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Collaborative Tech Suites for Modern Learning Spaces

Explore how a tech suite in an academic library enhances collaborative learning. Discover the setup, uses, and future plans of these cutting-edge spaces affecting student interaction and project work.

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Collaborative Tech Suites for Modern Learning Spaces

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  1. How Suite It Is: Collaborative Tech Suites in an Academic Library Amy Ricci, Assistant Director, Academic Technology Center Matt Hall, Assistant Director, George C. Gordon Library WPI

  2. WPI • 2,861 undergrads • 1,042 grad student • 324 full and part-time faculty • Majors in Engineering, Science & Management • Students come from 44 states and 46 countries

  3. What is a Tech Suite?

  4. Background • Based on ACELABs at Bentley: http://www.bentley.edu/acelab/ • Library had traditionally accommodated student project groups • Library space available due to renovations

  5. Space Planning

  6. Tech Suite Equipment • 50” plasma display • Dedicated networked PC • VHS VCR • DVD player • Four network ports and wireless coverage • Two laptop hookups to the display • Table and chairs for 6 people • Approximately $16,000 per tech suite • Cables, webcams, and microphones available for checkout

  7. WPI’s IT Division CIO Computing and Communications Center Academic Technology Center Gordon Library

  8. IT Collaboration • ATC provides the equipment and furniture; does the installation • Library provides space, daily responsibility for rooms, scheduling, and security • CCC maintains images; troubleshoots • ATC/Library staff promote tech suites to students and to faculty through the IT Liaison Program

  9. Quality Control

  10. Tech Suite “Kits”

  11. How Students Learn Today • Most learning activity for students takes place outside the classroom • Social interaction is a growing part of learning • Technology is natural • Students construct content rather than just consume it

  12. Trends in Collaborative Learning • More real world issues are becoming interdisciplinary in nature • Learning Commons - Learning spaces beyond the classroom that sustain the learning experience

  13. WPI’s Project-based Curriculum • Students complete two major group projects in their undergraduate programs, outside of regular class work. • Groupwork becoming increasingly common for regular class assignments.

  14. Tech Suite Uses • Project groups • Library instruction sessions • Web conferencing • Other

  15. Project Groups • Collaborative planning and writing sessions • Practice presentations

  16. Library Instruction Sessions

  17. Web Conferencing • Interactive, live events • Shared graphics, documents, screens • VoIP • Videoconferencing capabilities • Kits with webcams and microphones are checked out at the circulation desk • Used by project groups to meet with project sponsors off campus

  18. Student Surveys

  19. Usage Trends Year # of Suites # of Sign-outs Turnaways 2002-03 2 13 (June launch) 2003-04 4 1153 2004-05 4 1925 2005-06 4 3593 96 (1/2 year) 2006-07 7 4331 (3/4 year)107 (3/4 year)

  20. Don’t Get Too Suite • Is this what your user community wants? • Line of sight issues

  21. The Future of the Tech Suites • Investigating online reservation system • Space for 3 more tech suites in the library –pending on funding • Possibly adding IP videoconferencing in at least one room • Possibly providing videotaping kits for students to record practice presentations • Upgrade/replacement cycle

  22. The Future of the Tech Suites • Four tech suites being added to a new dorm

  23. Student Perspective

  24. Sources for Additional Information Brown, Malcom B, and Joan K. Lippincott. “Learning Spaces: More than Meets the Eye.” Educause Quarterly 26.1 (2003): 14-16. Wilson, Maureen E. “Teaching, Learning, and Millennial Students.” New Directions for Student Services. 2004.106 (2004): 59-71.

  25. For Additional Information http://www.wpi.edu/+Library/About/itlab.html Matt Hall at mhall@wpi.edu Amy Ricci at aricci@wpi.edu

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