Lecture theatre IT facilities
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Posted: Fri 18 Sep 2015, 1:56pm.
Lapel and handheld microphones are no longer available as standard in lecture theatres. Teaching staff who require the use of this equipment can borrow them from IT Services, whilst lectern microphones remain in place in all theatres. We’ve unfortunately had to resort to keeping these items safe as a large number have gone missing and it is not possible to repeatedly replace them. Fill in the request form in advance of your teaching sessions and pop into Shawcross to collect the reserved equipment.
Additionally, two lecture theatres are currently have limited IT facilities due to the overrunning of the summer refurbishment programme. Our colleagues in Sussex Estates and Facilities are working to finish the refurbishment and provide the services we need to install PCs and AV equipment. The affected lecture theatres are Shawcross AS1 and Richmond AS3.
As a temporary workaround, we've set up a projector in Richmond AS3 with a connector which can be used by laptops. We'll install the full AV equipment as soon as we can once the necessary services are available.
UPDATE: 21 Sep 2015 - 2:03pm
Microphones
Lapel and handheld microphones are not currently available in most lecture theatres. This is due to the fact that a large number have gone missing and it's not possible to repeatedly replace them. There are lectern microphones in all lecture theatres (with the exception of Richmond AS03 - see below).
We know this is very inconvenient for teaching and we're working to get a better system up and running as quickly as possible.
Refurbishment of lecture rooms
Additionally, we're also aware that two lecture theatres currently have limited IT facilities due to the overrunning of summer refurbishment programmes. Our colleagues in Sussex Estates and Facilities are working to finish the refurbishment and provide the services we need to install PCs and AV equipment in Shawcross AS1 and Richmond AS3.
As a temporary workaround, we and Student Systems have set up a projector in Richmond AS03 with a PC, stand microphone and speakers and we'll install the full suite of AV equipment as soon as possible.
UPDATE: 2 Oct 2015 - 8:50am
Microphones in lecture rooms
Lapel and handheld microphones are back in the combination boxes in lecture theatres. If you're teaching in a lecture room and want to open the box to retrieve a mic, please call 8022 for the combination. There's no longer any need to book microphones in advance.
A large number of microphones went missing last year and to control the costs of repeatedly replacing equipment, we tried changing the procedure, asking lecturers to book microphones in advance. Although this worked successfully over the summer, it has quickly become apparent that it's not a viable process during a packed teaching schedule. That was a miscalculation on our part and we're sorry for the frustration it added to the first few days of term.
We're working on a better way of making microphones accessible while also keeping them as secure as possible and will have more information about this in the near future.
Refurbishment of AS01 and AS03
Our partners in Sussex Estates and Facilities have been working hard over the summer to refurbish some of the lecture rooms on campus but work in two theatres, Shawcross AS01 and Richmond AS03, has been hit by delays and is not yet complete. As a result, we've not yet been able to configure the standard suite of audiovisual equipment in these rooms.
Now teaching is under way, we have to organise installation work around a busy schedule of lectures. The work is complex, involving a number of IT staff as well as external contractors and some aspects are reliant on construction work that is not yet ready. This means it will take us a bit of time to complete installations but we will have the standard set of equipment up and running as soon as we can.
Audiovisual equipment: progress update
Shawcross AS01
This lecture room isn't yet ready for use and bookings have been temporarily rearranged.
Richmond AS03
The lectern PC and microphones are now operational and the control panel enabling you to switch between projector inputs has been configured and is ready for use. We're still waiting for further equipment to be installed for the lecture capture service but we'll make that available as soon as possible.
UPDATE: 2 Oct 2015 - 12:44pm
Microphones in lecture rooms
Lapel and handheld microphones are back in the combination boxes in lecture theatres. If you're teaching in a lecture room and want to open the box to retrieve a mic, please call 8022 for the combination. There's no longer any need to book microphones in advance.
A large number of microphones went missing last year and to control the costs of repeatedly replacing equipment, we tried changing the procedure, asking lecturers to book microphones in advance. Although this worked successfully over the summer, it has quickly become apparent that it's not a viable process during a packed teaching schedule. That was a miscalculation on our part and we're sorry for the frustration it added to the first few days of term.
We're working on a better way of making microphones accessible while also keeping them as secure as possible and will have more information about this in the near future.
Refurbishment of AS01 and AS03
Our partners in Sussex Estates and Facilities have been working hard over the summer to refurbish some of the lecture rooms on campus but work in two theatres, Shawcross AS01 and Richmond AS03, has been hit by delays and is not yet complete. As a result, we've not yet been able to configure the standard suite of audiovisual equipment in these rooms.
Now teaching is under way, we have to organise installation work around a busy schedule of lectures. The work is complex, involving a number of IT staff as well as external contractors and some aspects are reliant on construction work that is not yet ready. This means it will take us a bit of time to complete installations but we will have the standard set of equipment up and running as soon as we can.
Audiovisual equipment: progress update
Shawcross AS01
This lecture room is now ready for use and is fully equipped.
Richmond AS03
The lectern PC and microphones are now operational and the control panel enabling you to switch between projector inputs has been configured and is ready for use. We're still waiting for further equipment to be installed for the lecture capture service but we'll make that available as soon as possible.
