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» Go to news mainSchulich classrooms get rewired
Back in 2012, the Schulich School of Law knew it was time to seriously consider upgrading the classrooms. âThe technology was six or seven years old then, and there werenât any computers in the classrooms,â says Geordie Lounsbury, the Information Media Centre supervisor.
Because the technology was outdated, and each classroomâs audio-visual equipment was slightly different, it took the professors several minutes to set up before they started teaching, and more time was spent to power down before they left, meaning if there was the slightest problem, classes would run overtime.
"The faculty would get frustrated, and the students would have to wait for the lecture to start." â Information Media Centre supervisor Geordie Lounsbury
Whatâs more, faculty members would teach in one classroom for a year and get used to operating its A/V equipment, then be assigned to a different room the following year, where they would have to re-train on the system in use in that room. âThe faculty would get frustrated,â says Lounsbury, âand the students would have to wait for the lecture to start while the professors tried to figure out the problem with the system.â
New high-tech podiums
After a thorough planning process, starting midway through the 2014 school year, Room 309, which had no technology at all, was transformed. This past summer the technology overhaul continued with Rooms 104, 105, 204 and 207, which had their AV equipment completely replaced.
All of the rooms now boast projectors controlled by a touch-screen panel built directly into the podium. The new podiums contain connections for Macs and PCs, as well as a built-in PC that allows users to access the system with fewer limitations. Also on each podium is a digital document camera called âElmoâ that allows the user to project a live colour image (of a book or transparency, for example) onto the screen.
Along with the standard systems in these rooms, 104, 105, and 309 have extra features that allow for flexible use based on the roomâs design. For example, in 309 thereâs a video camera and microphone built into the room to allow moot teams to record their practice sessions; it will also allow faculty to video record lectures and presentations. In 104 and 105, the sound systems were replaced with upgraded systems to eliminate feedback and improve the audio. Also in these two rooms, screens were added at the back so students can see the projected image no matter where theyâre sitting.
Making a difference to teaching
âThe new podiums are more uniform,â says Lounsbury. âThe first five buttons on each one have the same function in each classroom. That means the professors wonât lose 10 to 15 minutes of class time either trying to setup the old technology or waiting for it to warm up. Both the faculty and the students will get more out of their time in the classroom.â
Faculty member Jon Shapiro appreciates the classroomâs high-tech capabilities. âThe new technology is more efficient and lets me demonstrate things in a way I couldnât do before,â he says. âI have a Mac laptop, and the built-in Mac port means I donât have to remember to carry an adapter. And Iâm going to save at least one full class a year from the time Iâll save setting up and shutting down the old equipment.â
âToday's students learn, and teachers teach, in so many different modes that having good tech available in every classroom is essential.â â Assistant Professor Jamie Baxter
Assistant professor Jamie Baxter is also impressed. âThe new AV systems are fantastic,â he says. âToday's students learn, and teachers teach, in so many different modes that having good tech available in every classroom is essential.â
Lounsbury admits that not all faculty members need a wired classroom: âYou can be a great teacher just standing in front of the students and talking. Not every professor wants the technology, but there should be no reason they canât access it easily if they do.â
The next goal includes adding technology to Rooms 304, 305, and 308, as well as in the Glube Room on the fourth floor, all of which currently have none built-in. Â Â
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