Innovative Learning Space at the University of Hong Kong

This is classroom 321 in the Run Run Shaw Building. Here are my thoughts:

A lot to research in this innovative learning space: segregation into groups, namely, who sits with whom and why people choose to sit in certain seats. Regarding the latter, I chose my seat on the center, high ground so I could easily look at all my classmates and all the screens in the classroom. And, if this were a Starcraft map -- the classroom layout could surely be rendered into a small 1v1 map -- I could from this position blast away at all four corners of the map with siege tanks. I pity the low ground!

To be sure, the discrepancy between high and low ground is pronounced, and affords as many advantages as disadvantages. On the one hand, being higher or lower than classmates is novel, and thus interesting, if only temporarily. In addition, for group work, each group is more isolated and thus less physically distracted by the presence of other groups; and potentially, the acoustics are better in the classroom as a result of different levels. On the other hand, it is difficult for people to see each other. For example, it is impossible for the students in the corner on the high ground and for the students in the corner on the low ground to see each other. This "lack of face" could disengage students from active listening and participation.

From the high ground, I observe the majority of students before class assiduously plowing away at their laptops. Technology, in this case, is isolating.

And these students' laptops are on the tables and not on the counter space because the electrical plugs are in the tables and nowhere else in the classroom. What with this electricity-centric, table-centric design, and the prevalence of laptops, potentially, other counter spaces will be neglected or under-utilized.

I am noticing that when I am addressing the class, I don't know where to look save at the teacher. I would need to swivel my head 270 degrees to give everyone in the room a measure of eye contact. Additionally, I notice that when Bob is lecturing, I tend to look at the large screen hanging above his head when I could easily get a better look at the images on the screen if I looked at the smaller one right behind me!

Conversely, if my classmates and I were to divert our eyes elsewhere, to other screens, the teacher, too, would have to no longer expect conspicuous visual cues from students regarding their attention and engagement in the lesson.

I also enjoy spinning around the high ground on my chair. This is possible because the chairs are tucked in at my table -- no one else is sitting with me -- and I can consequently wheel around my table unobstructed. When Bob, standing in the center of the classroom, is speaking, I can wheel myself closer to him, halving the physical distance between us! My ample physical space affords me greater engagement with the teacher and students.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• innovative
• learning
• space
• teaching
• classroom
• HKU
• university
• hong
• kong
• hk

[lovelplants]

wow,, cool gadgets,.,,

[cladimere]

Awesome