Hybrid teaching means that some students are present in a teaching room, while others attend teaching via a remote link. Remote teaching means that the teacher and the students are not in the same facility.
Some University facilities have been equipped so as to enable video recording, live streaming and remote connections. If the description of a facility mentions Unitube or the equipment required for online/remote teaching, it means that the facility has the necessary equipment for both hybrid and remote teaching. If the teacher wishes to use, for example, the Zoom video communications software, but the booked facility has no fixed camera and microphone system, the teacher must bring the necessary equipment with them (e.g., a webcam and a microphone).
Below you can find information on the facilities and tools available at the University for hybrid and remote teaching. For further information on tools, please see Educational videos and streaming your lectures.
Hybrid teaching and suitable facilities
Hybrid teaching means that some students are present in a teaching room, while others attend teaching via a remote link. For more information on planning of hybrid teaching, please see Constructive alignment of teaching and the 10 steps of course design.
The easiest way to provide hybrid teaching is to use facilities with fixed equipment (e.g., a camera and microphones) to enable students to watch a Unitube live streaming session or attend via a video communications platform (e.g., Zoom). The latter option makes interaction easier and enables those attending remotely to share their content. In contrast, Unitube live streaming does not enable interaction, which means that a separate channel (e.g., Flinga) must be used for questions and possible activation.
Facilities suitable for hybrid teaching are classified in Optime under the following categories:
These facilities have fixed video cameras and microphones that produce high audiovisual quality for video communications and recordings.
If the voice of the participants in the room is to be transmitted to those attending remotely, the facility should also have a fixed microphone solution that covers the whole room or a throwable Catchbox microphone (information from building porters). If neither of the above options is available, a separate spot in the facility may be designated for speakers, using the microphone solutions available.
Rooms with a full-range microphone solution are shown in Optime as being equipped with online / distance learning devices (verkko/etäopetuslaitteet in Finnish). You can view the equipment information of the facilities on the facility presentation pages or when booking a room in Optime (see booking instructions in the section Booking facilities used for teaching).
Remote teaching and suitable facilities
Remote teaching means that both the teacher and the students attend the session via a remote link only (e.g., Unitube and Zoom). For more information on planning of remote teaching, please see Constructive alignment of teaching and the 10 steps of course design.
When using Zoom, the facility can be selected freely, and it need not be a University teaching room. The teacher can use moveable equipment (e.g., a webcam) or ensure that the facility has the necessary equipment. Facilities suited for hybrid teaching are equally appropriate for remote teaching. NB!
If teaching is provided using Unitube live streaming, the facility selected must be suited to Unitube use. Such rooms can be found on every campus. Please note that Unitube studios can also be used in remote teaching. When using Unitube, it must be noted that live streaming is a one-way process, so a separate channel (e.g., Flinga or Presemo) must be used for any questions or other interaction.
Facilities suited for recording teaching videos
Teaching videos can be used as part of remote teaching, and they can be created either separately or during an actual teaching session.
Often the best option is to create the videos separately in advance because it makes it easier to focus on the process and do retakes if necessary. You should also write a script for your videos to ensure that the message is presented clearly. Videos can be used in many ways during courses: to replace lectures, act as stimuli during teaching sessions, provide instructions, etc.
You can also record a teaching session as such, but please note that videos lasting a few hours are not necessarily ideal for learning. However, you can use them, for example, when some students are unable to attend teaching or to help students study for an examination. You can also write scripts for shorter sections within a teaching session and later edit them into separate videos for later use. This way, it is easy to produce ready-to-use material, for example, for an online course.
You can create videos in advance
- In a Unitube studio or room from which the videos will be stored in Unitube Uploader. Once stored, the videos can be published either in a restricted Moodle environment or for a wider audience through the Unitube Viewer service. You can download videos from Unitube Uploader, for example, if you need to edit them before publication.
- By storing a presentation on Zoom and publishing it as you wish. As a rule, these videos are also published on Unitube Uploader, where access to videos can be restricted for a selected Moodle area.
- By storing a presentation using Screencast-O-Matic, which also enables light editing. The primary publication tool for such videos is again Unitube Uploader.
The easiest way to record teaching sessions is to use teaching facilities with Unitube lecture recording equipment. These facilities are equipped with at least one camera as well as a microphone system that can be used to record videos. Using the Unitube system requires identification with the card you use for printing (e.g., a staff ID card). Thanks to the identification system, the video recording is directed to the right owner in their Unitube Uploader for further processing and publication.
Zoom can also be used to record a teaching session. For Zoom user instructions, please see Educational videos and streaming your lectures.
Further information on Unitube can be found on the Helpdesk website Unitube.
Information on the accessibility of teaching videos is available on page Digital Accessibility of teaching.
Facilities suited to live streaming
Facilities suited to live streaming teaching have Unitube lecture recording equipment. The facilities have a fixed camera as well as a microphone system that can be used for recording videos and live streaming. Live streaming is a one-way process, which means that participants cannot ask questions without a separate channel (e.g., Flinga) or contribute to discussions via camera. When using live streaming, it is important to remember that it is always subject to a slight delay.
Lectures can be followed via a live stream on the relevant live stream site.
Using the Unitube system requires identification with the card you use for printing (e.g., a staff ID card). Thanks to the identification system, the video recording is directed to the right owner in their Unitube Uploader for further processing and publication.
Please note that Unitube studios are also suited to live streaming teaching.
Further information on Unitube can be found on the Helpdesk website Unitube.
Unitube studios
The University of Helsinki has three Unitube studios: one in Aleksandria at the City Centre Campus, one in Exactum at Kumpula Campus and one in Building A at Viikki Campus. The studios can be used during the opening hours for that building. Building porters provide entry to the studios only to those who have booked them appropriately. The studios can be booked by all University of Helsinki staff members, and their use is free of charge for members of the University community.
The studios are based on self-service. The studios are managed and maintained by the University’s Educational Technology Services, which can be contacted to request orientation and support for new users of the studios.
The studios and their equipment are suited to the creation of various types of teaching videos (e.g., presentations and small panel discussions) as well as Unitube live streaming. At present, the equipment available in the studios at Kumpula and Viikki cannot be used with video communications software (e.g., Zoom).
Further information on Unitube studios and contact information can be found on page Unitube studio instructions.