In this section:
In this section: |
{multi-excerpt-include:pageTitle=Include Library|name=High-Level Description for Classroom Capture Software|nopanel=true} |
Once Classroom Capture is installed and configured, Academic Staff can use it to view the status of or manipulate scheduled recordings and capture ad hoc lectures as needed.
Classroom Capture is accessed through the Start menu, as shown in the below figure, or may be available via a shortcut icon located on the desktop.
Notice how the Start Menu option indicates an upcoming scheduled recording. This message appears whenever there are 10 minutes or less until the next scheduled recording. The remaining sections of this page provide instructions on manipulating a scheduled capture and recording an ad hoc capture through the Classroom Capture interface.
The Classroom Capture service is configured to start when Windows starts; it will capture scheduled classroom lectures without the program being open. You only need to open Classroom Capture if you want to manipulate the scheduled recording. HOWEVER, the following must be done order for Classroom Capture to record a scheduled lecture:
This allows scheduled captures to begin at the predetermined time. Furthermore, if the user logs out during the capture, the capture will stop at that point. The best practice is to have the podium PC continuously logged in to a shared account. An alternate practice is for Presenters (the Instructors or Teaching Assistants) to log in to the PC as soon as they enter the classroom and before the capture is scheduled to begin. The allows the PC to complete the login process and begin recording the lecture. In this case, be sure the Presenter logs out before the scheduled start of the next capture, particularly where back-to-back captures are scheduled. |
Classroom Capture allows you to easily start and control ad hoc recordings through the Classroom Capture interface.
If there is a Device Monitor light installed on the podium PC, it can also be used to start and control an ad hoc capture as well as indicate the current status of the recording. See Installing and Using the Device Monitor for more information.
To open Classroom Capture:
If there are no scheduled recordings about to begin, the Classroom Capture "preview window" appears, previewing the items being captured by the selected inputs. Classroom Capture allows you to select what inputs you want to capture for each recording, and the output quality for the processed capture. The below figure identifies the locations of these drop-down selection lists.
Configuring capture inputs and output and creating a recording are discussed in the next sections. The below features are ONLY available for ad hoc recordings. You cannot adjust input or output for Scheduled recordings.
The input and output settings you configure are maintained on a per-user basis. This means that every time you log into the Podium PC and open Classroom Capture, the selections you made the last time will appear. This allows you to consistently use the same inputs for ad hoc captures without having to re-set them each time. |
Classroom Capture allows you to record up to three inputs, as follows:
Use the three drop-down lists, identified in the above picture on the left side of the screen, to select the inputs you want to use. Choose None Selected if applicable to that input.
Note the following about Audio input:
After you select the appropriate inputs, check the preview of those inputs shown on the screen. Each are identified in the following figure and described below the figure.
The output selection drop-down list is located on the right side of the preview screen above the Primary Video preview pane. It is circled in the figure earlier on this page. This selection allows you to determine the resolution of the video and display output of the capture, which in turn determines the size of the capture files uploaded to the ESS subsequently viewed or downloaded by students.
The selections available are as follows:
When you begin an ad hoc recording, you are asked for your login credentials, then to specify a Title, Output products (product group), and the Course/Section to publish the recording to. This allows Classroom Capture to immediately begin uploading and processing the capture as soon as you are finished.
Alternately, you can use the Device Monitor light to start an ad hoc capture, if one is installed on the podium PC.
To begin a Classroom Capture ad hoc recording:
Both scheduled captures and ad hoc captures allow you to pause and resume the capture while recording. There are multiple ways to pause and resume a capture, each described below.
Alternately, you can tap the Device Monitor light to pause and resume the capture, if one is installed on the PC.
To pause/resume using the keyboard command:
The keyboard command is a "toggle" function, meaning the same combination both pauses an active recording and resumes a paused recording.
This method allows you to manipulate the recording without having to open the program or capture unnecessary display items in the recording.
To pause/resume from the Classroom Capture window:
Both scheduled captures and ad hoc captures allow you to stop the recording when you are finished. Once a capture is stopped, it cannot be re-started. Classroom Capture immediate begins processing and uploading the recording to the ESS.
Scheduled recordings stop automatically when the scheduled end-time is reached. However if your class is finished early, you can manually stop the capture to eliminate the unnecessary recording time and resources.
There are multiple ways to stop a capture, each described below. Alternately, you can press and hold the Device Monitor light for two seconds to stop the capture, if one is installed on the PC.
To stop the capture using the keyboard command:
This method allows you to stop the recording without having to open the program or capture unnecessary display items in the recording.
To stop a capture from the Classroom Capture window:
While uploading of a capture does happen automatically, please note the following about the publishing process:
As stated in the Overview above, you (the Instructor) don't have to do anything for Classroom Capture to record scheduled classroom lectures, except make sure the PC is on and that a user is logged in. However, you can open the program to check the time left in the recording, or to manipulate the recording by:
Start Early and Extend are only available for Scheduled recordings and do not apply to ad hoc recordings. Pause, Resume, and Stop apply to any type of Classroom Capture recording.
If there is a Device Monitor light installed on the podium PC, it can also be used to control a Scheduled capture (Pause, Resume, Extend, and Stop) as well as indicate the current status of the recording. See Installing and Using the Device Monitor for more information.
If a scheduled recording is within 10 minutes of starting, Classroom Capture allows you to start the recording early. This may by useful if you know your lecture or class activities will take up all of the normally scheduled time.
Use the Start Menu or desktop icon to open Classroom Capture. If the program is already running, click the Taskbar icon to maximize the Classroom Capture window.
During the period prior to a scheduled capture, called "pre-roll", the Classroom Capture window will appear as shown in the below figure.
The pre-roll window indicates how long until the next scheduled recording is to begin, and provides a Start now button to start the capture early.
Once you click Start now, you will receive a countdown timer (default is 5 seconds) after which the capture begins.
The Classroom Capture window minimizes and the current status of the recording is shown in the Windows Taskbar Capture Status Indicator.
At any time during a scheduled recording, Classroom Capture allows you to extend the capture by 10 minutes. This may be useful if you know your lecture or class activities will go beyond the normally scheduled end-time.
Use the Start Menu or desktop icon to open Classroom Capture. If the program is already running, click the Taskbar icon to maximize the Classroom Capture window.
While the program is recording, the Classroom Capture window, shown in the below figure, provides a variety of control options, including a button to add time.
Click Add 10 minutes to extend the capture. The Time Remaining shown on the screen will increase by 10 minutes. You can then minimize the window to continue using the PC display if necessary.
Clicking the button again adds another 10 minutes to the capture. Repeat to extend the capture as long as necessary. See note below.
You cannot extend any capture beyond the start time of the NEXT scheduled capture. While the system will allow you to add time as described above, the capture will automatically end one minute prior to the start of the next scheduled capture (to allow the system to perform the preparation tasks required for the next capture). ad hoc captures are automatically stopped five minutes prior to the next scheduled capture. |
When the program is open, the Classroom Capture icon in the Windows Taskbar shows the status of the recording. For example, the below figure shows the Taskbar icon with a red dot, indicating that Classroom Capture is currently recording.
Pausing the capture changes the Taskbar icon to show a pause symbol, as shown in the below figure.
If there is a Device Monitor light installed on the podium PC, it will also indicate the current status of the capture. See Installing and Using the Device Monitor for more information.
If you are not seeing the capture status indicated in the Windows Task bar as described here, right-click the Taskbar and check the Taskbar Properties. If the Use small icons checkbox is checked, clear it, as shown in the below figure. Small icons do not allow for the "overlay" graphics (pause sign or red dot) that Echo uses for the status indicator.
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