Flexible Learning

Flexible Classroom Technologies

There are 31 classrooms equipped with Flex technologies. Faculty and staff can contact Classroom Technology Services (CTS) at cts [at] umass [dot] edu (cts[at]umass[dot]edu) or abellafiore [at] umass [dot] edu (April Bellafiore), Director of Multimodal Education, for help using these classrooms.

Designing Your Course for Flexibility

• Record or broadcast classroom lectures/activities if/as appropriate 
• You can check in SPIRE to see if your classroom is Echo360 enabled, or you can view the full list of Echo360 enabled classrooms.  
• If using Echo360 remember to request an Echo360 space to store your lectures. 
• Some classrooms have been outfitted as “hybrid” spaces to more easily allow for the use of Zoom. 
• You could also consider using your own laptop (with the built-in camera or a plug-in video camera) to record the class using Zoom or the personal version of Echo360.  
• The Digital Media Lab does have microphones, video cameras and other equipment you can borrow for recordings. 
• Whenever you use Zoom use the automatic captioning feature. You can also turn on captioning in both PowerPoint and Google slides. The captions may not be perfect but you can always edit them in your Echo360 or Zoom recordings.  
• Use Canvas or Moodle to supplement the course. Post your syllabus, schedule, links to videos, assignments, etc...  
• If you have Library materials you would like students to access consider incorporating Digital Course Reserves into your course space.  

For support with any of these instructional technologies or strategies CNS faculty are encouraged to contact abellafiore [at] umass [dot] edu (April Bellafiore), Director of Multimodal Education.