--- Forwarded Message from Donnie Sendelbach <[log in to unmask]>
---

>Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 13:41:20 -0500
>From: Donnie Sendelbach <[log in to unmask]>
>User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; PPC Mac OS X Mach-O; en-US; rv:1.4)
Gecko/20030624 Netscape/7.1
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum
<[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #7527 Lab carrels vs. desks -- pros & cons
>References: <[log in to unmask]>
>In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>

Wayne,

We have carrels in our humanities lab, but non-language departments
choose not to use the lab much because the carrel walls hinder
communication in class.  If I had my way and infinite funds, I'd create
some kind of carrel wall that could fold or slide down but sturdy enough
to withstand daily use.  The set up could then accommodate both needs.

Hope that helps!

Donnie

LLTI-Editor wrote:

>--- Forwarded Message from "Wayne Hughes" <[log in to unmask]> ---
>
>
>
>>Date: Mon, 17 May 2004 13:30:26 -0700
>>From: "Wayne Hughes" <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>Subject: Lab carrels vs. desks -- pros & cons
>>
>>
>
>Hello,
>
>We're in the process of building a CALL lab for the ESL department at
>our college.  We're trying to decide between installing carrels vs. flat
>desks.  Our lab is intended to be used mostly as a "teaching lab" rather
>than just for drop-in.
>
>Initially we'd chosen carrels because we thought that would provide
>more acoustic privacy for students doing speaking and listening
>activities, and also because it would be harder for students to look at
>their neighbor's monitor when doing tests.
>
>However, for a few reasons we're now wondering if it would be better to
>go with flat desks (i.e. unseparated by the sides and backs we'd have on
>carrels).  The main problem we're encountering with the carrel idea is
>that the raised sides will interfere with the sightlines between the
>students and teacher, as well as between the students.  A secondary, but
>important, consideration is also cost.
>
>To briefly describe our CALL lab:
>-- 27 student computer stations plus one instructor station at the
>front of the room
>-- each student station is 36" wide and 30" deep w/ pull-out keyboard
>tray
>-- we'll be using the big CRT monitors but the CPU will be mounted
>under the carrel or desk
>-- using the CAN-8 system
>-- layout will be 8 or 9 student stations along each of two opposite
>side walls (facing the wall), plus 10 stations (5 pairs facing each
>other) which will extend from the back wall up the middle of the room.
>
>Any feedback you have from your own experience regarding the choice
>between carrels and desks would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Wayne
>
>
>Wayne Hughes
>Faculty
>ESL Department
>Capilano College
>North Vancouver, B.C.  V7J 3H5
>CANADA
>[log in to unmask]
>
>

--
Donnie Sendelbach, Ph.D.
Director of the Humanities Computer
   Lab/Lecturer in Russian
108a Main Hall (formerly 109a)
Lawrence University
Appleton, WI 54911
(920) 832-7250
fax (920) 832-6944