Topic outline

  • General

    Getting Started with Video-Conferencing


    Lecture in Edinburgh SUPA roomIn this course you'll find a set of resources to help you to get started in using the SUPA video network to attend or deliver lectures.

    Sept 2021: Current events mean that students and staff may not be able to join from the usual video conference classrooms.  Most SUPA lectures will be made available by VScene video conference, but arrangements for courses may vary.

    Lecturers and Students - Joining remotely: lecturers and students may join SUPA lectures from desktop, laptop or mobile devices.     See "Joining remotely from another location". 


    Attending a lecture from the SUPA rooms

    It is possible to join from a SUPA video conference classroom.   The rooms are set up to automatically answer the calls.  Calls normally start at 5 past the hour.

    When attending a lecture you will need to :

    • - turn on your projectors or video screens
    • - press a button on the desk to switch between the two cameras.   

    In some rooms you will also need to press 'unmute microphone' on the Vidyo remote control.  Please also use mute/unmute if there is a lot of background noise at your location.  See 'One page guide' below.

    Call not connected?

    If your room is not connected to the conference exactly at the expected time, please follow instructions on the 'Connecting and reconnecting guide'.  If you see a  green calendar entry with the right name and time you may use the Vidyo remote to select it, and join the meeting.   If the call does not connect on time, and you don't see the expected calendar entry, please call us immediately.

    There are instructions posted in each room and contact numbers for support.  

    • In each topic you'll find a video giving you the basic steps to carry out each step. After these you'll also find a set of quick guides which you can use as a reminder when using the system and a flowchart giving some advice on what steps to take if you encounter difficulties.

    • Use this forum to discuss any questions or suggestions you might have about the SUPA video network. If you would like to subscribe to this forum please enrol on this course (you will be prompted to do this the first time you post a message) using the "Enrol me on this course" link on the course page.

  • Joining from PC, laptop, tablet or mobile

    • Look for the 'Upcoming Events' list on your course web page, click on the lecture for today's date to see details on how to join.

      Look for the "Upcoming Events" list on your course page, and click to see the web links or join now button to join each lecture.  There are also several useful alternative ways to join - Windows 10 app, mobile apps and a streaming video link.

      https://knowledgebase.vscene.net/joining-options

      Upcoming Events on SUPA course pageJoin by Web Browser on PC or laptop

      The "Join now" button for your lecture is shown when you click the lecture details under "Upcoming events", on your course page.   Google Chrome recommend.  

      Join from Windows 10 app

      Install the "Vscene" app from the Windows Store, then enter room id and name to join.

      Vscene mobile app (Android phone, Android tablet,  iPad and iPhone)

      The mobile app is a useful way to attend a lecture, and may provide better quality video and audio. Download the Vscene app as described on Joining from iOS/Android.

      Make sure you are connected to a wifi network.

      To find the 'room id' click on date  under "Upcoming Events" to find the room id for your lecture.

      Having problems?

      Switch browsers,  Google Chrome recommended. 
      Try opening link in an incognito browsing window if you still run into problems.

      If you use a VPN, please disconnect from the VPN.

      Look at the app options - Windows 10 desktop app, iPad, Android tablet.

      The "Streaming video" button provides a basic streaming view-only version of the lecture if you still have problems.

      Other methods:

      Other connection details are included in the Upcoming Events detail.


      - local SUPA classroom (by arrangement)
      - other video conference room
      - MS Teams client


      Join now popup to join SUPA lecture How to join by web browser

      On your course page see "Upcoming events", and click to view the details for today's lecture. 
      You will see a 'join now' button and web link which will allow you to join using Vscene website.

      Chrome is the are recommended web browser. Firefox and Edge may also work.  Internet Explorer 11 and Safari will not work.  

      Students:

      Just click the link or join button in the "upcoming events" list, and then enter your name and join.  You do not need to login or enter a password.  If required, a PIN will be listed in the joining details.

      For best layout, you can "dismiss" the orange recording information bar at the top of screen, and minimise the sidebar.

      You can also expand the presentation into a separate resizable window by clicking on the icon in lower left of presentation.  Close the presentation window to move it back into the main window.   You may focus on a particular speaker video by clicking on the "pin" icon.   In some of the Vscene apps,  double clicking on a speaker video or the presentation will expand it.  


