In preparation for FA21 classes, OIT's Academic Computing/Labs and Tech Services teams worked diligently to add point-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras (a.k.a., "Rally cameras") to classrooms that had not already been equipped for the FA20 semester. To see what cameras and microphones are deployed in your assigned classroom(s), please review the Classroom Cameras and Microphones List (FA21). Support documents and video tutorials for PTZ camera users have been created and are available via the following hyperlinks:
- PTZ (Rally) Classroom Cameras Overview
- Video: PTZ Classroom Cameras Overview [4:26]
- PTZ (Rally) Classroom Cameras and Zoom
- Video: PTZ Cameras and Zoom: A Brief Tutorial [2:24]
Please keep in mind that the PTZ cameras are not designed to focus in on the video screen at the front of the classroom. To display contents from the computer to remote students as well as on the screen for in-room students, use the "share screen" option in Zoom as demonstrated in the video linked above. The cameras are designed for faculty who prefer to step away from the instructor computer to face and lecture their class, ask/answer questions. etc. The cameras do focus well on the chalkboards or whiteboards in most classrooms.
Mirroring Issue in Zoom - Some faculty have reported that, when using Zoom with the PTZ cameras, the classroom image from Zoom on their computer monitor appears to them in reverse image. This is intended functionality and remote students will not see the classroom image in reverse.
Faculty have two supported options for recording or live streaming their on-campus face-to-face lectures/class meetings.
- Echo360 - We strongly recommend Echo360's Universal Capture (UC) application for instructors who want to record their lectures/classes for posting in Blackboard. Echo360 UC includes an option to stream the course synchronously to remote learners. However, remote learners can only "participate" via a live chat tool built into Echo360 UC. Lectures/Classes recorded with Echo360 UC are automatically saved to instructors' Echo360 Library, where they are also automatically captioned. Making Echo360 videos available to students in Blackboard is a straightforward procedure, and our instructional designers and learning technology administrators are standing by to help you get started.
- Zoom - A full-featured web conferencing system, Zoom is an ideal option for instructors who want to actively engage via audio and video with remote learners during their on-campus classes. Instructors have the opportunity also to record those sessions. Recorded Zoom sessions should be saved in Echo360 and deployed into your Blackboard courses from that video storage and management system.
