As per the Provost’s site for Teaching and Learning 2021,

“Instructors should plan to teach course sections (including lectures, discussions and labs) according to the modality currently indicated in the schedule of classes — over 90% of classes are indicated as in-person.”

However, this does not always work.  Sometimes students request a recording due to illness or to share or review in preparing for the final.  

Some frequently asked questions about using technology in Van Vleck's classrooms.

Is my classroom equipped with a camera, microphone or projector?

There are only 11 classrooms in Van Vleck with built-in equipment.  The list is available here: https://av.fpm.wisc.edu/classroom-attributes-2/

If you are teaching in a different building, please check the list above as well.

It is best to go to your classroom and see what it is beforehand.  Some non-projector classrooms have a projector stand to help you display your projector image at a high enough level to hit the pull down screen.

What about streaming?  How can I stream my lecture?

In the lecture capture classrooms, a live stream when using lecture capture is possible.  Otherwise, you can only stream if you initiate a Zoom session and distribute that to your students, and that is NOT recommended.   An important thing to remember is teaching is one thing, but having to monitor and control a zoom session is quite another.  You might be able to assign a TA or a student to monitor a chat, but it is difficult to treat both your in person audience and your online audience equally and still teach.

Check out this document about inclusive hybrid meetings: https://it.wisc.edu/learn/guides/accessible-content-tech/inclusive-hybrid-meetings/

Can I record my lecture to share with someone who can’t make it to my class?

It depends on what you mean by record.

If you mean, you’d like your image to be a talking head in a window and use your iPad in a manner where you narrate writing on your iPad, you can only do that in a classroom equipped with Lecture Capture capabilities.  That’s B102, B130 and B239 in our building.  This will also record you as you move around the stage and even write on the board.  The use of lecture capture involves completing an additional tutorial from https://av.fpm.wisc.edu.  That’s the same page where you’d get your passcode authorization, which is a separate process. After you are done recording, your video is uploaded to your Kaltura.  It can also be streamed to people during the class.

If you mean, you’d like to narrate your iPad work while giving a lecture, well, yes.  That’s what many people did during the pandemic.  In fact, we wrote this tipsheet about it.  https://math.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/842/2020/11/How-to-make-a-video-on-your-iPad.pdf  It wouldn’t show your head, and it is simply recording whatever you have on your iPad.  It would be functional enough to share.  Note that these instructions have information on adding captions, and that isn’t strictly necessary unless you have a student that needs them.

We have three Obsbots, which is a "point, tilt, zoom" (PTZ) camera with some AI.   The Obsbot can identify a speaker, with some simple hand signals, and follow a speaker as they give a "chalk talk".  

We also have two Meeting Owls.  Meeting Owls are integrated microphones and cameras that focus on the speaker at the time and try to present both a view of the audience as well as a view of the speaker.  It can be disorientating for people, but it does give the experience of interacting remotely.  

Both the Obsbots and Meeting Owls are available from the Math IT staff.  Both are easy to set up and use.

Can I get a projector for my classroom?

Maybe.

We have very few portable projectors available for checkout from the AMP library.  These are available for short times to check out by anyone with an ID card.

The Math IT Staff also has a few small form factor projectors which would work in some classrooms, although they are not very powerful.

If you want to have something more long-term, please talk to the IT staff.  (itstaff@math.wisc.edu)  We may be able to get you something for the semester.

The process of installing a podium and projector in a classroom is a time-consuming and expensive process.  We are working to equip our larger classrooms with these capabilities but the going is slow.

I need a mic, and my classroom doesn't have one!

There are personal body mics for people who need to have amplification.   Please ask the IT staff for help. (itstaff@math.wisc.edu)

I'd like a tablet or iPad to use during class or to make videos.

We have extra iPads and Samsung Tablets for use by anyone in the department.  Please email the IT staff.  (itstaff@math.wisc.edu)