This article is...
IntendedES.pngIntended for
Employees and Students
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RCS Software and Services and Classroom technology and systems‏‎
DIS.jpgMaintained by
Derek Smith
2021-2022.pngin need of review.



History of Phonak at Riverdale

Phonak Roger SoundField systems were installed in every classroom at the River Campus in 2016.

  • Over the summer of 2019, systems were installed in all classrooms in Hackett Hall, in the Mayo Lab, and in room 5101 in the Science Annex.
  • Over the summer of 2021, systems were installed in all Mow classrooms, some 9/10 classrooms and in 5001.
  • We anticipate installing in all remaining classrooms over the summer of 2022.

Instructions on how to use the Phonak System

A video overview of the Phonak mic and speaker system can be viewed here: Tutorial: Roger Digimaster 5000 and Touchscreen Mic Please take some time to view the video completely.

Touchscreen Mic


An instructional video about how to use the Roger Touchscreen Mic can be viewed here: Roger Touchscreen Mic video

Note: This video has information after the 3-minute mark which does not apply to our use at Riverdale.

Key things to remember:

Mute the Roger Touchscreen Mic whenever you are:

  • talking individually with a student in your classroom;
  • outside of the classroom, either to visit another classroom, office, or when you visit the restroom. It is best to leave the microphone in the classroom.

We have posted handy warning notices on faculty room doors, most restroom doors, and inside restrooms where it they may be more visible.

Power down the Roger Touchscreen Mic at the end of the school day, and make sure to plug in the charging cable to charge overnight. Please do not power down the Phonak speakers themselves.

The Roger Touchscreen Mics hang from a wall-mounted hook adjacent to the Phonak speaker for easy access. In some classrooms, the Touchscreen Mics will be hanging near the teacher's desk instead of near the speaker. Please put the mic back on the hook when you are finished using it and make sure to wipe it down with low-moisture sanitizing wipes before and after each use. Make sure not to get excess cleaning solution into the microphone ports (see the overview video above for the locations.) Do not spray a cleaning solution directly on the mic - spray a small amount on a cloth beforehand. Because you are not speaking into the Touchscreen microphone directly as you would into a typical handheld vocal mic, clean the touchscreen mic when you know it will be used by another teacher later, or if you are unsure if it has been used before.

Digimaster 5000 Speaker


In most classrooms, the speakers have been wall-mounted. In some rooms, however, speakers will be mounted on stands. It is important that the speakers are adjusted so they point towards the students in the classroom. Unfortunately, the speakers do not have the ability to be 'locked in place' to provide the optimal positioning. Please check each time you intend to use the Phonak system that the Digimaster speaker is pointed towards the students and not towards a wall or away from the students.

Stand-mounted speakers: Because these stands can be moved anywhere in the room, the speakers need to be in the front to be used most effectively. In some classrooms, you may need to reposition the speaker as part of the class session.