Technology Guide
To record classroom instruction, our research team uses a tablet paired with the Swivl robot. The robot rotates to follow the classroom teacher as he/she delivers instruction.
Teachers who record their own lessons can click the links below to view step-by-step directions for setting up and using the technology.
Setting up the equipment
Recording your lesson
- Getting ready to record
- Using the second microphone
- Placing the camera in your classroom
- Recording your lesson
Charging the equipment
Troubleshooting
Equipment guides
Setting up the equipment
Setting up the tripod
The tripod is used to support the Swivl robot and the Samsung tablet while you record your lesson.
Step #1: Open the legs of the tripod by pulling down on the center knob and separating the tripod legs. Once fully opened, tighten the center knob to lock the legs in place.
Step #2: Open the upper lock to extend the leg. Once the leg lock is open, extend the leg by pulling on it. Close the leg lock to secure the leg.
Step #3: Repeat for the remaining legs (both upper and lower) and adjust the height as needed.
Note that there is tape on the lower legs marking the height that is typically ideal for the tripod when video recording instruction. You can extend the lower legs of the tripod until you reach the tape and make adjustments as you see fit.
Step #4: Finally, life the camera mount handle until the camera mount is parallel to the floor. Turn the handle to the right to lock the camera mount in place.
Setting up the Swivl robot and tablet
The Swivl sits on top of the tripod. Your Samsung tablet will fit into the slot on the top of the Swivl robot. The Swivl includes a microphone that is used to track your movement as you teach. The microphone snaps into a lanyard that you will wear around your neck while you record your instruction.
Step #1: Attach the Swivl robot to the tripod by placing the built-in mount on the bottom of the Swivl over the screw on the tripod’s camera mount. Turn the tripod knob counter clockwise to secure the Swivl in place.
Step #2: Place the tablet on the Swivl robot.
Step #3: Connect the Swivl to the tablet.
Take the black audio cable from the Swivl case. Plug the green end of the cable into the green audio port on the tablet. Then plug the yellow end of the cable into the yellow audio port on the Swivl.
Find the white USB cable. Plug the blue end of the cable into the blue micro-USB port on the tablet. Then plug the red end of the cable into the red USB port on the Swivl.
Step #4: Power on the Swivl and the microphone.
Press and hold the power button on the Swivl robot. Press and hold the power button on the microphone. The power lights on both the Swivl and microphone will turn green, indicating that the microphone is paired with the Swivl and is ready to use.
Step #5: Turn on the tablet and check out the features
Step #6: Pair the Swivl robot with the tablet.
Tap the Swivl Capture App to wake up the Swivl Robot. Notice that the Bluetooth indicator light on the left side of the Swivl will turn green. This means the tablet has “paired” and is communicating with the Swivl robot.
Using the SD card
The SD card tray is located on the lower right side of the tablet underneath the power and volume buttons.
To insert the SD card into the tablet
Step #1: Insert the small silver key (found in your tablet box) into the small hole in the SD card tray. Press gently and the SD card holder will pop up. If you misplace the key, an opened paper clip will also work.
Step #2: Once the tray pops up, remove it from the tablet. Place the SD card in the tray with the Samsung label facing up.
Step #3: Slide the tray back into the space in the tablet. If it does not easily slide back in, readjust the SD card.
To remove the SD card from the tablet
Follow the same steps as above and remove the SD card that is in the tray. Then place the SD card into the adapter.
Recording your lesson
Getting ready to record
Step #1: Power on the Swivl by holding down the on/off button.
Step #2: Power on the microphone by holding down the power button. The power light on the microphone and on the Swivl robot should both turn solid green, meaning they are paired.
Step #3: Slowly move the microphone back and forth in front of the Swivl to make sure it follows the movement of the microphone.
Step #4: Slide the microphone into the lanyard and put it around your neck.
Step #5: Power on the second microphone and decide where you will place it. See the next section for information on placing the second microphone in your classroom.
Step #6: Power on the tablet. Ensure an SD card has been inserted.
Step #7: Tap the Swivl capture icon.
Step #8: Tap the three bars on the top left of the screen to open the Swivl Capture menu.
Step #9: Tap “Capture” to be taken to the Swivl camera screen.
Step #10: Check to ensure both lights on the Swivl robot are green before recording.
Using the second microphone
- The primary microphone will be the one you turn on first. This is the microphone you should wear. You will know it’s the primary microphone because the Swivl robot will follow it.
- The secondary microphone is the one you turn on second. The purpose of this microphone is to record additional audio during your lesson. The Swivl robot will not follow this microphone.
Step #1: Turn on the primary microphone (in the lanyard) and place it around your neck.
Step #2: Place the secondary microphone in the lanyard and hold down the power button to turn it on.
Step #3: Place the secondary microphone where appropriate to record audio during the lesson:
One teacher, large group instruction: Use the secondary microphone to record student voices. Place the secondary microphone on a table where students will be working in groups or on a piece of furniture centrally located amongst students.
One teacher, small group instruction: Use the secondary microphone to record student voices. Place the secondary microphone on the table where you are conducting your small group amongst students.
Two teachers: Use the secondary microphone to record the second teacher’s voice. Put the secondary microphone in the lanyard and give to the other teacher to wear around his/her neck.
Placing the camera in your classroom
The primary goal of video recording is to capture your instruction. However, in order to get a full picture of the lesson, it is very helpful to capture student actions and responses during the lesson. The ideal camera placement is one where the camera can always see you well and can capture students as much as possible.
