David Cordes, University of Alabama, cordes@cs.ua.edu
Jeff Froyd, Texas A&M University, froyd@ee.tamu.edu
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• Introduction (20 min)
– Guidelines, what is an “innovative classroom”?
• What Other Institutions Have Done (25 min)
– Information dump
• Classroom Transformation (30 min)
– What do you do? How do you do this?
• Other Issues and Considerations (20 min)
– Items that can impact potential changes
• Wrap-up (5 min)
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• Will operate in a team-based mode
– The group knows more than any one person
• Interrupt frequently
– No pre-defined set of material that “must” be covered in this workshop
• When looking at innovative classrooms, we will focus on
– The use of technology in the classroom
– Lower-division engineering courses
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• Within your group: discuss the following question among yourselves
What is an innovative classroom?
(and could you recognize one if you saw it)
Appoint a reporter to capture group results
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• Needs to accommodate a diversity of teaching styles
• Multi-media equipped
• PCs (functional) at every desk, for every student
• Hardware in the classroom (demonstration hardware)
• Flexible in setup (able to be re-arranged)
• Appropriate environment – seating (recliners), acoustical, quick escape pod for the teacher
•
Internet connectivity
• Follows good design practices for classroom – good viewing angles, environmental controls, etc.
• Projectors for the PC, Elmo, etc. (multi-media)
• Virtual lab tools
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• NO – difficulty with sight angles, temperature control
• YES – multi-media presentation, broken up in non-traditional seating arrangements
•
YES
– we confirmed that
• YES – same reasons
•
NO
– inadequate resources, poor acoustics
•
Plants are nice
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

Short (~25 minute) information dump
• Background Information
– one-page introduction to technology-enabled learning
• Representative Foundation Coalition efforts
– Arizona State University
– Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
– Texas A&M University
– University of Alabama
– University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
• Other sample initiatives
– Drexel’s EE laboratories
– RPI’s studio model
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• Philosophy
– College focus on technology in classrooms, different classrooms for different needs, faculty training essential
• Classroom layout & equipment
– Hold 40 to 80 students, team-based seating, instructor has ability to project student work on main screens
• Software & Applications
– Wide variety, different rooms have different packages, all information available via the Internet
• Audience
– All fundamental engineering courses
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

Sample
ASU
Classroom
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• Philosophy
– Completely networked campus environment
• Classroom layout & equipment
– Every student purchases a notebook computer as an entering student (model is specified by institution)
– Over 20 classrooms have been equipped with network and power connections to support notebook computers
• Software & Applications
– Maple (calculus), Working Model & Maple (dynamics),
Physics labs (Excel - data acquisition/analysis)
• Audience
– All engineering students and classes
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• Philosophy
– Classroom technology must be scalable for large classes (~100)
• Classroom layout & equipment
– Remodeled about 10 classrooms for first-year and sophomore courses
– One computer per two students
– Departments have constructed their own classrooms, more are planned
• Software & Applications
– Microsoft Office, Maple, AutoCAD, Eng. Equation Solver (EES), Internet
– EE has students design, simulate, construct, measure and compare behavior of circuits. Class uses NI hardware and software.
• Audience
– Freshman and sophomore engineering students
– Specialized classes in specific disciplines
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

CVLB 319: ENGR 112 Team Layout
Sections 501 - 503
Windows
Windows
Podium
Doors Doors

• Philosophy
– Technology in classrooms, classrooms convenient to students (one new classroom in “engineering dorm”)
• Classroom layout & equipment
– Remodeled six different classrooms
– Tables for four, one computer per two students
– Departments constructing their own classrooms
• Software & Applications
– Microsoft Office, compilers, FORTRAN, Maple
• Audience
– Freshman engineering students
– All students in introductory computing sequence
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• Several classroom formats exist
– All have computers at student desks, instructor console, projection system
– Primarily used for lower-division classes
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
• Classroom layout & equipment
– Remodeled three classrooms with tables that seat four students and have two computers (48 seats)
• Software & Applications
– Maple and Excel
– Based on Studio Physics model (RPI), students perform physics and chemistry experiments in the classroom, acquire, display and analyze data
• Audience
– Freshman & sophomore engineering majors
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
IMPULSE
Classroom
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
Studio Classrooms
• Philosophy – studio environment
– Integrate classroom (lecture) with laboratory
(experiments, acquire/display/analyze data)
• Classroom layout & equipment
– Tables with two students (one computer)
– Student
• Using computer faces away from instructor
• Listens to lecture facing away from computer
• Audience
– Mathematics, sciences, engineering students
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• Students face instructor during lecture
– Away from computers
• Student away from instructor when using computers
– Instructor can see monitors easily
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

