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This is an overview of the 2023 Classroom Technology Refresh Project. This project started in April 2023 and will be complete by Aug. 28, 2023 at the start of the Fall Semester. Please refer to this page for the most recent updates regarding the project. This overview contains information about:
| Project Details: Classroom Technology Updates | Impacted Building(s)/Room(s) |
|---|
| Cabling Replacement and Rechargeable Remote Replacement |
- Arts
- Equity
- Moody
- Trustee
- JBWN
- JBWS
- Fleck 2nd floor
- RAC
|
| Instructor Station Computer Replacement |
- Moody
- Trustee
- JBWS
- Equity
- Fleck
|
| Updating instructor station computers from Windows 10 to Windows 11 | All classrooms with Windows computers |
| Removal of DVD Players | All classrooms |
| Wireless Projection Pilot | Select classrooms |
| Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Pilot |
|
| Flexible Furniture Pilot | Trustee 118 |
| The Classroom Phone SupportPilot to help support faculty classroom technology issues | All classrooms |
| Projector Replacement |
- Moody
- Trustee
- JBWS
- Equity
- Fleck 2nd Floor
|
| Simplifying Touch Panels by removing Document Camera controls | All classrooms |
From July through December 2022, Institutional Effectiveness and Technology (IET) conducted research with our faculty to better understand classroom needs and identify improvement opportunities. In light of this research and to support two of the five goals of the Strategic Plan 2027: Infrastructure and Resources and Academic Excellence and Distinction, IET is moving forward with a phased project that will be a large-scale refresh of campus classrooms, comprised of a subset of smaller pilots, to help stabilize and simplify the classroom technology with current resources.
This project aims to improve classroom infrastructure and resources with a sustainable plan to update technology and provide technical support to faculty, staff, and students. Enhancing these resources can improve faculty instruction and student learning, contributing towards academic excellence and distinction.
Additionally, the technology in all of our classrooms is aging. That means that not only is the technology not working as well as it used to, but also the technology is reaching end-of-life status. This means it wont receive the appropriate updates from the manufacturer it needs to not only function properly, but also to receive critical security updates (which is also why its essential not to ignore software updates on your personal devices.) Now that we are refreshing our classrooms with new cables, computers and projectors, we hope that the classroom experience will be less frustrating because there is less room for error, and it wont take our techs as long to fix the problem.
In short, we are working to create a consistent, stable and simple experience in the classrooms.
Here is a list of changes you can expect in Fall 2023
in select classroom buildings, including new technology pilots:
- Current battery-operated remotes (AKA clickers, remotes, slide advancers, or laser pointers) will be replaced with rechargeable remotes.
- Aging technology, such as cabling and instructor station computers, will be replaced
- Simplifying the Instructor Stations:
- Redundant standalone DVD players will be removed. You will still be able to play DVDs using the instructor station computer.
- Redundant document camera controls on the touch panel will be removed. You will still be able to control the document camera from the device itself.
- Instructor station computers will be updated from Windows 10 to Windows 11.
- OIT Classroom Phone Support: Starting Fall 2023, faculty will be able to use the classroom phone and select the "Support" button to callOIT Classroom Support to report classroom technology issues.Our agents will create a case, and well work with you from there to figure out what the issue is and how it can be resolved.
- Wireless Projection: Starting in Fall 2023, a select group of faculty will help pilot wireless projection in 10 to 12 select classrooms. Faculty will be expected to:
- Complete training in how and why to use wireless projection,
- Complete a survey on their use,
- Potentially survey their students, and
- Be part of a focus group and/or meet with other users.
- Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): To simplify the classroom technology experience, were piloting a classroom technology model in classrooms Trustee Hall 118 and Moody Hall 306, with select faculty, that will remove outdated computers, and add wireless projection to promote engagement with students and their devices. A few computers will be provided in the room as backups for students.
- Flexible Furniture: In Trustee 118, we will pilot flexible, moveable classroom furniture to support a number of class instruction models.
We know this sounds like a lot, but for most faculty,
there wont be a significant impact on your classroom experience. Though were doing a lot of work this summer, the only changes you should notice, for the most part, are
less frequent failures and a few
shiny, new hardware upgrades. We advise you to please review the attached chart to see if this work will impact your classroom.
- Documentation will be offered to faculty to assist in the delivery and reception of these pilots and any other changes to classroom technology that would impact the teaching experience. Remember, you can always find classroom support resources at support.stedwards.eduunder Classroom Support.
- Recommended training for instructors will be offered before Fall 2023 to ensure they are prepared to use the technology in the classrooms.Get more details at bit.ly/StEdsTeachingSupportEvents.
IET has provided bi-monthly updates to project stakeholders and provided key updates on Workplace, including more details about what you can expect, training opportunities and more.
We know you probably have a lot of questions. Please send questions about the project to
OIT Support with the subject line Classroom Technology Refresh Project.Thank you for your continued support on this project.