How to Guides

Power up the system:

  • Locate the control panel located on the top of the multimedia desk.
  • Push the "power on" button to power up the projection equipment.

Select the device you wish to use:

  • Turn on the power switch of the device you wish to display on the projection screen.
  • Devices include computer, laptop, Blu-Ray and Document Camera.
  • Select this device on the control panel.

How to use the internal computer:

  • Turn on the computer.
  • Select the computer option from the control panel.
  • Login using your MUN login username and password. This is the username and password combination used for my.mun, Brightspace (D2L) and email.
  • If you need to reset your login information, please visit https://login.mun.ca.
  • If your presentation has audio you may need to adjust the volume controls on the multimedia desk and on the computer.
  • If you require additional help, please email Classroom Support, or call or visit one of our locations.

How to use the Blu-Ray:

  • Turn on the Blu-Ray player.
  • Insert your disk and push the button labeled "Blu-Ray" from the control panel.
  • To control the Blu-Ray, use the control panel or the buttons on the Blu-Ray.
  • Use the volume controls on the control panel to adjust the audio level.

How to use the Document Camera:

  • Locate the document camera on top of the multimedia desk.
  • Turn on the power switch located on the document camera.
  • Push the button labeled "Doc Cam." Once you select the document camera you can use the control panel buttons or the buttons on the document camera to make adjustments.
  • If you are using overhead transparencies turn on the "Back" light. For all other objects use the "Top" lights.
  • While looking at the video monitor in the desk, use the focus and zoom buttons to adjust your image. A document camera may not have enough resolution to show the fine detail without zooming in on part of the object.

What is a Document Camera?

A document camera is a camera that picks up live images and allows you to view them over any display device. It is flexible enough to view a piece of paper, a transparency, a 3-dimensional object, a 35mm slide, an x-ray or even a large item or person in a room. The document camera is known by many names, such as visual presenter and visual copy stand.

What can I do to improve the image from the Document Camera?

Text size: Text should be 24pt. font size or larger. Prepare material for the visual presenter as if for a PowerPoint presentation -- no more than 8-10 lines of text on a screen. If you really need to use smaller text you will have to zoom in and pan (move the material) to show a part of it at a time.

Zoom and focus: Zoom in to text as closely as possible, then press the auto focus. Put a black background behind a picture or zoom up so there is no light border around the picture to allow the document camera to focus only on the picture.

Dark images: If an image appears dark on the screen try adjusting the visual presenter's lighting arms or iris control to improve the image. (The iris controls can be found on document camera’s control panel.

Problem images: Try the negative switch to get rid of too much white in the text image. The negative control can be found on the visual presenter's control panel. Push this button to create a negative of the displayed image.

How to connect a laptop computer:

  • Connect the cables to your laptop (extending from a plate in the top of the desk).
  • Turn on your laptop.
  • Push the button labeled "Laptop" on the control panel.
  • Depending on the make and model of your laptop, you may have to use your function keys to enable your laptop's video output port (usually Fn +F5 or F7).

Tips for using a laptop:

  • Become familiar with how to enable your laptop's video output. For more information consult the documents that came with your laptop.
  • The projection systems in the multimedia rooms can display a maximum resolution of 1920 X 1080. You have to make sure the video output of your laptop is not set to a higher resolution.
  • If your presentation has audio you may need to adjust the volume controls on the multimedia desk and your laptop computer.

How to shut down the multimedia system:

  • Remove disks from the computer and Blu-Ray player.
  • To turn the system off, push the "Off" button on the control panel.
  • Once you select "YES" the projector will enter a 90-180 second cool down cycle. You do not have to wait for this to expire before leaving the room.

Please make sure that you shut down the system when you are finished your class. Data projector lamps have a finite life of 3000 hours and a high replacement cost.

Contact

Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning

230 Elizabeth Ave, St. John's, NL, CANADA, A1B 3X9

Postal Address: P.O. Box 4200, St. John's, NL, CANADA, A1C 5S7

Tel: (709) 864-8000