Any thoughts on ow the new classroom is developing? Will the learning space encourage or hamper innovation? What do we think HKU are trying to achieve with this room?
Appal PCs are applied to our classroom, which really costs much, I think. Obviously, with the new computers, student are free to discuss and download materials online. The only thing I am concerned about is when students focus on their computers, they are back to the teacher and it may be hard for teacher to control the courses.
Previously, there has 6 tables and a lot of laptops put on the tables, this classroom layout should be better. Because students can focus on the lecturer and class. I think the movable-chair are not enough in quantity to provide for each student! However, I suggest the classroom use Macbook to replace the original laptop rather than iMac! But in other way, the teacher can see clear what you are doing on the iMac because it's a big screen and face to the teacher side!
I don't know the design is innovative or not, but it seems quite elegant! The iMac can induce and attract to use it rather than our own laptops! Also, the hku-wifi service has a signal problem, which is not strong enough always! Moreover, the laptop power cannot sustain for 3 hours class is another problem. All these problems to let us to put more attention to use on classroom's iMac!
Rayson, you mentioned both the movable-chairs and iMac, which reminds me of a new opinion on the design of the classroom: it seems than movable-chairs and iMAC can not be made fully use of at the same time, since the movable-chairs are designed to move while iMACs are fixed. So I agree with you that maybe Macbook is a better choice.
Apart from the iMac machines, I am also interested in the interactive board in front of us, although last time it is now yet fully-functioned. As a teacher, to teach along with this kind of intelligent tools is definitely an advantage. I can be more focus on explaining the lesson materials with the help of the convenient presentation tools. My explanation can become more understandable with the help of those drawing tools and the clear screen.
It's interesting that we have interpreted the new layout as a way of increasing the attention towards the person at the front, with the teacher being able to see what students are doing. That's an interesting interpretation and probably not the one that HKU had in mind when designing this room.
It's true that some students do spend lecture time on Facebook. I do sometimes, but I'm also on Wikipedia, Twitter discussing what we're talking about and getting feedback sometimes, checking the links etc.
The group is very large so there is sometimes a distraction level that I haven't heard before on this course, but in my opinion that isn't because of the laptops being used.
As for the whiteboards I was surprised to see two such large ones in the new room. They are too big and can surely only reinforce the idea that they should be used for presenting rather than interacting. I'd like to see somebody (Bob maybe) explain the thinking behind this room and the pedagogy HKU is trying to achieve.
Thanks for your comments on the room design. Let's go through each point raised in the next session. I'll also share the original proposal that gained funding from the University. This will provide an outline for the pedagogy.
It is an interesting discussion! I would suggest that the Classroom designers should be made familiar with students expectations & ideas about the classroom design.
I think the iMacs could be put to better use by connecting them through a wifi network (at least in the room) and opening up the user-account restrictions. The main computer attached to the ActivBoard should also be on the same wifi. Without the wifi, airdrop doesn't even work. And without being able to change system preferences we can't improve or customize our workflow. It handicaps the macs.
I also think the magic mouses should be replaced by magic trackpads which would allow us to use the fancy mac gestures that make Lion so easy to use and productive.
Appal PCs are applied to our classroom, which really costs much, I think.
ReplyDeleteObviously, with the new computers, student are free to discuss and download materials online. The only thing I am concerned about is when students focus on their computers, they are back to the teacher and it may be hard for teacher to control the courses.
Previously, there has 6 tables and a lot of laptops put on the tables, this classroom layout should be better. Because students can focus on the lecturer and class. I think the movable-chair are not enough in quantity to provide for each student! However, I suggest the classroom use Macbook to replace the original laptop rather than iMac! But in other way, the teacher can see clear what you are doing on the iMac because it's a big screen and face to the teacher side!
ReplyDeleteI don't know the design is innovative or not, but it seems quite elegant! The iMac can induce and attract to use it rather than our own laptops! Also, the hku-wifi service has a signal problem, which is not strong enough always! Moreover, the laptop power cannot sustain for 3 hours class is another problem. All these problems to let us to put more attention to use on classroom's iMac!
Rayson, you mentioned both the movable-chairs and iMac, which reminds me of a new opinion on the design of the classroom: it seems than movable-chairs and iMAC can not be made fully use of at the same time, since the movable-chairs are designed to move while iMACs are fixed. So I agree with you that maybe Macbook is a better choice.
ReplyDeleteApart from the iMac machines, I am also interested in the interactive board in front of us, although last time it is now yet fully-functioned. As a teacher, to teach along with this kind of intelligent tools is definitely an advantage. I can be more focus on explaining the lesson materials with the help of the convenient presentation tools. My explanation can become more understandable with the help of those drawing tools and the clear screen.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that we have interpreted the new layout as a way of increasing the attention towards the person at the front, with the teacher being able to see what students are doing. That's an interesting interpretation and probably not the one that HKU had in mind when designing this room.
ReplyDeleteIt's true that some students do spend lecture time on Facebook. I do sometimes, but I'm also on Wikipedia, Twitter discussing what we're talking about and getting feedback sometimes, checking the links etc.
The group is very large so there is sometimes a distraction level that I haven't heard before on this course, but in my opinion that isn't because of the laptops being used.
As for the whiteboards I was surprised to see two such large ones in the new room. They are too big and can surely only reinforce the idea that they should be used for presenting rather than interacting.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see somebody (Bob maybe) explain the thinking behind this room and the pedagogy HKU is trying to achieve.
Thanks for your comments on the room design. Let's go through each point raised in the next session. I'll also share the original proposal that gained funding from the University. This will provide an outline for the pedagogy.
ReplyDeleteIt is an interesting discussion! I would suggest that the Classroom designers should be made familiar with students expectations & ideas about the classroom design.
ReplyDeleteI think the iMacs could be put to better use by connecting them through a wifi network (at least in the room) and opening up the user-account restrictions. The main computer attached to the ActivBoard should also be on the same wifi. Without the wifi, airdrop doesn't even work. And without being able to change system preferences we can't improve or customize our workflow. It handicaps the macs.
ReplyDeleteI also think the magic mouses should be replaced by magic trackpads which would allow us to use the fancy mac gestures that make Lion so easy to use and productive.