W223 Turner Hall - Using the Audio/Video Equipment

Room Overview

Room W223 is a technology enhanced classroom that includes a resident computer, 7 large panel TV screens and the ability to break out into 5 collaborative groups, each with their own display and inputs.  The room works through two primary "modes": Lecture Mode and Collaboration Mode.

Support: If you have any technical issues with room W223, reach out to us at ds-ccsg@illinois.edu or call us at 217-244-6407.

Lecture Mode - This mode is used primarily if the instructor would like to have everyone see the same content on the screens. This is the more simplified mode for this room.  In this mode, all screens will display the same source content.  You can power off individual screens by pressing the display Control button on the left side of the screen.

Lecture Mode Inputs

PC - This is the resident computer.  For the most integrated experience we highly recommend using the resident PC for your lectures. We include software such as Zoom, Kaltura, Office and all the major web browsers.  We also include a Logitech Spotlight software-driven slide advancer / laser pointer that is connected to the resident PC.  There is also an array microphone system in the room's ceiling that can be leveraged if you would like to record or for a hybrid teaching model.  There is also a tripod mounted logitech camera that can be used to capture video.

Wireless Presenter - This option allows you to present using a wireless connection in the room rather than needing to use an HDMI or other video cable.  Select Wireless Presenter on the AMX sources panel.  Instructions to connect to the wireless presenter will display on the screen. 

HDMI - This option allows you to connect to the screens in the room with your laptop using the available HDMI cable tucked in the right side of the lectern.  If you plan on using this option, ensure your laptop has an HDMI port available.  Alternatively you can bring an adapter that will change your video output options from the laptop to HDMI.  Audio is sent through an HDMI cable so no extra audio cabling is required for this option.   

VGA - This option allows you to connect to the screens in the room with your laptop using the available VGA cable tucked in the right side of the lectern. If you plan on using this option, ensure your laptop has a VGA port available. If you want to pass audio through to the AV system in the room, you will also need to connect the3.5 mm audio jack into your computer as well. 

Wall Plates - There are 5 wall plates located underneath each TV around the perimeter of the room. You can connect a laptop to the HDMI or VGA connections to allow secondary laptops to display to the screens. To use the wall plate input, select "wall plates" at the top of the AMX touch panel located at the lectern.  Screen 1 is the leftmost front TV in the room, and it wraps around with Screen 7 being the side TV closest to the door.  In Lecture mode, whatever wall plate is selected will display on all TVs in the room.  

Video Conference - This button activates the twin camera video conference system set up in the room.  This allows you to dial into a video conference.  Note for Fall 2021: at this time, the video conferencing system does not integrate with Zoom so the cameras cannot be used in conjunction with a hybrid teaching model in W223.  

Collaboration Mode - Collaboration mode enhances the experience in the room to allow for breakout sessions within the room if you plan on doing group or project work where each of the 5 tables would need a dedicated screen.  

Most of the features in Lecture Mode are available in collaboration mode (aside from the Video Conference setup) but with some added flexibility.  In Collaboration mode, each wall plate (or lectern input) can be sent to any combination of screens around the room.  The most common set up is to have the lectern displaying on screen 1 and 2 (located at the front of the room) and each table has a dedicated TV.  

However, it is possible to send any of the inputs to any of the screens.  For example: if the lecturer would like to show what group 3 is doing and they'd like it to show up on screen 1 and 2, they can select "screen 3" and then select "monitor 1" and "monitor 2" on the options along the top of the AMX touch panel.  Note: the monitor buttons along the top row are NOT toggles.  Once a monitor is selected for a specified input, it will remain highlighted and active. To revert this, hit the "reset all" button on the left side of the AMX touch panel.

A common question in this room: "Can I send the resident PC input to one monitor, and a laptop connected to the lectern HDMI to another screen?"  Answer:  No.  However, you CAN plug your laptop into one of the wall plates around the room and send that input to different screens.  

 Wall Plates -  The wall plates are located just under each screen, sometimes hidden from view by the tables.