Posted on 08 September 2011
Students in the new learning hub
Guildford College is leading the way in ground breaking educational technologies with the installation of a new learning hub and suite of hi-tech classrooms.
The learning hub contains central desks where students can use their own laptops and mobile devices, the latest high speed Wi-Fi at 108 MG and an area connected to the College’s library catalogue system. There are tables with integral PCs for group work and two interactive booths for collaborative work or presentations. The interactive booths each contain special projectors and ‘squiggle glass’, a multifunctional surface capable of displaying presentations, films, documents and other work. The surface is also magnetic and can be written on, making it a hugely flexible teaching tool.
The whole area can hold up to 60 students and is designed to make IT more accessible as well as assisting learning. The hub is open access to the College’s students but also has timetabled classes.
Leading from the hub are a suite of five new classrooms, each installed with interactive projectors, squiggle glass and all Wi-Fi enabled. Other features include document visualisers and a central island for teaching, from which all the technology can be controlled.
Craig Exley, the College’s Director of ICT, said: “There are plans to develop the rest of the College in a similar way. We have also ensured that we can add new elements of technology and functionality as they become available. For example, we are just completing a classroom where groups of students can work together on PC ‘islands’ which are linked to a central interactive whiteboard which will then allow them to simultaneously present their work in an interactive way to the rest of the class.” Emma Feeley, the President of the College’s Student Union said: “I think the learning hub is a fresh new addition to the College which will have people queuing up to use it! It will certainly make learning more interactive and interesting and raise attention in class. It’s pretty awesome actually!”
The learning hub project| was completed in record time over the summer by T & B Builders and the technology was installed by Total AV Control| using Crestron products.