Every School Has a Computer Lab

Where: Four Points Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center
1125 Boston Providence Turnpike
Norwood, Massachusetts 
Directions

Registration Fee:
NERCOMP Member: $130
Non-Member: $260

Event Overview

As students continue to use their own laptops and mobile devices, the need increases for creating informal learning spaces on college campus. Traditional computer and tutoring labs are not often conducive to collaborative learning. Their physical layouts, often with computers arranged in parallel rows or flanked around a room's perimeter, do not promote communities. Speakers will share their stories of redesign and renovation of computer labs on their campuses to create new technology-enabled learning spaces, and "smart" classrooms, that may have both a physical and virtual presence. Presenters will share their experiences on both project timeline and renovation process, physical space issues, student involvement, metrics for measuring success, and expanding the role that "the lab" contributes to student learning. We will demonstrate through video and multimedia artifacts, the approach, progress, and challenges we faced and accomplished as we created new learning facilities on our college campuses. 

After hearing four presenters discuss spaces they have created, renovated or repurposed, participants will work in small groups on an exercise to design the ideal new technology enabled learning space for their college or university.

Intended for:
Administrators and faculty considering a renovation of their learning spaces or creating new ones, managers of facilities, project planners, learning center directors with an interest in alternative computer lab or teaching spaces may find this SIG useful and informative.

Learning Objectives:
Through presentations, discussion, and a group activity, participants will gain exposure to and an understanding of:
- elements of learning space design
- current technology resources 
- management and scheduling concerns when opening a new facility
- using social media to promote your learning facility
- how to design a learning space to meet student's needs 

Event Disclaimer:
NERCOMP reserves the right to use any photographs or other mechanical recordings taken at NERCOMP events in promotional materials. No mechanical recordings of any kind may be used at NERCOMP events without the prior written consent of NERCOMP organizers and presenters. The views and opinions expressed at NERCOMP events do not necessarily reflect those of NERCOMP, nor does NERCOMP make any representation regarding the information presented at NERCOMP events.