On the Menu
Challenge
Unlike traditional Family & Consumer Science (FCS) classes that focus on cooking for a home environment, the new culinary arts program in the newly-renovated Shakopee High School will prepare students for jobs in the food service industry.
The school’s existing FCS classrooms had poor lighting, and the overhead camera did not produce a clear image. Without zoom capabilities, the image produced wasn’t helping students see the techniques being taught. When the school expanded due to increasing enrollment, a commercial kitchen and training space were included in the design. The district hired a consultant to design the space. The AV had to complement the overall design and help students view the lessons.
Solution
Affinitech, the integrator for the project, specified a Vaddio® DocCAM™ 20 HDBT camera to be installed in the ceiling above the instructor station in the front of the classroom. The document camera is controlled by an Extron control system which is situated on the island where the instructor can choose which monitors the camera image displays on. Presets have been stored within the camera for easy framing of the shot and a seamless zoom. The instructor uses the DocCAM’s remote control to recall camera presets. Four 43-inch monitors make it easy for students to see whatever the instructor is working on.
The AV system was designed to be implemented in a series of waves for budgetary requirements. Currently the camera is being used for live demonstrations and the system is closed to students sitting in the classroom. In selecting an overhead camera solution for this space, we were looking for something with a small, unobtrusive footprint with exceptional image quality,
said Marshall Peterson, Design Engineer at Affinitech. The ease of integration and installation was also important. The feature set of the DocCAM meets the requirements of the project perfectly, and allows for future functionality such as recording or streaming classes.
Results
The staff is excited to use the camera to demonstrate cooking skills and is looking forward to engaging students throughout the whole classroom. The school district is proud to be at the forefront of preparing students for foodservice careers.
The DocCAM’s zoom feature will be extremely helpful for showing skills,
said Shawna Wilson, instructor at Shakopee High School. For example, the students will be able to see the difference between chopping, dicing and mincing.
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