UG launches Zoom Rooms to enhance virtual classes
The University of Guyana (UG) has launched 18 Zoom Rooms to enhance virtual classroom experiences for its students and staff.
A brief ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the UG Centre for Information Technology (CIT) building, at the Turkeyen Campus, for the Zoom Rooms or technology rooms, which were developed as part of the Greater Guyana Initiative of the Stabroek Block co-venturers, ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC Limited.
The 18 Zoom Rooms, which cost approximately US$85,000, is anchored at the CIT and linked to the Tain Campus and will connect persons attached to the university with access to lectures and laboratories whether they are on the campuses or elsewhere.
UG Vice-Chancellor Dr. Paloma Mohamed-Martin told Sunday Stabroek that US$70,000 was given by the co-venturers and the university added about US$15,000, which collectively covered the infrastructure costs.
According to the ViceChancellor, talks about making the rooms a reality started in August 2019 but the plans were interrupted when the pandemic hit. However, she said that the pandemic boosted the idea to have added rooms rather than just one, which was being considered in the beginning. “It was initially meant for one information room to facilitate the higher education for our staff who are doing high degrees and working with lecturers at universities across the world and when COVID hit and we encountered these problems, we passed the project and decided instead of one information room, we did 18,” she explained.
She said immediately 750 students would benefit from the initiative. “In the past we couldn’t get to all of those because we didn’t have space but now we could be at this campus and reach students in Anna Regina and Mabaruma and other parts that have access to internet. It makes a difference.”
A demonstration of how the rooms operate was conducted by Director of the university’s Tactical Online Services Unit Malcolm Williams. He briefly explained that with this technology, lecturers can be in their labs or lecture room and easily connect to their learners who may be at home but still get to see exhibits in real time as would happen during face-to-face lectures. During his demonstration he also noted that work which would be written onto the whiteboards will be completely visible to the classroom through the camera. Zoom-ins will also allow for learners to get a better view of the environment around the lecturer.
Mohamed-Martin further noted that the project has prompted discussions about how flexible virtual classes are especially for when the University reopens for face-to-face teaching. “Whenever we come back, because we still can’t be this close and packed up in a classroom, we envision students can stay in their homes or where ever they are, or even on campus in some of the gardens; if they are working they can even be in a space in their office. It gives a huge amount of
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