Overview
 With the completion of rennovations to the INI building in Fall 2007, the INI has two locations where Pittsburgh faculty and students connect with their international counterparts. The newly expanded facilities support the growth of the INI international programs that have expanded to Portugal in addition to Greece and Japan.
The INI Distributed Education Center in the Collaborative Innovation Center (DEC@CIC) is located on Forbes Avenue on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University. The INI Distributed Education Center on Henry Street (DEC@Henry) is located on the lower level of the INI building. View the slideshow gallery of the INI's Distritubuted Education Center on Henry Street.
 Both facilities are equipped with the latest videoconferencing technology in order to make students in several remote locations feel like they are all in one classroom.
The design of the facilities was based on three years of experience in delivering the Master of Science in Information Networking (MSIN) program to Athens, and the top priority was to promote interaction between faculty and students in different locations. “Research in distance education has shown that interaction is the key predictor of success in distance learning - so having the technology to facilitate that interaction is key,” says Director of the INI Dena Haritos Tsamitis.
 What look like ordinary classrooms are actually high tech TV studios. The rooms are equipped with broadcast quality video cameras - one to film the lecturer and multiple other cameras positioned around the room to film students. These cameras are placed as close to eye level as possible in order to make remote students feel a part of the discussion and lectures.
Multiple confidence monitors on the back wall allows instructors in Pittsburgh to observe and interact with students in remote locations.
The Sound System
 The sound system is designed to minimize background noise and preserve sound quality as much as possible. One microphone is mounted between every two students, and these microphones can be activated by a student pressing a button, or by a faculty member selecting a student's microphone after the student has pressed the button. Once a microphone has been activated, one of the cameras automatically focuses on the student speaking.
Contact Information
 George Klippel | email
Manager, Classroom Technology
and Distributed Education Support
412-268-9722
Reservation Form
To reserve either of the two INI Distributed Education Centers, please complete the following form:
INI DEC Reservation Form*
* Important Note: All reservations requests made prior to when the semester class schedule is posted are tentative. Once the class schedule is published for the semester, you will receive final confirmation for your reservation. If a class conflicts with your event/activity, we will do our best to offer you an alternate date.
Directions and Parking
Directions to:
DEC@CIC
The INI Distributed Education Center at the Collaborative Innovation Center
4720 Forbes Ave. Room #1201, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
A parking garage is located in the building.
 Download PDF
 Map to DEC@CIC
DEC@Henry
The INI Distributed Education Center on Henry Street
INI Building, 4616 Henry Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
The INI is located in Oakland, two blocks from the Carnegie Mellon campus, off of S. Craig St. on Henry St. The office can be reached from Forbes Avenue or Fifth Avenue. Both Forbes and Fifth run the length of Oakland.
Please note that visitor parking on Henry Street is limited and is intended for individuals making short visits to the office. To the left of S. Craig is the S. Dithridge St. garage. If you are driving, you should use this facility to park.
Download PDF
Map to DEC@Henry
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