Teaching facilities suitable for Zoom use

If you plan to use Zoom in your teaching, make sure the classroom is equipped with a camera (or cameras) and microphones (see Instructions for teaching: Teaching facilities). A education planning officer can assist you with room reservations.

Classrooms equipped with both a microphone and a camera for Zoom use are marked in Optime and on the room reservation pages with the equipment criteria labels "Unitube" or "Video Communication Equipment". In these rooms, the camera is usually operated via the room’s control panel. Microphone setups can vary significantly between rooms. This is especially important if it is essential for in-person participants to be heard clearly by remote participants. The easiest way to ensure this is in rooms equipped with ceiling microphones or throwable microphones (e.g., CatchBox). This avoids the need to pass around wireless handheld microphones, saving time and improving interaction. It is recommended to consult AV support about the room’s technical setup and, if possible, test the equipment in advance.

Image 1. View from the room reservation page when selecting equipment:

If a suitable room is not available, teaching can be arranged using lightweight portable equipment. Many faculties have appropriate devices available for loan, and additional equipment can be requested from building custodians. For example, a session with around 15–20 participants can be conducted using a conference speaker and a webcam. The conference speaker includes a built-in microphone that transmits the voices of in-person participants to Zoom. It covers a significantly wider area than a typical laptop microphone and also plays the voices of remote participants clearly in the room. This kind of lightweight setup is especially well-suited for organizing smaller seminars, where in-person participants can be reasonably close to the conference speaker.

It is recommended that the teacher familiarize themselves with the classroom’s AV technology in advance, especially if they are not already familiar with it. It’s useful to test in practice how the room’s microphones and camera can be used with Zoom. With the help of AV support, it is possible to explore the room’s technical setup in advance with guidance.

Classrooms may have very different microphone and camera setups, which can affect how teaching should be conducted in that space. Some rooms may include, in addition to a wireless microphone for the lecturer, a throwable CatchBox microphone for audience questions, ensuring that voices are heard both in the room and by remote participants. Recently renovated teaching and meeting rooms may also feature ceiling microphones, which capture sound from anywhere in the room and are the most effortless to use. These kinds of solutions significantly improve the flow of discussions in hybrid teaching, making it easier to integrate interaction into the session.

Image 2. Ceiling microphone in the Viikki Info Center room K1088 

On all campuses, you can request AV support to assist you with using lecture hall technology and to ensure that everything functions properly during your event. A detailed description of AV support services and contact information can be found on Flamma for teaching staff.

Image 3. Throwable Catchbox microphone and wireless microphones for the presenters.