Use of Classroom Multi-media Equipment Becomes Easier

Trouble coordinating a DVD, computer, and data projector all at once? Well, A dozen or so classrooms on campus now have an easy-to-use piece of equipment that simplifies the task.

The equipment is known as the Centron TouchPanel Media Manager Control System. Fortunately, the name has been shortened to A/V Touch Control System. It allows one to select the desired device and control it by simply pressing an icon on a glass-covered screen.

The following Community Learning Teacher Video (CLTV) shows how easily the equipment can be used, thereby ending the time-consuming search for the hand-held device, correct button, on-off switch, etc. Begin the CLTV by clicking on the Play icon.

CLTV by Paul Stennett, COCC Community Learning Coordinator

Mysteries of the Whiteboard

In response to last week’s post, we received several questions:

• What happened to the blackboard?
• Where is the chalk?
• What is the white thing in the front of the room and why does it have faint markings on it?

Take heart, it is merely the March of Progress. The blackboard has been replaced by the whiteboard because of a need to reduce dust in multimedia classrooms with their computers, data projector, DVD player, etc. The chalk has been replaced by erasable marker pen, the instrument used to write on the whiteboard. The shadows on the whiteboard are from those who previously used a marker on the whiteboard.

The Community Learning Teacher Video (CLTV) shown below offers suggestions on using the whiteboard more efficiently.

Remember When?

Remember when you taught your first class for Community Learning? I recall lots of preparation, butterflies in the stomach, and a hope that the students showed up.

Let us revisit those exciting times in more detail while focusing on the classroom environment:

Do you recall anything that was not right within the classroom?

Could you operate the audio-visual equipment?

Did the room become too warm?

Please let us know your recollections for we are starting a new blog feature called the Community Learning Teacher Videos (CLTV). It will consist of short video clips that deal with a single item, like how to operate the audio-visual equipment, keep a room cool, clean a whiteboard, etc.

Place your recollections and suggestions on the blog by clicking on COMMENTS or share them with your program coordinator (Glenda, Nancy, Paul, Rachael). We will begin video-taping the CLTV clips as soon as we hear from you.

What classes should I take next?

Students often ask, “What classes should I take next?” If the class they are completing was one of a sequence, I would suggest taking the next one in the sequence, even though I did not offer the class. However, I became stuck when asked what to take when there was no sequence. Feeling a need to help the students, I searched for a solution.

The first place I looked was the current class schedule. Not surprising, there were a number of classes that expanded on various topics within my class. So, I wrote down the titles along with a brief description and created a handout. The handout was disseminated at the next meeting or emailed to the students if the class had concluded.

One such handout can be viewed by clicking here. Your program coordinator (Glenda, Nancy, Paul, or Rachael) can help you construct something similar.