--- Forwarded Message from Kirk Anderson <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 16:44:51 -0500
>To: [log in to unmask]
>From: Kirk Anderson <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: LL furniture/layout dilemma
>Cc: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],        [log in to unmask]

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Dear LLTI readers,

As we contemplate what our renovated language lab
will look like, some faculty want it to be primarily
an instructional space, with some sound and visual
isolation, clear sightlines to the instructor --a place
where exercises and even tests can be administered
with a minimum of student-to-student contact.  The
traditional forward-facing rows would seem to be
the best layout for that sort of thing.

Of course, other faculty are more excited about
monitoring individual students doing self-paced
activities, or having students collaborate in
twos and threes.  These instructors feel they would
be best served by a cluster or perhaps U-shaped
arrangement.

These divergent needs have obvious implications for
choices of hardware and software, but our immediate
concern is the furniture and layout.
(Is there any way to allow movement of the desks/carrels
with mimimum risk to the wiring?)

I would welcome suggestions from others who have confronted,
with or without success, this dilemma.

thanks in advance,

Kirk Anderson
French Studies Dept
Wheaton College MA