Barbara Knotts, chair of media services, has recently taken the reins of audiovisual purchasing for the smart classroom, a project that will host a new form of learning environment, which will debut on campus next semester.
Last spring semester, technology and software application purchase orders for classroom technology in the nursing and allied health complex and academic instruction center was handled by the information technology department, David Mrizek, vice president of college services, said.
But Knotts had previously formed a joint effort between St. Philip's College and this campus to secure grant money for the purchase and installation of two initial smart classrooms, one at St. Philip's and one here.
Biology was the only department that received installation of the classroom over the summer, Knotts said.
The new academic setting uses a turnkey system in which everything is installed into a podium for operation and powered through a control device mounted on the wall, she said.
Mrizek said the smart classroom is an academic technological advancement, which creates an interconnection through a keypad that controls items such as DVD players, VCRs and new projectors.
Originally, the new classrooms were going to have the same academic concepts but the idea for the smart classrooms came when construction had already commenced.
Everything was wired for installation in the classrooms. Wiring for a control panel is still required to run the smart classrooms, Mrizek said.
Purchasing and installation of new technology was supposed to begin at the end of last semester in preparation of completion of the new buildings, Mrizek said.
But that did not take place primarily because of delays in building construction.
"You can't place orders for computers a year ahead of time with things like warranties," Mrizek said. "You don't want them sitting around."
The computer side is already on order for a tentative delivery date of Dec. 8, he said.
Mrizek said IT is responsible for computer infrastructure and their applications.
"The audiovisual department is in the process of getting everything on order," he said.
"And the idea is for everything to be in place by the spring semester."
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