New Active Learning Classrooms in Sondheim

The Division of Information Technology (DoIT) and Facilities Management (FM) began working with the Classroom Committee in 2016 to study the possibility of converting two large classrooms, Sondheim 101 and 409, from standard classrooms of tablet arm chairs with a standard AV projector setup to “Active Learning” spaces.  A sub-committee of the Classroom Committee, made up of faculty and administrators, was formed to discuss how a classroom renovation might best support “Active Learning”.  The recommendations of this sub-committee and the Classroom Committee were used to guide the design of these rooms. 

 Sondheim 101 Before

Sondheim 409 Before

The final design of these rooms included two key components as guiding principles: flexible furniture and collaborative technology.  While the furniture and technology in each rooms varies, this was intentional as to provide two “models” of active learning environments for faculty and students to experience.  The feedback from the faculty and students who use these two rooms will be very valuable in guiding the final design of the active learning classrooms in the new ILSB building.

The Office of the Provost, DoIT, and Facilities Management partnered to fund this project with a total cost of $329,000. 

Sondheim 101 has rolling chairs with rectangular tablets that can be configured into groups of three, four or six, or arranged in circles or rows.  The classroom technology includes two 80” monitors and two 65” monitors, document camera, enhanced classroom audio to support a collaborative setting, and wireless collaboration which allows multiple students or student groups to simultaneously share their content from their device(s) to the classroom displays.  Finally, this room is outfitted with six 96” glass dry erase boards.

Sondheim 101 After

Sondheim 101 After

Sondheim 409 is more similar in furniture and technology to the eight active-learning classrooms of the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building (ILSB) that will be completed in 2019. Sondheim 409 will have rolling chairs and trapezoidal tables that can form hexagons. The classroom technology includes two 80” monitors and four 65” monitors, a touch-enabled PC, document camera, enhanced classroom audio to support a collaborative setting, and wireless collaboration which allows multiple students or student groups to simultaneously share their content from their device(s) to the classroom displays.  In addition, each display will have a local HDMI connection for small group display of content.  Finally, this room is outfitted with six 96” glass dry erase boards and a 144” glass dry erase board behind the instructor station. 

Sondheim 409 After

Sondheim 409 After 

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