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Podium Tutorial

SMART Sympodium

Almost all classrooms at HMHEC are SMART classrooms. SMART stands for Shared Multimedia Access to Resources and Technology. Each SMART Sympodium is operated from an interactive touchscreen panel on the face of the cabinet. Using this panel, instructors and professors can

  • Power on and off the classroom's technology system
  • Access the enclosed desktop computer
  • Activate a connected laptop computer
  • Activate the document camera for both solid objects and transparencies
  • Operate a VHS videocassette player
  • Operate a DVD/CD player
  • Raise and lower the projection screen
  • Control the volume for all media

If you are planning to teach at HMHEC, or would simply like to understand the technology available, we encourage you to navigate your way through this brief tutorial on the SMART Sympodium.

Introduction

The SMART Sympodium contains the following:

  • Desktop computer
  • Laptop computer connection
  • VHS videocassette player
  • DVD-CD player
  • Document camera
  • Interactive touchscreen panel
  • Computer monitor
  • Keyboard and mouse
  • Stylus pen
  • On-screen marking pens and eraser
  • Left/right mouse-click control

Other amenities of the SMART classroom include:

  • Mounted data projector
  • Wall-mounted speakers
  • White board and markers
  • Wireless Internet access for HMHEC laptop computers
  • Wall-mount data ports for guest laptop computers
  • Telephone hook-up
  • Optional wireless mouse
  • Optional lapel or stand microphone system
  • Optional easel stand(s) and pad(s)
  • Optional handicap-accessible desk(s)

Using the Desktop Computer

  1. Turn the desktop computer on by pressing the power button on the tower located in the left cabinet doors.
  2. If the screen is not down, turn on the Sympodium with the "Pwr On" button on the touchscreen panel (as shown at right).
  3. If the touch panel screen is blank, touch it.
  4. When the HMHEC logo appears, touch it again.
  5. Touch the "Desktop Computer" square on the touchscreen panel.
Podium Control Panel

Connecting and Using a Laptop Computer

  1. If the screen is not down, turn on the Sympodium with the "Pwr On" button on the touchscreen panel (as shown at right).
  2. Pull the 15-pin (3 rows of 5) connector out of the black compartment to the left side of the touch panel. Connect it to the laptop.
  3. If sound is also needed, plug the thin black speaker jack into the laptop.
  4. Be sure to check the volume level on the touch panel before booting up the laptop. You may wish to use the "Vol -" button to decrease the volume temporarily; then gradually bring it up as needed.
  5. Touch the "Laptop Computer" square on the touchscreen panel.
Podium Control Panel

Using the Document Camera

  1. If the projection screen is not down, turn on the Sympodium with the "Pwr On" button on the touchscreen panel (as shown at right).
  2. Pull out the drawer on the left side of the cabinet.
  3. Unfold the document camera, making sure that the camera head is facing the white display surface.
  4. Press the round "Power Extern" button.
  5. Touch the "Document Camera" square on the touchscreen panel.
  6. When finished, be sure to press the round "Power Extern" button on the document camera's surface, and reverse the set-up process to store the camera in the cabinet.
Podium Control Panel

Using the VCR

  1. If the screen is not down, turn on the Sympodium with the "Pwr On" button.
  2. Insert a VHS video cassette into the VCR located in the right set of cabinet doors.
  3. If touch panel is blank, touch it. The HMHEC logo will appear; touch the screen again.
  4. Be sure to check the volume level on the touch panel. You may wish to use the "Vol -" button to decrease the volume temporarily; then gradually bring it up as needed.
  5. Touch the "VCR" square on the touch panel. A set of conventional controls will appear on the touchscreen panel. Use them to play the videocassette.
Podium Control Panel

Using the DVD/CD Player

  1. If the screen is not down, turn on the Sympodium with the "Pwr On" button.
  2. Insert a DVD or CD into the DVD/CD tray located in the right set of cabinet doors.
  3. If touchscreen panel is blank, touch it. The HMHEC logo will appear; touch the screen again.
  4. Be sure to check the volume level on the touchscreen panel. You may wish to use the "Vol -" button to decrease the volume temporarily; then gradually bring it up as needed.
  5. Touch the "DVD/CD" square on the touch panel. A set of conventional controls will appear on the touchscreen panel. Use them to play the DVD or CD.
Podium Control Panel

Turning Off the Podium

To turn off the system, press the PWR OFF button on the left side of the interactive touchscreen panel.

The screen will display the message at right. If you have arrived at this screen in error and do not wish to power off the system, press the RETURN area of the panel. If you do wish to turn off the system, press the SYSTEM OFF area of the panel.

Once you have pressed the SYSTEM OFF area of the screen, you have completed the shutdown process, and you will see the screen at right. When the projector has completed the cooling process, the screen will go blank.

This concludes the tutorial. If you have additional questions, feel free to contact our support staff.

Podium Control Panel

Podium Control Panel
Power On Button - Turns on SMART Sympodium and data projector; causes screen to come down Power Off Button - Starts process of turning off power to the SMART Sympodium and causes screen to go up; to complete process, press SYSTEM OFF button on the LCD screen Picture Mute Button - Toggles overhead projector display on and off Screen Up Button - Causes screen to go up Screen Down Button - Causes screen to come down Channel Up Button - Currently not used Channel Down Button - Currently not used Volume Up Button - Adjusts volume up; volume level is displayed on LCD screen in bottom right corner; the larger the green bar the louder the volume Volume Down Button - Adjusts volume down; volume level is displayed on LCD screen in bottom right corner; if no green bar is showing, then the volume has been turned off Volume Mute Button - Toggles sound on and off

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