Classroom
Technology
Know what to expect, how to get assistance when you need it, and how to find resources to help you reimagine your classroom experience.
The Classroom Experience Starts with ACTS
Academic & Classroom Technology Support (ACTS) staff are here to provide you with classroom technologies and campus learning spaces that are flexible, easy to use, and reliable.
No matter if you're brand new to campus or founding faculty, ACTS is here to help you troubleshoot problems, learn more about our core technologies, and explore new avenues to bring engaging, cutting-edge classroom experiences to life.
CONNECT WITH US
During the first week of classes, Classroom Technology Support staff make every effort to 'drop in' to classes being held in large spaces (90+ seats), new instructional spaces, spaces with known issues, and classes taught by new instructors. This way, we can answer any questions you may have about room technology right then and there.
If your classes don't meet these criteria or if you need additional help:
- we provide consultations for one-on-one support
- we offer workshops to learn more about specific technologies/services
- we have partnered with the Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning (CETL) to run the Teaching Commons, a one-stop shop where pedagogy and technology meets.
Curious about what goes into classroom support? We made a (short!) video demonstrating our support model in action. Click the image above to watch. (Note: you'll need to unmute audio when the video starts.)
FOR HELP, PRESS 1
If room technology in your classroom is not performing as expected, call the OIT Service Desk at 209-228-HELP (4357) and press 1 to be connected to Classroom Technology Support. We will dispatch a support technician as soon as possible.
During scheduled instructional time, our goal is to minimize the disruption to your class. Whenever possible, we strive to fix the problem or identify an acceptable workaround quickly, then address underlying issues when class is not in session.
online course certificate program
This Online Course Design Certificate Program guides instructors in designing engaging an successful online course as well as preparing them for the UGC application process through completion of the required Supplemental Application. This workshop is also for faculty who have received course approval and would like assistance in course design, and/or a cohort of colleagues to discuss development of engaging course content. We've run two successful cohorts already and are gearing up to run the third this Fall! Each cohort runs for 6 weeks, and includes both asynchronous and synchronous online engagement of course design topics. The cornerstone of this journey is the implementation of evidence-based practices for online learning with an emphasis on robust student engagement. By the conclusion of the certification, participants will have skillfully crafted the fundamental structure of an online course within the CatCourses framework.
BYOD+A
Bring your Own device + Adapter
UC Merced employs a 'bring your own device + adapter' (BYOD+A) model in all its instructional spaces, which allows the greatest flexibility for instructors and for sustainable space support as our campus continues to grow.
Please plan to bring your own laptop or tablet plus all appropriate adapters with you when you teach. Be sure to contact us if you need additional help connecting to room devices.
about the adapters we provide....
Though we provide the most common adapters in our classrooms, adapters are not guaranteed to work with every device due to a lack of standards in the industry.
If you'd like to learn more about the complexity of AV standards, we created a short-format video last year that goes into more detail. It's pretty fun and worth the watch!
Note: You'll need to unmute audio when the video starts.
In Our AnaLOG Classrooms
- Projector/LCD screen that supports standard definition 1024 x 768
- Visual Presenter (AKA document camera)
- BluRay/DVD player (by request only via this OIT request form)
- Assistive Listening System (by request through Disability Services)
- VGA Connection for a laptop
- USB-C to VGA adapter
The following buildings/rooms are ANALOG:
- COB-1* (Classroom & Office Building 1) excluding COB 102, 110, 114, 263, 265, & 267
- SSM* (Social Sciences & Management) specifically SSM 100, 116, & 150
In Our Digital Classrooms
- HD Projector/LCD screen that supports 1080p
- Document camera
- BluRay/DVD player (by request only via this OIT request form)
- Assistive Listening System (by request through Disability Services)
- HDMI connection to your laptop
- USB-C to HDMI adapter
- DisplayPort to HDMI adapter
The following buildings/rooms are DIGITAL:
- ACS (Arts & Computational Sciences)
- ADMIN (Administration Building)
- COB-1 102 (Lakireddy Auditorium), 110, 114, 236, 265 & 267 ONLY
- COB-2 (Classroom & Office Building 2)
- GLCR (Glacier Point)
- GRAN (Granite Point)
- SE2 (Science & Engineering 2)
- SRE (Sustainability Research & Engineering)
- SSB (Student Services Building)
- SSM 102, 104, 107, 125, & 154 ONLY
An Important Note About Our Analog Classrooms
Though we are a young campus, the intense demands on our classroom equipment have taken their toll.
Technology refresh requires significant capital investment and must be considered within the broader context of campus funding priorities. OIT continues to partner with campus leadership on the development of a Classroom Refresh strategy in order to ensure that our aging classroom technology is addressed before it begins to more seriously hinder instruction.
CatCourses is UC Merced’s Canvas Learning Management System (LMS). It provides a central repository for all academic course sites in which instructors can interact with and provide educational materials to their students.
Key Information:
- CatCourses automatically generates course sites for all UC Merced courses
- Instructors gain access to their course sites as soon as they are assigned as the Instructor of Record (IOR) and at least one student has enrolled in the course
- Student rosters are automatically updated as they change with the Registrar
- Students gain access to course sites one week prior to the start of instruction each semester
CATCOURSES SUPPORT
UC Merced has contracted with the CatCourses vendor (Instructure) to provide 24/7 support to faculty, instructors, and TAs, including live chat and phone support. To get help, log in to CatCourses and click the “Help” link on the left-hand side of any page.
Our learning technologies team is available to provide convenient 1:1 training and consultation for CatCourses upon request. We can help with topics such as:
- Course site setup and management
- Clicker (audience response system) integration
- TurnItIn integration
- Using Kaltura (video streaming service) through CatCourses
The Learning Technologies team also provides access to vendor guides, FAQs, integrations, and updates to CatCourses on the OIT website.
Explore More Academic Technologies
TEAL
Technology Enhanced Active Learning
Technology-enabled active learning (TEAL) is a teaching format that merges facilitated discussions, simulations, and hands-on desktop experiments to create a rich collaborative learning experience.
UC Merced has four TEAL Labs for faculty use: two with 45 seats and two with 90 seats.
TEAL rooms offer a fundamentally different learning environment from other instructional spaces on campus because of the design, layout, technology, and potential pedagogical choices available to the instructor.
Click below to learn more about how to design a course utilizing TEAL technologies.
