Classroom Technology Updates and Requests

Dear Faculty and Staff:

A happy Friday to you all. I wanted to ask each of you to watch out for a few things in the classrooms.

1. Please turn off the projectors when you are done
2. Sign out, do not shutdown the computer.
3. You can see all classroom specifications and features in Ad Astra now
4. Please be kind to your fellow instructors and leave the room ready for the next class
5. How to request assistance with a classroom

Please turn off the projectors when you are done

As we have been going through the classrooms, especially the new classrooms, we are finding that folks are leaving the projectors on. This wastes electricity and reduces how long and how bright the projectors function. Virtually ALL our projectors are instant on and instant off. Please turn them off when you are done!

• Old panels (see classroom technology instructions here - old panel on left, no power knob) Hold the "on/off" or "Power" button for five seconds. This button will always be the top right button.
• New panels (see classroom technology instructions here - new panel on right): Single press the power button. It is white when it is off and blue when it is on.

Sign out, do not shutdown the computer

We keep finding computers turned off and a few of the help presses we get are because the computer has been "shutdown" instead of "signed out". To sign out of a computer, go to the start/search menu and find your email address or your avatar and click that. A menu will appear to sign out or switch user. Sign out please.


This gif shows you the differences between the Windows 10 and 11 start menu/search interfaces. You can see the user avatar on the left (darker screen) on Windows 10 and at the bottom (lighter screen) of Windows 11

Image credit: @tom-hudson

How to turn the computer back on

If you encounter a computer that has been turned off, the power button is in the bottom right corner of the front panel. The computer is tiny; perhaps 8" wide and less than 2" tall. This pic below shows the power button on the bottom right corner a little lighter in color. It is the only button on the front of the computer.

You can see all classroom specifications and features in Ad Astra now

Log into Malone Xpress and choose "Room Scheduling" from the launchpad. This will launch Ad Astra. You can view schedules and rooms from the "Calendars" --> "Scheduling Grids". There is a "day" view which shows lots of rooms and a "week" view which shows the entire week's schedule for a single room. Float your mouse over the circle next to each room to see a picture and feature list of each space.

Please be kind to your fellow instructors and leave the room ready for the next class

Several [not all] classrooms are being left in various states of disarray. Please leave the classroom in good shape for the next class! We recommend looking at who else is using the space and sending them an email to see what their preferences might be. If you like the room to be setup in the round, but the next class needs them in rows well, don't leave the room a mess!

The instructional preference survey that Kyle Calderhead sent out last year, indicated that you prefer tables on wheels 2:1 to tablet arm chairs. With that thought in mind, we have installed casters on tables in several JC, RH, and MH classrooms to try it out. Please send the Help Desk or Space Management feedback on how these are working or not working.

Related to this initiative, we have begun to post recommended layouts into each room. These will be posted inside the entrance to each classroom. Here is an example from JC103. These recommendations will show up in all classrooms over time. Read the example for more information about classroom layouts.

How to request assistance with a classroom

At the bottom of both the "Classroom Technology Instruction" and the "Layout Suggestions" pages, there are instructions on how to connect to the Help Desk and report ANY issues you have with that space. Are the blinds not working, too hot, too cold, tech misbehaving, chairs or desks broken, any issues can be reported to the Help Desk.

Press "Help" for help!

Remember that you have the "Help" button on all of the classroom controllers. This will page folks in the IT department who are trained to assist with the classroom technology. This button works during business hours. Be sure to call the IT Help Desk and select the option 2 technology emergency to ring one of our cell phones.