University of Bedfordshire, Bridges CETL
| Contact Details: | Maja Jankowska: Maja.Jankowska@beds.ac.uk |
| Type of Project: | Bridges - a Centre for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CETL) supporting Personal, Career and Professional Development through the Undergraduate Curriculum. The project was a refurbishment, the site originally was partly a bookshop, partly a rundown classroom and also a learning resources centre IT training space. |
| Start/End Date: | Planning started in July 2005. Building finished in around Feb/March 2006. |
Technology
There are 24 laptops and 6 different coloured round tables in the creative space, people are grouped in 4's. The facilitator has access to a master PC and a variety of display equipment. The laptops are linked to a large screen visible to all in the room. This allows, in conjunction with specialist software, participants to work individually and confidentially, and then discuss ideas more openly.
Multimedia facilities and the ability to record different kinds of presentations are available. Facilitate Pro, sophisticated brainstorming software, is used for voting and showing instant results. This has proved to be very beneficial not only for brainstorming but for research, for on-line focus groups, for different discussions and for planning as well. Being anonymous both staff and students like it as it gives them a freedom to say whatever they feel.
Also available are storage for laptops so that they can be removed when not in use, a writeable wall covering most of the room, and a box of creative toys that are used for ice breakers and creating different models.
There is a lectern with 2 screens; one screen has the image projected on the screen behind the lecturer and the other one that the presenter can work on unseen by those present.
Adding Value
The University believes that pedagogy should be the driver not technology but obviously technology is very helpful. Feedback indicates that the Facilitate Pro anonymous brainstorming software and the walls are the key features of the spaces. Providing the two in one space enable seamless working - moving between the technology, the walls and discussion.
