Distance Ed Broadcast Facilities Now Digital

Distance Education recently completed renovations in its two broadcast classrooms (Iacocca E301 and Packard Lab 410), replacing all old analog equipment with new digital equipment.

Director of Distance Education Peg Portz noted that this is an important investment for the DE operation, as the old equipment was nearly obsolete and in danger of complete failure. DE is now well positioned to continue its program and to remain competitive among peer distance education programs.

While the basic production capabilities of the rooms are unchanged, there are changes in the appearance and even the location of some of the equipment used by faculty teaching Distance Education courses.

Among other upgrades, the latest flat panel displays in the rooms and in the adjacent operations environments allow for a very crisp presentation. Most DE courses are taught simultaneously to campus and remote students, allowing both cohorts to pose questions and hear all classroom discussion.

Open House sessions were held in late August to help faculty become comfortable with the new environment with DE staff members on hand to demonstrate the new equipment and help faculty plan their next course.

--Susan A. Cady
  LTS Director for Administrative and Planning Services

Article posted August 27, 2009

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