HyFlex Classroom Technology

The computer at all lecterns in all Hyflex classrooms require a York network account ID in order to use. If you are new to the campus and have cleared all Human Resources onboarding requirements your account should be ready by now. If IT has not reached out to you by now (possible if a cell phone was not provided to IT during onboarding) you can contact them by using the Smart Classroom hotline at 718-262-5303.

Note: Please be aware if you use the hot line for this you will need to be on campus and ready to show ID when we meet with you. This is the only way to authenticate a new account.

The hotline can only be used for the following two circumstances:

1. You are in an active session at York College and need technical support now

2. You have classes scheduled at York College but have yet to be contacted by IT for help with your new credentials

The standard for your York network account is the first letter of your first name followed by the last name. Depending on how many other employees have similar names you may also have a number after the ID.

This ID is the same for your York email account. It is not the same as your CUNYfirst account which is your firstname dot lastname followed by a number which is usually the last two or three digits from your CUNYfirst EmplID.

For more information on this or If you already know your York College Network account but just forgot your password you can reset it online using the MyPassword Link

1. Visit the Technologies in the Classroom page to confirm your classroom is a Hyflex Ready room.
2. Go to Blackboard at York Blackboard
3. Log in to your CUNY Zoom account to schedule your class meetings. Afterwards, post the meeting information in your Bb course site.
4. Schedule recurring Zoom meetings for the days and times of your classes.
5. The following presets are recommended for classes in Zoom:
6. You may also set the sound notification when someone joins or leaves to Host and co-hosts only as this can be very distracting to the session. While in Zoom, go to Settings and set the Sound notification to Host and co-hosts only.

For additional helpful information on using Zoom visit My Remote Access Services -click on the Zoom Support drop down

or visit the Zoom for Faculty page which has tutorials on Zoom

We strongly recommend that you use Zoom as it requires less bandwidth than Bb Collaborate Ultra and has auto-generated live transcript feature. Both of the advantages will increase the accessibility of the instructions.

1. Open Blackboard at York Blackboard
2. Go to your course and click on the Zoom link.
3. Click on Launch.
4. Zoom should be on the Upcoming Meetings tab. If not, click on it.
5. Click the Start button next to the link for that day/session.
6. Start your teaching lesson

Note: Be sure to select your camera and audio options while in Zoom

1. Manage your Zoom session by allowing the online viewers to ask questions instead of raising their hands virtually.
2. Be sure to connect your Zoom session to the Hyflex camera and not the camera on the monitor of the lectern.
3. Connect the Array microphone as the default for sound in your Zoom session.
4. If you are using a document camera, when you turn it on, you will also have this as a camera option in Zoom. You can choose between the Huddlecam Simple Track 2 camera (Hyflex), the default webcam on the monitor which is only pointing to you, and the document camera if the unit is on. There may also be another camera option called "Owl Pro" to choose from. They all do the same thing
5. To manage the manual movement of the Huddlecam Simple Track 2 camera, click in the search field at the bottom left corner of the lectern computer screen and type, "Huddlecam" this will bring up the Huddlecam remote. Click on it and check that it is connected to the camera. Below are instructions in case the remote is not connected. Using this virtual remote you can manually override the tracking camera.

Note: Review the videos on this page regarding camera remote

1. Log out of Blackboard.
2. Log out of Zoom. (Zoom stays logged in and the next instructor will be accessing your Zoom session)
3. Log out of the lectern computer. (no need to power off the computer)
4. Turn off projector or document camera if it was in use.

Note: You may use either a wall panel or control box on the lectern to turn off the projector

You can launch your synchronous Zoom session using 2 options:

1. Launch your BB course and click on the Zoom session via your course (preferred)
2. you can click on the Zoom icon on the desktop.

Once the Zoom software launches

1. Confirm your audio and video icons are activated.
2. Confirm you can see the correct camera on the software. Make sure the camera is positioned in the way you want before you begin your live session. You can also select the document camera as an input if one is available. In addition, there may be a third option called "Owl Pro" which is another camera in the room that has a 360 view of everyone.
3. Start your lecture and make sure your Zoom class session is recording if you need it. 
   Zoom is now recording your lecture. Now you can either continue with your lecture by moving about in front of the classroom as you do normally or you can launch a program from your computer such as a presentation or a web page or any other application.

Zoom Classroom Tips

• To switch between cameras, select Alt+N on the keyboard.
• Disable the Zoom chime in your settings at cuny.zoom.us

When you’re projecting in the classroom, by default you're projecting to the screen in the duplicate mode so the students will see your entire screen including your Zoom controls. Note that you can hide your Zoom controls on the screen. In many rooms, there will be a display screen where you will see your students and what you are sharing on the screen.

These are the latest Q&A's from sessions CUNY Central has been hosting for all campuses on Hyflex

What learning technologies will be used? Is additional training needed for faculty or students? Does the college or the university provide the training and technology support required? 

Classrooms with the new Hyflex technology are available. Not to oversimplify, but if you used Zoom or Teams or Web-Ex and have had to select your webcam or microphone, you already have the foundation for what to expect in the Hyflex classrooms. That said, we encourage everyone to check the rooms out onsite or virtually. Go to the following link to make an appointment https://www.york.cuny.edu/it/service-delivery-unit/service-desk/virtualhybridhyflex-classroom-technology-setup/

What hardware is needed to teach successfully? What hardware do students need? 

The rooms will have anywhere from two to four cameras and Mic Arrays for picking up student voices. If you are teaching in these rooms and require more cameras, please check with IT in advance.

Are students expected to bring their own devices? Can they loan it?

Students who are participating in person do not need to bring a device to class. Only virtual participants will need to have their own device to connect to each session.

Is there a way to see which classrooms are equipped for the Hyflex modality?

• Visit the Technologies in the Classroom page

Is re-arrangement of the classrooms possible? 

The new cameras in the room are set at a high enough level so that the students who are home will see everyone in the classroom. There will be two cameras in most rooms, and each is installed to see the entire room from the top down.

What is the max capacity for the classroom?

Facilities just came out with a capacity list based on pandemic parameters which IT will use to update the room list which faculty will have access to on this page. To see the capacity, please click on the following link, Technologies in the Classroom page

Will microphones be available since a mask may still be required causing my vocal projection to be limited especially to the back of rooms?

The initial design of the technology equip classrooms did now require a microphone to be heard in the back of the room but we understand that a mask can create challenges that need to be addressed. We are planning on addressing this. For now, let IT know if this is an issue and we will work with you to solve it in the short term.