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Enabling Engaging Learning Experiences

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 11:05:00 GMT

How Warwick's technical experts create engaging hybrid teaching spaces.

What improvements is Warwick making?

The AV Team maintains and upgrades the university’s centralised teaching spaces and collaborates with individual departments to ensure their spaces hit a similar standard. They focus on both lecture capture and hybrid learning technologies that can transform the student learning experience.

Onelan CMS available - 21st March PM

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 16:11:00 GMT

We have successfully applied the updates to the Onelan CMS and it is now available to use again.

Please consider the service to be "at risk" for the rest of the day in case there are any unforeseen problems that mean we need to restore the CMS to a state from before the updates commenced.

21st March AM - Digital Signage CMS unavailable

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 16:41:00 GMT

Onelan has released an updated version of the digital signage Content Management System (CMS) and we will update the CMS on the morning of Tuesday 21 March, resulting in the CMS being unavailable for a period of time until around 11.30am.

TV streaming service will be unavailable - between 5pm on Monday 12th December and 9am on Tuesday 13th December

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 14:29:00 GMT

As part of the scheduled shutdown of the Argent Court Data Centre between 5pm on Monday 12th December and 9am on Tuesday 13th December, the TV streaming service will be unavailable.

This means that we won’t be able to stream TV to the digital signage players within the following locations:

Sports Hub, Student Information Centre Desk, the Big Screen, TVs in Rootes Restaurant, WBS Reception and the Dean's Office, TV and signage screens within Economics and WMG IDL.

The devices that can show TV on their screens won’t be able to during this period, our apologies for the inconvenience caused.

We have checked the World Cup schedule at: https://www.skysports.com/world-cup-fixtures and there are no fixtures scheduled during this period.

There is a semi-final on 13th December at 7.00pm but we expect that the streaming service will be restored again by then.

Once the shutdown has finished, we will work to get the TV stream service working as soon as possible once more.

Please contact the IT Helpdesk if you have any questions or concerns.

Changes to the way we log-in: using Microsoft's MFA

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 16:12:00 GMT

The way we log-in to University services is changing - replacing Web Sign-On with Microsoft’s Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is being rolled out during the summer and will be in place for the Autumn term. It will help us to keep all University accounts more secure.

What does this mean for you?

This means that over the next couple of months, you will be prompted to log in to the University system using a new or different authentication method.

This requires action, please follow the guidance available at the earliest convenience.

Customers using our Managed Teaching Computers within Lecture Theatres will note the following screensaver will be visible in the near future as a visual reminder of this requirement. We also expect to affix stickers showing the same information on our AV Lecterns within the Centrally Timetabled Teaching Rooms.

Centrally Managed Meeting Rooms (CMMRs) - AV Video Conferencing upgrades planned over the summer vacation

Mon, 04 Jul 2022 17:07:00 GMT

AV Services are working to upgrade 12x Centrally Managed Meeting Rooms (CMMRs), we expect them to receive AV Video Conferencing upgrades as per the following list of rooms: CMR 1.0, CMR 1.1, CMR 1.2, CMR 1.3, CMR 1.4, CMR 1.5, CMR 2.8, CMR 2.6, CMR 2.7, CMR 2.9, CMR 2.3, CMR 2.4 and CMR 2.5.

Upgrades within these spaces will typically include large 85/65/55inch LED LCD panels, upgraded projectors, Solstice wireless screencasting hardware and the Microsoft Teams enabled Logitech Meetup/Rally Bar video conferencing technology. In addition to appropriate desk and furniture solutions.

We will also be deploying 6 Reserva Room availability panels into the ground floor meeting spaces within IDG Central.

Kramer connectivity adapters installed within Gibbet Hill and Oculus CTTRs

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 16:00:00 GMT

Kramer connectivity adapters have been installed in Gibbet Hill Campus, Centrally Time Tabled Rooms and The Oculus building to facilitate and give extra flexibility to the presenters to use the appropriate adapter for connection to the HDMI infrastructure and their devices such as laptops, tablets, smartphones and netbooks.

