The Classroom of the Future

 

 

 

Ci Center Conceptual Illustration by Kristy Pron

A Future Instructional Portal

 

The Ci Center is a future portal design to an instructional ecosystem that uses current cutting- edge technologies integrated into a flexible physical and technical design to access multiple environments. The Center enables instructional strategies that take advantage of networked collaboration and information and mobile learning. This ecosystem facilitates the movement from an industrial instructional design sharing in various student groupings: experimentation using modeling, gaming and simulations, virtual worlds, social networking, augmented reality model to an experiential, problem-based and experimental design that can respond to the changing learning needs of students. In addition, the space facilitates interaction in and between resident, remote site (e.g., COCOMs), social media, and distributed learning environments. This innovative space will serve as the laboratory for future iCollege and classroom /AV configurations.


A critical aspect of this project is the connection with digital information and the development of genuine personal relationships. The Center must be technologically flexible and adaptable, allowing integration of instructional strategies into the learning process that can take advantage of anywhere, anytime capabilities. At the same time, this educational portal must have a physical environment to facilitate a complete range of interactions that form genuine personal relationships.


  • Human-Centered Design
  • Green (paperless, energy efficient, green materials)
  • Environmental and technological zoning for different activities
  • Agile (out with the old, in with new quickly)
  • Technology brought to space, not built in (e.g., web 2.0 tools)
  • Social networking environments (e.g., virtual worlds, google apps, etc)
  • Flexible (quickly move from one instructional activity to another)
  • Ease of Use
  • Invisible Technology (Transparency)
  • Data analytics

Soft spaces, team spaces, individual work spaces, social spaces, mentoring spaces all emerge as part of the instructional ecosystem... The space is no longer static rows of desks and chairs. Students value the need for multiple spaces to support a wide range of authentic learning activities.


Technology includes:

  • Tek Panels with SmartBoard software integration including
  • Smart Notebook and Smart Sync
  • AMX Control System
  • Lutron Lighting System
  • Idea Paint Dry Erase wall paint
  • Planar displays for video wall
  • Xbox Kinect
  • Zoned audio and lighting
  • Cloud network environment
  • Wireless network for all hardware and mobile devices
  • HD Webcams
  • Samsung web enabled 3D Monitors
  • Macbook Pro laptops for student computing