Classroom Technology

All classrooms are equipped with Windows laptops running Windows 11. To login, please use the credentials labeled on the laptops themselves. The computers have the following programs installed: Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge for internet browser access; Microsoft Office Suite is installed for productivity apps such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel; and Zoom for video conferencing.

At the conclusion of your classes, please click the red "Logoff" button on the desktop.

Audio-Visual Info

All classrooms, meeting and gathering spaces are equipped with computer, sound, projector and/or monitor. Integrated webcams are also installed for hybrid meeting/ conferencing solutions. For more information regarding specific room A/V configurations, please visit the SSW Event Portal or contact the Media Center.

To turn on the Projector: Press the projector On button until you hear a beep.
Select the input (normally Computer)
To turn off the projector: Press and hold the projector off button until it beeps and powers down.

Live Captioning in the Classroom: Windows Live Captions Shortcut

The following tools offer options for streaming live captions using automatic speech recognition (ASR). ASR tools use artificial intelligence to convert speech into text. Please note: ASR is NOT 100% accurate, however can be a useful tool to assist in providing some level of captioning. Also note that the built-in microphone in the laptop is the primary mechanism for captions, which may or may not pick up low voices, multiple people speaking at once/over each other, etc.

Live captioning is available at the Windows system level, so that the laptop microphone in the classroom picks up audio and displays it on the screen, no matter what applications you are using. This is the preferred way to provide captions to your class.

Here is the Microsoft web page on how to set this up but we'll summarize below, show how to initiate captions in a short video, as well as provide detailed step by step directions.

The video below demonstrates the first 2 steps instructors need to take to start up captions: (there is no audio)

1. Double click the light blue Live Captions shortcut icon on the desktop (note: by doing this, you can skip to Step 4 in the embedded how to document below) and make sure Live Captions is toggled On.
2. Go to the settings (gear wheel) in upper right > to Preferences > "Include Microphone Audio" - (it won't work if you don't do this!)
3. If you are using Duplicate screens (mirror) - that's all. If you are using Presenter Mode in Powerpoint, which will start Extend display mode, drag the captions window to the projector screen.

Live Captioning via Accessibility Tools - Windows 11.pdf

Alternative/Legacy Methods (Not Recommended but possible...)

Powerpoint/Office 365

It is possible to open the browser and log into Office, then use the browser-based Powerpoint presentation since Microsoft 365 provides live captioning for PowerPoint presentations. Captions can be overlaid, above, or below the presentation. Please note that this will NOT work using the Powerpoint application program on the PC - it only works using Powerpoint in the Chrome web browser. Upon opening Chrome, there is a tab in the browser open to Powerpoint where you can log in with your UMaryland email address and credentials.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Even if you are using the web browser version of Powerpoint, if you use Extended mode for split screens so that you can read your slide notes, (Windows command - P will pull up the display options for Duplicate (mirror) or Extended modes - reference image at bottom of this page) you will need to have 2 laptops working at once, as they will not be connected to forward through slides as you normally would. If you do this, you will need to advance slides on the live presentation screen in the classroom separately from the notes on the podium laptop.)

The solution below is optimized for using Duplicate (mirror) mode and only for Powerpoint in the web browser, not, the application/program.

Here's how::

Live Captioning With PowerPoint 365 on the Web.docx

Zoom

Zoom can be used for both livestreaming, recording so that students can review concepts after class as well as for live captions. Here are the steps for you to use Zoom for captioning: (Also see more Zoom tips, including connecting through your Blackboard course, which makes sharing recordings much easier!)

Live Captioning With Zoom.docx

Maestra

This is a free web browser based tool that is as simple as clicking, allowing your microphone, and clicking "Start Captioning." However, note that if you are sharing slides via Powerpoint, Google Drive, a PDF or something else, you will need to position the windows on your screen so that your content takes only a portion of the screen and another portion is dedicated to the Maestra browser window, which will display the caption text. When utilizing Maestra, please note that captions will exist in a separate browser window.

Instructions for using Maestra are as follows:

Open Maestra
opens a new window in the Google Chrome browser.
Select the Start Captioning link, a new window will open.
Click on the Start Captioning button at the bottom right of the screen.

Live Captioning via Accessibility Tools - Windows 11.docx

Screenshots

Duplicate or Extend Display/Screen

Windows Command key - P brings up the options to either Duplicate (mirror) or Extend (double display) the display screens. Live captions are easiest using Duplicate mode, as opposed to Extend mode. If you use Extend mode with Powerpoint in your Chrome browser, you will have to advance slides separately on the main classroom display screen from your slide notes on the podium laptop.

Powerpoint in Chrome: Present Live Mode

Opening your Powerpoints in the Chrome web browser (powerpoint.office.com) will provide a "Present Live" option under the Present icon that allows students to join on their laptops by QR code or a short URL.