University of Kent

• University use is free (unless ISDN call charges exceed £30.00).
• Charges for external hire to companies and organisations:
  • Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm: £96.00 + VAT per hour plus call charges.
  • All other times outside of these core hours are charged at £192.00 + VAT per hour plus call charges. A cancellation charge is applicable (£50.00 + VAT) if less than 48 hours notice is given.

Canterbury campus

• Research and Development building (H2): an IP and ISDN compliant Tandberg 990 in room 101A. 
• Cornwallis South (J3): an IP and ISDN compliant Tandberg 990 in room S04.
• Woolf lecture theatre: there is an Aethra AVC 500 unit and a further Tandberg 990 ‘roving’ unit which can connect to any campus LAN connection.
• Information and bookings: use the video conference booking/enquiry form

Medway campus

• There are 2 Tandberg 990 codecs available for use on the Medway Campus
• In the Medway building we have an IP and ISDN compliant unit in room M1.16. Email the Medway helpdesk for details and bookings, or call 01634 888891.
• In the Drill Hall Library a shared unit in room DC017 is available. Email us for details and bookings, or call 01634 883764.

Training and familiarisation

• The level of training or familiarisation you will need depends what you want to achieve.
• The equipment is easy to use for basic videoconferencing with no special requirements: a run through of the system and what to expect takes about ten minutes.
• Teaching via videoconference requires a greater understanding of the facility and its potential.
• For further information use the video conference enquiry form

Before checklist

• Ensure all participants at all locations have a copy of all relevant paperwork (agenda)
• Ensure all parties have emergency contacts/telephone numbers (tech support)
• Refrain from wearing 'loud' colourful clothing and jewelry
• Arrive five/ten minutes early.
• Set up seating positions (do you need to use any of the auxiliary equipment?)
• Set camera position and any presets if required
• Check lighting: is it sufficient? Be aware of shadow and glare.
• In case of an unlikely technical failure have a contingency plan ready.

Upon connection/during

• Ask the remote site if they can hear you OK (if all is fine then you may begin!)
• Turn off mobile phone/pagers!
• Try not to talk over the 'Far End'.
• Keep movement to a minimum.
• Don't rustle papers close to the microphone, don't drum fingers.
• Try not to engage in separate 'alternative agenda'
• Speak clearly and concisely

After: review

• Did it work for you? If not why not?
• What improvements could be made to your preparations, presentation, participation?

Be Prepared

Designate a facilitator at the Far End and send over a copy of your presentation.

Be Inclusive

Remember the Far End audience, make eye contact, ask direct questions, and relay any questions from the home audience they may not have heard fully.

Be Aware

Of microphone and Camera position.  If using a boundary microphone, don’t turn your back on it.  If a radio microphone, don’t put the power pack in the same pocket as your mobile phone.  At all times try to stay within camera shot.

• JANET Video Technology Advisory Service (VTAS): VTAS is a JANET (UK) funded service that provides unbiased technical advice to JANET connected HE, FE and Research institutions
• Video conferencing in the classroom: developing interactive video conferencing across the curriculum in the UK and around the World.
• Telepresence and Videoconferencing Insight Newsletter: source of up to the minute industry news and much much more.
• World clock: find out the time in different countries.
• Worldwide video conferencing booking service: a global directory of video conferencing facilities.
  
  

Video conferencing suites on campus offer an easy audio conferencing facility for linking between 2-3 sites. There is no need for a telecommunications account. No call charges apply.

You can borrow a conference telephone to use either:

• in one of the video conferencing suites
• in your office (requires analogue connection: superset digital connections will not work).

A conferencing account is required: if you are organising the conference, you will need to set up an account and book the conference via a telecommunications company (eg, BT).

Information and bookings: use the video conference booking/enquiry form