Presented at EdMedia in Tampere, this paper describes the creation of the CIS Studio classroom and preliminary results related to student experiences learning there.
21. Studio Classrooms
(Desbien, 2001)
• [Learning] takes place in a dedicated room (the
‘studio’) in which students sit at tables, rather than
desks. Each table has one computer for every two
or three students and space to do experiments.
• Has little or no formal lecture.
• Emphasizes active learning through a wide variety
of short experiments (often computer-based),
pencil-and paper exercises and discussion
questions.
• Emphasizes small group learning.
22.
23. Tom, Voss, and Sheetz (2008)
• [Studio classrooms] convey the sense of innovation,
a new approach to physical planning, an
experimental space, a prototype from which the
campus will learn how to develop other spaces,
[and] support for new ways to learn and to teach
37. Student Comments
• This classroom allowed for much more engagement
and interactivity than a standard classroom. It took
away from the lecture style, making it easier to stay
focused, and allowed for more hands-on group
activities than a standard classroom would. It was also
easy having screens at both ends so you never had to
turn around to see what you needed to be looking at."
• "the layout of the room makes it feel more intimate,"
• "it made it easier to have a discussion" with classmates.
38. Conclusion and
Recommendations
• Determine the purpose variety of activities.
• Design is iterative. Design with flexibility and expansion
in mind.
• Consider location of tables with respect to available
power and data.
• Be sure students can see a screen from anywhere.
• Consider the setting (casual, formal, professional).
• Allow space for students to spread out with their
devices.
• Plan for at least two, if not three wireless devices
(laptop, tablet, smart phone) per student.
What did we want to accomplish?
Collaborative
Business Casual
New Image for an Old Lab
What did we want to change?
Lighting
Furniture
Layout
Paint Colors
Here’s what Wikipedia says ….
What did we want to accomplish?
Collaborative
Business Casual
New Image for an Old Lab
What did we want to change?
Lighting
Furniture
Layout
Paint Colors
flexible, to accommodate both current and evolving pedagogies;
future-proof, to enable space to be re-allocated and reconfigured;
bold, to look beyond tried and tested technologies and pedagogies
creative, to energise and inspire learners and tutors;
supportive, to develop the potential of all learners;
enterprising, to make each space capable of supporting different purposes
So this is what we wanted to create –
multipurpose – beyond a computer lab, not just for tutoring
welcoming – anything is brighter than what we started with. I wanted colors on the walls!
accessible – easy to find, navigate, figure out where to go and what to do
collaborative – promotes working together
individual – giving people space to do their own work as well
visible – how do we let people know we are here?
Usually we don’t have a choice in the spaces we get to redesign. Space at universities are at a premium to begin with. In our case, we had a corner room in a basement with no windows.
What’s the purpose of the space? How might it be configured?
Computer Lab
Library
Classroom
Student Lounge
Tutoring/Learning Lab
Conference Room
Design Considerations
Where Is It?
Easy to find
Currently not used much
Resources
Hardware / Equipment
Benefits of the Space
Budget
Staffing and Training
Looking Ahead
Teaching
Ongoing Revisions
What does this space need to be in 5 years?
students provided ideas about the kind of computer activity center they would like to have: good lighting, comfortable chairs, new carpet, new paint colors, group study areas, more desk space … and flexible seating… to accommodate group study with white boards and large TV screens for sharing computer-based projects.