When you first enter 126 Hayes Hall, it hits you immediately – this is not your average college
classroom. The tables are round and surrounded by five flat screen television monitors. The lectern isn’t at
the front, but in the center of the room, with a large remote control-looking device anchored on top. By the
entrance, a cabinet holds 36 iPads for student use.The room is the first Active Learning Classroom (ALC) on
campus and the result of collaboration between the Chief Information Officer (CIO), Capital Planning and the
Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL).Active Learning Classrooms are designed to promote cooperative and
problem-based learning. Many institutions such as McGill University and the University of Minnesota have
embraced this design.The chairs are color-coded and feature either dots or stripes, which makes it easier to
split the room into groups. Removable "huddle boards" or wipe boards can be passed around. Each
table is equipped with HDMI cables and power sources. Student work can be shown on the flat screens and the
instructor can even choose one in particular to be shared across all the screens.According to Bonnie Fink,
director of the CTL, the idea for the classrooms evolved from a committee started several years ago dubbed
the "Classroom of the Future.""When John Ellinger started as the CIO, he and I had an initial
meeting and really talked a lot about a symbiotic relationship that has to exist between pedagogy,
instructional design and technology," Fink said. "This room is built based on research, an actual
space that is designed to promote the use of active learning pedagogy. In fact, the ‘welcome to the
classroom’ training actually teaches faculty about the research behind it.""Where I started from
was the position that technology utilization in the classrooms on this campus is certainly not where it
could be," said Ellinger. "There are a lot of overhead projectors sitting in the front of
classrooms, which then talks about the style of classrooms that we have – fixed seating and traditional
lecture style from the front of the room. A lot of the momentum in classroom technology surrounds not just
the use of technology in the classroom but also the portability of technology in the classroom."Dr.
Carney Strange, a professor of higher education and student affairs, has used the active learning classroom
twice for one of his graduate classes. He says that while there have been some frustrations with the
technology, there is no comparison between this room and his usual one in the Education Building."When
we walk into this room the acoustics are good, it’s comfortable like a living room and we’re in more of a
workshop environment that students like," he explained. "The round tables are perfect for what
we’re trying to do.""I like the flexibility, which allows for more group work," said Ryan
Bronkema, one of Strange’s students, who has also helped with the rollout of the ALC, conducting workshops
and presentations to show all the options available.During class Strange’s students utilized their iPads to
display various websites and Google docs on the flat screens for discussion.Bronkema hopes the university
will seriously consider renovating more classrooms in this style. "I think you could do this without
all the technology and with just the design. Some institutions have up to 200 rooms like this one. I would
love to see the investment in design and furniture."According to Ellinger, the fixed nature of the
furniture in 126 Hayes is considered the "Minnesota model" of the ALC. "The folks at McGill
took another path, which was to be completely flexible in the room – rolling wedge desks that can be put
into rows, circles or small groups, and portable cabinets with laptops or tablets. Everything is wireless.
There are disadvantages and advantages to both."Faculty will get a chance to see a "McGill"
totally flexible classroom at work in the fall of 2013 when a redesigned 207 Olscamp is scheduled to
open.Ellinger says 207 Olscamp and 126 Hayes will give faculty and administrators some examples to consider
when discussions start on the renovations of the Traditions Buildings. "We want to build classrooms
that are flexible, with enough technology that they become tools for faculty and students to use."