1. In which Agronomy Hall classrooms do you teach?
1022, 2020, 3128
3128
G528
2026
1022, 2020, 2026 (G540 only when it cannot be avoided)
2020, 3140, g525, g510
Fall: 2020, 2026, G541, 1022; Spring: 2020, 2026, G541, 1022
G-541, The room just south of DJ's operation.
AGRON 516 IN 1022, AND AGRON 616 -- ARRANGED.
Agronomy 3140-4, sometimes 2104.
1022
Rooms 2026 and 1026
3128 Agronomy. Occasionally I have taught in rooms on the second floor with comparable equipment (computer-linked projector) and size room for about 30 students.
Agron G541 and 2050
2020, 2050, G533, G541
2020, G528
2026
Rooms 2020, 1022, G541
1022, 2050, 2020, 2026.
2020 Agron, G541 Agron
1022
1022
2. Do these classrooms meet your current needs? If not, what specific improvements are needed in each room?
1022 could use some general sprucing up. A portable screen for the overhead projector would also be helpful. 2020 is OK. 3128 is a poor room for lecturing: the computers make so much noise that it is very difficult to hear in the last few rows, and it's hard to read the whiteboard from the back of the room.
OK
It meets current needs.
No
Rooms 2020 and 2026 meet multimedia and seating capacity needs.
Room 1022 meets need for flexible seating. Room G540 needs (1) ceiling tiles to improve acoustics and (2) multimedia capabilities. We need more rooms with the combined capacities of the aforementioned facilities. We need to design all future teaching space with a view to allow for reconfiguration of seating arrangements and with tables or credenza surfaces for team work. In addition, such rooms should allow for multimedia displays and network and power connections for students equipped with their own portable computers.
I think we need classroom like 3140 with moveable furniture to allow small group discussion, also with computer projection capability.
Yes, these classrooms meet my needs. A desirable improvement would be a much lower computer stand in 2020 and 2026. The current structures are effective physical barriers that make me feel less threatened about attempts to assassinate me but I am not sure what other purpose they serve.
No too small. Need larger rooms with flexible seating arrangements.
AGRON 516: AH 1022 HAS VERY POOR EQUIPMENT FOR VISUALS. SCREEN BLOCKS THE CENTER OF THE CHALKBOARD, SO IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO USE THE SCREEN AND CHALKBOARD TOGETHER EFFECTIVELY. CHAIRS AT TABLES MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO CREATE A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR DISCUSSIONS. AGRON 616. THIS CLASS NEEDS TO HAVE A DEFINED MEETING PLACE. IT IS GENERALLY A SMALL OF CLASS 7-10 STUDENTS. AH1581 IS ABOUT THE RIGHT SIZE, BUT NOT READILY AVAILABLE FOR CLASSES SUCH AS AGRON 616 THAT MEET FOR 2-3 HOURS A DAY ONE/TWO TIMES EACH WEAK. REDESIGNED CLASSROOMS SIMILAR TO THE MEETING ROOM IN THE AGRONOMY EXTENSION OFFICE WOULD BE IDEAL FOR BOTH THESE CLASSES.
Room 3140 needs a "resident" 2 x 2 projector and extension cord, andsometimes the overhead projector is removed. I realize that this is animpossible request--not very practical--so will have to learn to use the high technology that is present, but my visiting speakers uniformly us slides or transparencies.
Equipment for power point presentations. I believe it is being installed.
2026 is good, but the Elmo projection quality needs improvement-e.g.,projected text does not focus well (have to zoom way in, which is not practical for showing many things). 1026 mainly used as hands-on soils teaching lab, for which it is well set up. Would be helpful to have computer projection set up but not at expense of current function.
I would prefer to have more computer platforms available in 3128 for computer labs in mteor 301. These could be SGI, Linux or Vincent.
G541 needs to have the lighting changed so that I do not have to turn off all lights in order to effectively use the overhead projector. The bank of lights just above the blackboard used to be controlled by the on/off switch on an electrical cord and now they are hard wired to be controlled by the wall switches with the remainder of the lights. That change was a detriment, not an improvement. I would like the lighting changed back.
2020 and 2050 are good classrooms for lecturing. G533 and G541 work well for lab activities. Specific improvements that I would suggest are improving the lighting in G533 and G541. There is no way to adequately dim the lights in these rooms. The main problem is with the type of light fixtures currently in place. A simple change in the fixture type and using existing wiring would improve the situation greatly.
G528 is a poor room to teach in. We need a better facility to teach computer applications in.
Yes
The rooms are fine.
room 1022 should be modified to include projector/PC/'elmo' as per 2020
Poor seating design in 2020, horrible acoustics and lighting in G541
Yes
YES
3. Do we need additional classroom space in Agronomy Hall? (Please bear in mind that additional space would almost certainly have to be converted from another use.)
No.
NO
I do not need additional space for my classes.
No
I believe that current space could meet our needs given good
planning, space allocation and remodelling.
yes for item I mentioned in #2 above. Also a student computer lab on west end of building somewhere.
No. On average I teach one course/year outside of the Agronomy Building. That's good - it keeps me connected to the campus, sympathetic to students who have to rush from class-to-class, and experiencing the weather. Really I am saying: there is no special need keep all courses within the building. Our building facilities are good. Let's keep them that way and let's use them. But as we need more, let's use what's available in Kildee, Bessey, Carver, Curtiss, Science I, Science II, etc, etc. That way we're well integrated with the university and there is less evidence that we're trying to become a free standing empire.
