CompuServe Thread

Part 1 of 5.. To all educators out there… We had a live demo of Robotel's new multimedia audio/video network setup in one of our CAD labs on Nov. 19th, Friday. This collection of messages is pretty long. Sorry couldn't stop typing. The new system (M160 System) allows for switching of the video, keybpoard, and serial port on any computer to any other computer in the classroom. You can also have audio control over the whole room as well using the student terminal option. To put together the system: – Install one control unit (M160C) on the teaching station. – Install a junction box that connects to the control unit from one end and branches out to different "lines" (M160J1 – M160J4 – M160J8). – Install one interface (M160I) per student station, and (optionally) add the student terminal (M160T). The interfaces are connected on the "lines" coming out of the junction box, and every interface connects to the video, keyboard and serial port. The optional student terminal (M160T) is a small unit 3" wide by 8" deep that may be connected to EVERY interface unit on every station. It has special button for "I want to answer the question" (An icon of a light bulb going on", "I have a question" (an icon of a person raising his/her hand), "I'm lost" (an icon of a person with many question marks all around him) and "I'd like to disconnect". The M160T also has a plug for a headset and a microphone that you could use very productively. The system has changed in every way. Instead of the old "broadcast to group" and "individual" settings, you now have four different modes: – Group teaching – Individual teaching – Teamwork teaching – Evaluation and testing. There are many ways to use the above modes, I'm just going to present a few: 1. Group teaching: You can select any screen to be displayed on all student monitors, either in a selected subgroup or to the class as a whole. You can easily initiate discussions or present a problem and invite the students to solve them. As an example of group teaching: You enter Group teaching, then you switch Monitor "0" so it will be broadcast to the class. After you deliver your presentation, you could arrange a small exercise on your screen, then ask the group if anyone can solve the problem. Let's say Joe at station #4 can, so you can switch over the keyboard and mouse control to station #4 by simply pressing 4 then the [keyboard] button on your control. Now the class is watching YOUR monitor (station 0) and Joe is typing on his keyboard and using his mouse that are now controlling the teacher's station. With the optional M160T on every station, you can simply ask the question: Who can solve the folowing problem? Any student who knows the answer can reach forward and press the answer button, and the results show up on your monitor in the order they were recieved. Very neat. You now give control of the keyboard and mouse *AND THE MICROPHONE* to the first student who volunteered and have that person solve the problem while broadcasting to the class through his headset. [More]