Students will have access to a $2.8 million innovative teaching and learning facility equipped with the latest audio-visual teaching technology at The University of Queensland’s Gatton campus by the end of the year.
The Regional Collaborative Learning Centre (R-CLC) is partly funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Capital Development Pool.
UQ`s first Collaborative Teaching and Learning Centre (CTLC) in the $24 million Sir James Foots building opened at its St Lucia campus in 2005, featuring almost $1.5 million in technology.
The highly innovative collaborative spaces can operate in three distinct modes: individual study, seminar and/or group mode where the space can be divided into multiple learning “pods”.
The “second-generation” R-CLC will also feature the three operating modes with flexibility enhanced by pop-up monitor pods.
An advanced control system transforms the rooms using lighting changes, power-operated screens and blinds and advanced projection systems which optimise the equipment so students can work either in groups, with an instructor, or independently.
The St Lucia CTLC has attracted worldwide interest with groups from Europe, the United States, the Middle East, South Africa and Japan visiting to study its unique learning concepts.
Earlier this year, the keynote address for a British Blended Learning conference was delivered by UQ educators via live video link from one of the CTLC’s two external collaboration facilities.
A CTLC session typically begins in “seminar” mode, in which the teacher addresses the class and sets learning tasks. At the press of a button, a large-screen LCD monitor rises from the end of each nine-seat group table transforming it into a collaborative work centre or “pod”.
Students at each pod table can display computer images or items captured with a document camera to enable collaborative activities and each group’s work can be shared to all via a preview system controlled from the lectern.
After hours, or when no classes are scheduled, students can use the computers and displays in the learning pods for assignment work, group study or individual research.
Alongside the CTLC is a sophisticated dual-screen video-conference teaching room which will allow teaching to or from St Lucia, Ipswich or hundreds of potential sites around the world, freeing students and staff from tedious, inter-campus travel and widening the possibilities for global guest lecturers.
Media: Philip Taylor, Manager, Academic Facilities (07 3365 3140), Derek Powell, Manager Teaching Technology Support (07 3365 1027; 0401 717 965) or Shirley Glaister at UQ Communications (07 3365 2049).
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