Flex Technologies in Small and Medium Classrooms


About Small and Medium Classrooms

Classrooms equipped with UMass Flex technologies have been designed to be easy to use and accommodate various teaching strategies, and provide immersive learning experiences for students in-person and online. Small and medium-sized classrooms have been equipped with an all-in-one touch screen that acts as a display for content, a digital whiteboard, and a controller for your Zoom meeting. A side monitor dedicated to displaying your online students helps provide a classroom-like experience and allows students to interact with one another.

Turn on the room

If the screens are off, press On on the Extron room controller. The screens will turn on.

Use the digital whiteboard without joining a Zoom meeting

To use the digital whiteboard:

  1. On the Zoom display, tap Whiteboard. The whiteboard opens.
  2. Use the drawing tools on the left-hand side of your screen. For more information on specific whiteboard features, see the Zoom Room whiteboard support page.

To create additional whiteboard pages:

  1. Select the pages button in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen. A pop-up box appears
  2. Select the + to add up to 12 pages. Alternatively, to delete pages, select the red garbage can icon.

To save whiteboard pages:

  1. In the Whiteboard controls, tap Save.
  2. In the Save window, Select the Export button.
  3. Enter the email addresses you would like to send the whiteboard images to.
  4. Select Send. An automated email with the files will be sent.
Share your screen without joining a Zoom meeting

To share your screen wirelessly

  1. On your device, open the Zoom app.
  2. On the Zoom app, select Share screen.
  3. When prompted, enter the Sharing Key (top left of room controller).
    Note: When sharing content wirelessly the Zoom app will share your entire screen.

To share your screen via HDMI

  1. Locate the HDMI cable in the room.
  2. Connect your device to the HDMI cable. Your content will now display on the content screen.

 


 

Using the Flexible Technologies

Starting and Joining Zoom Meetings

You can connect with students who are online by using a Zoom meeting. Zoom meetings also allow you to record your classes and make the recordings available asynchronously if you choose.

To start a new Zoom meeting:

  1.  On the meeting control screen, tap the New Meeting button on the screen. A new Zoom meeting will begin.
To join a scheduled Zoom meeting:
  1. Select the Join button on the screen. A dialog box appears.
  2. Type in the Meeting ID.
  3. Select the Join button. The room will join the meeting.

Scheduling your Zoom meeting ahead of time allows you to share your meeting information with students ahead of time. Putting your link to Zoom in your Learning Management System (LMS) can help direct students and reduce questions.

Schedule a recurring Zoom meeting for your class time
Inviting Guests to a Zoom Meeting To invite guests from the Zoom meeting:
  1. On the room controller, while In a Zoom meeting, tap More. The More menu opens.
  2. In the More menu, select Manage Participants. The Participants panel will open.
  3. In the Participants panel, select Invite.
  4. Select Email.
  5. In the email field, enter the email address of the guest you want to invite.
  6. Select the Invite button. The guest will receive an invitation in their Zoom app and/or email.
End Your Meeting
  1. In the Zoom meeting controls, tap End
  2. In the pop-up window, select End meeting for all.
    If you recorded your meeting, you will receive an email when your recording is processed.

 


 

Sharing Content in a Zoom Meeting

Share your screen using an HDMI cord
  1. Locate the HDMI cable in the room.
  2. Connect your device to the HDMI cable. Your content will now display on the content screen.
Share your screen wirelessly
  1. On your device, open the Zoom app.
  2. On the Zoom app, select Share screen.
  3. When prompted, enter the Sharing Key (top left of room controller).
    Note: When sharing content wirelessly the Zoom app will share your entire screen.

Note: sharing your screen wirelessly will share your entire screen.

Allow meeting participants to share their screens
  1. In a Zoom meeting, select the More button in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. A pop-up box appears.
  2. Click on the Security button. A pop-up box appears.
  3. Under Allow Participants to, select Screen Share. Participants can now share their screens.

Using the Whiteboard

If you are sharing content from your laptop, and your device has touch or stylus inputs, you may do continue sharing your screen. If not, disconnect your device from the HDMI cable before accessing the whiteboard.

Use the whiteboard
  1. On the room controller, in the Zoom meeting controls, tap Whiteboard. The whiteboard opens.
  2. Use the drawing tools on the left-hand side of your screen. For more information on specific whiteboard features, see theZoom Room whiteboard support page.
Create additional whiteboard pages
  1. Select the pages button in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen. A pop-up box appears
  2. Select the + to add up to 12 pages. Alternatively, to delete pages, select the red garbage can icon.
Save whiteboard pages
  1. In the Whiteboard controls, tap Save.
  2. In the Save window, Select the Export button.
  3. Enter the email addresses you would like to send the whiteboard images to.
  4. Select Send. An automated email with the files will be sent.

 


 

Additional Features

Recording a Zoom Meeting
  1. In your Zoom meeting controls, tap More.
  2. In the More menu, select Start Recording.
    • If you did not schedule the meeting, the Send Recording dialog box appears.
    • Enter an email address to send the recording to and select OK. When the meeting ends, email recipients receive a link to the recording when it is finished processing.
  3. Your meeting will begin recording. When the meeting ends, the recording will be processed and sent to the host or the recipient selected in the Send Recording dialogue.
Enabling Live Transcription

Participants can now enable automatic transcription/captions without intervention from the host. However, the host can control the transcription/captions availability for all users.

  1. In your Zoom meeting, select the More button.
  2. In the More menu, select Settings.
  3. In the Settings options, select Live Transcription. The live transcript begins. For additional information regarding captioning, navigate toZoom’s captioning documentation.

 


 

Get Help

Contact Classroom Technology Services (CTS) at cts@umass.edu or 413-545-5768 for help using this classroom.

 


 

Resources for Students

Zoom etiquette

Providing students with guidelines for participation and expectations for your class can help everyone arrive at the appropriate time, prepare for class meetings, and be ready to participate. The guidelines below are common policies you may want to communicate to your students ahead of class.

Zoom offers numerous documentation resources for students:

[a]Correct contact info