Provost’s Academic Computing Advisory Committee
Minutes for May 2, 2007
May 2, 2007 PACAC Agenda
9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m., Engineering, Building 69, Room 315
Dial-in to 3-9999
1) Learning Spaces Small Group Reports
a) Formal Learning Spaces
b) Informal Learning Spaces
c) Virtual Learning Spaces
2) Learning Spaces Survey—Don Carter
3) Progress on Infrastructure Survey—John Campbell
4) Progress on Wireless Implementation—John Campbell
5) e-Learning Institute—Don Carter
6) Summer Work on Learning Spaces Initiative—Claudia Bakula
Meeting Minutes
Attending: David Allen, Dawn Armfield, Claudia Bakula, John Campbell, Don Carter, Carol Chambers, Lanita Collette, Bill Cone, Paul Davila, Fred Estrella, Jerry Hughes, Harper Johnson, Taylor Joyal, Georgia Michalicek, Tolga Ozgur, Catherine Petersen, Jim Pinto, Tom Rogers, Linda Shadiow, Allen Sonafrank, Mike Taylor, and Jay Thompson.
Learning Spaces Small Group Reports
Formal Learning Spaces
John Campbell reported that the Formal Learning Spaces subcommittee compiled answers to the questions about learning spaces that were distributed by the Chair at the last PACAC meeting. They then met to discuss them on April 26. The subcommittee discussed the idea behind a practical definition for formal learning spaces. The key factors considered were the presence of an instructor and possibly a space that was scheduled. They listed six examples:
§ Lecture hall
§ Seminar room
§ Computer lab with instructor
§ Research lab with instructor
§ Art studio used in instruction
§ Theater or performance hall with instructor
The subcommittee discussed typology and the need for campus-wide standards and purchasing strategies to provide for efficient maintenance and refresh of equipment. The need for continual onsite maintenance staff was stressed. The goal would be to define a base level and to strive to bring the neediest areas up to that level first.
Chris Lanterman was invited to join the effort of formulating recommendations for formal learning spaces. His areas of expertise are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations and universal design. This means that the building, seating, lighting, and technology should all be universally accessible to the broadest possible audience. Allen Sonafrank suggested the group provide a range of costs rather than a concrete number for estimating baseline equipment needs. When doing renovations, factors such as running into asbestos, challenges to providing power outlets, and severe problems retrofitting lighting may vary widely.
Informal Learning Spaces
Lanita Collette reported that the creation of a survey for students and faculty is a big topic for the Informal Learning Spaces subcommittee, and they are working with a target date at the end of June for putting one together. She said they still plan to involve other faculty and will be adding others to the committee as participants over the summer. Lanita offered that a definition for an informal learning space might be anything that is not a formal learning space.
Lanita said the subcommittee is looking at what tools are needed in these spaces for flexibility. She said the decision on how an informal learning space is going to be used is made by the people using it. They will be doing some scanning on their own of informal spaces on campus.
Don Carter has posted a list of resources on the PACAC website for the subcommittee. He noted that one of the keys to retention at NAU is to keep students working and engaged, and Lanita added that there is more of a blending of socializing with learning in the informal learning space. Although she said there are not good dividing lines, the spaces need to be pleasant.
Jay Thompson said the IT committee in the School of Forestry had a discussion on learning spaces. He shared that Forestry students will go into a classroom when it is not scheduled and use it as an informal learning space. Tom Rogers said the best way to learn is in a collaborative nature. In the newly renovated Engineering building, they have “nooks” for very specific reasons. Everyone agreed that there is a difference between what was needed in CBA compared to what was needed in Engineering for learning spaces.
Virtual Learning Spaces
Georgia Michalicek reported that the Virtual Learning Spaces subcommittee had met, and she has set up a Sakai wiki for members to share resources and documents. The subcommittee had a discussion centered on defining virtual learning spaces so that it would be inclusive of not only online learning, but also ITV classes, hybrid classes, and the web-enhanced learning that takes place at NAU. Catherine Petersen shared that the term used by Educause most often is “virtual learning environments” because learning spaces can occur in a variety of ways.
