Jason Wheatley is the contact. He writes:
We certainly have been busy installing a range of both formal and informal collaboration spaces and a variety of furniture solutions. Hopefully some of what we have learnt is useful.
Background:
At the University of Sydney we have established what we call a student collaboration âpodâ as a standard. It consists of a shared computer, control interface (iPad) and a 46â or 55â or 65â LCD screen (depending on the group size) with a touch screen overlay. The inclusion of a touch screen capability is important to the furniture design because it requires clear access to the front of the screen. The pod technology is delivered into a number of formal and informal architectural and furniture forms, but the functionality and equipment is consistent.
FYI – I am Vice President of the Australasian Educational Technology Managers (a professional group representing AV managers in Australia and New Zealand. I also coedited the recent revision of the AETM AV Design guidelines which are now freely available for download from www.aetm.org. The guidelines provide some of the principles such as sightlines that apply equally to small pod systems. There is also a gallery of spaces in the back section.I have attached some images:
Fisher D Table â These tables are in a formal teaching space that also doubles as an informal collaboration space in our main Fisher Library. The flattened hyperbolic shaped table provides a balance between round table discussion and a comfortable viewing position in relation to the shared screen. Note that there is a gap between the shared screen and the table to allow someone to stand at screen an use the touch overlay to interact. It also improves the angle of view of the people closest to the screen.
PNR Rect. Tables – These are large formal collaborative class spaces. The brief was to retain flexibility and mobility with the furniture and technology. Consequently the two tables at each pod are rectangular and on wheels. One of the tables acts as a power board, but there are no AV cables to the tables. The computer is serviced by a Logitech wireless keyboard/trackpad. The rectangular tables arenât as good at providing the balanced angle of view but they more flexible in the forms they can be combined to create. This space and the Fisher space have two way video distribution systems to send or receive video to the pods. The pod stands are not movable, but they are relocatable.
PNR Sem. Heart Tables â in some seminar rooms we have also started experimenting with group tables and smaller groups of 2 sharing an all-in-one computer. I am not happy with what we have achieved so far. The computers are mounted too high and block cross table discussion. The tables are âheartâ shaped. We are working on 3 tablet based versions that should provide a much better level of flexibility and cross table visibility , but what they donât do is create a shared screen that 6-9 people can see â so we need to compliment the physical with software collaboration tools if we want the larger group interaction as well as singles tablet users.
QUT Rect Tables – Our colleagues in Queensland University of Technology have been doing some great things. They have been developing for a number of years a mobile approach to âpodsâ they call MoCows â Mobile computers on Wheels. The photo shows one with a single rectangular table. Without the gap to the shared screen the angle of view for the closest two students is less than ideal, but of course the table can be moved. I understand they are starting to include touch screen overlays, but their mobile stands to have legs that impede access in front of the screen to some degree, (our pod stand has a flat heavy metal base plate with bevelled edges to avoid trip hazards in front of the screen)