The Faculty Multimedia Center (FMC) has reopened after an extensive renovation that upgraded technology and facilities to better support the UCF faculty. Located in Room 202 in Classroom Building I, the FMC provides a wide variety of tools, services and training to help faculty and staff members create content for online and mixed-mode courses, as well as other digital applications.
“The new technology we can offer faculty members will continue to help them innovate in the classroom,” says Vice Provost for Faculty Excellence Jana Jasinski. “This is such a great opportunity for us to help our students excel and learn in new ways”
Major enhancements include new lightboard recording studios, an augmented and virtual reality studio, an audio and video editing booth with Wacom annotation monitors, and a podcast recording studio. In addition, the center now offers 3D printing, along with Oculus and Valve virtual reality systems and 360-degree cameras that can be borrowed to create and deliver course content. Collaboration spaces are improved, as well, to be more comfortable and capable for video conferencing and interactive workshops.
“The technology and facility upgrades in the Faculty Multimedia Center represent a significant step forward in UCF Digital Learning’s support of faculty innovation and teaching practices,” says Vice Provost for Digital Learning Tom Cavanagh. “We’re certain that our faculty partners will use these state-of-the-art tools to create even more effective content to fuel the success of our students.”
The FMC’s lightboards are one of the most popular tools, and the center now offers three private recording studios. The devices translate the classroom experience of writing on a whiteboard to video with a transparent board that empowers users to explain material in a unique way.
For Christine Hanlon, senior lecturer at the Nicholson School of Communication and Media, learning to make lightboard videos improved how she teaches.
“The FMC has a winning combination of cutting-edge technical tools and experienced staff who can help faculty members to learn how to develop engaging course content,” she says. “They are constantly updating their tools and technologies, so I always learn something new when I stop by the FMC.”
The FMC is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday for all UCF faculty, staff and graduate teaching assistants. Individual training, group workshops and headshot photography services are offered regularly and are available through the center’s online reservation system. For more information, visit the Faculty Multimedia Center website or call 407-823-0519.
