Herschel Learning Lab

The Herschel Learning Lab is an innovative, technology-rich, large collaborative teaching space.  Accomodating over 120 students, via 16 collaborative workstations, the facility has functionality as follows: -

    1. ‌A central 'AV teaching station' allows the presenter to send digital content to all (or a selection of the) 16 collaborative workstations.  They can also 'grab' content from any collaborative station for review, or share it with the rest of room. Split-screen functionilty allows the presenter to display several presentations at once
    2. The presenter can digitally annotate over their own content, or over a content 'grabbed' from one of the collaborative workstations
    3. The presenter can display content wirelessly from their own device, so they can 'wander' the room and aren’t tied to the AV teaching station when presenting
    4. Each collaborative workstations has its own large screen, computer and connections for personal devices, to allow groups to work together on their own individual tasks

Learning Labs are also available in DMBB 2.09 Learning Lab (102 Capacity) & HDB 1.06 Learning Lab (52 Capacity).

Photographs of the spaces can be found on the Room Finder system.

Removing Central Workstations

The central workstations in the Herschel Learning Lab (Workstations 11-14) can be moved by prior arrangement.

Requests are subject to a minimum notice period, room availability and resource availability during core operating hours. This is to allow workstations to be safely disconnected and stored prior to an event and then reconnected and tested ahead of subsequent events. 

To request removal of these workstations please submit an AV Resource Booking form.  

Project background

The Herschel Learning Lab project developed over a number of years and was primarily driven by the university requiring a 100+ capacity flat-floor space, to support group work and collaboration.

A project group was established, led by colleagues from ECLS and Estates Support Services, and workshops were held with staff and students from across the university.  The initial aim was to establish a suitable design that met the needs of the potential users of the space but was also supportable and manageable from a support services perspective. 

To try and encourage innovative and less conventional teaching methods a decision was made not to include a 'traditional' audience facing 'teaching wall' and to locate the presenter centrally within the room and for their content to be sent to screens at a number of collaborative workstations around the room.

Designing an audio-visual solution to meet the required brief but also make it as simple to use was a challenge, and not something we had done before however, despite some initial teething problems, the space and the technology were well-used throughout it's first semester and user feedback was very good.

This project served as a learning curve for many across the university and will undoubtedly influence the design an implementation of similar spaces during coming years.

PDF
Herschel Learning Lab Layout PDF 399Kb

To view a plan of the Herschel Learning Lab - please click this link.