Campus to add smart rooms

By: Carlos Militante

Posted: 3/22/07

A number of San Jose State University classrooms will be receiving a technological face lift next semester.

According to Associate Vice President for Academic Technology Mary Jo Gorney-Moreno, the deans of the seven colleges approved to move forward with the smart classroom build out plan.

"We anticipate that we will have an additional 35 to 40 smart classrooms for fall semester," Gorney-Moreno said.

Joseph Cabeca, a senior majoring in English, said he welcomes the new smart classroom additions for next semester.

"I think this will make class easier and clearer for students to keep up," Cabeca said. "I believe teachers who will use the technology will find that students will take better notes and probably be more engaged in class."

Gorney-Moreno said the majority of the classrooms would be built using the projector only model.

"We recommend this for rooms with 34 or less seats," Gorney-Moreno said. "The rooms will have a ceiling-mounted data projector with computer connection by white board and control via the projector remote."

Professor María Ochoa, a lecturer in social science at SJSU, said she appreciates the increased range of resources and modes of presentation available in a smart classroom.

"I also believe that faculty can offer classroom based materials more effectively," Ochoa said. "To a student population that may have a wide range of learning styles: verbal, visual, integrative and demonstrative."

Kenneth Louden, a professor and the chair of the computer science department, said he would like to see LCD projectors and some sort of audio and video connectivity in classrooms for instructors to use.

"I think that it would be nice if all classrooms on campus had a minimal level of smartness," Louden said. "I would like to see LCD projectors in every class because it's really an essential part of today's instructional methods.

"I'm not saying we need classrooms like the ones in Clark Hall because that's a bit of overkill, but classrooms where teachers can hookup their laptops and present audio and visual presentations."

Gorney-Moreno said it's still too early to know the exact cost of the smart classroom build out.

"With our goal of 35 to 40 new smart classrooms, I would guess it would cost around $300,000," Gorney-Moreno said. "We will send the proposed rooms to Facilities Development & Operations and ask them for a cost proposal for the electrical and also to University Computing and Telecommunications for the cabling.

"We will then submit a request for proposals from AV vendors."

Lisa Tilley, a senior majoring in corporate finance, thinks the addition of the smart classrooms isn't a must but that students will definitely benefit from them.

"Better presentations and the use of that technology would enhance the learning experience," Tilley said.

Gorney-Moreno said that the smart classrooms would allow faculty to present materials utilizing a greater variety of methods that will enhance student success by meeting the needs of multiple types of learners.

"These classroom environments will foster alternative styles of learning and the social construction of knowledge," Gorney-Moreno said. "These new classrooms will promote active participation and prepare students to learn and work in 'real world' environments."