Smart classrooms are defined as classrooms with a computer and a large format display device, typically a video/data projector, but a smart classroom may instead have one or more large display monitors. Smart classrooms may also include a VCR, document camera, sound system, slide projector and a variety of other multimedia equipment. The Spring Academic Technologies “Hot Issues” list showed 10 departments requested access to more smart classrooms. The Fall “Hot Issues” list showed 11 departments requested access to more smart classrooms.

Presently Whitman has 13 smart classrooms, 12 with video/data projectors and one with dual 37-inch monitors. There are also four smart carts and a general access computer laboratory with a built-in video projector. Four additional classrooms are equipped with video projectors that can operate with a portable computer, VCR or document camera. IMS has three loaner video projectors that are suitable for use in a classroom with a portable computer, VCR or document camera. WCTS operates a training room equipped with a video projector and a computer, but this room not used for regular academic classes. There are three video projector equipped auditoriums on campus, but these venues are seldom used for classes.

The Survey

An October 1999 survey asked faculty to estimate how many times they would use video/data projection in class a) this term b) next term c) if they always taught in smart classrooms. The October survey contacted 91 out of 164 faculty (55%). Raw data were corrected to account for faculty not contacted. The survey indicated video/data projection will be used 2094 times this term and 2399 times next term (15% increase). If faculty could always teach in smart classrooms, video/data projection would be used 4273 times per term (104% increase). Broken down by Division:

• Division I: Faculty would use video/data projection 170% more often.
• Division II: Faculty would use video/data projection 42% more often.
• Division III: Faculty would use video/data projection 96% more often.

The survey suggests our present suite of smart classrooms, projection carts and equipment deliveries are meeting only about half of the faculty demand for video/data projection. WCTS needs to consider options to double faculty access to smart classrooms.

For Fall 99, 75 classes (11% of 696 total classes) are scheduled to meet in smart classrooms. Instructors in these classrooms have minimal setup issues to deal with and can usually have projection equipment running within one minute. Instructors in non-smart classrooms who would like to use video projection in class must either checkout a smart cart from a storage room, or arrange for equipment delivery. Both these methods only require a few minutes setup time, but given the short break between classes instructors find equipment handling disruptive and sometimes delays the start of class. While faculty find the smart carts and equipment deliveries useful, they consistently prefer having projection equipment built into the classroom.

The survey suggests WCTS needs to accommodate approximately 75 additional classes per term with video/data projection (total 150 classes).

How to Increase Faculty Access to Smart Classrooms?

WCTS recommends several approaches to deal with this issue.

• Optimizing use of present smart classrooms – up to 25 additional access classes.
• Instructors, who request access to classroom projection equipment, should be given priority access to schedule classes in smart classrooms. The Fall 99 survey indicates 17 instructors, teaching 20 classes, are conducting classes in smart classrooms this term, but have no intention of using projection equipment. This effort would need to be coordinated with the registrar’s office.
• Schedule a minimum of five classes per term in each smart classroom. For Fall 99, three smart classrooms have fewer than five scheduled classes. By scheduling a minimum of five classes in these rooms, five additional classes would have had access to smart classroom facilities. Again, this effort would need to be coordinated with the registrar’s office.
• Recognize classrooms that can be converted to smart classrooms at minimum expense, for example classrooms that already contain video projection equipment such as Science 225, Olin 304, Olin 157 and Hunter 304 or classrooms that already contain computer workstations such as the Math Lab.
• Identify buildings where unmet demand is highest and add smart classrooms to those buildings. The survey shows projection needs are greatest in Division I, followed by Division III and Division II.
• Take advantage of the Science Building addition. During the Two-Year Technology Plan interviews, every Division III Department Chair indicated they would like most, if not all, classrooms in the Science Building addition to be projection ready. Clearly a number of smart classrooms must be included in the Science Building project.

Conclusions and Recommendations

• Whitman’s present suite of smart classrooms, smart carts and equipment deliveries are meeting only about half of the faculty demand for video/data projection.
• Aggressive scheduling by the Registrar's office could increase access to smart classrooms by up to 30%.
• Whitman needs to build smart classrooms to accommodate approximately 50 additional classes.
• By building two smart classrooms per year for five years, Whitman will be able to meet the present faculty demand for classroom technology. Clearly in the future, changing demand will need to be assessed and addressed.