What is a Smart Classroom?

A Smart Classroom is a traditional lecture style teaching space that has available technological equipment that can be used to aid and enhance instruction of a course.  Classrooms are categorized based on the equipment available:

• Advanced Smart Technology: Features a smart podium with a touch panel control system, PC and laptop connection, document camera, DVD/VCR Player, projector, and screen.
• Intermediate Smart Technology: Features a smart podium with a control panel, PC and laptop connection, projector, and screen. May also have an overheard transparency projector.
• Basic Technology: Includes a laptop connection, projector, DVD/VCR player, and screen. May also have an overhead transparency projector

  Smart Classrooms

  Smart Classrooms are technology enhanced classrooms that foster opportunities for teaching and learning by integrating learning technology, such as computers, specialized software, audience response technology,assistive listening devices, networking, and audio/visual capabilities. These classrooms are available for faculty and require a reservation prior to use.

  NUIT Academic & Research Technologies provides services for over one hundred Smart Classrooms directly controlled by the Office of the Registrar on the Evanston campus and several Smart Classrooms contracted by specific University schools and departments on the Chicago campus. Services for Smart Classrooms include user training and orientation, computer and classroom control system oversight and maintenance, and immediate user assistance.

  All Smart Classrooms support video projection from a laptop and some rooms contain resident computers. Library seminar rooms are supported through the use of portable projectors and screens, which are only available in the Library from the Information Commons. All other rooms have permanently installed equipment. The lists of Evanston classroom locations and Chicago classroom locations includes a user guide, equipment list, and supported software for each classroom.

  Smart Classroom Features

  In general, Smart classrooms are equipped with the following:

  • Ceiling mounted LCD projector and projection screen
  • Laptop connectivity for both Macintosh & PC laptops
  • DVD
  • Sound system
  • Touchscreen Control system
  • Telephone
  • AUX-video Input

  Some classrooms have additional resources, which may include:

  • Resident Dual-OS Computer with Mac OS X & Windows Vista w/DVD-RW (over 30 software titles available)
  • Dual-OS Mac with Windows Vista
  • Microphone (wireless hand-held and/or lavaliere)
  • Document Camera
  • Stereo Sound
  • Wireless Presenter/Mouse
  • USB extension cable for Flash drives

  Library Projection Systems are equipped with the following, and only available in the University Library (systems may be checked out from the desk in the Information Commons):

  • LCD projector
  • Tabletop screen
  • Cables for laptop projector hookup and network connectivity
  • Mobile carrying case