University of Nevada Adds TeamConnect Ceiling 2 in your RebelFlex classrooms

As a central element of its innovative audiovisual solution, the University of Nevada has included microphones Sennheiser TCC2 in 58 Multipurpose classrooms.

The University of Nevada (Las Vegas – UNLV) is a world-renowned research faculty that prides itself on the diversity and competitiveness of its academic programs in hospitality, Law and other disciplines. After successfully completing a pilot phase, you have deployed the solution Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2 (TCC2) in 58 Multipurpose classrooms, which he calls RebelFlex.

During COVID-19, The center had to face a series of technical challenges. Welcoming international students and the lingering uncertainty of how the pandemic would affect face-to-face learning, made the decision to enable classrooms for hybrid teaching, so that students could attend both in person and remotely. The new solution consisted of several Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling microphones 2, Brand Distributing Magnetron, that were installed in 58 Multipurpose Campus Classrooms.

The rector needed an ambitious and bold plan that would help faculty and students navigate a complex learning environment, while adding value to the University in the long term.

The Senior AV & IT Systems Specialist Frank Alaimo and the specialist in classroom control systems Michael Theil they brought together the University's IT team and came up with a plan.

"It was what I call the Swiss Army knife of the classroom, Because it's a typical class, but to which we add the ability to record presentations and hold web conferences", explains Alaimo. "Now the room is equipped for synchronous and asynchronous interaction, to record the sessions, to teach in person".

The administration demanded that each room be a 'faithful copy' of the others in terms of technical equipment. "The rooms could have different sizes and furniture, but it was important to us that they offer the same functionality.", adds Alaimo. "One of the things we wanted to guarantee our teachers was that, when they moved from one building to another, the touch panel was exactly the same and that they could record the classes with the highest audiovisual quality".

The new hybrid classroom, affectionately nicknamed RebelFlex, in honor of the University's mascot, it was the result of a natural evolution.

"We already had the system SpeechLine Digital Wireless of Sennheiser and the software Control Cockpit and added the TCC2 microphone as part of our global web conferencing solution.", explains Alaimo. "Now the teacher has a microphone on the lectern and if he decides to teach his subject while moving around the room, the TCC2 system can capture both students and teachers".

The TCC2's patented beamforming technology is particularly useful in classrooms where students are actively involved.

"Microphones pick up voices quickly, They can focus on the student who is speaking and then jump from one speaker to another, if necessary", Theil points out. "This also makes life easier for the IT team, since we don't have to make adjustments to the microphones, which saves us a lot of time".

The first RebelFlex was implanted in the cloister of the UNLV and, subsequently, IT provided recommendations on how to migrate new and existing classrooms to a more modern HighFlex environment.

"At the beginning, The concept was somewhat overwhelming for teachers, so, as part of the RebelFlex pilot program, We included an advisor in each classroom to support teachers so that they could remain focused on their syllabus during the initial implementation.", comments Alaimo.

The initial deployment was made in 58 Classrooms. "We selected eight classrooms on campus that already had a camera and recording device Pasnapto and we converted them into RebelFlex classrooms. The others 50 classrooms are brand new, with equipment including Sennheiser's TCC2 microphones".

RebelFlex classrooms vary in size, since 25 until 179 seats, and larger rooms have two TCC2 units. In addition to other classrooms of this type that are in the planning phase, Alaimo and his team are studying the possibility of converting an auditorium on campus that is undergoing renovation. "The auditorium already has all the recording functions, so, If the administration decides to go ahead, we will be ready to deploy the TCC2 easily", says Alaimo.

Forecasting and performance

In an unpredictable world, the new RebelFlex classrooms offer predictability and guarantee a common experience for teachers and also for students.

"The most important thing is to capture the message transmitted from the microphone and the content of the slides", says Alaimo. "The TCC2 not only helps to capture the presentation, but it also allows students to feel more integrated in the class".

Theil agrees with this statement: "We wanted to make the class follow-up similar for both students who are physically in the classroom and those who participate remotely. Our system has been designed so that students at home have the same opportunities as those who are on campus in person".

TCC2's compatibility with the network made installation much easier. "Using Dante with TCC2 makes things a lot easier, because everything appears as a network device", Theil comments. "The ability to route all devices with a simple click of the mouse simplifies everything, so we can monitor performance via Control Cockpit from the same office. In addition, with Dante connectivity, I can combine the conferencing features of two or more rooms quickly if needed.".

With Sennheiser's Control Cockpit software, IT can also monitor things like battery level, silence and other functions. "Remote monitoring through Control Cockpit gives us the assurance that when someone enters the room there will be no problems, because we know that everything will work as it should", Theil adds.

Theil also appreciates the exclusion zones feature offered by TCC2, as each room has its own noise problems. "If there is an HVAC system nearby, We can adjust the pickup pattern so that it stops picking up the noise it generates.".

Once the exclusion zones have been defined, Theil only needs to fit a standard audio processor. "I don't have time to create a custom DSP program for every room and that's something I really appreciate about this product, because it works wonderfully right out of the box".

Alaimo adds that the deployment of RebelFlex, including Sennheiser's TCC2 solution, has set a new benchmark for the functionality of the University's classrooms and is confident that the path undertaken will be maintained: "We have projects of all types and sizes, but we believe that in the future all classrooms will be RebelFlex classrooms".

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