Going DigitalRenovation of a Distance Learning Center

and Construction of a Lab Demo/Green Screen Studio

Ron ThomasCoordinator of Distance EducationUniversity of Florida/IFAS

Distance Education Center

Original DEC built in 1997Instructor station with computer,

document camera, slide to video, 2 podium mics & wireless mic

48 seats, one mic to each 2 seatsInstructor camera and student cameraLCD projector and screenTeaching and technology philosophy

Distance Education Center

Four fixed monitors and one mobileAdjacent control room with video and

audio switchers, monitors, CG, Gentner phone system. Satellite, AT&T networking.

PictureTel videoconferencing unitApproximate cost (technology only) –

~$50K

Distance Education Center

1997-2012 modifications Sony HD cameras and Vaddio controller Half analog half digital video switcher New LCD projectors Switch from dedicated network to IP Polycom videoconferencing unit Accordent lecture capture system ~2008

The Switchover

Summer 2013 – Switch to digitalTwo bids – Comprehensive Technical

Group and UF Office of Academic Technology

Included DEC, control room and renovation and repurposing of old video studio

Scope of work

The Switchover

Bids very close – CTG ~$191K, UF-AT ~$189K

Retained only classroom cameras, camera control unit

Gutted control roomDEC – new micsFive monitorsNew LED projectorNew screenNew speakers

New Distance Education Center

New Distance Education Center

New Distance Education Center

New Distance Education Center

New Control Room

Crestron touch screen controlsDigital video switcher and audio mixerTwo large flat screen monitors, eight

smaller monitorsMediasite recorderCisco C40 videoconference unitNew microphone, speaker

New Control Room

Studio

Green screen painted wallBlue screen frameNewtek Tricaster 455 (in control room)Lumens PS760 document cameraSony EV1-H100S overhead cameraPanasonic P2HD camera, tripodDiversified Mobile Lab Table 48”x 24”

Studio

40”confidence monitorTeleprompterAudio equipment and micsCabling

Control Room Area for Studio

Studio

Studio Examples

Green Screen with Lab Demo Unit

Studio Examples

Overhead camera

Studio Examples

Document camera for close-ups

Studio Examples

PowerPoint chromakey

Studio Examples

Overhead camera for lab procedures

Studio Examples

Microscope instructions

Studio Examples

Microscope video

Studio Examples

WIS 4934 Natural Resource Ecology

http://mediasite.video.ufl.edu/Mediasite/Play/15c813c8a22e4d02b5aa3758a58ed73c1d

Studio Examples

AGR 4231 Forage Science and Range Management

http://mediasite.video.ufl.edu/Mediasite/Play/14e920df17cf4e548406022faff8567b1d

Current Use

Spring Semester – Two M-W-F courses, one T-Th course, one course each on T, W and Th

Average of three other events per week (seminars, interviews, recordings for courses in production)

Average of three studio recordings per week (recordings for courses in production, Extension video)

Questions?

rkthomas@ufl.edu