” TV monitor. “Play” VCR – The “Play” VCR is used to show a videotape.

Document Camera

The document camera is used to display documents in the classroom. The document camera can display either transparences or notes on paper.

Computer

Each classroom usually has a computer has a computer with Microsoft Office and a CD drive. The computer monitor can be displayed on the TVs.

Control/Graphics Tablet (Tablet or Polycom Remote)

Telephone and Fax Machine