Friday 117
Classroom Layout
Images of the classroom are coming soon.
Classroom Technology and Furniture
Location: First floor, Friday building
Capacity: 72 seats
Available for Use: Spring 2027
This active learning classroom is equipped with the following technology and furniture:
- 4 – 98″ wall-mounted display monitors
- 18 Group table pods – 4 seats at each (72 total)
- Crestron AirMedia wireless presentation system
- 2 wireless microphones with neck lanyard
- 1 podium microphone
- Height adjustable ADA compliant lectern
- Dual monitors (one webcam monitor, one standard)
- QOMO QD3900 H2 document camera
- Distributed ceiling speaker audio system
Classroom Technology Tutorial Videos for Instructors
Tutorial videos are being developed.
Strategies to Engage Students in Groups
The Importance of Student Groups
Group work can help students develop a host of skills that are increasingly important in the professional world. Properly structured, group work can reinforce skills, including the abilities to:
- Break complex tasks into parts and steps
- Plan and manage time
- Refine understanding through discussion and explanation
- Give and receive feedback on performance
- Articulate ideas in the field to develop fluency
- Challenge assumptions
- Develop stronger communication skills
Strategies on Forming Groups
Explore these strategies to form groups in a large active learning classroom:
- Group students by table seating
- Create randomized student groups via Canvas
- Shuffle student groups at midterm
- Group students by similar personality or traits by having students complete a free OER BigFive personality quiz
Strategies for Students Collaborating in Groups
Shuffling students in pairs, fours, or eights can maintain student engagement throughout the semester. Explore how you might design collaboration activities in teams below:
Collaborating in Pairs (Pair-Share)
- Grouping: Each table pod can host four pairs of students
- Purpose: Used to generate ideas, increase students’ confidence in thinking and articulation, encourage participation, gauge student understanding
Collaborating in Teams by Four (Team-Share)
- Grouping: Each table pod can host two groups of four students
- Purpose: Used to divide-and-conquer project work, re-stimulate student interest, compare and discuss work
Collaborating in Teams by Eight (Table-Share)
- Grouping: Each table pod can host one group of eight students
- Purpose: Used to generate well-vetted ideas, develop decision-making skills, develop teamwork, have students teaching students
Additional resources:
- Techniques on using group work in the classroom (Centre for Teaching Excellence, University of Waterloo)
- What are the benefits of group work (Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation, Carnegie Mellon Institute)
Strategies on Using Poll Everywhere
Classroom polling is an effective strategy for active learning.
- Help students check their own understanding
- Quickly gather students’ responses to a question
- Engage all students equitably in your class
- Personalize feedback to students based on poll data
- Builds community and spaces for open discussion
Additional Resources: