Uncategorized – Dartmouth Classroom Rapid Refresh

Fall 2024 CRR Design Walk-Through Meeting Outcomes

Carson 60 & 61

For Carson rooms 60 and 61, the team sought input from faculty and administrators as the final designs were demonstrated. We reviewed the existing infrastructure, followed by AV updates, providing insights on recent technology updates. The CRR Program Manager emphasized ongoing initiatives to modernize centrally managed art and science classrooms, highlighting the importance of faculty feedback to ensure consistency campus-wide. He also invited input on the refresh project as a whole and offered tours of the completed rooms. The program team introduced new student furniture for Carson 60 and sought feedback on current room conditions. The conversation then shifted to classroom furniture setup and accessibility, with participants discussing options like tablet arm chairs, mobile desk chairs, and flip-top tables. Concerns were raised about accessibility, while room users shared experiences with classroom rearrangements. The program team advocated for flexible furniture with locking wheels and a balanced mix to suit various classroom sizes, prompting the group to review layouts and compare them with the tablet arm chairs. Regarding the renovation of Carson 61's group learning room, the program team advised they would be retaining the current furniture, focusing on upgrading group learnings stations. The CRR Program Manager shared ongoing research on document cameras tailored to class needs, with plans for a combination of stationary and mobile teaching stations for flexibility. In discussing the technology refresh, the team outlined improvements in presentation, conferencing, and classroom recording tools, where upgraded equipment includes brighter projectors and high-quality audio-visual facilities supporting hybrid teaching. Room users emphasized the value of Zoom Rooms in small conference settings for hybrid teaching and guest interactions. A critical need for a document camera was noted, and the team confirmed its inclusion in future plans. The CRR Program Manager also covered new accessibility features and wireless screen sharing in group learning spaces, improving support for students with assistive listening devices.AV Engineers elaborated on content distribution in learning stations, while the retention of chalkboards versus dry-erase boards was debated, with room users favoring chalkboards for better visibility. The CRR Program Manager concluded by stating that the team is exploring ways to expand whiteboard space captured by cameras to enhance teaching experiences.

Carson L01 & L02

The program team convened with rooms users to discuss the setup of lecture rooms, agreeing on the placement of the teaching stations and the use of mobile lecterns for presentations that would also provide personal storage for presenters. The Program Manager mentioned plans to explore options for a new teaching station with enhanced material storage and a design forum scheduled for 2025 to address future pedagogical needs. The team also favored a lighting setup that allows for dimmed lighting at the screen while keeping the room fully lit during presentations. The Program Manager covered updates aimed at streamlining presentation, conferencing, and content capture, which focused on replacing existing rear projection setups with new laser projectors and projection screens with front projections, while maintaining current front and distributed ceiling speakers layouts. AV Engineers discussed significant room setup changes, including the transition from whiteboards to chalkboards and the addition of three cameras for better Zoom meeting coverage. AV Engineers also introduced a new technology package that features Dante-style microphone systems and Zoom room installations, enhancing faculty communication and facilitating wireless content sharing. The Program Manager noted improvements in the wireless screen sharing feature, which is in testing and expected in the next update. The team also discussed installing classroom computers, emphasizing high-spec M.2 Mac Minis. They encouraged reporting specific peripheral needs to the CTC team and discussed replacing chalkboards with whiteboards and integrating document cameras into classrooms. Room users advised that 25% to 33% of instructors need document cameras, while 40-50% require the ability to project and write simultaneously; The program team is currently testing new document cameras as replacements. Room users advised of issues with chalk dust from traditional markers, with AV Engineers noting its adverse effects on equipment and student comfort, and users pointing out the problem of dry-erase markers drying out.

