Fretwell 124

Classroom Layout

Classroom Technology and Furniture

Location: Ground floor, Fretwell building
Capacity: 128 seats
Availabile for Use: Currently available for booking

This active learning classroom is equipped with the following technology and furniture:

• 16 table pods with 8 seats
• 16 wall-mounted display monitors
• 16 wall-mounted whiteboards
• 16 table-top power modules
• Wacom Cintiq Pro 24″ annotation monitor with mounted flex arm
• Crestron AirMedia wireless presentation system
• QOMO QD3900 H2 document camera
• 2 wireless microphones with neck lanyard
• Distributed audio system

Classroom Technology Tutorial Videos for Instructors

1. How to use the Display Sources and System Tools
2. How to use the Display Sources
3. How to use the Volume Controls and Microphones
4. How to use the Wacom Tablet
5. How to use Zoom
6. How to use Air Media

Full playlist

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:

• Polling Teaching Guide
• Poll Everywhere FAQs