Classroom Upgrades over the Summer

With fewer classes taking place on campus during the summer months, have you ever wondered what LTS staff who provide support for the technology in learning spaces does all summer long? The answer is, “Plenty!” Although summer classes and programs require the usual support and daily trouble-shooting, the smaller volume of that activity provides the opportunity for upgrade and maintenance projects.

When returning to classrooms this fall, some changes may have been visible while others are not as noticeable. LTS staff and student employees were hard at work all summer long providing upgrades to technology in over fifty learning spaces. This included replacing over forty ceiling-mounted video/data projectors and their mounting systems.

In addition, nearly thirty technology control systems (e.g., teaching station data projectors) were upgraded as part of a multi-year rollout of Crestron systems (currently in the third of a four-year plan). These controls will provide for quicker support should faculty experience problems, and provide support staff with useful diagnostic information remotely and in real-time. Users of these control systems should find them intuitive, but instructions are also posted as to their operation. (If you would like a demonstration of how the controls and technology works, simply call the LTS Help Desk at 836-5711.)

Sound systems were also upgraded in a number of locations on campus, as was the technology in some Distance Education classrooms. Computer lab maintenance and upgrades were completed, some in conjunction with various construction projects.

Finally, summer is also the time for preventive maintenance activities. These included converting to a new inventory system (including verification of current records).

All in all, it added up to a busy summer indeed for staff and student employees of the LTS Learning Spaces group and the LTS Electronic Maintenance unit.