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Audiovisual Services

Active learning pod room AV

MacLaurin (MAC) D115 is UVic's active learning pod classroom. It's designed to allow small groups of students to collaborate and work on group assignments together.

If you want to learn more about a specific classroom, Media Services offers free demonstrations in any classroom on campus.

Contact Learning and Teaching Support and Innovation (LTSI) to explore ideas for using this room.

Layout of active learning pod classroom.
The pod room has 12 desks arranged around the perimeter of the room. Each one seats 5 and has a large-screen display. The instructor's desk is in the middle of the room.

AV equipment

The pod room contains:

  • 12 pods for student groups, each with:
    • 5 chairs
    • a large-screen display
    • HDMI and VGA cables to connect devices
  • dry-erase writing surfaces on all 4 walls
  • room speakers
  • built-in Windows classroom computer
  • 2 HDMI cables and a VGA cable to connect your devices
  • DVD drive
  • document camera
  • touchscreen AV controls

Accessibility

Our classroom AV configuration includes:

  • fixed height instructor station counter
  • cabinet door without handles or lift assist hinges. The door may fall open if you're unable to hold its weight
  • equipment controlled with a touchscreen fixed in place on the counter top
  • pull-down projector screen

We recognize that these features present accessibility issues and are working to mitigate them.

If you need in-person assistance, please contact the Computer Help Desk.

AV keys

Don't forget your keys!

You'll need an AV key to use classroom AV system and computer. To avoid delays, sign out a key from your department office before your first class and always bring it with you when you're teaching.

Use the classroom computer

To turn on the AV system and display a PowerPoint slideshow on all displays using the built-in classroom computer:

  1. Unlock the AV cabinet with your key.
  2. Open the AV cabinet and press the unlock button.
  3. Tap the touchscreen panel to turn it on. The displays in the room will remain off until you select an input source for each of them using the panel.
  4. Press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse to wake the classroom computer up and sign in with your NetLink ID and passphrase.
  5. Open PowerPoint on the classroom computer and start your slideshow.
  6. On the touchscreen panel, under Sources, tap Local PC to select it. If you don't see it, try swiping your finger towards the right to see more sources.
  7. Under Destinations, tap All displays to select it.

You can use the wireless mic to reinforce your voice, but you can't record it or use it for Zoom or Teams calls. We don't recommend using this room for lecture recording or video conferencing.

 Troubleshooting

If you're not using video recording, livestreaming, or meeting software select other user near the lower-left corner of the sign-in screen.

If you are, restart the computer.

Press the mute key () on the keyboard or unmute the computer in Windows' settings.

Make sure that your media player app isn't muted and the volume slider isn't set to 0.

Use your own laptop

Wired connection

To display a PowerPoint slideshow on all displays using your Windows or Mac laptop, connected with AV cables:

  1. Unlock the AV cabinet with your key.
  2. Open the AV cabinet and press the unlock button.
  3. Tap the touchscreen panel to turn it on. The four displays in the room will remain off until you select an input source for each of them using the panel.
  4. Connect the HDMI cable (or the VGA cable) to your laptop.
    • HDMI supplies digital sound and video. VGA supplies video. This room doesn't support analogue audio.
    • Some MacBooks and small laptops only have USB-C, Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt ports for video. If you have one of these, bring your own HDMI adapter ("dongle").
  5. Press Windows ​ + P (Windows) or Command ​ + F1 (Mac) on your keyboard to choose whether to duplicate/mirror or extend your desktop. 
    • Not sure? Most instructors want to duplicate (Windows) or mirror (Mac) their display. In this mode, the projector will show exactly the same thing as your laptop screen.
  6. Open PowerPoint on your laptop and start your slideshow.
  7. On the touchscreen panel, under Sources, tap Local PC to select it. If you don't see it, try swiping your finger towards the right to see more sources.
  8. Under Destinations, tap All displays to select it.

You can use the wireless mic to reinforce your voice, but you can't record it or use it for Zoom or Teams calls. We don't recommend using this room for lecture recording or video conferencing.

Troubleshooting

Make sure your laptop's second display is set to mirror or duplicate. It should not be set to extend.

Windows:

  1. Press Windows ​ + P to open the Project menu.
  2. select Duplicate.

Mac:

  1. Press Command ​ + F1.

Set your laptop display's resolution to 1920 × 1080.

Windows:

  1. Using the Windows search bar, find and select Settings.
  2. Select Display and scroll down to the Scale & layout section.
  3. Set Display resolution to 1920 × 1080.

Mac:

  1. Go to the Apple menu () and select System Settings.
  2. Go to Displays in the sidebar.
  3. Select the Crestron display.
  4. Under Optimize for, select Crestron.
  5. Choose 1920 × 1080.

Make sure your laptop isn't muted. Press the mute key () on your keyboard or unmute it in your operating system's settings.

Make sure that your media player app isn't muted and the volume slider isn't set to 0.

Make sure that your computer is using the AV system as its audio device:

Windows:

  1. Click or tap the speaker icon on the taskbar () or press the Windows ​ + A to open quick settings.
  2. Click or tap the Select a sound output icon to the right of the volume slider.
  3. Under Output device, select Crestron or HDMI. If you're using VGA and stereo connectors, select headphones or external headphones.

