Ulster University – Effective Active Learning Environments

(Photo: Nigel McDowell/Ulster University)

We recently had the opportunity to collaborate with Ulster University and Pure AV to provide a flexible and active learning solution for a new teaching space.

The room would be made available to a range of general subjects, where lecturers could incorporate active and collaborative styles of learning as part of their curriculum.

The University wanted to introduce a solution to help facilitate multiple teaching styles by supporting small collaborative group working as well as presenting to large groups of students.

They also wanted to offer the ability to adapt to any future teaching requirements by redeploying these screens to different spaces throughout the new campus where there were no existing screens on the wall.

Key Project Criteria

  • Develop a brand new teaching space where lecturers could incorporate active and collaborative styles of learning.

  • Offer a flexible solution to adapt to any future teaching requirements throughout the new campus without having to fix a screen and AV kit onto the wall.

  • Screens solutions must be able to effectively house and integrate AV/IT equipment.

(Photo: Nigel McDowell/Ulster University)

Decision Process

Having listened to their project requirements, TOP-TEC suggested the CoACT as a suitable solution. They liked that the screen trolley solution was easy to move around and the clean look and feel of the CoACT to fit in with the style of the new space.

Ulster University also appreciated the idea of integrating all of the AV equipment into one unit, meaning that they wouldn’t need to tamper with the walls in the new building.

Following this, we then provided detailed technical drawings and a series of 3D renders so that the University could visualise what their solution was going to look like.

(Photo: Nigel McDowell/Ulster University)

CoACT Screen Trolleys

  • “Develop a brand new teaching space where lecturers could incorporate active and collaborative styles of learning.”

Large classroom teaching:
Lecturers can cast their content to the screen from the front of the class to each group for more traditional classroom teaching.

Group meeting spaces:
Students can be split into smaller group work sessions using the screen as an aid to cast content to enhance collaboration.

  • “Offer a flexible solution to adapt to any future teaching requirements throughout the new campus without having to fix a screen and AV kit onto the wall.”

Our CoACT screen trolleys eliminated the need for large, fixed screens on the wall and offered a stylish and elegant solution for the new space.

The units could also be deployed into other areas in at a later date across campus helping the University adapt to future teaching requirements. This also meant that screens, AV/IT kit and wiring do not have to be integrated into the wall in other locations saving expensive infrastructure changes.

  • “Screens solutions must be able to effectively house and integrate AV/IT equipment.”

We were able to integrate all of the University’s pre-selected AV/IT equipment utilising the CoACTs internal racking system, creating an easy to use and tamper proof ‘plug-in-and-go’ solution for students and lecturers, saving time at the start of lessons and reducing IT callouts.

Future Proof

Ulster University expressed the ambition to upgrade their AV equipment in the future without replacing their screen trolley solutions.

Here at TOP-TEC, we consider IT from the start, rather than as an afterthought and future proof our products so that you can tailor them to support new hardware as systems evolve, helping reduce the total cost of ownership.

Download the PDF version here.

(Photo: Nigel McDowell/Ulster University)

“Our new Active Learning spaces have received great feedback from Academics and support staff alike.

The adaptability, AV/IT integration and mobility, coupled with style mean staff are keen to see similar spaces and furniture rolled out across the University.

TOP-TEC listened, were generous with their time, and it was a pleasure to collaborate on customisation of the furniture.”

Nicola Kirkpatrick
ICT Customer Services Manager
Ulster University

Integrator:

T: +44 (0)845 6022 861
E: info@pureav.co.uk
W: www.pureav.co.uk