Cameras and Zoom

Camera Types

  1. Document Cameras

    These devices are available in pretty much every classroom and are the functional replacements to overhead transparency projectors. They can be shown on the screen by selecting INPUT 3 or DOCUMENT CAMERA from the input selection area available to you depending on your classroom type.

  2. Webcams

    Simple USB Webcams are also available to you to use from the Instructor Station computer if you prefer to only share you content via PDF's or PowerPoint presentations. If you are using your personal laptop, it likely has a built-in webcam of its own that you are also free to use within your class structure if that works better.

  3. Classroom Cameras

    These are only found in HyFlex classrooms and are most commonly located behind the room facing the Instructor Station or main whiteboard. Controls for this are found on the touch panel, and their view can be set manually, through presets, or in some cases auto-tracking if that is preferred. If you would like to use these in Zoom meetings you must host from the computer at the Instructor Station.

Introductory Context

This section of the guide mostly pertains to classrooms that are HyFlex enabled, meaning they are intended to be used as hybrid learning spaces. If you intend to use your own camera and audio devices for Zoom, please consult their respective manuals for more information on what your settings should be.

One of the main things you will need to be aware of is if you are planning on utilizing the classroom equipment to share your voice and listen to remote participants within the classroom, make sure that you are using the computer at the Instructor Station to host the meeting.

If you would like to use your personal laptop to share presentations, you will need to join your meeting as a participant from your personal laptop and ensure that your laptops microphones and speakers are muted so they do not conflict with the classroom devices.

Scheduling Your Classes with Zoom

Zoom meetings can either be done by logging into your account on their website, or from the app.

Once you are logged in, you can schedule recurring meetings with the Schedule button either across the top or from the module buttons on the app.

Then in Meetings, select the meeting name you set up and click copy invitation. This text can be placed onto your syllabus or sent out as part of a calendar invite to your students via Canvas.

More information on how to use Zoom can be found on their support website.

Starting Your Classes

When the time comes that you need to open the app in a classroom, you will most likely be prompted to select your audio and video devices from a set of drop-down lists.

In almost every case selecting "Join Meeting with Computer Audio" will work just fine, however, there will be some instances where you may have skipped this dialogue, or something didn't connect quite right. If this happens, you will need to set the devices manually. 

The cameras themselves should be easy enough to get going as you do get immediate visual feedback on which device is being used.

  • Logitech BRIO
    • This is the webcam name that will be shown in Zoom if one is installed
  • INOGENI SDI2USB3
    • This is the main wall mounted camera that is facing the whiteboard
  • HoverCam Duo/HoverCam Ultra
    • This is the name of the document camera if you would like to use this as your main device
    • If your classroom has a WolfVision camera, you will not be able to use it in Zoom meetings

The speakers available to you will differ based on the classroom you are in

  • Echo Canceling Speakerphone (DMP Plus USB #1)
    • Any ceiling or wall mounted speakers in your room are routed through this device.
  • Realtek (USB)
    • Mostly found in Basic and Standard rooms
    • Select this device if you have a smaller set of speakers set on top of the Instructor Station.
  • Dell or HDMI Audio
    • These are the speakers on the projector or below the monitor
    • You will likely not need to select these

Microphones will vary a bit more, but usually follow the same logic.

  • Echo Canceling Speakerphone (DMP Plus USB #1)
    • Ceiling mounted microphones
    • Microphone bars mounted in front of the Instructor Station
    • Some Catchbox Microphones that are integrated into the full audio system
  • Catchbox
    • Catchbox microphones that are plugged directly into the computer at the Instructor Station
    • This includes both the foam cube and lapel microphone in the single device

Using Two Cameras Simultaneously

Sometimes you may want to use the classroom camera to cover the whiteboard, while also using the document camera to display a passage from a textbook, or hand-written diagrams.

Zoom has a handy feature that lets you accomplish this under their Share menu. Typically you would use this for sharing your screen, or a particular web page, but under the Advanced tab across the top there are a few more devices you can add into the mix Second Camera being one of them.

When you click on the Second Camera module, a context menu on the right side of the Zoom app will give you different options for which device to select, where you want it positioned, and whether or not you want to add background effects similar to how you would set up your main camera.

Feel free to experiment with this feature to set up different display environments for your classes to find the layout that works best for you and your material.

Additional Resources

Document Camera Manuals

Click this card to visit the Document Archive and locate the manual for your respective document camera model for more information on how to properly use it in class and over Zoom.

Teaching in Different Formats

A guide provided by CAFE for helping faculty transition to remote and hybrid learning.

Classroom Audio Guide

Return to the guide of this site that covers how to use the audio devices within a classroom.

Troubleshooting


  • Make sure that the device you intend on using is selected from Zoom's video settings
    • Webcams: These should be labeled as Logitech BRIO in your Zoom video settings
    • HyFlex Room Cameras: These will show up as INOGENI SDI2USB3  in Zoom video settings
  • Check to make sure the webcam is plugged in
  • Sometimes, HyFlex room cameras may require a reboot. To avoid anything from going wrong, please get in touch with the support line (909) 869-4040

We've published a set of tutorials going step by step on how to do this using Kaltura! Please visit CAFE's Kaltura and Zoom Tutorials for more information.

  • Built-in room devices will all connect directly to the instructor station PC.
    • You will need to Host the meeting from the instructor station PC to control your audio and video.
    • Join the meeting from your personal computer
    • Turn off your video and audio from your personal laptop
    • Turn on the video and audio from the instructor station PC
  • Additionally, you can set up your CPP OneDrive to selectively back-up important presentations so they are accessible from any computer on campus that is logged in with your BroncoID

This usually happens in room with older projectors, to fix this, click on the little TV logo on the screen of the document camera and then click on the arrow next to HDMI.

When prompted about the HDMI Resolution, set it to 1280x720.

HoverCam Document Cameras are currently the only type of document camera that can be used over Zoom.

  • Set the Document Camera to USB Mode
    • Click on the TV logo on the screen of the document camera
    • Set the Video Interface to USB
    • In Zoom, select HoverCam from the camera list

For WolfVision document cameras, you will want to make sure that the remote control available at the Instructor Station is being pointed at the WolfVision IR Receiver and not the document camera itself.

The batteries in the remote may also need to be replaced from time to time. You can request batteries for these document camera remotes from the Classroom Support Team by calling (909)869-4040.

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