Picture by Pegasus Mok

LCD Projection System

Most of the classrooms have new multimedia panels installed, which control the LCD projection system.  University members shared with UMac Bridges their comments and suggestions to the changing learning and teaching environment.

Dr. Tse Kin Shing, a teacher of Faculty of Education, said there were no major operation problems when using the classroom equipment.  However, he pointed out the LCD screens in the classrooms where he had classes were a bit dark because of the lighting shot on the front desks instead of the screen.  “It is better to use shelter to alter the lighting.  In this way, the screen will be lighter and students can write while using the LCD screens,” Dr. Tse suggested.

Emily Lam, a senior of the Faculty of Business Administration (FBA), commented that the images on LCD screens in the classrooms where she had classes were not shown clear, especially when students sat at the back.  “Switching off the front lights makes the screens look clearer,” said Lam, “but there is not enough light for students in the front to jot notes or read books.”

In response to the users' opinions, Carrie Lei, head of Central Services (CS), explained that the use of the LCD screens could help everybody in class see more clearly what is projecting than the use of the traditional overhead projectors.  Moreover, it was usual to switch off lights just like staying in cinema.  Ms. Lei suggested students to sit at the front desks and recommended lecturers to switch off the front lights to make better images on the LCD screens.  Ms. Lei believed that the remaining lights were enough for students and also there were windows in most classrooms.  Then students could obtain some light from the windows to read their books or handouts.  On the other hand, she said that there are 25-30 students in a class.  If lecturers thought the classrooms were not appropriate, they should respond to registry and rearrange a bigger classroom.

Some classrooms do not have desktop computers installed.  Lecturers have to bring along a notebook computer before they can do Powerpoint presentations or share with their student's resources on VCDs.

“Lecturers tend to use their own notebook.  Since the configuration of their notebooks can be unlimited, problems occur when converting and giving out data,” Ms. Lei said.  “The latest and difficult detections by CS are the 'virgin notebooks.'  In other words, those notebooks have never contacted any projectors, visualisers or giving out data.  The notebooks need to make certain set-ups of software before converting data and project to the LCD screens.”

Ms. Lei hoped that every classroom has installation of notebooks in the future to meet the demand.  CS welcomes any suggestions or feedbacks through all possible channels including emails.

Ms. Lei shared with UMac Bridges that CS developed user guides both in English and Chinese for lecturers to refer to.  Moreover, they organized briefings at the beginning of the academic year to instruct the lecturers to operate the LCD projection system.  However, not many of the lecturers joined the briefings and no feedbacks towards the user guides provided.  

Mr. Mak Peng Un, an assistant professor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, said that he was capable to operate the LCD projection system even thought he did not attend the briefing.  Moreover, Dr. Tse said that he was very busy at the beginning of the semester and missed the briefing. Nevertheless, he said that following the user guides, he did not experience problems.