Mac:

  1. Go to the Control Center menu (Control Center icon).
  2. Position the mouse cursor above the Sound from card, then select the right-facing pointer () that appears.
  3. For audio playback device, select Crestron or HDMI. If you're using VGA and stereo connectors, select headphones or external headphones.

The exact labels used in your operating system may vary depending on the OS version and system configuration.

 Wireless (AirMedia)

To display a PowerPoint slideshow on all displays using your Windows or Mac laptop, connected over Wi-Fi using AirMedia:

  1. Unlock the AV cabinet with your key.
  2. Open the AV cabinet and press the unlock button.
  3. Tap the touchscreen panel to turn it on. The four displays in the room will remain off until you select an input source for each of them using the panel.
  4. Tap to select any one of the displays.
  5. Tap to choose AirMedia from the source menu, then tap the red X in the corner to close the source menu. The display you chose will show connection instructions, a URL, and a 4-digit code.
  6. If you've never used AirMedia in this classroom before:
    1. Open your web browser and go to the URL on the display.
    2. Download the AirMedia client app to your laptop
  7. Find the AirMedia access code either on the instruction display or the touchscreen panel. 
  8. Run the AirMedia client app.
  9. When prompted, enter the 4-digit access code into the app.

Your laptop will begin wirelessly sharing your screen to the display you selected.

Visit Crestron's Use AirMedia document for more detailed information.

You can use the wireless mic to reinforce your voice, but you can't record it or use it for Zoom or Teams calls. This room is not recommended for lecture recording or video conferencing.

AV controls

Sample active learning pod classroom touchscreen controls with camera controls.
The video screen of the pod room controls with volume controls for the mic and media, video sources and destinations, and an audio tab.

Sources

  • HDMI/VGA: either the cable labelled "HDMI 1" or "VGA 1"
  • HDMI 2: the cable labelled "HDMI 2"
  • Doc Cam: document camera
  • Local PC: built-in Windows classroom computer
  • POD 1–12: devices connected to the AV system with the HDMI or VGA cables at the pods

Destinations

  • POD 1–12: the displays at the pods
  • All displays: all 12 displays, plus the desktop display at the instructor's desk
  • All local: the desktop display on at the instructor's desk
  • Local PC / instructor: the desktop display on at the instructor's desk

Wireless mic

There is a wireless lav (lavalier or lapel) mic in the pod room. You can use it to reinforce your voice, but it won't be recorded in Zoom or Teams calls. We don't recommend using this room for lecture recording or video conferencing.

To use the lav mic:

  1. Clip the transmitter belt pack to your belt or waistband, or put it in a pocket.
  2. Clip the lav mic to your shirt or jacket. Try to position it as close as you can to your mouth.
  3. Turn the transmitter belt pack on.
    • The power button or switch might be on the top, back or front of the belt pack.
    • If the pack has a power button, hold it down for three seconds to turn it on.
  4. Adjust the volume using the AV systems buttons or touchscreen controls.
    • We carefully set the volume on the transmitter pack for best performance. If you think there's a problem, contact us and we'll be happy to help.

If you're recording or sharing your lecture on the classroom computer using Echo360 or Zoom, select the mic (or audio input device) called speakerphone, content or Crestron.

You can also follow our video tutorial for using a lav miv.

 Troubleshooting

Replace the batteries in the transmitter or contact us and we can do it. There are spare batteries in the AV cabinet.

Make sure the AV system isn't muted:

  • If the classroom uses mechanical buttons, the lights next to the volume controls will flash if the system is muted. Press the mute button to unmute it.
  • If your classroom uses a touchscreen panel, the label on the mute button near the bottom right of the screen will change to "Muted" and change colour from green to red. Tap it to unmute it.

Check the transmitter to make sure it isn't muted. Most models have a mute switch on top of the pack.

Lecture recording

The pod room isn't recommended for lecture recording because the wireless mic isn't recorded by the AV system. The quality of vocal recordings will be poor unless you record using the webcam mic and stand directly in front of the computer display for the whole class.

If you need to record lectures, consider having your class moved to another classroom or lecture theatre instead. If you have to record in MAC D115, contact us for advice.

Play a DVD

If you're planning to show a movie or video, we strongly recommend trying to find a way to stream it online or play it from a download on your computer. If the material is only available as a DVD, most classroom computers have DVD drives you can use.

If your classroom does not have a built-in DVD drive, you can contact us to request a portable USB optical drive.

To play a DVD:

  1. Open the drive tray, place the disc in it and push the drive tray gently to insert it.
  2. On the Windows desktop, open My computer.
  3. Right-click on the DVD drive icon and select play with VLC from the context menu.

Before you go

At the end of your class, please:

  • stop recording in Echo360, or end your meeting in Zoom or Teams
  • sign out of the classroom computer
  • turn off the lav mic transmitter
  • press the lock button inside the AV cabinet
  • lock the AV cabinet with your key

Doing these things will protect your privacy and your students' privacy. It will also help other instructors use the classroom without technical problems.

Get help now

Call 250-721-8292 for urgent in-class help.

Contact IT support to report a non-urgent issue. 

Get help

Report an issue

If you find damaged or broken equipment, please let us know.

Report broken equipment