Basic multimedia capabilities are available to faculty who teach in these classrooms. Macintosh and Windows computers are available with presentation software, spreadsheets, word processing and access to the Internet. Document cameras can be used to display visuals, objects and slides. A VCR to show videos is standard and several campuses supply laser disk players. All of this equipment is handled from a user-friendly control panel.
Classrooms can seat at least thirty students, and some are much larger.
The Worcester classrooms, the second Amherst classroom and the system classroom in the President's Office at One Beacon Street are in the planning stages. While this article focuses mainly on the technology side of the effort, there is also work underway to provide professional development opportunities for faculty and support staff to learn the pedagogy and technology of distance learning through interactive video. This Fall, thirteen distance learning classes are being offered using the MITI network. In its first semester of operation this Fall, the Amherst Campus Commonwealth College honors program offered multi-site classes entitled Current Environmental Issues in Massachusetts and Poets in Massachusetts. These classes include students and faculty from UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, Berkshire Community College, Middlesex Community College and Bridgewater State College who attend the class from their local campus via distance learning technology.