      The Icons on the bottom of the screen allow you to mute your microphone, video, and audio, hide your self-view, disconnect from the call, or end the call, start/stop sharing content, show/hide the collaborative Whiteboard, start/stop recording, change the layout of the video feeds,  and turn full-screen on/off.

      Icon bar allows you to turn mic, camera and volume on/off


      If you can find a suitable time, please do try to say "hello" at the start or end of the lecture, to let your lecturer know that you are attending remotely.  At other times, please use headphones or mute your microphone to avoid background noise.




      Lecturers:

      We recommend lecturers join using laptop or PC.  Windows 10 Vscene app, or Google Chrome on PC or Mac recommended when using  screen sharing to present.

      If you would like to present a lecture remotely, you may also use the same web link and method to join. 

      After joining from a PC or laptop, the web browser interface includes a 'Share' button which will allow you to share your screen if you would like to show slides or demonstrate from your computer.  You may be prompted to install a browser plugin when you try this for the first time you try to share your screen.  

      Note if you are giving a presentation you will need to use the web browser method of joining from a laptop or desktop.   Screen sharing is not yet available from the mobile app.

      If you would like to try  this in advance, please contact Sean Farrell sean.farrell@supa.ac.uk

      If you run into any problems please call Sean on 07970 441 280 or Vscene on 03300 200 404.

      You may share the joining details with other students by copying the details.  They don't require a My.SUPA login to join a call.  If you regularly have other students joining the meeting, we can invite local students to join the SUPA course page.  They may sign up using their university address, which will give them access to the joining details and also any Vscene recordings.  It would be useful if they could specify 'undergraduate' or 'masters student' during the My.SUPA registration.  We may need to extend the enrolment dates the allow this.  Please get in touch for advice.






  • Using the Classrooms

    Quick start guides

    In this section you'll find a set of quick start guides which you can use as a quick reminder of the process of taking part in a SUPA lecture.  

    The rooms are designed to be straight-forward to use without requiring any special training.  Instructions are posted in each room, along with support contact details.   Please allow a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the room on your first day,.


    Giving a lecture or presentation

    If you are giving a presentation note that you need to do two things - select the input source using buttons on the desk, and also tap 'share' on the vidyo remote to start sending it to the screen, and to tap 'share' again to start sharing during a call.

    University of West of Scotland

    The equipment in the SUPA room in UWS is different from the other SUPA rooms.  UWS staff and students are advised to your local support team.  See support contacts below.

  • General Support Notices

    In this section you'll find general support notices for the rooms, including our fire procedure

  • Topic 4

    Who to call / First time using the room

    There are instructions posted in the rooms which should be straighforward to follow.  Please allow a few minutes to get set up on your first day, and also check the list below for the location and any special access arrangements such as door code.

    SUPA lectures normally connect automatically to all of the scheduled rooms at 5 past the hour.


    • Where are the SUPA Video classrooms?

      Aberdeen: OA MT 302 

      Dundee: Ewing Building basement   (requires door code - please contact local support)

      Edinburgh: JCMB 1301 - (note change of location - please ask for new door code from PGR office Liz Patterson in JCMB 4318)

      Glasgow: Kelvin Building 255a   (ask for door code from SUPA Office 229)

      Heriot-Watt: Earl Mountbatten Building EM1.27 (if locked, ask member of staff on corridor to unlock )

      St Andrews: Physics and Astronomy Building room 307

      Strathclyde: John Anderson Building JA 8.13 (requires door code)

      UWS: Henry F318 (requires door code - please contact local support)

      Is this your first time using the room?  Please contact your local support contact to arrange training or support in advance of your first lecture.

    • For technical help, or if this you would like further help using the equipment, please contact your local IT contact:

      • Aberdeen - Media Services - mediaservices@abdn.ac.uk  (Alex Gow / Ted Pridham / Bruce Beatite)
      • Dundee - Gary Callon - g.j.callon@dundee.ac.uk
      • Edinburgh - SOPA-Support - sopa-helpdesk@ed.ac.uk
      • Glasgow - SUPA Office  - admin@supa.ac.uk
      • Heriot Watt - Sean Farrell - s.j.farrell@hw.ac.uk
      • St Andrews - Ian Taylor - iat@st-and.ac.uk
      • Strathclyde - Physics IT support - physics-itsupport@strath.ac.uk
      • UWS - Tom Cadell - Tom.Caddell@uws.ac.uk
      Support contact phone numbers will be provided in each room.