Conferencing at the School of Education
We have a few options for School of Education classes to expand beyond the walls of the classroom. These options include video conferencing, conference phones, and control of a remote desktop. The wireless network and the wireless laptop labs also enable students and instructors to bring worldwide resources into the classroom.
Videoconferencing
Videoconferences at the School of Education use an IP based system. Our classroom unit is a Polycom Viewstation FX H.323 that provides a good, VHS quality, image when running at our norm of 384 kbps. This H.323 standards based system supports far end camera control and excellent echo cancellation. With the ability to arbitrate 4 separate sites, this service opens new vistas of opportunities for instructors and students to collaborate or simply save on travel expense.
This portable unit may be rolled into any handicapped accessible room with an active Ethernet port (e.g. all SEB classrooms
). You may, with participant's permission, record a VHS tape of the videoconference. In addition to the normal setup of one camera, a 32 inch monitor, and two microphones, Technology Services can add-on extra video and audio sources. For very large groups, the "Far site" may be displayed locally on the classroom's video projector.
If you wish to take advantage of Technology Services' videoconferencing services please call 734/764-5427 or e-mail us at edu.net@umich.edu or use our online video conference request form
Technical Specifications
Conference Specs
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Video
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Audio
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Connection information
- DNS will resolve the proper IP address from: videoconference2.soe.umich.edu
- Telephone for assistance/problems: 734-764-5427
- Room: This portable unit may be rolled into any handicapped accessible room with an active Ethernet port.
- Room Telephone: will vary by room - not all rooms have a telephone.
Audio-conferencing
Speaker-Phones
Conference calling usually means one of two things. When an on-campus telephone wants to connect to three or more different phone numbers, you need to contact the Campus Operators
The other type of call, a conference-phone call, is when a group at the School of Education wants to participate together in a call placed from a conference room or classroom.
Technology Services has a pair of Polycom Sound Station Premier conference phones for group interaction with a phone call. These units are high-end with full duplex echo canceling for smooth conversation and an output of 89db at .5 meter can carry the far-side voice throughout a classroom. Any School of Education class or project may use one of these units without charge, unless an outgoing long-distance call is placed, which will incur normal line charges. These units may connect directly to any analog telephone line. The telephone number and the phone's features or restrictions do not change when a conference phone is connected. Conference phones may be used alone or in conjunction with IT-Com's conference call service.
Digital telephone lines are incompatible with the Polycom Sound Station Premier and connection may cause damage to the phone line. If the phone set connected to the line has a vertical display that shows a diamond when it is in use it is a digital telephone. A list of digital telephones in use at UoM can be found at the ITCom site
If you wish use Technology Services' conference phones, please call 734/764-5427 or come to 2007 School Of Education Building. Not all classrooms have telephone lines. Technology Services staff can help you locate a room to meet your needs. All phone lines in SEB classrooms and conference rooms are local only. To make a long distance call from these rooms you have two options:
- Buy a prepaid phone card. This option is recommended for occasional calls.
- Arrange to have the call billed to another phone using an Authorization Code (AuthCode) from ITCom. This option must be set up well in advance as it takes a couple of weeks to process a request and is recommended if you plan to make long distance calls on a regular basis. The AuthCode is active for calls made from campus phones until you cancel it. For more information and to apply for an AuthCode go to the ITCom web site at: http://www.itcom.itd.umich.edu/telephone/features.html#authcode
Alternate-conferencing
Remote Computer Control
Sometimes a shared computing workspace is desired. This can stand-alone or be used in conjunction with videoconferencing or audio conferencing. Technology Services has loaded some computers with Netopia's Timbuktu for use as serving or attaching to a computer remotely. Timbuktu allows you to operate distant computers as if you were sitting in front of them, or vice-versa.
Wireless network
Using our Laptop Labs during classes for online chat, e-mail, FTP, and websites such as Course Tools, can keep your students in touch with resources and collaborators. Use of the Laptop Labs is restricted, see the policy page
