Classroom Contingencies

• Update on Room-Sized Cart Solutions for Audio/Visual Presentation in the Classroom

  50+ room webcams/AV carts were purchased to provide contingencies for situations that require remote audio/video capability throughout an entire classroom space. We are currently working with Academic Affairs and the deans to determine where carts will be deployed. If a cart is being deployed in your classroom for an accommodation, you will be notified upon your return to campus. The room webcams/AV carts utilize only Webex at this time. 

  For class sections designated for cart use, Student Technology Navigators from the Zone program will provide support to help set up and start the technology for your class. The Student Tech Navs have been trained on the carts, the tablet kits, Meet and Webex, and basic troubleshooting for the classroom. More on the Zone Program directly below.

• FIT Remote Labs, powered by Leostream (FRL)

  FRL/Leostream was a great success during our remote semesters, as it enabled students enrolled in computer-based classroom sections to access licensed software that was only available on classroom computers. Students and faculty used Leostream to “remote in” to the computers in both the classrooms and our common lab spaces. But this year we are back on campus and Leostream will not be available since our on-campus students will be physically using the computers. While we have, for contingency purposes, maintained our FRL/Leostream licenses, the software is not configurable for spaces with mixed-use, i.e. in-person and remote users together. There was a reason why we had locked classrooms permanently and had posted DO NOT ENTER signs on computer classroom doors. If a remote student logs into a Leostream-enabled computer and then an on-campus student sits down at that computer and reboots it, or closes the Leostream session, the worst-case scenario has likely just occurred. The remote student has lost any and all unsaved work. For these two reasons — our students have returned to campus, and the possibility of loss of student work — at this time FRL/Leostream will not be enabled for the fall in the classrooms and labs. We are investigating options for standing up additional lab spaces for remote access to software; more information to follow.