Technology • One
of 99 smart room classrooms at CSULB,
above is an example located in SSPA-029C.
Tracey Roman / Online Forty-Niner
Is ‘smart
technology’ smart?
By Larissa
Lozano
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
Cal State Long Beach faculty are finding it easier to teach, thanks to new
smart technology. CSULB currently has 99 smart room classrooms and several
new requests are on file at the audio and visuals facility.
Smart classrooms provide equipment inside the classroom to heighten instructional
material. Every smart classroom is equipped with a smart panel, ceiling-mounted
data projector, projection screen and video cassette player.
The smart panels
are designed for laptop operation, DVD operation, VCR operation and auxiliary
video operation. The smart rooms are high in demand, particularly for their
Power Point compatibility.
Cher Thomas, a psychology professor at CSULB, said smart rooms are particularly
helpful because the technology they contain combines the visual sense with
the auditory, and keeps interest high among students.
“
I love smart rooms. I wish every class was a smart room,” Thomas said.
The price for installation ranges from $7,000-$15,000. The exact price depends
on where the projector is installed, whether it is mounted inside a cabinet
or into the wall, and what type of smart panel is installed.
Solomon Martin, a CSULB information technician consultant, said the installation
process usually takes around eight hours and is only carried out during school
breaks; each classroom is surveyed and marked, and, before the smart panel
is installed, Martin does the cutting in the room.
In past years the smart panel model was considerably larger. Technology advances
have reduced the panels in size and made them more attainable. All university
departments covet them.
“With new technology it’s requested a lot,” Martin said.
According to Linda Sumpter, CSULB director of Classroom Services, once the
smart panel interface system is learned, it will be consistent. Each smart
classroom provides instructions for its usage as well as contacts if training
is necessary.
The first smart panels were installed in 2000 in LH-150 and LH-151, as well
as SL-140 and SL-141. According to Solomon, the goal is to eliminate slide
projectors in classrooms.
Professor Noel Ludwig of the geography department said smart rooms are very
useful, but more tutorials should be offered to help people operate the device.
Currently, the auditory visual department offers instructions as well as equipment
repair online at their Web site.
Failures with the smart panels are not typical. Thomas said in her classroom
the smart panel has failed once or twice in three years.
“
About the only problem we’ve had with them is when a sensor goes out,” Martin
said. According to Martin, the auditory and visual does not have many problems
with the device unless there is a problem with the troubleshooting.
Maintenance in the smart rooms is done Fridays after 2 p.m. The staff checks
the lamps and all the equipment.
According to Christopher Burnett, a journalism professor, the smart rooms are
simple to use, but do experience small problems.
“
There are times when there are a few problems,” Burnett said. “I
am waiting for things to break down.”
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