University of Cumbria, The Learning Gateway, Carlisle

This Case Study was undertaken in early 2007, at which point the institution was known as St. Martin's College - now part of the University of Cumbria, formed in August 2007.

Technology

Video conferencing

The Lecture Theatre has video conferencing built-in in order to make it as seamless as possible to bring external audiences or speakers into the space. There are also two portable video conference units that can be used in the flexirooms; apart from the expected communication usage (to other College locations, other institutions and between rooms), they have also been used for some other interesting applications such as observing body language. The LG official opening took place in the Lecture Theatre and also 'virtually' by VC link to Lakes College on the west coast of Cumbria. VC is used extensively by the College for meetings at various locations, however the LG system is extending this to learning and teaching activities. For example as part of the Faculty of Health and Social Care's widening participation programme, they ran a taster session for FE/HE students at Lakes College and simultaneously from the Learning Gateway, centred on study skills for HE. Therefore we believe that the portable video conferencing facilities support shared experiences of learning. Students are also experimenting with the VC unit to communicate with tutors, between rooms and between each other.

Wireless network

The College's first wireless network is in the LG serving as a test bed for the institution. This has allowed more flexible thinking as to how and where computers are used. A laptop follows a user around the building, rather than the user having to log onto and off different machines depending on where they are working. The use of laptops and wireless technologies also means that we didn't have to have dedicated IT labs. By bringing a number of laptops into a room it can become an IT teaching room; once that session is over, the room can be used for other work.

Polling system

A Polling system is installed in the Lecture Theatre to provide instant feedback and additional interactivity. The delegates at the NoWAL Conference in September 2006, took part in a vote as part of the two keynote speeches, being asked about trends in libraries, the use of technology and perceptions of students. It has also been used in a recent staff awayday to highlight the demographics of learning in Cumbria.

Digital signage

A system of Campus Information Points (CIP) has been introduced. These allow digital images to be captured and streamed to all the CIPs across the College. Five screens are in the LG and these are used to convey information to users about events, room availability, message of the day etc.

The majority of the learning space within the building is self-bookable (open to all staff and students). The digital signage provides a real-time display of room availability, as well as opening-up opportunities for displaying other information, tips and ideas. It is linked to the wider campus information system of signage that allows promotion of the LG to other campuses. The transferability of the LG concept is a major area of development in the College.

Flexirooms

These spaces blend technology and furniture to provide flexible learning spaces. For example, wireless keyboards and mice mean that users no longer have to stand at the front of the class to operate the 'teaching wall' computer. Any laptop can become the teaching wall PC, making it quick and easy to move from small group/individual work to displaying it to an audience. Interactive boards provide the opportunity for enhanced 'flipchart' style sessions, but with the added advantage of being able to save and digitally distribute the final result. The Lecture Theatre also features a stylus driven touch-screen version of the interactive board, allowing this technology to also be used with larger audiences.

Laptop loans

As the building is wireless enabling laptop use anywhere in the building a flexible lap top loan service has been set up. (The staff offices contain the only fixed PCs in the LG). There are 90 laptops for loan (soon to become 120). Students can borrow a laptop for 3 hours, and/or return it for re-charge. Tutors can also borrow banks of 30 laptops for use with a group. The Talis Library Management System is used for lending thus integrating print loan and IT loan facilities into the LG. Learning Facilitators can move freely to where learners require help - not being fixed to a service desk means that interactions are more informal and supportive.

Adding Value

• The technology allows students to become familiar with specialist software that they may not have been able to access previously, e.g. smartboards for teacher training students before they enter schools on placements.
• Students can get support on using the VLE (Blackboard) and whilst using the VLE to learn.
• Students are able to work throughout the building and move and adapt as the learning scenarios evolve.
• Members of staff enjoy working in the Gateway as opposed to their own offices which encourages the mixing of students and staff in one space and breaks down potential communication barriers.
• Students can take a more active role in traditional learning scenarios with the use of technology like wireless mice and keyboards.
• The portable VC equipment allows students in different groups to communicate between rooms and interact in different ways.
• The flexible furniture combines with the technology and enables students to make the space their own, for example the clearing of space for drama or reflexology while watching videos or powerpoint that lead the exercises.
• Its wireless flexibility supports one-to-one and one-to-many modes and interactions, and spontaneous ideas.
• Students appreciate being able to work in their own way; the technology affords both privacy and also differentiation.
• It integrates both the social and emotional side of learning because its mobility appeals to a wide variety of learning styles.
• The technology allows tutors and learners to interact to create novel situations, that motivates and supports student success.
• The learner is more in control (not all learners feel comfortable with this).
• We tried to blend technologies, wherever possible, to allow better value and a greater sense of 'whole' to the building. For example, the wireless technology allows the user to work in an open space; then take the same laptop into a flexiroom and dock it onto equipment cabinet; they can then work on a topic using the interactive board; the results can then be saved, instantly uploaded onto Blackboard and further discussions can take place via the forums.
• Using new technologies users can often produce richer, interactive, reusable and longer-lasting materials and resources than those produced by or for traditional technologies.