Collaboration is an integral part of most careers in the information field. The Texas iSchool had that reality in mind during the Spring 2017 semester when it revamped and upgraded its computer lab, installing “collaboration stations” where students can now work on joint projects or share their work with their peers.
The new lab will serve as an example for libraries and other cultural institutions that are looking to retool their own computer labs, noted Dean and Professor Andrew Dillon. “While the working and study practices of students in the program have changed over the years to include more digital design projects and team-based work, our computing labs were structured as if individuals worked alone or only on a private screen,” he said. “We wanted to create an environment where students could collaborate and where ideas could be shared, with facilities easily adjusted to fit the needs of the team. Consequently we needed to rethink the purpose of our lab completely to accommodate the realities of contemporary information work.”
The iSchool also made a significant investment in a traditional, individual-use computer lab, noted Quinn Stewart, instructional technology coordinator. “While the majority of our students now carry laptops, many do not, and those that do often prefer working alone in a quiet space,” he said. “Given these various and often competing needs, we opted to seek the maximum flexibility with our space.” The school consolidated its digitization facilities to a single lab with multiple formats for audio and video, and then reconfigured the existing furniture and computer lab to fit into a slightly smaller, adjoining space that can also serve as a 15-seat computer classroom.
“When the room is not scheduled, it is our quiet lab, and half of the computers have dual monitors where students can plug in a laptop and use an installed computer, or just use two large screens for their work,” Stewart said. “Our main computer lab was then converted into a collaboration area with four stations. Each of these can seat six students, with multiple means of connecting student laptops to a large-screen display for collaborative work.” Each station also has an installed computer with videoconferencing capabilities that uses a wireless keyboard and mouse. There is a mobile laptop station that can be used by an instructor or group to display the laptop image on one, or all of the collaboration stations. Each station also has a mobile phone charging cable secured to the desk, and power available for laptops. A laptop bar was installed in the passageway to the computer classroom, and students can plug in to work there, where copiers and a computer are available for students who need to print something. There are also mobile whiteboards available for collaborative work, along with additional seating and small tables for two or three students to work together.
The new computer lab was funded by a grant from the Tocker Foundation, a longtime friend of the iSchool. “Gifts from friends such as the Tocker Foundation serve an amplifying function, giving us an ability to innovate and enhance excellence beyond what is possible with the basic budget of a public institution,” Dean Dillon said. “Donors such as the Tockers ensure we can continue to deliver a world-class education to all students, ensuring we remain open to all while remaining at the top of the field.”