Re: [MATHEDCC] Computer Classroom Design

Geoffrey Akst (akst@idt.net)
Mon, 14 Sep 1998 13:06:50 +1758

Hi Martha. If you want the room to serve either for computer
activities or occasional lecturing (a typical situation), I'd recommend
either a peripheral layout with the computers linked along the walls (does
that give you enough computers, possibly with sharing?) or rows with the
monitors not blocking the sight lines. One way to do the latter is to buy
desks where the monitors are within the desk and the student looks down
rather than upon the desk.

Also I'd recommend that in the room you install a rheostat so that
you can dim the light for projected demos and students can still take notes
(we didn't do this and are sorry).

Geoffrey

Martha Haehl wrote:

> Hi everyone, For the first time in the history of our school, we
>will have one computer classroom that we can actually teach a class in
>(as opposed to just send our students to an open lab). Do any of you
>have a design layout that you are particularly fond of? If so what is
>it. We want to get away from the traditional rows. The lab will be
>shared by a number of disciplines and our committee has come up with the
>following questions to help us design the lab. At this time we are
>mostly talking about layout and not computer equipment. However, if you
>have suggestions about equipment, please make them. 1. Which
>departments currently use the lab?
>2. Have you struggled with competing software needs of different
>departments? What software is loaded on the computers?
>3. Was the lab designed to accomodate a particular pedagogy?
>4. What are the pros/cons of the current lab design? What works? What
>doesn't?
>5. If you could do it differently, what changes would you make? Thanks
>for any help you can give.
> Martha Haehl
>Maple Woods Community College
>2601 N. E. Barry Rd.
>Kansas City, Mo. 64156
>(816) 437-3147

Geoffrey Akst
Mathematics Department
Manhattan Community College
199 Chambers Street
New York, NY 10007
(v) 212/346-8530
(f) 212/346-8550
(e) akst@idt.net

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