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In order to give students a space to practice presentations and conduct group collaborations, the Division of Information Technology has built a new learning studio at the Academic Services Building, Room 2.112.
The room is exclusively for students and student organizations use. The idea was to have a place that has the technology that can accommodate to students’ needs for presentations and other work
“I really don’t think there are many other areas that offer this type of collaborative environment,” explained Richard Rodriguez, assistant director of Computer Support Services. “I believe that this area has a much stronger emphasis on the use of technology for student success.”
The equipment was purchased by CSS during the summer using the IT access fee, and cost about $51,000 including the room remodeling and furniture.
The features of the learning studio include: a presentation podium with A/V controls similar to the ones located in regular classrooms, a 58-inch Mobile Smart Board, this is a movable monitor with a touch screen that allows student to make presentations without the use of a projector; wireless airliner tablets allows students to use the smart board from their seats; a wireless polling system, this lets students in large groups use clickers to gather information and translate it into graphs that can be viewed in power point presentations; movable white boards; movable furniture; a document camera and projector.
Students will also be able to check out laptops at the lab, two Mac and 24 PCs, for three hours; they cannot be taken out of the building. The room also has access to wireless printing; this will allow students to print out material from their laptops.
Construction for the room ended a couple of weeks after the semester started but some inquiries have already been made.
According to Rodriguez, there has been good feedback from students who have used it. However, he said more advertising must to be done via e-mail and Bronc Notes. So far students have used the room mainly as a study area.
“We hope that student organizations and students in general begin reserving it and using it to its full potential,” Rodriguez said. “This room was designed for use by students and it is truly up to them to determine its use.”
The room is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to midnight. Students can use the room during these hours if it is not reserved.
Large groups can reserve the lab at one time for two hours. For more information students can call the computing lab scheduling office at (956) 318-5343.
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