At the beginning of the school year, students were surprised to find the foreign language department with upgraded technology. The department was the first on campus to introduce a collaborative technology-enhanced classroom, which opened up a world of in-class opportunities that were not available before. Unlike any other classroom or computer lab on campus, the lab allowed students to collaborate with each other and with the teacher. While students were usually doing individual work in other computer labs, the NetOp technology allowed students to connect their computers and share information, enabling them to work on projects together. high tech display information pulled up on their computers in this way. According to Conley, the opportunity for a new lab arose when Paula Kirby, the director of E-learning and information systems, walked past her old classroom, saw how little room Conley was working with and asked her if she wanted a new classroom. At first, Conley had no idea what a collaborative classroom was. Students and teachers alike had to learn as they went, but they caught on quickly. Both French and Spanish classes were able to use the new facilities to help them have a better authentic learning experience. They were even able to pull up videos of Spanish speakers as examples after which to model their own speaking. "Our departmental opening session was inaugurated with a 'high tech' presentation using the new facilities and with the theme," Conley said. Professor Ava Conley, the chair of the foreign language department, had the opportunity to teach a class with this new technology. Conley said she liked having this classroom setting better because it allowed the students to be more active in creating in-class projects. She also appreciated that the new circular tables allowed for more student interaction. In keeping with the department's theme, "Embracing the Vision," faculty were able to listen to a Spanish speaker via the Internet during this session. Lending a helping hand, Spanish Professor Avo Conley looks over the students' work on Sept. 13. The high tech room featured four plasma televisions that were able to connect to each student's laptop. Ashe/ Parsons ·Students as well as teachers were excites) about the new lab and looked forwald to the new opportunities available to them because of lt. ' "' "This is student-centered learning facilitated by a teacher," Conley said. In each classroom there were four desks, and each desk allowed for six students to work together.There were also net books for the students to use, as well as outlets on the tables for personal laptop use. Above each of the tables were television screens that served as projection screens, allowing teachers to instruct group exercises with ease. Students could also 1 7 8 academics "It's a great tool to get studer'its to actually have conversations with each other in Spanish or F~nch," junior Sarah Adams said. "The setup of the room gives students more opportunities to practice speaking with each other, and that is the best way to learn a foreign language." Koy/ee Swayne
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