http://www.educatorscorner.com/education/case_studies/drexel.shtml
• Laboratory layout & equipment
– Laboratory bench for two students (one computer)
– Suite of measurement equipment with computer control
– First-year and sophomore students
• Perform experiments and laboratory projects for three hours/week
• Philosophy
– From the start students work with current equipment and explore stimulating physical phenomena
• Audience
– Engineering students
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• As a team, design your “ideal classroom environment” for the Fall of 2002
– Describe this classroom environment
– Describe how your new activities would benefit students and their learning
– Describe the resources (besides $$$) that would be required to realize your visions
– Select a different reporter from last time
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

•
Ideal Classroom
– Laptops required for all students
– Wireless high-speed network connection
– Uniform software suite
– Instructor control over each display in room
– Fully integrated lab (including data acquisition) with teaching of facts
– Multi-media tools
• Activities
– Set up experiments such that you: teach
 perform experiment
 process data
 reinforce concept
– Active learning
– Team projects
– Design studio
• Support
– I.T. Support
– Training (faculty)
– Buy-in by faculty/administration
– Curriculum re-design
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• Hardware
– Wireless connectivity
– 2 students per PC
– Flat-screen monitor (flexible arm)
– VCR
– DVD
– Document camera
– Wireless microphone
– Microphone on each student desk
– Internet connectivity
– Demo hardware/teaching kit
– Satellite
– Suitable for distance learning
– Web camera
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• Activities
– Computer Demo
– Videotape show
– Use Internet
– Small bench demo
– Wireless
• Costs
– $40K for laptops
– $20K for TV & projectors
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• Laboratory contains
– Computers
– Air, gas, water at every other table
– Network
– Microphone and headphones
– Software
– Demo equipment
– Projector, Elmo system
• Benefits
– Experience each concept
– Analyze and store all data
– Collaboration
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• Features
– Capacity of approx. 48 students
– 12 tables for 4
– Wired for laptops with a wireless network
– Multimedia equipment
• Proxima computer projector installed in the ceiling
• Mimeo for the whiteboard
• Sound system
• DVD/VCR
• Document camera/Elmo
• Instructor’s control console
– Lighting & environmental controls
– White boards
• Activities:
– Team projects, demos, computer instruction, presentation ability
• Benefits
– Enhanced learning capability, more flexible teaching capability
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• What other questions regarding the use of technology in the classroom need to be addressed?
– Ideas regarding technology for distance education
– Impact on teaching workloads (and evaluations)
– What about student feedback on “value added”?
– Using computers in classroom (and exams), what issues arise as a result?
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• Design & Utilization
– Rooms available for renovation
– Physical layout considerations
– Equipment (cost, size, location, power, HV/AC)
– Time (often takes more than one summer to build)
– Faculty support and education
& development
– Scheduling of these rooms
– Monitoring & after-hours access
– Maintenance & upgrade time availability
• Administrative
– Institution’s computing policies
– Software licensing
– Purchase, replacement & upgrade costs
– Support staffing
– Clear plan for what inst. is doing with technology
– Impact on T&P process
– Want to assess results, how to best do this
– How to get financial support from State or outside sources?
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

• Relevant resources
– Foundation Coalition
• http://www.foundationcoalition.org/
– Arizona State University
• http://www.eas.asu.edu/ceasrooms/
• http://www.eas.asu.edu/~asufc/teaming.html
– Texas A&M University
• http://coalition.tamu.edu/
– RPI Studio Classroom
• http://ciue.rpi.edu/studioteaching.html
– Sigma Xi Resources
• http://www.sigmaxi.org/scienceresources/undergradedu.htm
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001

End of workshop
Classroom Innovations Workshop, Tennessee Tech University, November 29 th , 2001