Classroom Technology
A Tec Room (formerly called a Smart Classroom) is a classroom which has audio/visual technology integrated into the class space to help facilitate active interaction between the instructors and the students. A committee composed of faculty, staff and students formed in late 2002 by Provost Linda Rinker provided the initial direction for classroom technology at Kutztown University. The committee also provided definitions for two levels of smart classrooms.
Level 1
A Level 1 Tec Room at Kutztown University utilizes a push-button interface to control audio/visual equipment. Level 1 Tec Rooms are generally equipped with a fixed computer (PC/Mac or both) with an internet connection, a secondary connection for a user-provided laptop, a DVD and VCR (or combo), a sound system with either ceiling- or wall-mounted speakers, a video projector (traditionally ceiling mounted), and an extron push-button interface for media control. Also, many tec rooms now incorporate smart boards and document cameras for faculty and student use.
Level 2
Level 2 Tec Rooms were defined as Level 1 classrooms with additional specialized equipment installed to accommodate the demands of larger venues. Most notable is the substitution of a crestron-based touch-panel instead of a push-button interface to provide control of audio/visual equipment. Also, most Level 2 rooms utilize a digital dual-projector system with two screens. In addition to the equipment normally included with a Level 1 room, Level 2 rooms often incorporate wireless microphones, student response (PRS) systems, and digital signal processing equipment to provide the best picture and sound possible.