University of Houston is excited to introduce their first ALC at 1020, Cougar Place. This room is part of the University’s mission to provide "opportunities for learning, discovery and engagement to a diverse population of students in a real-world setting."  With a capacity of 72 students, this room is intended for courses that successfully employ strategies for student engagement, constructivist learning and discovery.  

ALC Overview and Faulty Experience

Major components of ALC:

Hardware:

• Instructor's Station:
  • One quad-core i7 computer with a dedicated graphics card
  • One 360^o rotating HD web conferencing camera capable of remote-control access, aided with a custom-made, noiseless, video conferencing microphone to ensure mobility

• Podium:
  • One podium at the center of the room as an alternate instructor station
  • Equipped with a HDMI port so that the instructors can project their own laptops onto the HDTV screens

• HDMI Matrix:  Extron matrix that supports full resolution HDMI video with embedded EDID. High-definition digital signals can be selected and distributed from any 8 inputs to 8 outputs.

• Projector & Control Panel:
  • High-definition projector displays content onto a large 4:3 projection screen to ensure visibility.
  • Control panel provides control for audio and video functionality, and for selecting inputs and outputs to display projected content.

• HDTVs:
  All HDTVs are equipped with:
  
  • High-definition display of 16:9, with a dedicated computer allowing individual groups to use TVs as monitors
  • Wireless keyboard with integrated trackpad to connect with the computer
  • WIDI technology allowing the student laptops to connect to TVs wirelessly
  • High-definition web camera

• Student Laptops:
  • Twenty-four quad-core, i5, touch screen laptops available for students

• Other hardware:
  • Six wireless microphones
  • Dedicated wireless with AC Wireless access points for fast wireless speeds and data transfers
  • Cellphone/tablet charging stations
  • Electrical tracks for each table with six outlets for charging
  • Twelve tables with six chairs each on casters for easy mobility and re-configuration
  • Two large whiteboards and two small whiteboards on casters with dry-erase marker pens

Software:

• Productivity:
  • MS Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Video Editor
• Browsers:
  • Edge, Firefox, and Chrome
• Security:
  • Antivirus, anti-malware software
• Communication:
  • Skype for Business, Microsoft Teams
• Collaboration & In-Class assessment:
  • Solstice, Microsoft Teams, Zoom
• Media Players:
  • Windows Media Player, VLC, OBS Studio