Hop 054

The Hopkins 054 (Faulkner Auditorium) refresh will involve upgrading the AV system in addition to adding new power and data, replacing existing lighting fixtures with modern LED options, and repainting the room. While the current furniture will remain, both the teaching station and lectern will be replaced, and plans include a new AV rack and upgrades in the dedicated projector room. The program team addressed the challenges of LED lighting with existing controls and advised that not all lights could be replaced e.g. the theatrical lights which are specialized. The team will improve lighting control labeling. AV Engineers outlined plans to replace the current AV rack with a mobile cart and a smaller rack in the projection booth, along with upgraded projectors and ceiling speakers with the addition of better microphones. The team will be installing room schedulers near doors to display ongoing activities. Regarding recital equipment, the Program Manager expressed concerns about arrangements varying by ensemble, while the Music Department representative noted that relocating the lectern when not in use could simplify setups. Lastly, the group discussed the deployment of an assisted listening device system in Faulkner Hall, with the Program Manager noting that a budget is already in place and deployment is anticipated by summer for CRR rooms with this technology. The Program Manager advised he would reach out to the room representatives to familiarize themselves with the new system and agreed to keep them updated on the assistive listening devices' deployment.

Room Specific Considerations

Carson L01

Changes that you will see:

All new audio-visual equipment, including:
- Laser Projector and tensioned projection screen
- Front of room and distributed ceiling speakers with lapel mic voice lift
- Three auto-switching Sony cameras covering the instructor, writing board, and student region
- “Dante” ceiling microphone system
- A new classroom computer, and peripherals
- “Zoom Room” wireless screen sharing
- Room schedule display
- Hardware for Thayer developed “OpenAV” AV room control system
User GUI touchscreen control of room equipment
Enhanced health monitoring with automated issue detection, alerts, and failover mechanisms
Internal development and update management
Paint
Repaired Student Furniture
New or Repaired Instructor Furniture

Carson L02

Changes that you will see:

All new audio-visual equipment, including:
- Laser Projector and tensioned projection screen
- Front of room and distributed ceiling speakers with lapel mic voice lift
- Three auto-switching Sony cameras covering the instructor, writing board, and student region
- “Dante” ceiling microphone system
- A new classroom computer, and peripherals
- “Zoom Room” wireless screen sharing
- Room schedule display
- Hardware for Thayer developed “OpenAV” AV room control system
User GUI touchscreen control of room equipment
Enhanced health monitoring with automated issue detection, alerts, and failover mechanisms
Internal development and update management
Paint
Repaired Student Furniture
New or Repaired Instructor Furniture

Carson 60

Changes that you will see:

All new audio-visual equipment features, including:
- Upgraded Projectors and projection screens
- Front of room and ceiling speakers
- Integrated Zoom Room - Seamless Conferencing and wireless screen sharing
  - Empowers hybrid teaching and learning
- Automated Lecture Capture
- New cameras and microphones - video feeds for instructors, writing surface, and student seating
- A new classroom computer, peripherals, and AV control panel
- Room schedule display at the room entrance(s) to communicate the room booking schedule/current use
Paint
New Carpet
New Acoustical Ceilings & Light Fixtures
New Student Furniture
New or Refinished Teaching Station

Carson 61

Changes that you will see:

All new audio-visual equipment features, including:
- Upgraded projectors and projection screens
- New front-of-room and ceiling speakers, upgraded microphones
- Integrated Zoom Room - seamless Conferencing and wireless Screen Sharing
  - Empowers hybrid teaching and learning
- Automated Lecture Capture
- New group learning station flat panel displays and touch panels
- A new classroom computer, peripherals, and AV control panel
- Room schedule display at the room entrance(s) to communicate the room booking schedule/current use
Paint
New Acoustical Ceilings & Light Fixtures
New Teaching Station

HOP054

Changes that you will see:

All new audio-visual equipment, including:
- Projectors and projection screens
- Front-of-room speakers
- Ceiling Speakers and microphones
- New group learning station displays and touch panels
- Refinished teaching station with a new classroom computer, peripherals, and AV control panel
Paint