--- Forwarded Message from Daniel Tom <[log in to unmask]> --- >Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2004 14:33:59 -1000 >From: Daniel Tom <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Multi-purpose Language Learning Classroom/Lab >To: "'Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum'" <[log in to unmask]> >Importance: Normal We are thinking of remodeling one of our labs. It is a Tandberg IS 9 lab of 42 stations with one teacher console. It is currently being used by students who are assigned tapes that we do not have permission to duplicate for take home use. We already have a PC computer lab and a Mac computer lab so are not looking to convert it into yet another room full of computers. Our staff has been asked to brainstorm ideas about what the mission of the room should be, what kind of equipment should go into it, etc. We would like the room to be a multi-purpose lab. Suggestions made so far have included having high-end computers and other hardware to allow faculty to develop course material as a sort of faculty development lab. However, we do not want it to be so exclusive that it will be used only by a few and hence become under utilized. Another suggestion is to have equipment not only for faculty but also for students so that instructors can bring in their students during the class hour and have them develop materials as part of their course work. The room then would double as a class lab. So far in my search of the web for a model at other institutions I have not been able to find any. I was able to find bits and pieces of this puzzle at various institutions, but not all of the pieces in one multi-purpose classroom/lab. For example Berkeley has Flex-Tech classrooms. Stanford's Language Center is developing a state-of-the art, computer-based, language laboratory that will be used as a teaching space and as a study/practice space. That also sounds like one piece. The University of Washington's Language Learning Center maintains the level 3 capabilities (Listen, Record, Compare) of the Tandberg IS 9 lab with Sony's Virtuoso and Soloist software in two of their digital classrooms and in their PC labs. Many institutions have separate development suites or workstations for faculty that do not appear to be available to students. Berkeley has a research facility which provides workstations for faculty to work on projects approved by a Humanities Computing Committee. This facility, however, sounds more exclusive, which is what we don't want. Do any of your institutions have a facility that I haven't been able to find on the Web that can be a model for what we're looking for? Perhaps such a facility does not yet exist in a language learning facility, but may exist in a facility for other academic disciplines such as science, computing or business. Of course there is a spending limitation also to our remodeling. The cost cannot exceed $40,000. Any ideas, suggestions and information would be greatly appreciated. Daniel Tom Language Learning Center University of Hawaii at Manoa E-Mail: [log in to unmask] Voice: 808-956-5118 FAX: 808-956-5134