Page 32 - spaces4learning, Spring 2021

spaces4learning FACILITY FOCUS
UNIVERSITY
OF LOUISIANA
MONROE INSTALLS
ACTIVE LEARNING
CLASSROOM
High-tech environment is first of its kind in the state.
By Matt Jones
THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE has partnered with Trox, an education technology solutions company, to install a state-of-the-art active learning classroom for its College of Pharmacy. The classroom is the first of its kind in the state, and it provides opportunities for more active participation, interaction and collaboration among teachers and students.
The classroom seats up to 84 students at 14 collaboration tables, each outfitted with integrated collaboration and AV technology. Each table has a Wolfvision vSolution Matrix Multi-Screen that lets students and professors wirelessly share notes, presentations, activities and other documents from any smartphone, laptop or tablet. The collaboration tables have displays, microphones and a Cynap Core wireless presentation system. The classroom itself is also set up with a camera to allow remote students to seamlessly follow along.
The idea started when College of Pharmacy Dean
H. Glenn Anderson Jr. heard about the installation
of an active learning classroom at his former place of employment, Marshall University. He discussed a similar installation with Marcia Wells, the College of Pharmacy Technology Manager, and Greg Andrews, the AV Classroom Coordinator, and they were immediately on board.
“They’ve kinda been on the forefront of technology,” said Andrews, noting that the College of Pharmacy was the first at the university to start using distance-learning technology. “So from my perspective, it wasn’t a hard decision to make for pharmacy to do that, as well—to be the ringleader for that.”
For installation, they turned to Trox. This project isn’t the first partnership between Trox and the university.
Trox has supplied the campus with AV solutions and other educational technologies for more than 20 years—including converting the unused library into a new technology center with a biology lab, smart classrooms and more.
“I’ve been working with ULM probably since 2002,” said Scott Albarado, Account Executive for Trox. “It’s been a good long-term relationship. And so far, they keep coming back to us for help, so we must be doing a good job.”
32 SPRING 2021 | spaces4learning.com