A team approach is being taken to update one of RIT’s original classrooms – the A400 auditorium in Wallace Library—to facilitate innovation in teaching and learning.

A cross-functional team of staff from Online Learning and the Educational Technology Center (ETC) plans to update the room over summer quarter 2008 to become a high-touch, high-tech space with teaching technologies, video production and studio capabilities. The new space should be available for use in pilot courses in winter quarter 2008-2009.

A400 has been used as an auditorium-style classroom, part of the original Wallace Library on the new campus, since 1968. While several faculty members have used the room during the 2007-2008 academic year as an innovation lab, it needs new equipment and repairs to make it functional for the future. There is also a need for a multipurpose teaching and learning space that will support the creative and effective use of current and emerging technology, says Joeann Humbert, director of Online Learning.

"We haven’t had a space where we can support faculty using effective technology and teaching methodology for a successful experience,” Humbert says.

“We are looking to create a flexible teaching space with current and advanced teaching and presentation technologies in a centrally located area,” says Terry Bruce, director of ETC. “The room is expected to be used by faculty looking to become more familiar and confident with different teaching and presentation technologies/methodologies, as well as, grant project recipients.”

Based on the renovation plans, more than eight RIT faculty are already planning to use the updated room to teach classes.

The redesigned room will facilitate innovation in the craft of teaching and learning. A test-bed facility, it will foster teaching, learning and communication that is flexible, experimental, participatory and sustainable.

High Touch, High Tech Space

In the new A400, faculty will be able to get a successful capture of their lectures as well as dedicated support as they learn new technologies and experiment with them in classroom and online teaching.

There are many variables in a good instructional technology experience. Problems such as connections, recording, use of the tool to facilitate a successful teaching experience for both remote and face-to-face students, and support to the faculty member have resulted in frustrated students and faculty, Humbert says.

The upgraded A400 will provide:

• A training space for faculty and staff to learn how to use both online and classroom technologies in proven, effective ways
• A model for other classrooms on campus; A400 will offer a sandbox of tools for faculty to experiment with and determine which will work best in their own college
• An incubator classroom where faculty can apply to teach courses with Online Learning and ETC staff support as they experiment with teaching tools
• Space for distance faculty to record lectures for online courses

Video Production/Studio Capabilities

The renovated space will be utilized for both credit and non-credit options. This can accommodate video recording capabilities, digital integration for editing and storage and demonstration space.

Support to Innovative Teaching and Learning Grants

With a basic technical and network infrastructure in place, flexible furniture and storage space, as well as options for recording and projection, faculty with grant resources will be able to customize the space with specific software, tools and equipment. Faculty will have the ability to capture footage of projects and gather data to further document their research.

“Through our work with faculty campus-wide, we have a confirmed need for such a teaching and learning space,” Humbert says. “Based on the unique knowledge and talents of both ETC and Online Learning staff, we believe we are well placed to host and support a technology test-bed facility and incubator classroom as a model for the university.”