June 2004 — Web/Net
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Partnering for a Wireless Classroom
Thomson e-Classroom Enhances University of Connecticut Regional Campus' Use of Technology in TeachingThomson e-Classroom Enhances University of Connecticut Regional Campus' Use of Technology in TeachingA partnership between the Jeremy Richard Library (JRL) at the Stamford Campus of the
University of Connecticut and The Thomson Corp. afforded the opportunity for UConn to develop a state-of-the-art wireless classroom. Thomson is a leading global provider of integrated information solutions for business and professional customers. The company also publishes several electronic products that the UConn libraries subscribe to, including InfoTrac Expanded Academic Index, Gale Literary Databases, Health Reference Center and Web of Science. Knowing that librarians play an increasingly important role in teaching students and faculty how to access and use electronic resources effectively, Thomson provided a grant to the UConn libraries that enabled the JRL to expand its information technology and literacy education programs by creating The Thomson Corporation e-Classroom (online at www.lib.uconn.edu/campuses/stamford/about/eclass.htm)
With the Thomson gift, the library transformed an underutilized audiovisual room - equipped with VCRs, TV monitors and cassette players - into a high-demand, high-tech e-learning environment. The focal points of The Thomson e-Classroom are its wireless laptops, two LCD projectors and flexible seating arrangements. The laptops are Dell Latitude C800 notebooks with MiniPCI TrueMobile wireless cards. They are stored and recharged in a mobile laptop storage cart. The ORiNOCO AP-1000 access point provides wireless access to the campus's hard-wired network. A custom-built instructor's station has a Dell OptiPlex GX400 minitower computer, desk space for two additional laptops and an overhead projector. The room also has two ceiling-mounted LCD projectors. In addition, external mice were purchased to overcome student difficulties with the built-in touch pads on the laptops.
Instructors are able to choose between two projection surfaces: two motorized projection screens for applications needing a high-quality reflective surface or whiteboard wallpaper for applications where the instructors need to write comments on the projected images. The entire front wall (behind the projection screens) is covered with Marsh Industries Inc. Poly-Rite whiteboard wallpaper (www.marsh-ind.com/visual/poly-rite.html) and on the sidewalls are four whiteboards. The room is furnished with trapezoid tables and ergonomic chairs, which seat up to 22 students. In addition, the tables and chairs are mounted on rollers so that the classroom can quickly be rearranged for a lab, a lecture or small-group activities.
Multimedia Capabilities
The Thomson e-Classroom has the audiovisual equipment and computer software to support a wide range of multimedia capabilities. This equipment includes VHS and DVD players, Internet access, the libraries' online catalog and network databases, WebCT course management software, a PC-Duo remote-control teaching system, Microsoft Office, Macromedia Dreamweaver, and Adobe Acrobat PDF Writer. The presentation equipment allows instructors to simultaneously project two applications at one time. For example, library instructors can display a PowerPoint presentation on how to search the online catalog on one screen, while the other screen displays a live online OPAC catalog search.
