““I have been to three other universities and looked at what they referred to as their technologically enabled classrooms. They are nowhere near as sophisticated as this one....A number of faculty members have already expressed interest in using the classroom, even faculty who have not previously used technology in their classes.”
- University Vice Provost, Hugh Lester”
LOCATION: An existing classroom in Newcomb Hall, a 100-year old masonry building at the center of the Newcomb (now part of Tulane University’s) campus.
CHALLENGE: At this time Wi-Fi technology is a new concept. The University is interested in creating an experimental classroom to test the technology as a teaching tool. An ordinary classroom is selected for conversion into the proto-type. After extensive discussions with IT specialists, we were able to select the most advanced technology available for this installation. The project will include an electronic lectern to allow the faculty to interact with the students via their laptops, and to control a digital projector/screen arrangement (plasma screens don’t exist yet) flanked by electronic white-boards. At our suggestion, the University is willing to install new furniture and fixtures to showcase this new concept to their faculty, students and donors.
SOLUTION: In the progression from hand-slates to blackboards to overhead projectors, technology has always been central to classroom organization, but the classroom space itself has rarely been given much attention. To counter the fear of distraction, students have usually been provided with extremely neutral, mundane environments that quickly become tiresome after 6 to 8 hours of daily use. Studies have shown that a total lack of sensory input can, in itself, be a far greater distraction. We wanted to create a classroom space as visually advanced as the new technology of teaching on display.
The interactive elements of the lecture system are supported by Wi-Fi and other technical equipment that must be placed within the classroom, but kept secure and accessible for maintenance. The most obvious way to accomplish this is with locked metal access boxes mounted in the walls, but the pieces of equipment are of varying dimensions and subject to continual change as the technology advances. A uniform accommodation is needed.
Given the age and Neo-Classical style of the building, wainscot paneling presented a stylish opportunity to provide uniform access spaces for the electronic equipment, as well as a way to protect the lower walls from student damage, and provide some aesthetic interest to the space. The key-operable wainscot panels are uniform in size, unnoticeable, and allow access for upgrades in wiring and equipment.
Up-lighting was installed for the softer, indirect light needed for computer use. The existing millwork and new wainscoting were painted white, the walls above were colored a calm but pleasing green. The old vinyl flooring was replaced with a dark, patterned carpet – to hide stains and to quiet footsteps – with bright flecks of red, blue, green and yellow to add interest. In contrast, the new desks provided cherry red splashes of color to liven the space.
The classroom was very well received by students and quickly became their favorite space. The faculty immediately recognized the value of this new technology, and the classroom availability schedule was rapidly filled. The university decided to begin a fundraising campaign to upgrade more classrooms.
Even 20 years after its installation, this system is advanced enough that it is currently in use at a number of Ivy League universities.