Using Classrom AV Equipment

Instructions for Using Classroom Audio-Visual Equipment

On this page: Setting up a Laptop for Use with Plasma Screen | Using AV Equipment in Stand Alone Mode | Using AV Equipment in Combined Mode

Introduction Welcome to our new technology classroom. This room is equipped with the following technology: a wall-mounted PC (shown in Figure 1) a wall plate for connecting a laptop computer or other audio visual device (shown in Figure 2) a large plasma monitor (shown in Figure 3) a Touch Screen Control Pad (also shown in Figure 3) All devices can be projected on the large plasma monitor in this room. This includes: Video and audio from a user-provided laptop computer Video and audio from a wall-mounted PC	Figure 1 - Wall-mounted PC
Setting Up a Laptop for Use With the Plasma Screen
To use a laptop computer with the plasma screen, you will need a VGA cable. These cables can be checked out from the Education Resource Center circulation desk Monday through Friday during business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They transfer both video and audio from the laptop to the plasma monitor. Prior to using the Touch Pad Control, connect the VGA cable from the VGA port on the back of your laptop to the outlet labeled Computer and shown in Figure 2. Connect the auxiliary audio cable if you need sound. Now you are ready to set up the controls using the Touch Screen Control Pad.	Figure 2 - Wall plate for laptop connection Figure 3 - Plasma screen with touch screen control pad
Using the Touch Screen Control Pad with a Laptop or the Wall-Mounted PC
In Figure 3, note the Touch Screen Control Pad to the left of the plasma monitor. This pad controls the use of all in-room devices as well as external programming from other rooms.
Follow the instructions and the screen captures below to configure the classroom for Stand Alone Mode.	Click the thumbnail images for a larger picture
The Touch Screen Control Pad is show in sleep mode. Note, you will touch the screen directly, not the buttons to the side of the Touch Pad. To begin using, tap the center of the display screen with your finger to wake up the screen.
When the BCM logo appears, tap the screen again to get the first options. The option to operate in Stand Alone mode or Combined mode will appear on the screen.
Tap the Stand Alone button. On the screen that follows, tap the On button under Plasma Screen to turn on the plasma monitor. A small green light on the lower right corner of the plasma monitor indicates it is turned on.
Then tap the Wall plates and M323 Presentations button to use the wall-mounted PC or a laptop computer in this room with the plasma monitor. On the next screen, tap the Class PC button to use the wall-mounted PC with the plasma monitor.
To use a laptop (instead of the wall-mounted PC) with the plasma monitor, tap the Room Wall Plate PC button. A VGA cable is required to attach the laptop to the wall plate. Check this cable out from the ERC in DeBakey M208. Remember, when using a laptop, you may have to toggle Function key + F8 on the laptop keyboard to display the screen on the laptop and the plasma monitor at the same time.
The + Mute - buttons control the volume of the speaker system in the ceiling when using a laptop computer plugged into the wall When using the wall-mounted PC, sound is only available if there is a sound bar below the PC monitor.

For help, please contact the Education Resource Center Information Technology Support at 713-798-4746. Ask for Ken Melton during business hours Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. When you have finished, please turn off the plasma monitor and return the VGA cabl to the Education Resource Center in DeBakey M208 if you have checked a cable out. Thank you for helping to maintain the AV equipment in our technology classrooms in proper working order for the next user.