Extron SMP 351 helps the University of Connecticut adopt hybrid training

The center has expanded its infrastructure to capture classes and stream them with the multimedia processor Extron SMP 351 and the Cloud Kaltura video platform.

the University of Connecticut (UConn) teaches more than 30.000 students in their 17,8 km² of the Storrs campus, plus four regional campuses in Connecticut. With the arrival of the pandemic, the center adapted by teaching classes remotely, hybrid and face-to-face.

To achieve this, leveraged and expanded its training and streaming session capture infrastructure with the streaming media processor Extron SMP 351 and the video platform Cloud Kaltura.

Founded in 1881, the University of Connecticut (USA) is composed of 14 schools and colleges, granting university degrees in 119 Specialties, postgraduate in 88 research areas and professional practices, and 6 types of law and medical degrees. It is ranked as the best national public university in New England and ranks among the 25 Best Public Universities in the United States.

Because part of the academic year 2021 would still require social distancing, and on-campus attendance would be limited to 30% student body, UConn developed a plan to maintain a strong distance and hybrid learning capacity that met immediate needs and would also be a valuable addition to teaching options in the future..

To support this plan, the Campus AV Technology Services team, headed by the IT manager, Steven Fletcher, provided most classrooms and a selection of seminar rooms on all campuses with more than 200 media processors for SMP streaming 351 Additional.

Training areas

Learning spaces, equipped with the SMP 351 allow UConn instructors to record and live stream any AV source used during class presentations. Distance learners participate in classes in real time or at any time through on-demand access to the Cloud Kaltura video platform.

Each learning space with AV is equipped with a touch screen TLP Pro 725T of Extron and an IPCP control processor pro 250 xi, 350 xi or 550 xi.

Touchscreen graphical interface guides users through the process of streaming and recording a class. Users can select fonts, connect or disconnect to live streaming and pause recording.

In every LEARNING SPACE equipped with AV, a single user command turns all AV system components on or off under the control of the power management units IPL T PCS4.

In standard classrooms, switches for presentations IN1608 xi MA 7 Extron send selected AV content from document cameras, Miracast laptops and receivers mirroring BYOD displays to room projectors and ceiling speakers FF 220T.

AV content is also transmitted to SMP 351 for live recording and streaming. The switch operates the room speakers with an integrated power amplifier. Switches SW4 USB Plus route USB signals to the instructor's computer from laptops, Keyboards, mice and response knobs.

In large learning spaces, switching and distribution is performed by DTP switching arrays Crosspoint 108 4K together with distribution amplifiers and DTP transmitters and receivers.

Matrix digital processors ProDSP DMP 128 bonus select and mix program audio and adapt the sound to the acoustics of the room. Amplifiers XPA U 2002 SB and XPA 4002 transmit to speakers.

UConn implemented the software GlobalViewer Enterprise extron to manage, supervise, control and resolve AV system issues centrally.

Using the software's Web browser interface, UConn campus technology team can provide real-time user support.

GlobalViewer Enterprise also helps UConn manage the durability expense of its AV equipment investment by automatically planning the power on and off of all rooms following customized calendars., thus saving time, energy and consumables such as projector bulbs throughout campus.

Results with Extron SMP 351

In a normal week, the SMP 351 supports recording and streaming of educational content for 150 class sessions.

The SMP 351 issue to dedicated Kaltura websites that are listed online for students to have access on demand.

Easy-to-use AV systems developed by the UConn campus AV Technology Services team eased the transition to a hybrid teaching and learning style. Jeffrey Albright, member of the UConn AV team and Audiovisual Technician, is the main designer and programmer of the interactive GUI that makes the operation so intuitive.

"We strive for simplicity, standardization and reliability. We want our rooms to work whenever a teacher comes in to teach a class. This is one of the reasons we use Extron for switching, distribution and control", explains Albright.

Other articles on Extron, Extron Electronics, University of Connecticut