The Kramer AD-Ring-5 includes:

HDMI to Mini DisplayPort
HDMI to USB Type-C
HDMI to DisplayPort
HDMI to Mini HDMI Type-C

StarLeaf and Blackboard Collaborate Platforms - Advanced notice of platform retirements (1st July 2022)

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 23:38:00 GMT

AV Services would like to announce that the Audio and Video Conferencing - StarLeaf and Blackboard Collaborate - Webinar Service platforms will both be retired from our support model as of the 1st July 2022.

After this date, any new requests to setup an Audio and Video Conference or Webinar booking on either of these platforms, will be rejected.

All existing sessions will remain operational after this date and the self service support content will still be published, however any requests to modify existing bookings for existing customers will be handled on a case by case basis and may be subject to the request being declined.

We recommend all new and existing customers utilise the Microsoft Teams platform.

Why are we taking this decision?

In light of the ever declining use of both platforms and a transformation in both usage levels and the breadth and depth of functionality now found within Microsoft Teams, now is the right time to refocus our service priorities to maximise the level of service and support we can offer to our customers.

For any questions in relation to this policy, please feel free to log a call (Please select Audio Visual as needed)

Hybrid Teaching Enhancements to 100 Centrally Timetabled Spaces

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 15:54:00 GMT

The Audio Visual Team have worked hard since June 2020 to enhance the capabilities within on-site, centrally timetabled teaching spaces to address challenges presented by Covid-19 such as capacity issues and remote delivery.

The University has outlined its preferred approach for teaching in 21/22 on the Teaching, Learning and Assessment: Our Preferred Approach 2021/22 page. Hybrid Teaching is neither the preferred nor recommended approach – there are many challenges to teaching to both a physical & remote audience simultaneously (Hybrid Teaching), and you should carefully consider whether this would work for you. However, we acknowledge that there may be situations where teaching on-site with MS Teams (Hybrid Teaching) is the only option to ensure continued access to teaching and learning for your students.

In this context Hybrid Teaching refers to the technological capability, within on-campus teaching spaces, to connect to virtual spaces like Microsoft Teams.

Robert Rose (Systems Specialist & Project Manager) has been leading project work across the University to expand the functionality of Audio-Visual technologies within teaching spaces, in addition to existing project work on the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building & the Faculty of Arts development.

Enhanced functionality includes:

The ability within certain spaces for in-room microphone systems to interact with virtual spaces.
The ability within certain spaces for customisable ‘webcam’/video options to better interact with virtual spaces.
Select enhanced spaces designed to offer a better experience for Hybrid Teaching with ceiling microphones and multiple video cameras.

Please note there are still varying levels of technology on-campus, depending on ownership and the type of room. To find out more about suitable spaces for teaching to both a physical & remote audience simultaneously see the AV Services hybrid guidance and Centrally Timetabled Room Information. Unfortunately, there are still spaces with limited Audio-Visual technology, which are unsuitable for hybrid delivery.

Academic Technology, has also published guidance on hybrid teaching delivery along with design advice and things to consider.

Please see the AV Services and Projects webpage for lists of contacts for queries in relation to new hybrid installations, hybrid infrastructure, enhancements to locally owned spaces, and for equipping spaces for hybrid meetings.

For advice or support, please contact us: https://warwick.ac.uk/helpdesk

Lecture Theatre Bookings (Spring Term 2021)

Sat, 30 Jan 2021 13:05:00 GMT

The University is making specific rooms available to book for teaching staff whilst access to campus buildings is restricted during the Spring term of the 2020/21 academic year. These should be booked for the following uses only:

Making pre-recorded lectures using Echo360 (Universal Capture of fixed camera lecture capture)
Broadcasting synchronous (live), non-interactive sessions (using Teams Live Event or Echo 360)
Running a synchronous interactive session, e.g. a Teams meeting
Conducting work that cannot be completed in other campus locations (e.g. staff offices) due to full or partial building closures. You are requested to use seating areas outside the teaching rooms wherever possible to prevent the need to occupy a teaching room

For more information in relation to this facility...