This report is also available as an Acrobat file.

Appendix 2: Room set up

The best scenario is to have a specialised room with qualified staff to set up and maintain the room and the equipment.

ensure that the room has a wall clock
ensure that the room is well air conditioned
if the session is to last more than one hour ensure that coffee facilities are near at hand to counteract “technostress” - concentrating on content whilst coping with equipment is stressful.
ensure that water is available in the room
seating arrangement may be best as a V shape allowing the remote group to be involved and discussion locally to be facilitated. The monitor can be thought of as another person in the group.
Placing the camera above or below the monitor can help achieve eye contact as people tend to look at the monitor and the image of the person rather than the camera.

Lighting and framing subjects should follow the same guidelines as for photography.
Good, controlled lighting, which reduces shadows, have the background evenly lit.
Do not put people next to the window, especially if the camera is to focus on them.
Frame people properly. Close ups do not work well with compressed video.

Camera equipment

There are a few problems with classroom design, especially camera placement. It is an iterative process, make sure there is enough time to try out different designs.
Camera should be placed for eye contact
Try to have a fixed camera position
Mark the floor where the lecturer will be on camera