Explore Laurier's Active Learning Classroom
In September of 2012, Laurier launched its first purposefully
designed Active Learning Classroom in DAWB 3-106. This project was a
joint initiative between the Faculty of Arts and Teaching Support
Services with assistance from the office of the Vice-President: Academic
and Provost. The design for the space was created in consultation with
Physical Resources and the technological infrastructure was researched
and selected by Information Technology Services.
The impetus for this project was to create a student-centred
learning environment that would encourage and facilitate more active and
collaborative teaching approaches. Acknowledging the impact and
influence that physical space can have on pedagogical possibilities, the
classroom was renovated from a 56-seat tablet-style lecture space to
round tables with advanced technologies that allow students to
collaborate and share their work with their tables and/or the entire
class.
Some of the features of this new teaching space include:
- 5 round tables each of which seats 8 students
- Dedicated laptop at each table and guest connections from which students can project their work to each other and/or the entire class
- 6 interactive short-throw projectors that allow students and instructor to project, mark up and save images
- Portable whiteboards that allow students to record their work at their tables and mount it on a wall for discussion and idea sharing
- Movable teaching console with touch screen monitor that allows the instructor to project and share the work being done at each table as well as his or her own materials
- Portable videoconferencing unit
- Upgraded wireless access
- Infrastructure to support table-to-table or external Skype conversations, lecture capture, web conferencing, or backchannel communication
Teaching in the Active Learning Classroom
Teaching assignments in the Active Learning Classroom for the
2012-2013 academic year have already been determined. An application
process was used in the Faculty of Arts to identify faculty members
interested in teaching in this space. The classroom was then opened up
to other Faculties.