As the subcommittee answered the questions posed by the Chair about virtual learning spaces, they began to focus on activities and started coming up with a standard list of software tools. Georgia said they were addressing the question of what hardware is already in use and how programs such as laptop checkout in the Cline Library could assist in helping determine virtual learning space guidelines and standards. In addition, the subcommittee would like to ensure ADA compliance and provide information on ADA laws and regulations in the final document on learning spaces that will be turned in to the Provost in the fall.
Georgia said the subcommittee will participate in the intersection with the other two subcommittees working on formal and informal learning spaces and would like to participate in the informal learning spaces survey. Other topics for discussion for the subcommittee will include the learning space activities found in the residence halls, network security, further data collection opportunities at NAU, and the increasing importance of social software and social spaces used for teaching and learning.
Jerry Hughes reported that he has been holding discussions with his students in Second Life. Catherine Petersen offered that both informal and formal learning spaces could be provided in a virtual learning space whether it was in Second Life or in the course management system. Dawn Armfield said synchronous and asynchronous learning spaces needed to be considered since many students can’t meet in synchronous meetings. Don Carter added that the Assistant/Associate Deans Roundtable (AADR) was in the process of identifying course definitions in PeopleSoft as online synchronous and online asynchronous.
Learning Spaces Survey
Don Carter reported that the e-Learning Center will be putting together a survey on learning spaces this summer for all faculty and students. He stated that the purpose of the e-Learning survey would be three-fold—to collect data, to inform people, and to get people involved.
Progress on Infrastructure Survey
Harper Johnson informed the committee that the survey he conducted on campus technology infrastructure had closed. However, he was still waiting for responses from SBS, HR, and Nursing. He said questions were to be answered for every classroom in every college.
Harper said the survey responses will provide a baseline of technology that will include the number of standard rooms we have and what technology is currently available in them. This is expected to help with standards for learning spaces that are being developed by PACAC. He also shared that since ITS only has a single user license for the survey software, reports will need to be generated by request.
Progress on Wireless Implementation
John Campbell reported that the Arizona Board of Regents approved a $1 per credit hour increase in the Student Information Technology Fee (IT Fee) for 2007–08. The plan is to have all residence halls wireless by fall semester. The remainder of the campus buildings, starting with academic buildings and then administration buildings, will be completed in the upcoming months. Priority will be to implement wireless in buildings with no or limited wireless capability, and then work with others to complete coverage in their areas. ITS will be working with the Office of the Provost to finalize the planning later this summer.
e-Learning Institute
Don Carter announced the e-Learning Institute will be held in the College of Business Administration building from May 21–24.
Summer Work on Learning Spaces Initiatives
Claudia Bakula announced that the President has money for improving some learning spaces this summer. She said that PACAC and the Provost’s office will have some input, and there will be activity for some PACAC members who will be around this summer. She then introduced Paul Davila of Capital Assets Planning and Development.
Paul informed the members that they were going to renovate the third floor space in Liberal Arts this summer. He said Karen Appleby was heading up the project which was still in its infancy, but that they would like to integrate technology into the renovation. He asked PACAC to help him determine what technology needs to go into that building. Allen Sonafrank advocated for infrastructure for projectors with electrical and Ethernet running through the ceilings. He also suggested that projectors could be installed and wire should be run for VGA cable in each classroom. Paul said they were not working at that level yet.
Fred Estrella said he had not seen a budget for the project yet and that there were no standards set for classrooms. He said the vice presidents want to make sure they spend money smartly and thought that the work PACAC was doing on learning spaces could be utilized. Paul said the focus would be on basics but agreed that a standard was needed.
Don Carter asked if the focus of the renovation would be on classrooms. Paul said they would be renovating classrooms, offices, restrooms, and putting in a new computer lab. Further discussion ensued with Claudia Bakula offering that members of PACAC need to get together with the College of Arts and Letters to get a coherent understanding of what the space will be used for. Paul said they are looking at the numbers now, but he will need another $100,000 due to damages that need repair on the roof. He said anything else added from a meeting would also need to be drafted into that figure. He thought there was probably two to three weeks to work on this. John Campbell proposed that the formal learning spaces subcommittee get involved as much as possible. There was a joint decision that representatives from PACAC would meet with Liberal Arts and Capital Assets the following week.
The next PACAC meeting will be held in the fall as the PACAC membership for the 2007–2008 academic year is reconvened.
PACAC Minutes for May 2, 2007 — Page 4