We have created an interactive guide to help you easily set up an online meeting using Skype for Business.  Just click on the icon below for step-by-step instructions:

Note: Anyone can join a Skype Meeting by using the Web App, even if they don’t have Skype for Business.  We recommend that users with Skype accounts use this method.

We are very pleased to inform you that the problems relating to the AV equipment in Chemistry Lecture Theatre 2 have now been resolved.  The TEL & AV Team have carried out work to ensure that the projector can be controlled as normal from the control panel and the issues relating to audio have been resolved with both the handheld microphone and the lapel microphone now fully functional.  We would like to thank Timetabling for making adjustments to the teaching schedule in order to free up the room so that we were able to carry out this work.

Please note:

The solution that has been provided in Chemistry LT2 means you cannot show 2 different inputs on the projectors, only one input will be shown on both screens.  If two inputs are required on different screens please let us know either by adding a comment or sending an email to it@reading.ac.uk so that when the room is refurbished we can ensure this feature is reinstated.

TEL & AV have now completed a further 3 AV upgrades in Edith Morley 124, 125 and 126.  We are also very pleased to let you know that the University has approved funding for these upgrades to continue during 2017/18 and we will be building our business case to ensure this continues as a rolling cycle of upgrades over future years.  We continue to receive very good feedback from academics on the quality and ease of use of the equipment.  We are also investigating new technologies and arranging demonstrations – most recently we have seen a portable assistive hearing device and a BYOD solution that allows multiple users to connect, share and control content on the main display.  If you are interested in particular types of technology in teaching spaces, please let me know: Helena Bampton

We have now installed VoIP phones in all centrally managed teaching spaces in Edith Morley to make it easier for staff to obtain assistance/report faults when using these rooms.  The number for our Service Desk is: 6262.  We will be continuing the roll-out of phones in Agriculture.

If this is your first term teaching at the University of Reading or the first time you have used our teaching spaces, the information on the following page will provide some useful tips: Help and Support for AV equipment

There is also a useful link on the desktop of the PC in the teaching room called AV User Guide.  This will take you directly to our online user guides.

The TEL & AV Team have completed the AV upgrade of teaching rooms on the Ground Floor of Palmer.  See our AV Upgrades page for the latest schedule.

At the request of Jessica del Rio, Technical Manager, the AV Team have provided an AV solution in rooms 413 and 414 that enables teaching staff to display independently in either of the two rooms or to join the two rooms and display the same content in both.  Inputs can be taken from the resident PC, a laptop plugin and a ceiling mounted port for the connection of a HD microscope.  There were some design constraints so we had to use one projector and one 75″ screen with no dedicated lectern or room control.  Displays are controlled using independent remote control and PC-interfaced using the remote keyboard mouse.  Despite these limitations feedback on the installation and room use has been good:

• this has all gone so smoothly, and been managed so well
• really easy to use and set up
• guys who used it for lectures seemed to really like it

Here is Jess (second from right) with some of our other happy customers!

The AV Team will be demonstrating one of our new interactive monitors that are being installed as part of the upgrade of teaching spaces.  Come and have a look on the Information Technology stand at the TEL Roadshow on Tuesday, 11 July – 13:00-14:00, part of the TEL Fest being organised by the TEL Team in CQSD.

Firstly, we apologise for presenting you with another survey.  However the TEL & AV Team are committed to improving teaching facilities and it is important that we get your feedback.  Please take a few minutes to complete our survey.  It is available here and will be open until 28th July, 2017.

Just to give you a few highlights of the work carried out since last year’s survey that has taken into account your feedback:

• New AV upgrades carried out by the team provide high quality, energy efficient audio and video.  This can be experienced in 14 new teaching rooms in Chancellor’s Building.
• The team have obtained approval and funding from the University to carry out a number of AV upgrades for the current financial year.  See here for the schedule of works: AV Upgrades.  We are also seeking approval to continue this work over at least the next 2 years.
• Many of the issues highlighted in last year’s survey will be resolved as the upgrade work continues.  Our new lecterns have interactive monitors, in-built cables, document cameras, and more space for laptops as standard.
• We are working with departments to ensure AV equipment meets requirements and have been able to carry out a number of installations in-house.
• We are continuing to investigate new technologies such as ‘BYOD’.

If you should need a demonstration of our AV equipment, please book a session using this form: Equipment Demo/Training

For any questions about this survey, please contact Helena Bampton.

The AV Team provided support for video conferences run by Henley Business School that led to the University being awarded winner of the Higher Education category.  Further details are available from the Video Conferencing for Learning website: http://www.vcfl.net/