University of Hertfordshire, Blended Learning Unit (BLU)
| Contact Details: | The Blended Learning Unit (BLU) website: www.herts.ac.uk/blu Jon Alltree, Deputy Director, BLU: j.r.alltree@herts.ac.uk |
| Type of Project: | The Blended Learning Unit (BLU) has developed two learning spaces at the University of Hertfordshire - one in the main College Lane accommodation and one in the College Lane Learning Resources Centre. They are refurbishments/re-purposing of original spaces. |
| Start/End Date: | The BLU, a HEFCE CETL, was established in 2005 and the refurbishment and repurposing work was carried out from mid 2005 and the spaces were brought into service in February and May 2006. |
Technology
ROOM ONE is fully equipped with a state-of-the-art teaching wall that includes dual data projection, an interactive whiteboard, an ordinary whiteboard, several computer inputs, tablet interface, VCR, DVD and visualiser. There are also four interactive whiteboards around the room to support students' small group collaborative work. A touch screen control unit enables the output of any device to be projected on any of the room's six screens. Instead of a lectern, there is a low level cabinet towards the front of the room, minimising physical barriers between tutor and students. The room is wirelessly networked and includes a rack of 18 portable laptops for computer based activities.
The teaching wall enables the teacher to use a wide range of inputs and capture the teaching activity via such techniques as audio recording and presentation recording. The interactive whiteboards enable students to develop, record and display their ideas electronically and save them to their StudyNet (University of Hertfordshire's managed learning environment) websites. Their work can also be shared with other groups using the control unit. If all the laptops are deployed, the room can be used as a computer laboratory.
The teaching wall in ROOM TWO can be used in a similar way and the students can also work in groups using the whiteboards and flipcharts. If outputs need to be saved, the students can take photographs with digital cameras and load the results onto their StudyNet sites.
Adding Value
The technology adds value by supporting collaborative work in a resource rich environment (i.e. access to the internet, module websites and the University's electronic catalogue are all readily available). It facilitates sharing between groups and the archiving of activity onto StudyNet websites, so that students can review work retrospectively. The students have also reported that they find the environment stimulating. In addition, many develop new IT skills as part of the learning process.
