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Language Lab Student Employee Equipment Training
It is the belief of our department that the technology we use is in place in order to help professors teach students. Most people learn a language by doing three main things, which are, practice, mimicry, and memorization. Our lab provides all three and a whole lot more. Below are pictures and a brief description of the equipment that you will use on a daily basis once you start working here at the Language Learning Lab.
Computers
With the relocation of the Language Learning Lab in 2007 the Department of World Languages & Cultures acquired new equipment including Dell OptiPlex GX620 computers to replace the old GX1 models that were used in Building A Room 133 from 1998 to 2006. In 2011, the computers were replaced with iMac which run both Macintosh and Windows operating systems. The new machines are loaded with the latest anti-viral software, word processors in a variety of other languages besides English. Multimedia software is installed to play back video and audio content. There is a huge range of other software and material to help students learn other languages. (Note: The computer at the LIB-449 service counter, in the lab director's office LIB-450, and at the lab console in the front of LIB-451 are for WL&C department personnel only!)
The print release station is located in LIB-449 next to the door and media cabinets.
Audiovisual Equipment
Some of the older equipment was moved from Building A to LIB 451 and 449. New equipment was added to enhance the lab's features and capabilities.
Portable Media Cart
This portable cart is used to watch TV, DVDs or VHS tapes when the LIB 451 lab console is used by teachers.
VCRs and DVDs
We have six VCRs and DVDs at our disposal, including the office, lab console, the portable cart and three computers in LIB-451. Working with one should be fairly obvious. Later we will describe how to play VCR and DVD content into any computer attached to X-Class language lab console.
These three computers in LIB-449, and the lab director's office computer (under the scanner) are used for viewing videocassettes or converting them to DVD or digital video clips.
Overhead Projector and Screen
LIB 451 is equipped with a lab console connecting an instructor's computer, international DVD player and VCR and an optional laptop connection to an overhead NEC projector and screen which is visible throughout the room. The X-Class multimedia instruction and presentation system can transmit sound and picture from the instructor's PC, laptop, DVD, VCR or an Elmo document camera (visualizer) to the students' computer screens and headphones.
Elmo HV5600XG Document Camera
This device is located on the instructor's consol in LIB 451. It is used to project books, photos, transparencies, 3D objects, much like the old optical overhead projectors but using a video camera to display the item. The front panel (diagram below) and/or the white mouse control focus, color, contrast, zoom and other functions.
The three leftmost buttons are the most important and commonly used. MAIN shows the document camera's picture on the left computer monitor and the projection screen. RGB1 and RGB2 switch between showing the left computer screen (Windows Desktop) and the right computer screen (X-Class console) to the room.
If the Elmo projector is not turned on (switch on the back right corner of the machine).
The computers are programmed to turn on weekdays at 8:00 am and turn off at 10:00 pm after the lab closes and or classes are done using it. On Fridays the computers turn off at 5:00. Any other times, the computers must each be turned on manually with the switch above the round Dell nameplate, and turned off with the Start Menu in Windows.
Sony Portable projector
This Sony multi-stage projector, which can project good quality images up to 25 feet, is used for portable presentations. Like the ceiling-mounted NEC unit in LIB 451, the Sony portable projector has the additional advantage of allowing laptop users to project audiovisual material anywhere, from a variety of sources, such as internet pages, DVD movies from the DVD player, and VHS movies from the VCR. It can also display things from the computer's desktop (PowerPoint presentations for example). Buttons include: menu input (resizing screen resolution, projection size, etc.), Volume, Source input (Computer, Aux, A/V.) This machine is used primarily as a backup to the ceiling mounted NEC projector.
Portable Cassette/CD Players
These two machines can play CDs or play and record cassettes. Even though most of the lab's audio material is stored on the computers via CAN-8, as files for copying onto CDs and flash drives, we still keep these around for material that exists on CDs and cassettes or if a student needs to submit a cassette voice recording. These decks are primarily used to test cassettes we have recorded for students and to play cassettes that have not yet been converted to digital audio.
Cassette Duplicator and Eraser (Degausser)
This handy device allows for multiple copies of tapes to be made in 5 minutes, give or take a minute. When you start making copies, the slots will be labeled, so don't worry about making a mistake. Besides, there is another piece of equipment that comes in handy just in the of-chance you do make a mistake.
This black box is used to erase tapes magnetically. Think of it as a giant magnet, it can be used to erase video tapes, floppy disks, anything that is based on magnetic media. Keep electronic devices away from this machine (digital watches, master tapes or anything for which we don't have a back-up.) Be aware of that this device takes a lot of power, so don't leave it on beyond 15 minutes, otherwise you'll blow a fuse.
Cisco Flip Video Ultra HD Video Camera
Sony Digital Video Camera
This camcorder has a 30GB internal hard drive to record digital video and still digital photos which can be transferred to the computers, CD or DVD. Faculty will often borrow this machine for recording student presentations in their classes. Up to 7 hours of content can be recorded. This camera can be used with an external zoom microphone for speech recording and events. A tripod can also be used along with a high capacity battery
The content is then transferred to the computer using a USB cable (plugged in above the headphone jacks) and the Windows based Pixela Image Mixer program located in the computers' Start Menu under "Programs". Once copied, the photos and video can be edited and burned to CDs or DVDs using burning software. Windows also sees the camera as a USB hard drive to drag and drop the video clips and images. In Mac OS X the camera functions as an external hard drive and the video and image files can be transferred by dragging and dropping into folders or applications for editing and burning such as iMovie and iPhoto.
Panasonic VHS Video Camera
In case some people prefer to record video on VHS cassettes, a Panasonic video camera is also available. Blank video cassettes are found in the cabinets where blank audiocassettes are stored. A tripod is available to use on either video camera.
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For extreme portability and recording students' presentations and conversations two Cisco Flip Video Ultra HD cameras are available. These pocket size video cameras are the size of a cell phone and cna record up to 2 hours of video on internal memory. To upload the video for social networking, burning to optical disk or for instructiors posting student's conversations to LiveText, simply flip down the USB connection and plug into the USB jack on each desk. The Start Menu and Mac Dock have an icon for Flip Video software to download and process the video clips and image data.
