Hybrid/HyFlex Classroom Technology

In a Hybrid class, online contact hours (synchronous* or asynchronous**) displaces some portion of the required contact hours that would normally take place in a scheduled in-person (face-to-face) class. Contact includes instruction, learning activities, and interactions (both student-student and student-instructor). A hybrid class is designed to integrate face-to-face and online activities so that they reinforce, complement, and elaborate one another, instead of treating the online component as an add-on or duplicate of what is taught in the classroom. Assignment deadlines and exams days/times are maintained and included on the class syllabus. All Inperson and synchronous online class meeting days/times must be listed in the schedule of classes for students.

What is HyFlex?

HyFlex combines the terms “hybrid” and “flexible” to denote a hybrid course with enhanced flexibility. This flexibility takes the form of choice in how students participate in the class to meet course learning goals. This course model intentionally builds options into the syllabus to accommodate the range of needs in the classroom. In most cases, students can attend a physical classroom, or participate remotely, in real-time, or “attend” asynchronously. The HyFlex approach enables the instructor to make the most of existing technologies to actively engage students agnostic of their physical location.

Why HyFlex at CUNY?

To expand access, enhance learning and accelerate success, in keeping with the mission of the University to “provide a public first-rate education to all students, regardless of means or background”, Chancellor Matos Rodriguez charged the Central Office to support campuses interested in pursuing HyFlex courses across the University in Spring 2021.

The ability to simultaneously deliver courses and/or programs in-person and online helps CUNY to ensure access, promotes participation among students, and insulates our colleges and schools from unanticipated disruptions like those caused by COVID-19.

Moreover, developing these capabilities also extends the reach of CUNY beyond the limitations of its physical campuses, and may be a tool that serves our mission and bottom-line moving forward.

What is the CUNY definition of HyFlex?

A HyFlex course provides multiple learning paths to give students choice in how to participate in class. The number of modalities available to students will vary from course to course, though generally includes in- person, synchronous online and asynchronous online. Students will be advised in the class about the choices they can make. HyFlex can function differently depending on discipline, class size and course learning goals. The purpose of this course design is to expand accessibility and be responsive to student needs by maximizing use of learning technologies.

What is the difference between Hybrid and HyFlex?

In a hybrid classroom, the instructor typically defines what class sessions are conducted in-person and what class sessions are conducted online. In a HyFlex classroom, the students have the choice to participate in a range of ways: attending an in-person class session, connecting virtually (remotely), or completing self-paced learning activities online (completely asynchronous). A HyFlex course is responsive to the needs of students by using multiple modalities to design learning paths, and utilizing a range of teaching technologies to engage students across modalities. Furthermore, a HyFlex course can facilitate learning while adhering to the safety and social distancing guidelines.

Meeting Owl Pro is a 360o smart conferencing camera with exceptional meeting experience, high-resolution 1080p, and premium sound.

• Smart mics equalize speaking volume.
• Compatible with all top platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Blackboard Collaborate.
• Powered by Owl Intelligence SystemTM, it uses vision and voice to auto-shift the camera. Also enabled to receive new smart features over time.

No	BUILDING	Room No.	Installation Status
1	AB1	A1-204	Complete
2	AB1	A1-208	Complete
3	AB1	A1-211	Complete
4	AB1	A1-214	Complete
5	AB1	A1-302	Complete
6	AB1	A1-304	Complete
7	AB1	A1-305	Complete
8	AB1	A1-311	Complete *
9	AB1	A1-402	Complete
10	AB1	A1-405	Complete
11	AB1	A1-407	Complete
12	AB1	A1-504	Complete
13	AB1	A1-505	Complete
14	AB1	A1-507	Complete
15	AB1	A1-C09	Complete
16	AB1	A1-C13	Complete
17	AB1	A1-L07	Complete
18 (Added)	AB1	A1-L09	Complete
19	AB1	A1-L11	Complete
20	Bedford	B-1009	Complete
21	Bedford	B-1019	Complete
22	Bedford	B-1021	Complete
23	Bedford	B-1023	Complete
24	Bedford	B-1026	Complete
25	Bedford	B-1028	Complete
26	Bedford	B-2007	Complete
27	Bedford	B-2008	Complete
28	Bedford	B-2009	Complete
29 (Added)	Bedford	B-2010	Complete
30	Bedford	B-2011	Complete
31	Bedford	B-2013	Complete
32	Bedford	B-2020	Complete
33	Bedford	B-2023	Complete
34	Bedford	B-2028	Complete
35	Bedford	B-1003A	Complete
36	Carroll	C-324	Complete
37	Carroll	C-325	Complete
38	Carroll	C-404	Complete
39	Carroll	C-407	Complete
40	Carroll	C-409	Complete
41	Carroll	C-410	Complete
42	Carroll	C-M7	Complete

When starting a Collaborate session, you will be prompted with the Audio/Video Test screens. Choose Meeting OWL Pro for the Audio and Video. If necessary, once in the Collaborate session, you can launch the Audio/Video Test again:

