Smart Classrooms, Smart Commons, Smart Choices

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Smart Classrooms, Smart Commons, Smart Choices

• Balancing Functionality and Expense in
  Technological Learning Spaces

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Overview

• The application of technology to learning spaces
  presents exciting opportunities to foster
  teaching and learning both in and out of the
  classroom.
• The deployment of Smart Classrooms and Smart
  Commons reflects a significant investment both
  initially and over time.
• Development of baseline standards in conjunction
  with faculty and staff stakeholders can be an
  effective method to optimize this investment
  while maximizing its impact on instruction.

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Smart Classrooms, Smart Commons and Learning

• Presentation technologies coupled with Internet
  access have revolutionized teaching and enhanced
  learning in the classroom
• Wireless Internet access has supercharged
  informal learning taking place in the commons
• This revolution has increased demand for smart
  classrooms and common spaces
• The expense involved poses challenges to the CIO
  in best serving the largest number of students

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The Balancing Act

• Deploying Smart Classrooms and Commons require
  the balancing of multiple factors
• Number of spaces deployed
• Comprehensiveness of technology
• Available resources
• In weighing these factors, consider
• The availability of Smart Classrooms for
  instruction
• The impact on classroom flexibility
• The impact of Smart Commons on the environment
• The impact on the amount of training necessary
• The long-term financial resources needed for
  maintenance and renewal

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Managing Expectations

• Involvement of Faculty and Staff in Establishment
  of Standards
• At North Lake College, we administered a faculty
  survey to measure the importance they assigned to
  some 98 smart classroom features/issues
• A focus group composed of faculty, staff, and
  administrative leaders then reviewed those
  results to arrive at a baseline standard
• Departments were then free to augment this
  standard to meet the needs of their particular
  disciplines

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Comprehensiveness Versus Extent

• Taking a bare bones approach will permit
  deployment of the largest number of Smart
  Classrooms
• Ceiling-Mounted Projector/Screen/Speakers
• Computer/Monitor
• Combo DVD/VCR Player
• Media Cart for Computer and Player
• Wall Panel with A/V Connections
• This approach brings with it greater support and
  training issues
• Disconnection of equipment
• Multiple or Missing Remotes
• Equipment Operation

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Comprehensiveness Versus Extent

• A comprehensive organic approach
• Will significantly reduce the support issues
• A/V Control Panels to eliminate remote controls
• Networked A/V equipment to permit remote support
• And permit more modes of instruction
• Document cameras
• Smartboards
• Interactive Response Systems
• Correspondingly reducing the number of classrooms
  deployed

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Comprehensiveness Versus Extent

• Such a bare bones approach applied to Smart
  Commons permits the widest deployment
• Wireless hotspots
• Electrical outlets for recharging
• Network security measures
• A comprehensive organic approach permits more
  modes of student interaction
• Video Projection
• Smartboard technologies
• Correspondingly reducing the number of commons
  deployed

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Metrics For Room/Space Selection

• Establishment of formal metrics for room
  selection
• Opportunity to build consensus
• Ensure service to the largest number of students
• Reduce costs related to retrofit
• Reduces risk of design flaws

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Metrics For Room Selection

• Priority should go to multi-use classrooms to
  maximize the number of students served
• Room Capacity
• Number and variety of sections/disciplines taught
• Enrollment figures for those sections
• Priority should then go to rooms for which
  retrofit is least expensive

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Metrics For Room Selection

• Priority for Smart Commons should go to public
  spaces with a high amount of student traffic
• Cafeteria
• Library
• Gallery
• Division Offices

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Approaches In Design

• The design approach taken should reflect the
  balance of comprehensiveness and expense
• Trade-offs should be assessed in terms of impact
  on instruction and technical support
• When compromise is necessary, alternative
  approaches to remediate deficiencies should be
  planned for

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Planning For Infrastructure

• Infrastructure costs outweigh technology costs
  and are easily overlooked
• Lighting (type, control, and ambient)
• Security (key distribution, access control,
  monitoring)
• Electrical capacity
• Network connections (wired and wireless)
• Cooling (particularly in computer labs)
• Coordination with your facilities director is
  essential during the planning phase

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Comprehensive Connectivity

• Every connection available at the projector
  should be available at the podium or wall
  connection panel
• Video (VGA, Composite Video, and S-Video)
• Audio
• PS/2, Serial, and USB
• A set of A/V connections should be made available
  for equipment brought into the classroom
• Secured media cabinets for fixed equipment can
  reduce the frequency of user disconnect of
  equipment and resulting technical support issues

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Control And Operation

• A/V Control Panels
• Simplifies the operation of the classrooms
  equipment
• Permits remote support via Ethernet
• Permits remote monitoring of security and
  maintenance
• Expensive to implement
• In their absence, purchase a supply of
  replacement remotes
• Standardization of equipment reduces training
  requirements
• Placement of spare remotes in division offices
  can provide quick resolution for instructors in
  cases of theft

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Laptop Docking Stations

• Provision of laptop docking stations for faculty
  laptops
• Relieves the faculty of the necessity of dealing
  with the plumbing
• Requires standardization of laptop purchases
• Requires additional video and networking
  infrastructure
• Requires manufacturer commitment to longer
  compatibility lifecycles for docks

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Wireless Networks

• Provides access to instructor and student-owned
  equipment
• Allows for clustering of smart classrooms
  around a single hotspot
• Likely reductions in bandwidth as more devices
  connect
• Wireless is not a substitute for a wired network
• Security threat posed by unpatched computers

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Wireless Projectors and Tablet PCs

• Allows use of Tablet PCs, unchaining the
  instructor from the podium
• Requires deployment of wireless networks
• Requires careful planning of the
  network/projector logical infrastructure

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Triage

• Controlling expense to meet a desired extent of
  deployment requires careful consideration of
  trade-offs
• Each trade-off made will result in a increase in
  training and technical support requirements

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Triage - Retrofit Versus New Construction

• Retrofitting existing classrooms is an expensive
  proposition when compared with new construction
• Alternatives
• Consolidating smart classrooms within any new
  construction project
• A mixed approach in which new construction
  incorporates the highest level of technology
  while retrofitted classrooms incorporate
  scaled-back implementation

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Triage Environment and Infrastructure

• Highly customized lighting treatments represent a
  significant expense
• Zoned florescent lighting is a cheaper
  alternative
• Careful screen placement and window treatments
  can further reduce costs
• Placement of rooms within a building matters
• Length limitations of Ethernet wiring
• Wireless network coverage
• Cooling/Heating considerations

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Triage Security

• Protecting the investment in smart classrooms is
  essential
• The degree of security required varies per
  institution
• Simple cable locks on equipment
• Comprehensive key control processes
• Electronic access controls to rooms

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Triage Technology

• Establishing a sensible baseline standard can
  help contain costs
• Avoid the temptation towards wholesale adoption
  of new technologies
• As an alternative, establish a test classroom in
  your faculty resource center to pilot new
  technologies
• This permits experimentation while limiting
  financial exposure
• Once a technology has proven effective, reliable,
  and trainable, it can be incorporated into the
  standard

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Questions?

• J.D. Haight
• North Lake College, DCCCD
• 5001 N. MacArthur Blvd.
• Irving, Texas 75038
• jdhaight_at_dcccd.edu
• Related documents at http//www.iccb.org/cio2006/