Videoconferencing FAQs
Videoconferences/Broadcasts: Frequently Asked Questions
- Where are ITS Teaching and Learning video services located?
- Who may use ITS Teaching and Learning video services?
- Is there a charge for any of these services?
- Who can I connect with for a video class/videoconference?
- What information do I need to schedule a video class/videoconference?
- What type of facilities are available for my video class/videoconference?
- When should I make a request for a video class/videoconference?
- Can I use the room for a non-networked program?
- What is ISDN?
Where are ITS Teaching and Learning video services located?
Our facilities are located in the basement of Peabody Hall in suite 08.
Who may use ITS Teaching and Learning video services?
The services are available to all UNC-Chapel Hill faculty, staff, and students, for official University business and/or academic work.
Is there a charge for any of these services?
There is no charge for most of the services; however, there are some exceptions.
Video communications Overhead - Clients must reimburse ITS Teaching and Learning for any long-distance charges incurred from their video class/videoconference. This is usually done through University account transfer.
Extracurricular Staffing - Clients are responsible for compensating ITS Teaching and Learning staff for all events that occur on weekends and after-hours (between 5pm and 8am).
Duplication Services - Clients are expected to provide blank media (VHS and audio tapes, CD-ROMs, DVDs, etc.) for any duplication jobs.
ITS Teaching and Learning staff will inform clients of any charges and give an estimate of the amount prior to beginning any work.
Please be aware that there may be charges from other sites associated with a video class/videoconference depending on that site's policies and procedures.
Who can I connect with for a video class/videoconference?
Almost anyone with compatible videoconferencing equipment, anywhere in the world.
The majority of video classes/videoconferences we participate in are with other sites in North Carolina, and are done using two state-wide networks. ITS Teaching and Learning has a direct connection to the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN).
NCREN is a video network that links the 16 campuses of the UNC System, as well as Duke University, Wake Forest University, and Research Triangle Park sites. We also have access (via NCREN) to the North Carolina Information Highway (NCIH).
The NCIH is a video network that links together many of the State's community colleges and high schools, libraries, hospitals and health departments, and government agencies. In terms of number of sites, the NCIH is a much larger network than NCREN.
ITS Teaching and Learning can also conduct video classes/videoconferences with non-network sites and sites outside North Carolina, provided that those sites have the ability to connect using ISDN or H.323 (video over IP).
What information do I need to schedule a video class/videoconference?
Required Information:
Program Title - All programs should be given a unique name known to all participants to avoid confusion and/or duplicate scheduling. For video classes, the title should be the same as the departmental name and number. For ad hoc videoconferences the title can vary based on the type of program.
Program Date & Time - Due to demand of our local resources and network airtime, there is a good possibility that your first choice of date/s and time/s will not be available. Clients should decide on and prioritize at least three different dates and/or times that are amenable to all participants.
Originating & Receiving Sites - UNC-Chapel Hill will be the originating site for most programs requested by University affiliates. Receive sites include any organization or institution that will participate in the session. At least one receive site must be specified. ITS Teaching and Learning can put a 'HOLD' on local rooms and resources, but cannot schedule network airtime without having at least one receiving site.
Number of UNC-Chapel Hill Participants - If the exact number is unknown, it is still helpful to have an estimate, or at least know if the number will be more or less than ten (10) people.
Requestor Contact Information - Client's name, email address, and telephone number.
Additional Information:
Special Resources Needed - It is helpful for us to know if you are planning to use any special technology so that we may prepare ahead of time. The two rooms in 08 Peabody have computer and Internet access. If you have technological needs beyond this, please include them in your request.
Number of Remote Participants - Other sites have to assign sessions to rooms based on number of participants, just as we do.
Contact Information of Primary Remote Participant - Include the participant's name, email address, and telephone number. It is helpful to other sites to have a local (to them) participant that they can contact if necessary.
What type of facilities are available for my video class/videoconference?
ITS Teaching and Learning has two videoconferencing rooms. Both rooms are located in 08 Peabody.
Classroom (08 Peabody)
Accommodates up to 50 participants, with 44 interactive seats
"Teaching-friendly" environment
Five broadcast-quality cameras, including overhead document camera
Three high quality data/video projectors
Interactive Smart Board (72 inch) for touch screen computer presentations
IBM CCI tower computer installed in instructor podium
Computer presentations can be simultaneously displayed locally and transmitted to all remote sites
Session can be recorded
Session can be streamed live over the web
Can receive audio and/or video via satellite, telephone, ISDN, video-over-IP, NCREN, and NCIH
Conference Room (08-F Peabody)
Accommodates up to 15 participants, 7 interactive seats around conference table
"Small-group-friendly" setting
Four cameras, including overhead document camera
Interactive Smart Board (46 inch) for touch screen computer presentations
IBM CCI Thinkpad laptop computer
Computer presentations can be simultaneously displayed locally and transmitted to all remote sites
Session can be recorded
Can receive audio and/or video via satellite, telephone, ISDN, video-over-IP, NCREN, and NCIH
Other schools and departments on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus have videoconferencing capability, most notably the Schools of Medicine and Public Health. Contact our office if you would like information about other campus locations.
When should I make a request for a video class/videoconference?
All resources are scheduled on a first-come-first-serve basis. ITS Teaching and Learning accepts requests for local resources at any time. However, NCREN does not accept requests for programs more than a year in advance.
NCREN begins accepting video class requests about 12 months in advance and creates a schedule based on those requests. Video class requests submitted less than 9 months prior to the start of the semester are accepted, but are less likely to be scheduled due to conflicts with existing programs. Additionally, NCREN does not accept ad hoc videoconference requests until they have finalized the semester video class schedule.
Can I use a room for a non-networked program?
Our facilities are available for local-only seminars and meetings. However, the primary use of our rooms is a location for holding video classes/videoconferences. Networked programs have priority over all local-only events. If a networked request is made for a room (with at least 5 business days notice) that causes a conflict with a previously-scheduled local-only session, the local-only session will have to be rescheduled or moved to another location.
What is ISDN?
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is a set of standards for digital transmission over ordinary telephone lines as well as over other media. ITS Teaching and Learning has one set of ISDN telephone lines and can participate in ad hoc point-to-point sessions as well as multi-point sessions if a third-party ISDN bridge is arranged. Since ISDN connections use telephone lines, long-distances charges apply when ITS Teaching and Learning initiates the connection. Charges range from $35 to $90 per hour, depending on connection speed.
