Web Conferencing in a UConn Room

Owned by Dan Jakubiak
Last updated: Jul 26, 2023
4 min read

All UConn classrooms have a microphone and a document camera and some have cameras that capture either the professor or the students. These peripherals (room devices) are connected to the room computer and can also connect to personal laptops using the USB cable (provided at the teaching station).

The classroom microphones and cameras appear, to the computer, as regular USB devices and can be used with any program.

Setting Up

Scroll to the bottom of this guide for an instructional print-out.

  1. Tap the Touch Panel to wake the system if needed.

    1. Depending on your room, you may instead use a button control panel, or a remote control.

  2. Select PC or Laptop as the source to be displayed.

    1. The classroom PC is connected and ready to go.

    2. If you are using your laptop, plug in both the HDMI cable (or USB-C cable) and the USB-A cable from the cable cubby.
      If there is a dongle connecting both the HDMI and the USB-A cables to a single USB-C cable, use that dongle.

      1. The HDMI or USB-C cable shares your screen with the class, while the USB-A (rectangle) cable carries the microphone and camera signal to your laptop.

  3. Sign in to the computer and open your web conferencing platform of choice (i.e., Webex, Teams, Blackboard Collaborate, Zoom).

  4. The room's peripherals (microphones and cameras) will be detected as regular USB devices.  

  5. Choose the room's peripherals as your input devices.

    1. ITS sets up the classroom computer for these peripherals ahead of time. However when your laptop is connected, it will list all the new devices it can see.

    2. Your laptop may show a few available devices, choose devices from the list until you find the correct peripheral.

    3. Look for “Room Microphone”, the room’s number, “DMP”, Echo Cancelling Speakerphone” or “PTZ” in the device list.

Webex

Teams

Webex

Teams

webex system settings
teams device settings

Once your screen is showing on the projector/monitor, be sure to Share your screen into your web conference so the participants can see it as well.

Sharing your screen will hide the main Webex window so that both your in-person and remote participants can see your presentation.

  • If present: Remove the wireless microphone from its charging dock and clip the element onto your lapel or mid-way up the upper half of your shirt.

    • Use the small toggle switch at the top of the belt pack to turn on the microphone.

    • Be sure to return the microphone to its charging base when you are finished as shown below. The unit will audibly "click" into the base.

  • If present: Choose the room camera in your conferencing program. Simply choose the device from the list that is not your built-in webcam.

    • It may take around 10 seconds for the camera to appear properly after turning on the classroom. You may see your own screen shown in the webcam window before this 10-second period ends. If you do not see the camera, press Computer or HDMI on the touch-panel again.

Document Camera

If present: The document camera will appear on your computer as a webcam. To use this camera, manually turn it on and control it using the on-device buttons (shown below).

  • The document camera automatically turns off with the AV system, but it does not turn on automatically. To turn on the unit, press the large white button at the left end of the unit.

  • To change the zoom level of the camera, use the two zoom buttons near the right end of the buttons.

  • After you have changed the zoom level, you may need to manually focus the lens. Press the large, gray button at the right end to focus the lens.

  • You may freeze the image in order to maintain the image on display after you remove the item from the desk. Press the Freeze button that sits above the Focus button to freeze and unfreeze the image.

  • You may turn on a light at the head of the arm to illuminate your workspace.

Instructions Guide Print-Out (PDF)

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