As of Winter 2025, there are 19 classrooms at Georgian College with an integrated camera as well as microphones to support GC Flex delivery (17 at the Barrie campus, 2 at the Orillia campus). 

For an audio/visual overview, please see the video below, GC Flex Classroom Introduction - YouTube (10:29). This video also covers how to create a recurring meeting for your GC Flex classes. If you'd like to skip that content and go straight to the classroom technology, skip ahead to 2:39. If you would prefer text instructions, please continue reading. 

Step One: Turn on display

Choose ‘Press to Power On Display’ from the Crestron Panel. This will turn on the projectors and the classroom camera. 

                   

Step Two: Sign-in to the podium computer

Sign-in to the podium computer with your Georgian College credentials.  

Username: admin\asmith (first initial last name) OR firstname.lastname@georgiancollege.ca  

Step Three: Open the content to be shared

It is recommended that you open and organize all the content that you will be sharing in class before you join the meeting. This could include your PowerPoint slides, Blackboard shell, websites, audio or video files, etc.

Step Four: Open Microsoft Teams calendar

If Microsoft Teams does not open automatically on the podium computer, you can launch it by typing Teams in the search field on the computer task bar. Teams will ask you to sign-in - use your Georgian College credentials. Then, open the calendar.

Step Five: Join the meeting

Find the class meeting in your calendar and select Join.

Step Six: Audio and video settings

The audio and video settings for your Teams meeting will pop up. The audio and video settings will default to the room camera, microphones, and speakers. You do not need to adjust these settings.

Step Seven: Display settings

The podium computer will automatically show the same content on the computer monitor and the projection screen. This is called a duplicated display. If you like this set-up, no change is required. If you would like to show different content on the podium computer and the projection screen, you will need to extend your display. To do this, follow these steps:

• Right click on the desktop
• Select ‘display settings’
• Scroll down to multiple displays
• Select extend these displays and keep the changes

Step Eight: Share your content

If you haven’t already, open the content you wish to share with your students. This could include your PowerPoint slides, Blackboard shell, websites, audio or video files, etc. Then, select the share button in Teams and choose to share the screen that has your content on it. Note: the screen you select to share in Teams should be the same as what the in-class students see on the projector screen. Remember to choose “include sound” if you are sharing content with audio.

A note about “include sound”

When sharing video content with audio, and you choose “Include computer sound”, you may need to complete one additional step if you are asked to change the speaker to the room you are in. In the search bar type settings, and then choose Sound. Ensure that the speaker output matches the room camera, microphones, and speakers. 

 

Step Nine: Start recording

Start recording by selecting the three dots near your camera icon and choose to start recording. There is no pause feature- only start and stop.

As of Winter 2025, there are two classrooms at the Barrie campus equipped with Owls, and one classroom at the downtown Barrie campus. 

Any classroom, at any campus, can become a GC Flex classroom with a Meeting Owl, and it's because of this flexibility that some program areas are choosing to purchase Meeting Owls to lend to faculty when their GC Flex course has not been scheduled in a dedicated GC Flex classroom.

For an audio/visual overview, please see the video below, Starting Owl in Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Stream (1:44). If you would prefer text instructions, please continue reading.

Step One: Connect the Meeting Owl

If the Meeting Owl is not already plugged in, connect the USB-C cable to the podium computer. Connect the Meeting Owl to power.

Step Two: Turn on display

Choose ‘Press to Power On Display’ from the Crestron Panel. This will turn on the projector.

Step Three: Sign-in to Podium Computer

Sign-in to the podium computer with your Georgian College credentials.  

Username: admin\asmith (first initial last name) OR firstname.lastname@georgiancollege.ca  

Step Four: Open the content to be shared

It is recommended that you open and organize all the content that you will be sharing in class before you join the meeting. This could include your PowerPoint slides, Blackboard shell, websites, audio or video files, etc.

Step Five: Launch Microsoft Teams calendar

If Microsoft Teams does not open automatically on the podium computer, you can launch it by typing Teams in the search field on the computer task bar. Teams will ask you to sign-in - use your Georgian College credentials. Then, open the calendar.

Step Six: Join the meeting

Find the class meeting in your calendar and select Join.

Step Seven: Audio and video settings

The audio and video settings for your Teams meeting will pop up. Teams should detect that the Meeting Owl is connected, but you may need to change the selection. Click the gear icon to do so.

If you need to raise or lower the volume levels during your class, use the plus/minus buttons on the Meeting Owl.

Step Eight: Display Settings

The podium computer will automatically show the same content on the computer monitor and the projection screen. This is called a duplicated display. If you like this set-up, no change is required. If you would like to show different content on the podium computer and the projection screen, you will need to extend your display. To do this, follow these steps:

• Right click on the desktop
• Select ‘display settings’
• Scroll down to multiple displays
• Select extend these displays and keep the changes

Step Nine: Share Your Content

If you haven’t already, open the content you wish to share with your students. This could include your PowerPoint slides, Blackboard shell, websites, audio or video files, etc. Then, select the share button in Teams and choose to share the screen that has your content on it. Note: the screen you select to share in Teams should be the same as what the in-class students see on the projector screen. Remember to choose “include sound” if you are sharing content with audio.

A note about “include sound”

When sharing video content with audio, and you choose “Include computer sound”, you may need to complete one additional step if you are asked to change the speaker to the room you are in. In the search bar type settings, and then choose Sound. Ensure that the speaker output matches the room camera, microphones, and speakers. 

 

Step Ten: Start Recording

 Start recording by selecting the three dots near your camera icon and choose to start recording. There is no pause feature - only start and stop.