by Staci J. Sessler
A SMART classroom. No, that doesn’t mean that that room has a degree or even went to school. It’s a sign of things to come at IVCC.
A SMART classroom is a room "that contains the proper equipment that allows instructors to use all types of electronic media to supplement their instruction," according to Harold Barnes, Director of Computer Services.
The proper basic equipment, that will cost about $18,000 a classroom, includes a computer equipped with a multimedia drive and a DVD drive. It also includes a VCR, a data slice projector, a document camera, and an instructor console that will house the equipment.
"Eventually it will be more complete with better sound systems, video switching equipment, wireless mouse controls, and modifications to the lighting," said Barnes.
There will be five classrooms set up initially, A-213, A-321, A-331, D-225,and D-229 plus one portable station that will be located on the East Campus.
The classrooms are temporarily set up right now, but by next semester, the equipment will be permanently mounted, Barnes said.
"All the classrooms are wired with fiber optic cabling and are capable (of becoming SMART classrooms)...eventually all the classrooms on campus will be SMART classrooms," said Barnes.
Right now the biological sciences are the main users of the new equipment.
Instructors will require training on the new equipment, and Barnes said it will be provided.
According to Barnes, IVCC is "pretty much even" with the rest of the community colleges and colleges that offer this type of learning.
11/19/98 the Apache