1. Click the purple tab in the lower right corner of the Collaborate Session
2. Click the My Settings gear icon
3. Click Setup your camera and microphone
4. Choose “Meeting OWL Pro” for each option

When you start your Teams session, you will be prompted with the audio/video settings page. Turn the video on and if necessary, click the settings gear icon and choose “Meeting OWL Pro” for all options. If necessary, once in the Teams session, you can modify the audio/video settings:

1. Click the three-dot (…) more actions menu in the top right and choose Device Settings
2. Set the Speaker, Microphone, and Camera to Meeting OWL Pro

1. Check the ‘Classrooms with Meeting Owl Pro’ cameras section on this page to confirm your classroom is a HyFlex / Hybrid Ready room.
2. Go to Blackboard
3. Go to your course in Blackboard and click on the Zoom link. Click on the “Schedule a New Meeting” button in Zoom.
4. Schedule recurring Zoom meetings for the days and times of your classes.
5. The following presets are recommended for classes in Zoom:
   • *Host Video On
   • *Participant Video On
   • *Mute participants upon entry
   • *Record the meeting automatically In the cloud (never locally)
6. You may also set the sound notification when someone joins or leaves to Host and co-hosts only as this can be very distracting to the session. While in Zoom, go to Settings and set the Sound notification to Host and co-hosts only.

For additional helpful information on using Zoom visit the Web Conferencing page which has tutorials on Zoom

1. Manage your Zoom session by allowing the online viewers to ask questions instead of raising their hands virtually.
2. Be sure to connect your Zoom session to the HyFlex camera and not the camera on the monitor of the lectern.
3. Connect the Owl microphone as the default for sound in your Zoom session

1. Log out of Blackboard.
2. Log out of Zoom. (Zoom stays logged in and the next instructor will be accessing your Zoom session)
3. Log out of the lectern computer. (no need to power off the computer)
4. Turn off projector.

Note: You may use either a wall panel or control box on the lectern to turn off the projector

I am not seeing any video from the Owl camera

When you first log in to the computer and sign in to Zoom, the Owl camera may display a gray background with a loading circle. This loading screen is a sort of sleep mode. Please approach the Owl camera and, when close to it, speak and wave your arms to take the Owl camera out of sleep mode.

Gray Background

There is a lot of echo and feedback

If you are noticing a lot of echo and feedback, try these solutions

• Make sure no one else in the physical classroom has Zoom opened on their laptop. If they must, make sure their microphone and speakers on their laptop are muted.
• Check that you are using the correct microphone. It is suggested that you use the Meeting Owl Pro microphone
• Check that you are using the correct speaker. Using the Meeting Owl Pro as the speaker for the class will help with noise canceling.

I have no audio, or my mic is not working

If you start your meeting and cannot hear anyone speaking, make sure your speaker is correctly set. You can test your speaker and microphone from inside a Zoom meeting by clicking on the upwards pointing arrow next to the Mute/Unmute button. From the list of options, click Test Speaker and Microphone. A chime will start playing, and a small window will pop up on your Zoom screen asking if you hear a ringtone. If you do, click Yes— if not, click No. If you click No, Zoom will begin cycling through your speakers to help fix the issue. This same process will then begin for your microphone, where you will be asked to speak for a few seconds and then it will play the recording back.

These are the latest Q&A’s from sessions CUNY Central has been hosting for all campuses on Hyflex

What learning technologies will be used? Is additional training needed for faculty or students? Does the college or the university provide the training and technology support required?

Classrooms with the new HyFlex technology are available. Not to oversimplify, but if you used Zoom or Teams or Web-Ex and have had to select your webcam or microphone, you already have the foundation for what to expect in the HyFlex classrooms. That said, we encourage everyone to check the rooms out onsite or virtually.

What hardware is needed to teach successfully? What hardware do students need?

The rooms will have Meeting Owl Pro containing an array of cameras and microphones to provide intelligent 360-degree video and audio. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Meeting Owl Pro uses its microphones to keep presenters in the view of the camera and provides a panoramic view of the entire room. The Meeting Owl Pro also includes a high-quality speaker that can be used to provide sound in the classroom.

Are students expected to bring their own device? Can they loan it?

Students who are participating in person do not need to bring a device to class. Only virtual participants will need to have their own device to connect to each session. Students may request a loaner device from IT.

Is there a way to see which classrooms are equipped for the HyFlex modality?

Please visit the Classroom Technology page under section “Classrooms with Meeting OWL Pro Installed”

Is re-arrangement of the classrooms possible?

The new cameras in the room are set at a high enough level so that the students who are home will see everyone in the classroom. There will be two cameras in most rooms, and each is installed to see the entire room from the top down.

What is the max capacity for the classroom?

Facilities just came out with a capacity list based on pandemic parameters which IT will use to update the room list which faculty will have access to on this page. To see the capacity, please click on the following link, xxxx (When this becomes available)

Will microphones be available since mask may still be required causing my vocal projection to be limited especially to the back of rooms?

The Meeting Owl Pro cameras in the classrooms include a built in microphone array designed to capture speech and audio from 18+ feet away, makes it a robust solution to streaming classes and capturing both student and faculty input.