Last Updated: 2/18/2013

Overview                                                                                        A full list of standards can be found here.

The Office of Technology Services (OTS) works with stakeholders in the university community, vendors, manufacturers, and college/departmental technology staff to develop design standards for the audiovisual technology installed in Towson University’s nearly 400 smart classrooms that best meet the needs of the university.  The goals of standardization aim to:

• Provide a comfortable, modern, flexible, easy-to-use, and reliable teaching-learning environment that accommodates a variety of instructional methods

• Design an active, engaging environment for today's generation of learners

• Provide a consistent, intuitive interface for controlling audiovisual equipment throughout the campus for faculty, staff, and students

• Ensure maximum reliability and up-time based on proven designs, components, and installation methods

• Ensure ease of support and usage by installing standard computer models and audiovisual components

• Keep the number of makes and models to a minimum so that an inventory of replacement parts such as projector lamps can be maintained

Classroom Audiovisual Architecture: Moving Toward a Digital Future

The audiovisual industry is currently transitioning from an analog to digital audiovisual architecture and OTS is adapting our standards to meet these changing demands. As part of the transition, known as the "analog sunset" in consumer and professional electronics, new devices are shipping with digital outputs only and older analog outputs are being disabled or severely limited by new content.  The changes OTS is making will allow the University to take advantage of the latest technologies, provide better integration of digital devices brought on campus, streamline classroom design, and meet growing instructional needs.

Smart Classroom Computer Configuration Requirements

These requirements define the unique attributes of smart classroom computers, components that comprise them, and a list of third party software included.

Smart Classroom Standard Equipment

This is a list of standard components that are recommended as part of a standard smart classroom.

Smart Classroom Technology Tiers

The following groupings of standards define common classroom profiles. Special and unique instructional needs can be accommodated if they don't quite fit into one of these five tiers:

	Tier 1 • Widescreen Projector (16x10 WXGA) • Display screen (motorized or non-motorized) • Speakers • Wall plate for auxiliary audiovisual input connections • Basic wall-mounted push button control system (optional)
	Tier 2 Everything included in Tier 1 plus: • Podium with built-in computer/monitor • Document camera • Media player (VCR/DVD* combo or Blu-ray) *VCRs are being retired as a primary solution
	Tier 3 Everything included in Tier 2 plus: • Crestron MPB/C series push button controller (retired as primary solution)
	Tier 4 Everything included in Tier 2 plus: • Crestron TPS-6L LCD touch panel controllers • Cable Cubby w/ Ethernet, USB, HDMI, 3.5mm audio, RCA, VGA, and power connections • Networked via Crestron Fusion RV (RoomView)
	Tier 5 Everything included in Tier 4 plus one or more of the significant additions listed below: • Cisco or Polycom video conferencing or comparable (significant addition) • Mediasite lecture capture system (significant addition) • Enhanced sound system and/or microphones • Large-screen LCD monitors in addition to the projector (significant addition) • Multiple projectors (significant addition)
	Add Ons(Can be added to any tier) • High Definition Projector • Wireless Microphones • Multiple Screens • Student computers • Interactive board (SMART, Promethean, BrightLink) • SMART Interactive Pen Display or comparable