Classrooms Enhanced Over Summer

Fall 2005

by Larry Gilbert

Relief is on the way for those faculty members who have been unable to obtain the type of mediated classroom they prefer for teaching. Following a two-year drought in renovation and mediation of existing general university classrooms, significant progress was made in enhancing classrooms over the summer. More relief is already in progress in preparation for the start of winter quarter.

Western's faculty members have repeatedly advised that classroom renovation and mediation projects should concentrate on the development of fully mediated Level 4 classrooms. While more than 95% of faculty members have been assigned to classrooms with the appropriate level of preferred mediation, a few key problem areas still exist. Analysis of our pool of general university classrooms showed that there was a particular lack of Level 4 classrooms on the north end of campus surrounding Red Square. An additional problem was the lack of smaller classrooms with Level 4 technology for teaching (i.e. classrooms of around forty seats or less). This shortage of smaller mediated classrooms has caused the placement of faculty requesting Level 4 mediation into classrooms that are too large for their small class size. The classroom enhancements described below will help to correct both of the above problems.

Addition of Level 4 Classrooms for Fall Quarter

Two entirely new Level 4 classrooms are scheduled to be ready for early fall quarter on the fourth floor of Bond Hall (BH 401 with 42 seats and BH 415 with 52 seats). These new classrooms have been beautifully renovated from rooms previously used as Physics labs, with new carpet, acoustic treatment, enhanced lighting, markerboard lights, and a fully configured Level 4 podium with comprehensive teaching technologies. In addition, the 102 seat lecture hall in BH 105 will now have Level 4 mediation, replacing the outmoded Level 2 teaching table with a fully mediated electronic teaching podium.

In the Communications Facility, five smaller classrooms previously configured with Level 3 mediation have been upgraded with Level 4 technology. This means that these classrooms will now have built-in document cameras and computers, as well as the same easy-to-use control system found in other Communication Facilty classrooms.

These newly upgraded classrooms are:

Note that six of the above eight new Level 4 classrooms are well matched to the need for mediated classrooms in the <40 seat range. As of the writing of this article, equipment for the above rooms was ordered, but not yet received. Installation will begin as soon as equipment arrives on campus, with the hope of completing work before the quarter starts.

Bond Hall Renovations & Further Mediation
Faculty and students will hardly recognize the shiny new interior of the first and fourth floors of Bond Hall this fall. The new paint, ceiling grids, lighting, and many other enhancements make the whole building appear more welcoming. Not least among the improvements has been the complete physical renovation of all fifteen existing Bond Hall classrooms, plus the completion of nine completely new classrooms (including the two fourth floor classrooms already noted above). All of the classrooms received new carpet, acoustic treatment, enhanced lighting, and complete preparation for later inclusion of Level 4 mediation. The eleven renovated and eight new classrooms on the first and fourth floors are now open for the start of fall quarter, while the remaining second and third floor classrooms will be complete by start of winter quarter.

While funding was not provided for classroom mediation as part of the Bond Hall renovation, the Provost's office provided additional funding to mediate sixteen of the renovated classrooms in the building (including the three noted above that are scheduled for fall). The following classrooms will thus be available for faculty use as Level 4 mediated classrooms starting with winter quarter, with installation of teaching technology occurring during nights and weekends during fall quarter:

Mediation of the above classrooms in Bond Hall increases the number of Level 4 classrooms on the north campus from 26 to 39 ñ a significant 50% increase. In addition, the mediation of nine classrooms suitable for classes of 40 or less meets a critical need for teaching technologies in smaller classrooms, tripling the number of such classrooms available on the north campus.

Addition of Level 4 Classrooms for Winter

The final planned enhancement of classrooms by winter quarter is the conversion of five existing classrooms with outmoded Level 3 technology to Level 4.

The existing classrooms that are slated for this conversion during the fall quarter are:

Upgrade of the above classrooms will complete the conversion of all Level 3 classrooms on campus to Level 4 technology. This means that many more faculty members requiring advanced teaching technology for seminar classes will then be able to schedule classes into appropriately sized classrooms. This, in turn, should make mediated classrooms in the 40+ seat range far more accessible to faculty members with larger class sizes.

Conclusion
Classroom renovations completed over the summer and fall will make a large dent in the two most significant classroom mediation problems on campus. That is, these renovations will significantly increase the number of mediated classrooms on the north end of campus, while at the same time providing a large increase in the number of smaller classrooms with Level 4 mediation. Coupled with the renovations planned for this coming spring and summer (see related article), faculty members can look forward to enhanced ability to schedule use of the mediated classrooms they need for quality instruction.