Smart Schools Choose SMART Classrooms

With all of the messages that bombard today’s college students, professors are faced with a major obstacle. The world of MTV and high-speed Internet is challenging them to change their teaching style to be more engaging and interactive. At LMG, we can help them capture students’ attention by integrating their teaching methods with the touch of a button. Enter SMART classrooms.

The idea behind SMART classrooms is to engage students in a lesson by presenting material through intriguing visuals on a multi-media system that incorporates the use of Internet, PowerPoint, CD, DVD and VCR — much more effectively than its one-dimensional chalkboard counterpart. Not only is the technology user-friendly, it is designed to blend into the architecture so that it becomes part of the classroom. 


Visualize This.

When LMG was tasked to design and implement SMART classrooms at Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida, we had to integrate the needed technology in a way that it would not overpower the educational material and the professor. The technology is designed to supplement the professor’s lessons, not detract from them.

With that in mind, we met with the audio visual administrator to evaluate the college’s needs, which led us to our biggest challenge — creating easy-to-use technology that helps achieve the academic objectives of the college. Our goal was to integrate a learning tool to benefit the students and faculty at the school, so we designed the system to be intuitive and made sure it was standardized from room to room. Consistency was the key so that once the professors learned the system, it would not change — regardless of the room they were assigned to.

Implementation Process

As with most projects, the more proactive you are in planning, the easier the process is — the same goes for SMART classrooms. To minimize construction debris, damage and vandalism, LMG visited the site to carefully plan and take measurements as to where certain pieces of the system were to be integrated. When finished, we returned to our headquarters and completed all of the major production and assembly. We then went back on site when everything was properly prepared and ready for integration; the whole process took about a day and a half per classroom.

The actual SMART classrooms system consists of five main components:

• Video projection system – includes a ceiling-mounted projector and a large projection screen in the front of the classroom.
• Audio system – includes a specified amount of 2’x2’ speakers that are designed to replace the ceiling tiles, which allows for quality sound without invasive speakers taking up valuable space.
• Control – a 12’’ LCD touch screen is the heart of the control system which operates the components of the system.
• Video camera – is similar to the old-style overhead projector, except the professor does not have to use transparency paper only, but can also project a three-dimensional object onto the screen, if required.
• Proprietary control software – written by LMG and tailored to the specific needs of the client.

In addition, each classroom is equipped with a VCR, DVD, microphone, wall phone, wireless radio frequency mouse and keyboard, a permanently mounted PC and a laptop port — all key pieces that complete the system.

And because advanced technology is only as good as its user, LMG personnel trained the Valencia Community College audio visual team after integrating the systems in 90 campus classrooms. The administrators then guided the faculty members through the program so that they can operate the system comfortably. 

Trouble-Shooting 

Behind every SMART classroom is “smart” equipment. The technology we provide is capable of bidirectional communication. If the professor is having difficulty turning on the projector, the college administrator can ask the equipment, “Is your lamp on?” And, the equipment can answer. This feature is part of the trouble-shooting component and help desk.

The help desk is one of the best features included in our SMART classroom system. It provides a safety net and sense of security for professors. If someone is faced with a technology problem, our proprietary software releases an e-mail or pages the administrator requesting help. To make this process even more efficient, LMG includes a room monitoring system. This system allows the administrator to “see” inside the classroom either through cameras or bidirectional RS232 communication. Our program enables administrators to identify an obstacle and help the professor fix it without wasting valuable class time.

Security Precautions

To combat the problem of equipment theft, we provide security hardware on each piece of equipment. In addition, an IP-based alarm system is attached to the projector because historically this has been one of the easiest items to steal. To date, there have been no reported thefts of our equipment.

From the Classroom to the Boardroom

Not only is this technology noteworthy for classroom use, it is transferable to the corporate boardroom. The SMART system enables corporations to clearly communicate their goals during meetings and presentations with the help of visual supplements. In addition, the system includes sophisticated audio components to ensure words are not lost through rustling papers, coughs and low whispers.

Multi-media presentations are becoming the standard in the business environment. Regardless of whether you’re an executive, student or faculty member, you can benefit from all that this “smart” technology has to offer.

For more information regarding this system, please contact Tim Philpot, Sales Engineer at  LMG, Inc., at 407-850-0505, e-mail Tim.Philpot@lmg.net.