--- Forwarded Message from Leslie Graul <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 09:41:53 -0400
>From: Leslie Graul <[log in to unmask]>
>Organization: Thiel College
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum     <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #6032.5 LL furniture/layout dilemma (!)
>References: <[log in to unmask]>

------------------
I would be interested in seeing these desks or pictures of them.  We, too, are in the process of replacing our lab,
and want it to serve for classes, for individual work, and for testing.  When small classes are taking place in the
lab, we want other students to be able to work independently.

My staff and I tried to locate the Akai product or any kind of Variable V desk, but were unsuccessful.  If anyone can
give more information about them, we'd really appreciate it.   Thanks.....Leslie Graul



LLTI-Editor wrote:

> --- Forwarded Message from LeeAnn Stone <[log in to unmask]> ---
>
> >Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 08:58:03 -0800 (PST)
> >In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum               <[log in to unmask]>
> >From: LeeAnn Stone <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Re: #6032 LL furniture/layout dilemma
>
> ------------------
> Kirk,
>
>         There is at least one possible solution for this that I saw at an LLA
> (now LET- Association for Language Education and Techynology- Japan)
> meeting several years ago. I was quite impressed. They are "V" -shaped desks
> that pivot around a central point so that
> you can quickly roll into new configurations very easily (all the wiring goes
> to that central pivot point). By changing the configuration, you can move from
> 6-position clusters to something like rows, to 4-position clusters, to.......
> While this particular furniture, however, does not have panels between the
> student positions, which you might want for testing purposes, the placement of
> the positions might preclude the need for panels.
>         This product is from AKAI and is called the Variable V-desk.  I have
> a little manipulable floor plan example that I can photocopy and send you
> if interested (of course, the copy wouldn't be manipulable, but I could
> photocopy several configurations so you can see how it works).
>
> LeeAnn Stone
>
> >--- 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]
> >
> >------------------
> >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