Langson Library’s main instructional space, Room 228 located in the main lobby, will see a substantial renovation this winter in order to support more active and collaborative forms of teaching, learning, discovery and creation. This renovation has been made possible thanks to the Langson Library Endowment Fund, which supports the Libraries’ highest priorities.
You may have heard of various projects that convert traditional lecture-style classrooms into engaging active learning spaces, both on the UCI campus and nationwide. Rather than a one-way transmission of knowledge from the lecturer to the student, these spaces encourage flexibility, collaboration, and team and project based learning.
The renovated room will feature a more flexible layout, with tables on wheels and six wall-mounted TV screens. The primary layout of the room will be as a pod-based active learning classroom (see image below), but it can also be used as flexible event and presentation space, or can be arranged in a traditional lecture format. The six screens in the room can be configured to project the same content as the instructor’s station, or they can project content independently of each other. The technology in the room will closely resemble what the students will experience in the active learning classrooms and collaborations spaces in the new Anteater Learning Pavilion and other active learning spaces on campus.
This renovation will increase the capacity of the room from 28 to 40 students, which will enable librarians to more efficiently deliver instruction by increasing the size of classes that they can accommodate.
When not in use as a classroom, LL 228 can be used as general study space. Students can also use LL 228 as a large collaboration space when classes and other events are not in session.
To support technology needs in this space, the Libraries will lend 24 Chromebooks from the Langson Checkout Desk, in addition to the 12 laptops available for checkout from the self-service laptop kiosk located nearby. This will enable students who do not own their own laptops or devices to participate in computer-based activities in this new classroom. The existing desktop computers in LL 228 will be redeployed in the library in other locations, or will replace some of our other aging public computers.
Construction in LL 228 will begin December 17, 2018 and the new space will be ready for use at the start of winter quarter.
If you have questions about this project, please contact Stacy Brinkman, Head of Education and Outreach, at brinkmas@uci.edu or 949-824-4972