Information for UCL users of Birkbeck’s teaching spaces.
As of Monday 29th September, UCL staff and students can now make use of Birkbeck’s learning and teaching spaces.
This is to cope with increased student numbers and pressure on UCL’s teaching estate arising from the various
Transforming UCL projects. ISD is working with Birkbeck to provide IT facilities within the Birkbeck spaces but there
are some limitations which you should be aware of.
Where are these teaching spaces located?
Three venues are being used:
 The Birkbeck Main Building on Malet Street (building number 1 on the map below)
 43 Gordon Square (building number 13 on the map below) and
 The Clore Management Centre, Torrington Square (building number 2 on the map below)
These sites are all close to UCL’s Malet Place entrance as you can see from the map below:
For the first week of UCL teaching (w/c 29 September), arrangements have been made for a UCL Security attendant
to be on hand at the Malet Street entrance to Birkbeck to assist with directions, with a further attendant in 43
Gordon Square. Room Bookings will also be extending the scope of the Room Diaries by posting copies at the
entrance to each of the Birkbeck rooms.
Which teaching spaces are available to UCL staff/students at Birkbeck?
The following teaching spaces are available for UCL staff/students;
Room
Address
Capacity
Room type
MAL 109
(ITS)
Malet Street
92
Computer room
MAL 251
Malet Street
25
Classroom
MAL 252
Malet Street
25
Classroom
MAL 253
Malet Street
25
Classroom
MAL 254
Malet Street
25
Classroom
MAL 255
Malet Street
25
Classroom
MAL 351
Malet Street
25
Classroom
MAL 352
Malet Street
20
Classroom
MAL 353
Malet Street
25
Classroom
MAL 354
Malet Street
25
Classroom
MAL 355
Malet Street
25
Classroom
MAL 404 (CSC)
Malet Street
40
Computer room
MAL 405 (CSC)
Malet Street
30
Computer room
MAL 413
(ITS)
Malet Street
27
Computer room
MAL B18
Malet Street
60
Theatre
MAL B29
Malet Street
30
Classroom
MAL B30
Malet Street
40
Classroom
MAL B35
Malet Street
125
Theatre
MAL B36
Malet Street
123
Theatre
CLO B01
Clore Manageent
Centre
250
Theatre
GOR G01
43 Gordon Square
30
Classroom
GOR G02
43 Gordon Square
28
Classroom
GOR G03
43 Gordon Square
28
Classroom
GOR 110
43 Gordon Square
24
Classroom
GOR 120
43 Gordon Square
22
Classroom
GOR 322
43 Gordon Square
20
Classroom
GOR Birkbeck Cinema
Cinema
65
Theatre
These rooms are a mix of lecture theatres, classrooms and computer workrooms. Note that rooms 404 and 405 have
a partition divide between them. We use the rooms combined, but if for any reason the partition is not open the key
switch and crank handle to open the partition is in the filing cabinet in room 405.
How do I book a teaching space at Birkbeck?
Teaching events have been allocated to the Birkbeck space as part of the annual academic timetabling process. Any
available slots will then be offered as alternatives, should requested UCL rooms be unavailable. The Birkbeck rooms
will not appear on the Room Bookings website initially.
Which teaching spaces are equipped with Lecturecast facilities?
Lecturecast facilities are installed and tested in the following teaching spaces:
Conference Room
Area
People
Layout
MAL B18
Malet Street
60
Theatre
MAL B29
Malet Street
30
Classroom
MAL B30
Malet Street
40
Classroom
MAL B35
Malet Street
125
Theatre
MAL B36
Malet Street
123
Theatre
CLO B01
Clore MC
250
Theatre
GOR Birkbeck Cinema
Cinema
65
Theatre
Note that not all input devices are recorded:



