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Virtual Classroom Project

photo showing technology in the Franz Hall room at the University of Portland.
This graphic has the equipment we are considering for the project. This includes the Zoom Room setup in the upper left and the Microsoft Teams board on the easel in the middle of the photo. This photo is of the Academic Technology Innovation Lab at the University of Portland.

The Virtual Classroom project came out of a need to better define the technology for synchronous at distance teaching and learning at the University of Portland.  This project started in 2019 and will conclude the summer of 2020. The goals of the project are to explore technology for synchronous at-distance:

  • Meetings
  • Classes
  • Office Hours
  • Tutoring

We will:

  • Research and demo a variety of hardware and services (To include Zoom and MS Teams). 
  • Create conversations that examine the pedagogical approach to this format of teaching.
  • Create conversations to inform the creation of technology and professional development support systems. 

The Team

  • Naveen Gudigantala – Business
  • Samuel Holloway –Business
  • Lindsay Benes – Nursing
  • Susan Ayres – AES
  • Julie Kalnin – Education
  • Jacqueline Waggoner – Education
  • Randy Hetherington – Education
  • Stephanie Michel – Library
  • Andrew Golla – Theater
  • Hannah Highlander – CAS
  • Radana Dvorak –Engineering/CS
  • Sam Williams – ATSI
  • Stephen Loutzenhiser – ATSI
  • Ben Kahn – ATSI

The technology we are considering

  • Microsoft Surface Hub 2
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Microsoft Teams for Live Streaming
  • Zoom Rooms
  • Logitech Tap (medium room bundle) for Zoom and for Teams
  • Explain Everything
  • Poll Everywhere
  • Whiteboard.microsoft.com