Last fall, the Office of Information Technology’s Teaching & Learning Technologies (TLT) group surveyed Notre Dame faculty about the audiovisual technology available to them in campus classrooms.
The timing was intentional. With the current technology approaching the end of its useful service life, a decision had to be made about how to move forward from what to-date has been something of a bespoke system, which brings with it all the challenges that come with maintaining and updating a custom design.
Following the survey, TLT conducted a faculty focus group to test a potential off-the-shelf replacement, Zoom Rooms. This platform is made by the same company that makes the Zoom Workplace software used across campus for meetings, but Zoom Rooms is a distinct product.
Feedback from the focus group was highly positive, and when paired with both the promise of increased flexibility for instructors and several million dollars in savings that would be realized by not replacing one custom system with another, Zoom Rooms was selected as the new AV technology for classrooms centrally managed by the Office of the Registrar.
Classroom updates started this summer and are expected to be completed in summer 2027.
What to Expect in the Classroom
Benefits instructors will see once a classroom has been moved to Zoom Rooms include:
- A better experience teaching from personal devices
- Wireless projection so they can teach from anywhere in the room
- The ability to allow students to share screens from their phones, tablets, or laptops
Some other notes on the logistics of the new setup:
- The system will still provide a Windows desktop computer at the lectern, a document camera, and a clicker to advance presentation slides for those instructors who are interested in using these tools.
- Larger rooms will still have microphones for voice reinforcement.
- The touch panel interface will look different. For most instructors, displaying slides will be as simple as pressing a single button, but some who use the technology in more involved ways will have to learn a few additional steps.
The Rollout
The transition to Zoom Rooms began this summer with the conversion of 28 classrooms. TLT is working closely with the instructors teaching in those rooms this fall to ensure their success and gather valuable feedback, which will help refine the design. The remaining Registrar-managed classrooms will be upgraded over the course of summer 2026 and summer 2027.
“For our instructors, we’re simplifying the steps needed to use the classroom technology, thereby allowing them to focus more of their attention on teaching and less on managing the AV setup,” said Brian Burchett, TLT’s project manager for the upgrades. “From a support standpoint, we will be better able to monitor and manage hundreds of classroom systems.”
If you aren’t teaching in one of the updated classrooms this fall but are interested in seeing a demo of the new technology, look for an announcement about drop-in sessions during the semester.
Drop-In Sessions
TBA
About Notre Dame Learning
Notre Dame Learning houses the Kaneb Center for Teaching Excellence and the Office of Digital Learning, bringing together their teaching and learning expertise along with that of the OIT’s Teaching & Learning Technologies group to serve as the hub of learning excellence and innovation at Notre Dame. Working in collaboration with instructors, departments, and colleges, Notre Dame Learning aims to enable effective and engaging learning for all students through research-based strategies and effective use of technologies across all modalities.
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