Thomas' Work Space

Receded computer screens would save us having to rename the LRC  learning environment from “face-to-face” to “face-hidden-behind-screen-from-face”, and are especially good for communicative language class activities that are not computer-mediated, but only –aided. Receded screens also provide pretty good privacy, and are essential for written exam integrity.

1. The Rosewill rcr-ic001 card reader seems temperamental – you need to try several times to insert the card for the reader light to reliably flash.
2. It seems you need the Sony-provided software installed to have Windows recognize the drive: .
3. And offer an import:
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5. However, the import of videos fails for me (only images get imported).
6. But at least I can access the videos through Windows, from here (for non-HD):
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8. Until things go bad (computer slows to a crawl, then explorer crashes):     

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2. PollEverywhere.com allows teachers to set up polls with answer options that students choose by sending a number code as text message.
3. Pro’s
   1. Freemium.
   2. Low- to No- university infrastructure requirements. Best-used in a non-computerized classroom or during startup time of students’ computers.
   3. Content can be managed online.
4. Con’s
   1. Freemium:
      1. “You get what you pay for”. “You may be the business”. What happens with your data
      2. Not free for students unless you consider a phone plan that comes with unlimited texts free. With increasing use of other messaging options over SMS, that may be not a given even if you deal mostly with an affluent student population.
   2. Low- to No- university infrastructure requirements:
      1. you are relying on students providing the infrastructure. Are they better keeping their phones in service  (on them, charged, turned on) than we are keeping our computer labs up and running?
      2. you are relying on mobile network operators, including the choices of operator that your students made.
   3. Anonymous: Not useful for assessment purposes.
   4. The number codes are long (6 digits, while 1 could be sufficient).
5. Competitors
   1. The university has a clicker infrastructure which is partially outsourced to students (purchase and bring).
   2. The LRC has a Classroom Management system infrastructure which supports clicker-like activities.
      1. Sanako Study 1200 comes with Live Feedback and Voting.
      2. NetOp School comes with an examination/polling feature also.

1. To fix this error,
1. go to: Menu / Function / Tools / Tab: / menu item: Initialize – choose the card slot A or B with the mal-formatted card.
2. or view how to access the initializing procedure here TBA
2. To avoid this problem: You may get this error after you the SD card has been formatted in another device but the camera (e.g. on your computer, using a memory card reader). If you are trying to delete footage, initialize the card within the camera instead. This page is taken from the Vixia manual, the full manual you can find linked in our list of bookable resources under Vixia.
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1. When the projector control system is “out of synch”with the projector.
2. Symptom: “System off” does not turn the projector off, but also “System on”  does not turn.
3. Workaround: From the control panel Home screen, access soft button “system tools” 
4. Here you can manually turn the projector on/off  (and the close the screens)

1. This list documents hardware owned by the LRC.
   1. View here.
   2. LRC staff click here for edit in browser access to the list.

1. This list documents the configuration of the LRCRoomCoed434 and LRCRoomCoed433PCs (that are imaged using the Symantec Ghost client).
   1. View here.
   2. LRC staff click here for edit in browser access to the non-embedded list.
   3. Click here for background information about this inventorying method.

1. For lack of small group work areas, the 3 headsets help sharing the LRCROOMCOED433. They amplify the sound for the TV viewing audience, allowing to turn the TV volume down so as not to disturb other users in the shared area.
2. No sound?
   1. headsets turned on?
   2. headset volume turned up?
   3. headsets batteries dead?
   4. transmitter turned on?
3. Static noise on headsets?
   1. headsets batteries weak?
   2. no line of sight to transmitter?
4. Other things you can try:
1. a different headset. We have 3.
2. a different transmitter. We have 2.
5. An image says more than 1000 words:
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1. When coming to my desk today, my laptop made a grinding noise. Even worse, the noise later decreased, sounding like grinding to a halt.
2. here is a recording:
3. Fan? That cannot be good with a laptop that always ran hot (video card cannot be disabled during normal, non-gaming operation).
4. keyboard developed a mind of its own after half a year: cursor began jumping at random.
5. side panels: started peeling off within the first few weeks