Hi-Tech Classrooms

AV Technology Services designs, installs and maintains the University of Connecticut's Hi-Tech and Tech-Ready Classrooms. These state-of-the-art learning environments harness today's most popular instructional technologies for use in an easy-to-operate control console. AV Technology Services strives to deliver technology of the highest quality, dependability and consistency.

Training is critical to effectively utilize UConn's Hi-Tech Classrooms, instructors are strongly encouraged to attend one of our pre-semester training sessions.

Classroom Styles

Hi-Tech Classrooms consist of 3 “styles” of rooms, based on the type of control equipment.

• Push Button: A push button style room is controlled by a “Switcher” located within the equipment cabinet. Push buttons “switch” from one piece of equipment to another.
• Fixed: A fixed touch screen style room consists of a fixed, flat panel touch screen, mounted on top of the teaching station which operates the equipment.
• Tech-Ready: Our newest style of room, it is a more compact version of teh Fixed style rooms. Controls for this style of room can be found on the wall mounted control center.

Description of Tech-Ready Classrooms

A Tech-Ready classroom seats between 1and 49 students. It has a permanently located ceiling mounted LCD projector, projecting an image large enough to be seen at the furthest seat from the ceiling mounted projection screen. In some cases a PC computer is integrated into the system.

There is a wall plate mounted on side wall closest to instructor's station with a female computer connection (VGA) and a female computer audio connection (female mini). The wall plate will also have a female video connection (female BNC) with 2 audio connections (female RCA's) for stereo audio. Audio will be a 35 watt amplifier and 2 ceiling speakers. Audio level will be controlled at the touch screen.

There is a wall mounted 4 inch touch panel, located on side wall closest to instructor's station. The touch screen will need a password to allow for use. It controls dimmable lighting, audio volume and the ceiling mounted LCD projector.

The control system will also allow AVT to remotely monitor and control the state of the equipment and the functions of the touch screen. It can be programmed to send out messages via e-mail for such things as projector lamp hours, projector state and any removal of AV equipment.

The classrooms will only be able to project an image and produce sound of all portable sources brought into the room. The sources will “NOT” be provided by AV Technology Services.

All equipment is housed in a flush mounted or when possible a recessed cabinet located on a wall to be determined when the classroom furniture layout is complete. This cabinet will have proper ventilation for the equipment housed inside.

Push Button Classrooms

A Push Button classroom will seat approximately 1 to 49 students. It will have a permanently located ceiling mounted LCD projector, projecting an image large enough to be seen at the furthest seat from the ceiling mounted projection screen.

There is an instructor’s station with a manually controlled switcher which controls the input sources and the projector. The sources are a preview monitor, VCR, DVD player, permanently located computer, document camera and a cable tuner. There are switches for a laptop (provided by user) and aux plate. The aux plate’s purpose is for the use of any AV equipment brought into the room by the user and has connections for video and stereo audio.

Fixed Classrooms

A Fixed classroom will seat between 1 and 60 or 1 and 500 students. It will have a permanently located ceiling mounted LCD projector, projecting an image large enough to be seen at the furthest seat from the ceiling mounted projection screen.

There is an instructor’s station with a permanently located touch panel controller. This touch panel controls all sources and the displays within the room. The sources are a preview monitor, VCR, DVD player, permanently located computer, document camera and a cable tuner. There are icons for a laptop and aux plate. The aux plate’s purpose is for the display of any AV equipment brought into the room by the user and has connections for video and stereo audio. The laptop icon allows a portable laptop (provided by user) to be connected to cables located on top of the instructors station and its image sent to the room displays. The displays are large LCD projected images or flat panel monitors.