OIT Helps Turn Classrooms Into Mini Production Studios

Author: Carroll University

Published Date: 9/4/2020

Categories: Academics Faculty and Staff Pioneers Persevere Students University News


Learning-capture camera
Part of the learning-capture system, motion-detecting cameras now dot classrooms across Carroll's historic campus. 
Carroll University’s plan to provide a new system for online learning came to fruition as students attend first classes on Aug. 24.
 
In late June, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) set out to equip every classroom with the ability to record and live-cast classes through a learning-capture system. In essence, each classroom became a mini production studio. This feat required not only changes in technology, but how Carroll faculty and students teach and learn.
 
“We are grateful for your grit and grace embracing this new form of teaching and learning, adopting, and adapting to new tools and applications,” Chief Technology Officer Mohammad Samarah said in an email to campus. “The system not only supports recording and live-casting with Panopto (a leading video platform for businesses and universities), but also synchronous, interactive classes with Microsoft Teams videoconferencing.”
 
This means students can be present in class, watch from home or view the material at another time. Faculty also can share content on the projection screen as Panopto automatically blends the video image from the camera with shared content from faculty desktops. This allows students to view both side by side.
 
On the first day of classes, Aug. 24, there were more than 150 Panopto video sessions across more than 130 class sections, and the system delivered more than 53,000 minutes of video to 950 unique users. By Aug. 28, OIT reported that more than 160 faculty members recorded and live-cast their classes with over 430 class sections and 550 video recordings. The peak was Wednesday, Aug. 26, with more than 57,000 minutes of video delivered to 1,000 students.
 
But OIT’s job is not done yet. Its members are continuing to work on the main campus, Center of Graduate Studies and the Sentry Building to provide assistance.

Learn more about Carroll's learning capture system
 

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Panoramic View of campus