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.

    March 2020: Current events mean that students and staff may not be able to join from the usual video conference classrooms. 

    Please watch out for emails or notices in the News/Announcements of each course page, as arrangements for courses may vary.

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


    Attending a lecture from the SUPA rooms

    Lectures are booked so that the video conference service Vscene automatically calls your room.  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.

  • Topic 1

    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.

  • Topic 2

    General Support Notices

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

  • Topic 3

    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 234a)

      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. 

  • Joining remotely from another location


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

      https://vscene.net/join-by-browser/

      The "Join now" button for your SUPA lecture is shown when you click the date on your SUPA course is on your course page under "Upcoming events". 

      Vscene mobile app (Android and iOS)

      To join from mobile or tablet please download the Vscene app as described on Joining from iOS/Android.

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

      Other methods:

      Other connection details are included in the Upcoming Events detail.

      - other video conference room
      - Skype for business.


      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 and Firefox are recommended web browsers.  Internet Explorer 11 and Safari will not work.  

      Students:

      You do not need to login to Vscene, just click the link in the My.SUPA calendar, and then enter your name and join

      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:

      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.