Classroom Technology Toolkit

Technical support for classrooms on campus is shared between the Division of IT Classroom Media and Tech team and college distributed IT.

For most classrooms, the best route is to call the Academic Affairs Technology Support team at 815-753-7000. They will send someone over as soon as possible, with a goal of a resolution within 15 minutes.

You can also submit an incident report to DoIT Classroom Media and Tech, particularly if you are able to continue teaching despite the technology issue. Reporting the issue is still important so that the team can address it.

1. Go to it.niu.edu and click Login
2. Click the Report an Issue button
3. Select Classroom and AV Support from the Category drop down menu
4. Complete the form, being sure to include the specific room number in the Description field

The ticket will be routed to the appropriate support team. Note that while the teams will do their best to respond quickly, they may not be able to do so during your class session.

Most classrooms use a controller, such as a touch-screen or button box, to power on the projector. If that isn't working or the room doesn't have one, check for a Podium Control icon on the computer desktop and try to power on the system from there. 

You can also try the projector remote control. Look for the brand on the projector (if possible) to find the appropriate remote control. 

First, check the instructor station computer for a DVD or Blu-ray drive. If the computer has a DVD or Blu-ray drive, you can play the video from the PC. When you insert the disc and close the drive, the computer will likely automatically launch the player. 

If the computer does not have a built-in drive, you can use an external DVD drive that connects via USB. Founders Memorial Library has DVD drives available that you can check out for 3 days with your NIU OneCard. The drive includes the USB cable that you will need to connect it to the instructor computer or to your laptop.