Five Decades Later: Integrating Technology in a Large, Lecture Hall
Rebecca Gould, Kansas State University
Background
Evolution of Learning Spaces
Dilemma
Process and Timeline
Key Players and Their Roles
Challenges
Renovation
Technology
Lessons Learned
Continuous Improvement
An overview of the stakeholders, along with a brief description of their roles and skills, are provided in Table 1. Hundreds of skilled trades (carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and more) worked on the project. Other key players included the contractor and subcontractors, vendor partners, and more than 36 individuals who were on the project team. Titles and roles of key players follow.
The SWAT (Strategic Ways to Acquire Technology) team, composed of 13 faculty members and facilities and IT staff, worked to design and redesign the space (students joined the team later in the project).
Facilities staff on the project included the university architects, interiors consultant, onsite coordinator, space planner, room scheduler, moving and hauling staff, and maintenance and custodial staff. Facilities staff drew up the plans, determined the interiors with input from all constituents, kept abreast of trends in classroom aesthetics, managed the overall budget, communicated to the constituents, served as project managers, submitted appropriate documentation for local and state approvals, and more.
The information technology staff on the project included those familiar with future technology classroom design and installation, telecommunications and networking staff, an IT trainer, and the IT support staff. Major roles of the IT staff were to serve as liaison between the onsite coordinator and the technology vendor, ensure that faculty expectations were addressed, assist with relocation, and provide ongoing support of the room.
One general contractor provided project oversight, along with five subcontractors for heating and plumbing, furniture systems, flooring, electrical systems, and technology.
Brief Listing of Stakeholders and Responsibilities
| Title of Staff | Responsibilities |
Faculty |
|
|
Identifies goals and roadmap for the space; communicates with colleagues |
Students |
|
|
Identifies goals and expectations for the space; communicates with student population |
Facilities staff |
|
Onsite coordinator |
Oversees the project; coordinates with contractors and subcontractors, manages the work schedule and timeline; communicates with lead stakeholders, manages budget |
Interior consultant |
Manages room aesthetics—flooring, walls, paint colors, ceiling, lighting and more |
Space planner |
Considers alternative spaces for room relocation |
Room scheduling |
Takes room offline during renovation and reassigns classes in available space |
Moving and hauling |
Relocates equipment as appropriate |
Information Technology staff |
|
IT Manager |
Oversees the IT portion of the project; allocates resources and coordinates necessary IT resources; coordinates with vendor partner; suggests technology innovations |
IT Coordinator |
Drafts the budget; serves as the liaison and communicates with faculty; provides training on the use of the space; plans the refresh cycle; schedules route checks |
IT Consultant |
Works with vendor on installation and maintenance |
Student consultants |
Install equipment as appropriate and maintain |
Provost Office |
|
Associate Provost |
Final budget oversight; clears roadblocks with faculty and administrators; apprises central administration of plans and progress |
Vendor Partner |
|
|
Works with IT and Facilities to develop the IT plan and installs for the project; develops quotes; provides service support post completion |