The fixed PC provided image is always recorded.
In B35, B36 and the Cinema, laptop inputs can also be recorded.
The visualiser image provided is never recorded.
Who should I contact to schedule Lecturecast within the above teaching spaces?
Once a room booking has been confirmed, recordings can be scheduled directly via the Lecturecast booking page as
with any UCL room. More information and the booking form can be found at:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/isd/staff/e-learning/core-tools/lecturecast
How do I access teaching applications on a Birkbeck PC?
If you only require a web browser, Microsoft Office applications, PDFs and/or access to a USB memory stick:
Please log in using the dedicated ‘avtemp33’ account. Details of this account can be obtained from
departmental administrators, timetablers and from the Birkbeck Reception Team.
Please note that access to UCL network home drives (e.g. N: or S: drive) will not be available. Teaching
material such as PowerPoint presentations will need to be stored on USB devices or online cloud storage.
Please do not circulate the ‘avtemp33’ account details for student use under any circumstances. If this
account is found in use by students, Birkbeck may permanently remove this facility from UCL.
If you require other teaching applications and/or need to use your UCL home network drive:
1. Log in to any Birkbeck PC using the dedicated ‘ucluser’ account. Details of this account can be obtained
from departmental administrators, timetablers and from the Birkbeck Reception Team.
If you need to access files from a USB stick, then you should put this into the USB socket at this point,
and then wait a few seconds before launching Desktop@UCL Anywhere (see step 2).
2. Open up the ‘Desktop@UCL Anywhere’ application on the desktop. Note that after clicking it can take up
to 90 seconds for the window to appear. Please be patient and avoid clicking multiple times. The window
may also load in the background, in which case press ALT-TAB on the keyboard to bring it to the
foreground.
3. Once the window has loaded, log in to the Desktop@UCL Anywhere service with your usual UCL ID and
password.
The need to log in to both the Birkbeck PC and Desktop@UCL Anywhere does increase the time required to
reach your desktop and start any applications. This process will take approximately 3 minutes.
Desktop@UCL Anywhere gives you access to a wide range of applications, including many that are available
on the Desktop@UCL service found in UCL’s own computer workrooms, however not all teaching
applications are available using Desktop@UCL Anywhere.
Common applications found on Desktop@UCL Anywhere include SPSS, Matlab and Reference Manager.
However some others cannot be provided on Desktop@UCL Anywhere for licencing or technical reasons.
If you are using more advanced teaching applications than Microsoft Office and web browsers, or have more
sophisticated requirements, you are advised to check in advance with the ISD Service Desk to see if those
applications are available on the Birkbeck PCs through Desktop@UCL Anywhere.
Help and support with PC applications

A list of the applications that are available via Desktop@UCL Anywhere is available at:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/isd/common/ucldesktop/apps_available_desktopPC

You can find contact details for the ISD Service Desk at:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/isd/common/servicedesk

You can find more information and user guides for Desktop@UCL Anywhere at:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/isd/common/ucldesktop/anywhere-user-guide
Can I print from Birkbeck PCs?
Print jobs can be sent via the Desktop@UCL Anywhere service but physical printouts can only be collected via a
print@UCL device located within a UCL building. There is no facility to print from the Bickbeck-owned printers.
What do I do if the application I require is not available on Desktop@UCL
Anywhere?
In the first instance, please contact Room Bookings to check whether an alternative is available; offering alternative
times where possible. In the longer term, you can request to have the software made available by calling the ISD
Service Desk or completing the form here:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/silva/isd/common/software/DesktopUCLSoftware
I’m using Excel, but don’t have the Solver command in the Data tab
In Excel for Windows, if you don't see the Solver command or the Analysis group on the Data tab, you need to load
the Solver add-in.
1. Click the File tab, click Options, and then click the Add-ins category.
2. In the Manage box, click Excel Add-ins, and then click Go.
3. In the Add-ins available box, select the Solver Add-in check box. If you don't see this name in the list, click
the Browse... button and navigate to the folder containing Solver.xlam. Then click OK.
4. Now on the Data tab, in the Analysis group, you should see the Solver command.
What audio visual equipment is provided in these spaces?
The Birkbeck rooms have broadly similar audio-visual
equipment as our own, with teaching PCs, data
projectors or screens, Blu-Ray or DVD Players, VGA
laptop connections and microphones where required.
Note that Birkbeck rooms do not generally have
visualisers.
More information about facilities is available at:
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/roombookings/rooms
An example of the control panel used in Birkbeck
rooms is shown here:
Can I project from a laptop?
Yes. A VGA socket is provided in each space, with HDMI sockets in some areas. Information about facilities is
provided here:
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/roombookings/rooms
If you already have all the applications you require on your laptop, you may find using your own laptop easier than
following the process above to access Desktop@UCL Anywhere.
Can I connect to the Internet?
All Birkbeck’s teaching spaces use eduroam wireless networking which works in the same way as it does at UCL. If
your laptop or device already connects to eduroam at UCL then it should connect straightaway. If you have not yet
connected your device to eduroam, you should connect it to eduroam at UCL before attempting to use it at Birkbeck.
There have been reports that the wifi available can be slower than that at UCL. You cannot connect to the wired
network at Birkbeck.
Who should I contact for technical support whilst using Birkbeck teaching
spaces?
Whilst using the teaching spaces within Birkbeck, any technical issues can be reported directly to the Birkbeck ITS
Service Desk. Your query may be passed to the relevant UCL ISD technical team for investigation/resolution.
Tel: 020 7631 6220 (or extension 6220 from an internal Birkbeck phone)
Email: [email protected]
Who can I talk to regarding the teaching spaces at Birkbeck?
Please contact Room Bookings at [email protected]
UCL Estates and Information Services Division
Last updated: 24 November 2014