April 19 - Thoughts on a Campus Learning Space
The learning space that I chose was the Little Tree computer lab in CERAS. This particular "learning space" is more similar to the 5th floor Bing Wing than the Bergers statues. Because of that similarity, I believe that Deb would not consider the computer lab a learning space. However, I believe it has a lot of potential as a learning space since it is a gathering ground for those that have work to do and those that share the same interests (education!). And it also has potential as a space to learn about technology and what SUSE IT has to offer. I once I sat in the media lab, not too far away from the Little Tree lab, and a staff person asked me how she could change the space so that more students would use it - and I told her that she could potentially make it a place that students can go to for reference information. And I think the Little Tree lab has that same potential, if not more since it's a lab that is more visible and used by the students of SUSE.
SUSE IT already puts flyers and "terms of use" on the walls of the lab, and they could continue to do such things in addition to adding useful information on where to find scanners, how to use some of the programs, etc. Some of the changes that I would make to the space would include more reference information on the walls of the lab - including where to find more information, and perhaps some very basic instructions to using some of the programs on the computer, that way people can experiement with the programs with basic knowledge of the program. Additionally, the computers could be set up so that it was more condusive to groups of students that wanted to use the computers (such as in clusters instead of lined up against the walls).
Student Responses? -
Dan Gilbert I like your idea about setting up computers in lab in clusters, especially if there is a way to make the screens themselves act as unifiers instead of dividers. Perhaps something where two screens are directly next to each other, with keyboards further away. I think another change that may help would be to run events in that space that encourage shared experiences on computers. Can be as straightforward as a workshop on how to use software or something edgier like a gaming tournament or 'social' event where students and staff share work they did on those machines. Thanks for the post.
Peggy Chung The only concern I have about setting up the computers in clusters is whether that space is intended for group work. We would have to survey the users of the lab first to see whether they value that space as a "great place to check my email between classes" or as a potential "group project meeting place". Also, if it were to be for "group work", that would completely change the nice silent library-like atmosphere in the lab. Although there is lots of potential to make that space a better learning space in terms of the technology available on the computers and providing more resources, I feel like the intent behind the lab is to give students an individual working space. Group work can be done in the lobby. Nevertheless, if they had more information available in that lab for things like "how to create your own web page", "how to add money to your card and where to go", "how to use program this and that", it would be a great learning space. I've always wanted to learn how to design my own webpage and use applications like dreamweaver and whatever else you might need to make a webpage.
Deepak I agree with you that the Little Tree could be a very useful learning space. However, it is used by very few people, mostly for accesssing emails between classes. I do that too. There is also a Media lab next to the Big Tree, which I've never seen anyone using. The reason could be it's near invisibility. On the other hand, the Little Tree is highly visible. If there are big and colorful posters about some good potential uses of the softwares installed on those computers that talk about not only the steps to do something, but also how it could relate to the students' lives and projects. Relevance is very important to get people to pay attention. Another option could be a display monitor that continuously plays videos or PowerPoint presentations about something useful.