EDUCAUSE2006: Homero Lopez et al.

Designing Learning Spaces That Promote Engagement
Homero Lopez, President, Estrella Mountain Community College
Richard Marmon, Director, Information Technology, EMCC
Roger Yohe, Faculty Director, Center for Teaching and Learning, EMCC

This is mostly about studio/smart classrooms rather than labs, but has parallels for our Information & Learning Commons.
What makes great learning space? They knew they wanted flexibility, technology, so they came up with “radical flexibility”. Did a survey to figure out what was wanted:
• Plenty of desk space, good lighting, more computers, storage areas, more whiteboard space, temperature control, laptops, color and decorations (aesthetics).
• Learning studio—nodes to deliver, receive, create, collaborate, contemplate, etc.
• Parlor— meet and talk

Also wanted to improve sight lines- showed old-school lab with tabletop monitors, CPUs- looks a mess! They devised various levels of equipment for labs depending on funding: all levels have projectors, dvds, instructor computers; higher level adds one laptop per table, highest level has wireless laptops (tethered) at all table stations.

Partner: Herman Miller (furniture company)

Student reaction to new space: “feels like college”, “you trust us with these laptops”

Institutional strategies: requires leadership vision, involve stakeholders
Their process: experimentation, seek partnerships, create prototypes, gather research, develop best practices, replicate (they are now transforming “vintage” 1992 spaces to the new model.)
Practical tips:
• How did you do power? Floor electricity, power strip under table, one cord from table to floor
• Who moves the furniture back? No one—next instructor may wish to redo, but not necessary
• Kamatsu “air projector” moderator (client on each machine) and will project to screen
• Goal is to make available to student when not used for classes, “access screen” outside classroom can show schedule, working through security issues
• 32 seats in 1000 sq feet, ADA compliant
• Tables were too small initially—moved from 48 to 60”

My Thoughts:
• “Prototypes can drive new mental models”—this resonates with me in several ways.
o It is why I think we need a program for staff to play w/ Library 2.0 tools.
o It reminds me of Icon and Idea: the Function of Art in the Development of Human Consciousness from Art History class in college—the way I remember it is that it was only after some artist had actually created something that someone else was able to see possibilities. This definitely has parallels with website, database creation—so should we have a team with artist and builder?
• “You trust us with these laptops”—don’t know how they are deploying these (just out on the table, checked out?) but I don’t think we’d get this quote from our method of laptop checkout. Do we need to rethink this?
• Their process vs. ours: they are obviously ahead of us with our Information & Learning Commons, but we now need to do the assessment to “develop best practices” before we replicate.
• Is there a way we could use an “access screen” for library instruction rooms with scheduled activities showing and ability for others to use between scheduled events??