LSA Technology Services is thrilled to welcome new and returning students, faculty, and instructors to campus for the new fall semester. The team worked hard over the summer to bring new learning experiences and improved classroom support.
Classroom in the Round
The innovative Classroom in the Round within the Central Campus Classroom Building (CCCB) opened its doors for students and instructors this fall. LSA Technology Services completed the projector and audio-visual installations over the summer and has been helpful in teaching faculty how to use the new technology. This room features 12 high-end projectors arranged in a circular display, allowing the 190 students to view content from anywhere and creating a more intimate and visually interesting learning experience. The multiple projectors also allow instructors to display several pieces of media at the same time. Read more about the new building and classroom in The University Record article. LSA Technology Services will provide classroom and audio-visual equipment training and support to all LSA and non-LSA instructors that utilize these spaces. Additionally, faculty, staff, and students can visit the CCCB Navigation Desk for questions and support.
Battery Charging Stations
Microphones have been equipped with rechargeable batteries in roughly 130 classrooms so far across LSA buildings. LSA Technology Services plans to equip all LSA classrooms and conference rooms that have microphones with rechargeable batteries and charging stations. As seen in the photo, both the handheld and clip-on (lavalier) can be charged at the charging station, however some rooms only have the lavalier microphones and in those cases there will be a spare battery pack. In most rooms you will find the charging stations at the podium. Please remember to place the microphone back on the charging station (with the window/screen facing towards you) when you are finished with your class so that the next class can benefit from a fully charged microphone. The microphone itself says how much charge is left when you turn it on. A red light will display on the charging station when the microphone is actively charging. A green light indicates a fully charged microphone while a yellow light or no light at all indicates the microphone is not fully plugged into the charging station or there is an error. If you run into any microphone issues, call LSA Technology Services at 734.615.0100 for immediate assistance or chat through our website. This is a significant step forward in making our classrooms more sustainable and meeting campus sustainability goals. Battery packs for these rechargeable microphones have a five year lifespan. Previously, due to significant use, batteries needed to be replaced daily and disposed of. Additionally, there are also future plans for LSA Technology Services to be able to monitor the charging bases remotely in order to preemptively prevent low battery or microphone issues.
Direct Chat to LSA Technology Services Classroom Support
Faculty and instructors can now use our online chat to directly connect with our staff who provide classroom support. Simply visit our website and click on the yellow chat icon to start a conversation. Previously, interacting with chat would connect you to a Service Desk team member who would then transfer classroom needs to our classroom support team. Now, our staff who provide classroom support have been integrated into our chat system so faculty and instructors will no longer be transferred and have to wait on hold in a queue again.
Verifying Classroom Technology
LSA Technology Services spent the summer going into roughly 700 classrooms to identify, test, and fix equipment. Microphones, document cameras, laptop connections, wireless connections, interactive functionality, PowerPoint remotes, iClicker bases, Lecture Capture equipment, hybrid functionality, and all other technology within these rooms should function smoothly. However, issues may still occur and LSA Technology Services is always available for support through phone (734.615.0100) or email (LSATechnologyServices@umich.edu) or chat through our website.
Training Sessions, Workshops, and Instructional Consultations
Additionally, there were several faculty training sessions over the summer on new educational technology tools that are available to our LSA faculty. If you missed these workshops and webinars, but would like to speak with an instructional consultant about your course, you can request a consultation. The LSA Learning and Teaching Consultants are always happy to help! If your students need assistance using technology for your class, they can make an appointment or just drop in on BlueCorps.
Additional Support All Year Round
For immediate support with any technology or instructional need, please contact us at 734.615.0100. You can also submit a ticket by emailing LSATechnologyServices@umich.edu or visit any of our walk-in locations. LSA Technology Services also has three equipment loan centers on the University of Michigan's Central Campus where LSA instructors, faculty, staff, and U-M students enrolled in an LSA course may check out a wide variety of audio/visual equipment for short-term loan. The LSA community can visit our Services page to view all the available services we provide or use quick links to get help on frequently asked questions. Lastly, our Knowledge Base is always available to search for self-help support.