For large group instruction:
- Place the camera to the side of where instruction occurs, approximately 10-12 feet from where you will be delivering instruction. If it is possible, place the camera to the side of where students sit rather than behind them so that student actions will be captured. Make sure you can see yourself in the tablet screen from where you deliver instruction.
- The camera should be sitting straight in the Swivl or angled slightly downward to ensure it captures both you and the students. You can move the angle of the camera downward by holding down the checkmark button in the middle of the microphone and pointing it toward the Swivl. Move your arm in a downward motion and the Swivl should follow.
- The camera will rotate to follow you even if you move around the room during instruction. If students are working in groups, do your best to place the camera where it will best capture your instruction as you work with different groups.
For small group instruction:
- If you will be seated (such as at a table with a group of students) during the lesson, place the camera to the side of the table and angled toward the students so that it will capture your instruction and student responses (not the backs of student heads).
- Make sure the camera is angled downward or lower the tripod so that the tablet captures your instruction in this position. You can move the angle of the camera downward by holding down the checkmark button in the middle of the microphone and pointing it toward the Swivl. Move your arm in a downward motion and the Swivl should follow.
Recording your lesson
When you’re ready to start recording, press the record button on the tablet or press the record button on the side of the microphone to begin recording.
The light above the record button on the microphone will show a solid red light when the device is recording.
While recording, glance at the Swivl periodically throughout your lesson to make sure it is still following you and you can see yourself in the tablet screen.
Occasionally if you move too quickly, the Swivl will lose track of you, but will continue to pick up audio. If the Swivl stops following you, simply reorient it towards you when you have a free moment by standing in front of the Swivl robot and allowing it to reconnect with the microphone around your neck.
Tips on lighting:
- Keep the classroom lights on as much as possible to ensure your video is not dark.
- If sun is streaming in the classroom through the windows, keep the shades closed to prevent glare in your video.
To watch your videos, go to the Swivl Capture app and click on Library to see a list of your recorded videos.
Tap the video you want to watch. A playback screen will open and play the video. To hear the audio, make sure to unplug the audio cable from the tablet.
Powering off the equipment
- To power off the tablet, press the Power button on the top right corner of the tablet for a few seconds.
- Tap “Power off” on the screen.
- To power off the microphone, hold down the power button.
- To power off the Swivl, hold the power button (right side) on the Swivl robot.
Charging the equipment
Before you begin recording and after every recording, plug in the camera unit to charge it. To charge the equipment, simply plug the charging cable into the Swivl robot with the tablet still connected.
Be sure to leave all of the cables plugged in while charging. This will ensure that the tablet, Swivl robot, and microphone will all charge.
NOTE: Both lights on the Swivl robot will flash red when the Swivl robot has low battery and needs to be charged.
Charging the microphones
The microphone is stored in the compartment on top of the Swivl during charging. To ensure the microphone charges properly, take care to align the metal contacts on the microphone to the metal contacts in the Swivl charging slot.
NOTE: The microphone will show a flashing red light when it has low battery and needs to be charged.
Charging lights
When you plug in the unit, you should see an LED light on the Swivl robot base illuminate in either red or green. Charge the unit until the light is solid green, meaning that the Swivl robot, tablet, and microphone are all fully charged.
The battery life of the Swivl robot and microphone can also be checked in the Swivl Capture App under Settings. To do this, the tablet must be connected to the Swivl via Bluetooth.
Troubleshooting
Swivl Robot
In order to record a video, both lights on the Swivl robot should be solid green.
If the Bluetooth light is red, reset the Bluetooth connection between the tablet and the Swivl robot:
- On the tablet, tap on Settings on the home screen
- In the Bluetooth tab, tap on SWIVL under Available Devices
- Within 1 minute, the Swivl should appear under “Paired devices”
- Once you go back into the Swivl Capture App and access the camera, the Bluetooth light will turn green
If both lights are flashing red, charge the equipment.
If the power light is solid red, pair the marker with the Swivl robot:
- On the Swivl robot, hold down both the Bluetooth and power buttons simultaneously until the power light is blinking
- On the microphone, hold down the checkmark button (front) and power button (side) simultaneously until the power light on the microphone flashes green
- The power light on the Swivl and the microphone will both turn solid green, indicating they are paired
Microphones
In order to record a video, the light above the power button on the microphone should be solid green. This indicates the microphone is on and paired to the Swivl.
If the power light is solid red, pair the marker with the Swivl robot:
- On the Swivl robot, hold down both the Bluetooth and power buttons simultaneously until the power light is blinking
- On the microphone, hold down the checkmark button (front) and power button (side) simultaneously until the power light on the microphone flashes green
- The power light on the Swivl and the microphone will both turn solid green, indicating they are paired
If the power light is flashing red, charge the marker:
- Place the marker in the compartment located on top of the Swivl robot
- Plug the Swivl robot into an outlet using the black charging cable
Tablet
Each video you record should be stored on the SD card that is placed in the tablet.
If the SD card is blank after you have recorded a video, set the tablet to store videos on the SD card rather than on the tablet’s memory:
- On the Swivl Capture App, tap the three bars in the top left of the screen
- Tap on the Settings tab
- Under App Settings, tap on “Storage selection”
- Tap the button to “external SD card”
Equipment guides
Click the links below to download the equipment and classroom recording guides.