The funding for the James France Foundry conversion has been confirmed. The design phase is underway. A range of consultations on the design of the space have been undertaken. The building will include a large (approx 80 seater) computer lab which can be divided into approx a 50/30 seats division using an acoustic divider. The building will include wireless connectivity and this will incorporate the infrastructure for further wireless hotspots on campus. Drop in facilities for individual and group study using wired and wireless connections will be available. Media Services and Computing Services are discussing both implementation and technical support issues.
We will continue to increase the number of computers in lecture rooms as resources allow. We are significantly behind other HEIs in this respect (based on sector benchmarking) and anecdotal evidence suggests that a lack of access to fixed computers does inhibit moves to the use of computers in the lecture rooms.
The Media Services Users Committee have been looking at technologies which might enhance interaction. Most things are simpler and cheaper to use in small groups, but the benefits really come for enhancing large lectures – and we have a lot of these. We had a demonstration of a preference system (there are a number of these on the market). These are like the “ask the audience” devices used on “Who Wants to be Millionaire”. The system we looked at comes with software giving immediate feedback and up to 8 different answers being possible. The software works on a standard PC, has an infra-red receiver and is sold in sets of 32 handsets for a starting price of £2000+VAT. The devices may be difficult to use for some students with disabilities. There do seem some clear benefits and there are some success stories elsewhere in the sector and some widespread institutional use in the US.
Media Services have worked with the Admissions Tutors to put together a package of resources for flexible use for open days, recruitment fares etc. This has been bought into by almost all academic departments. The resources will need to be maintained and a budget has been sought for this for 2004/5.
Dr Anne Mumford
Director, Media Services
27/4/04