Dear Tech Talk--

Our library administration recently decided that we need to offer instruction in the use of electronic resources, including Internet resources. We have some space in the library which is being reassigned for an electronic classroom, but I am overwhelmed by what I've read. What I need is a checklist outlining the basic considerations for establishing an electronic classroom. Help!

--Electronic Enigma

Dear EE--

More and more librarians face the task of creating an electronic classroom, often using an existing room in the library instead of designing a room in a new facility. Indeed, sometimes librarians don't even have the luxury of choosing the room that is to become the new facility. Therefore, there are often many challengies to overcome if a room is to be successfully converted for use as an instructional technology classroom.

There are two primary factors affecting the design of a room conversion:

• The room's size and physical barriers;
• The kind of instruction to be provided: demonstrations or hands-on experience.

Ideally, the room should be about twice as long as it is wide, with no posts or pillars to obstruct the students' view, and it should be located in a visible area of the library. In addition to the room's size, the number and placement of visual obstructions will reduce the number of people the room can reasonably accommodate. A rear entry point is also desirable.

Additionally, the type of instruction provided will also impact the number of people the room can accommodate. For hands-on instruction, computer workstations will be needed, which will increase the amount of square feet needed per person (workstation). Another consideration with hands-on instruction, is that you may want to restrict the number of workstations to no more than 10-15, in order to provide a positive learning experience without having to rely on assistance from additional instructors.

One source (Adams 2) recommends 700-1200 square feet for classrooms to accommodate 20-30 computer workstations. At Baylor University, those responsible for converting rooms to support instructional technology use a minimum of 28 feet per person. So the size of a room to accommodate 20 workstations (including aisles, instructor's workstation, additional equipment) would have to be, minimally, 560 square feet.

The following checklists identify other variables to consider in converting a regular classroom for hands-on instruction in the use of electronic resources:

Room configuration and features:

• Placement of workstations:
• Traditional rows
• Along room's perimeter -- with or without additional tables in the center of the room
• Clusters of workstations throughout the room
• U- or V-shaped placement of workstations
• Other configurations
• Style of workstations:
• Standard tables with CPU's, monitors, and keyboards on top (lower costs, but CPU's and monitors may obstruct vision)
• Tables allowing placement of some or all of the equipment below the table top (more expensive, but students have a clear visual path, and there's more flexibility in using the tables for other purposes)
• Placement of instructor's workstation:
• At the front of the room, facing the students
• At the rear of the room, where students' computer monitors can be easily observed
• Sound issues
• Sound dampening (against outside noises like noisy airhandlers or passers-by)
• Sound amplification for both instructors and sound-related technologies (especially in larger rooms with many workstations)
• Lighting:
• Control of lights from instructor's workstation
• Mechanisms to dim lights for presentations
• Sufficient light at instructor's workstation
• Room Renovation
• Asbestos abatement
• Electrical wiring (outlets, lights, etc.)
• Network connections
• Telephone lines (to call for help and to connect a modem)
• Painting and carpeting

Hardware and Furniture:

• Tables $ 130/table *
• Chairs $ 130/chair *
• Computers $2,000 - $2,500/computer *
• Laser Printer(s) $2,000/printer
• Projector $3,000 - $7,000 *
• Overhead projector and LCD Panel (can use transparencies as well as computer and other equipment)
• LCD Projector (cannot use transparencies, but brighter image projection and lower noise levels)
• Projection Screen (8' X 8')
  • Manual $ 260 *
  • Electric $1,050 *
• Instructor's Workstation
  • Portable cart (heavy-duty) $ 500 *
  • Permanent podium (custom built) $ 800 *
• Additional Equipment (as needed to accomplish instructional objectives)
• Videorecorder
• Laserdisc player

Choose Software (Make choices based on instructional objectives before selecting hardware.):

• Word processing or spreadsheets programs
• Library resources
• Internet tools
• Menuing or configuration/maintenance/distribution software

Maintenance and Administration:

• Plan to replace computer workstations when obsolete (every 3-4 years)
• Plan to add and replace software as technology evolves
• Assign responsibility for trouble-shooting equipment problems

Identify the level of security needed:

• Security system for the entire room?
• Security of the individual units in the room?
• Security of the software and operating system of the computers?
• Train instructors in using the equipment
• Establish policies and procedures for using the room

For more information, examine some of the resources listed below. In particular, Adams explores many of the issues raised in the checklists, and Pask provides practical details based on one library's experience.

Additional Information --

Adams, Laural L. "Designing the Electronic Class- room" In: The Internet--Flames, Firewalls and the Future: Proceedings for the 995 Conference of the Council for Higher Education Computing Services. ED 398 921

Elmore, Garland and Ali Jafari. "Implementing the Vision: Electronic Classroom Design and Construction." In: The Electronic Classroom: A Handbook for Education in the Electronic Environment. Medford, NJ: Learned Information, Inc., 1996.

Glogoff, Stuart. "Library Instruction in the Electronic Library: The University of Arizona's Electronic Library Education Centers." Reference Services Review (Summer 1995): 7-12.

Hinchliffe, Lisa Janicke. "Planning an Electronic Library Classroom: An Annotated Bibliography."
URL: http://alexia.lis.uiuc.edu/~janicke/Abstracts.html

Kotlas, Carolyn. "Computer Classroom and Laboratory Design: Bibliography."
URL: http://www.iat.unc.edu/guides/irg-03.html

Pask, Judith. "Purdue University Libraries Electronic Classroom."
URL: http://omni.cc. purdue.edu/~jmpask/Poster.html

As always, send questions and comments to:

Snail Mail:
Tech Talk
Billie Peterson
Moody Memorial Library
P. O. Box 97148
Waco, TX 76798-7148


E-mail: petersonb@baylor.edu