Additional classroom and greenhouse space, germinators,
growth chambers.
REDESIGNED SPACE WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE.
Cannot comment as I do not know.
I don't have need for additional space
Not for my needs, perhaps for others though?
I think we should explore the potential in adjacent buildings and also determine how often classrooms sit idle. Is space tight simply because faculty want to bunch their classes in mid-day time slots and avoid early morning and late afternoon classes?
No
Space is adequate in most areas, if we continue to maintain the amount that we currently have. We are somewhat short on computer lab space. However, I would suggest hiring another support person to maintain what we currently have before we added any more computers. I am often frustrated with computers not working when they are needed and the lack of response time when problems arise.
No. Most of the classrooms in the g wing are underutilized.
No
Not for the classes I teach.
no.
Yes, we need more space for classroom activities, particularly for
interactive group activities.
Not for my class--I can't speak overall though
NOT FOR ME
4. Do you have a need for flexible classroom space (for example, with easily movable tables/chairs)? If so, please describe briefly how this would affect your teaching.
I don't really need this.
NO
Yes, this is why I have requested G528. From time to time we have discussion sessions for which it is best to have students sitting in a circle.
No
See item 2. The effect would be to allow improvement of teaching, particularly for classes that involve discussion, joint problem-solving and team work.
Yes definitely, (see above). It allows more in depth discussion and fits with our curriculum goals of increased communication, team work, and problem solving. I do use flexible classroom space - but its available already from my perspective (e.g. 1022). This does mean I need to bring in a computer and projector on a cart sometimes. But that's easily done and we've got wonderful technical support, so I certainly can't consider this an inconvenience. If I need a nicer room, I use 3140 or 2016, etc.
Yes. If you want to use active learning principles is nearly critical.
CLASSROOMS THAT CAN EASILY CONVERT FROM A LECTURE FORMAT TO SMALL-GROUP DISCUSSION FORMAT WOULD GREATLY IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF 516 AND 616. BOTH THESE CLASSES PLACE MUCH EMPHASIS ON STUDENT INTERACTION.
I like a conference type setting, but can move the tables and chairs around to fit my needs. It takes an additional weekly effort.
I have what I need in 1022
We have that in 1026, though many of the tables and chairs are old hand-me-downs and could use upgrading so that students could have better table space and chair comfort.
I would like some flexibility for a couple of reasons. First, in mteor 301, students gather around the computing platforms to do the computer labs. There needs to be enough flexibility (as there now is) to allow sufficient, uncramped room around the computers. Second, I often use small discussion groups in all my classes. The current arrangement of long tables in 3128 is adequate, though somewhat awkward. Fixed chairs would be too rigid.
No more than what is available in G541.
G541 could be converted for this type of use. I do think there is a need for this in other courses, although I could get by with the current facilities.
No.
Yes; It would improve interaction during discussion sessions.
Not important to me at this time.
no.
Yes, we need it. I would use more small group activities.
No
NO
5. If a classroom equipped with computer workstations were available, would you use it in your teaching? If so, please give the specific courses that would be affected and a brief description of how you would use the computers (e.g., occasional labs/assignments, computer instructed classes).
I would use this for occasional labs and demonstrations in AGRON 406, 505, and 507.
I would teach 404/504 in Agronomy Hall if I could get the space (need room for 65 students this year).
Yes, I would use computer-based exercises on mineralogy and crystallography that are currently available on the web. It would be much easier for me to show students how to use them than it is to just give them a URL and say -- Go look at this site. Other classroom instruction is probably more efficiently done by handouts and overheads -- at least for me.
Yes. Agronomy 493. We used the computer lab some last fall, and students have requested more computer time in the course - which we are currently evaluating. If there is an increase is computer use it would mostly be for labs/assignments using GIS and related software.
Yes, I would use such a facility for a number of purposes. It would be handy to instruct students on specific procedures, allowing them to participate directly rather than simply take notes about the procedure. Such uses as allowing the instructor to "poll" students or asking them to view specific data or models and modify them per their personal preferences would become viable. However, I wish to state that I think such benefits are most effectively achieved by designing classrooms with "ports" for computer use rather than with actual computers at each seat. There are both logistical and economic considerations. The expense and trouble of installing computers that obsolete quickly is not justified. If we designed classrooms with network and power connections and required students to provide their own portables, then everyone's needs would be met. Students would be able to do work, take notes and try assignments on their personal machine and then take the results away with them. Portable computers are less obtrusive than would be desktop units at each seat. The need to configure and maintain departmental machines in classrooms would be avoided, and we would also avoid creating competition for a facility that could serve equally as a classroom or computer laboratory. The only "negatives" I can foresee as a result of the above policy would be the need to "require" students to own a laptop computer to take certain of our courses, and the need to make sure that students have access to the specific software/configuration necessary to participate in classroom activities. I believe on balance this is the lesser of two evils, and that it is reasonable to expect university students to come to college with adequate tools, and in the year 2000 and beyond this should include a laptop computer.
I wouldn't use it that much. For my classes, I want students to have good access to computers for learning class material. But it's not something I have to have students actively working with computer while I'm teaching class.
Yes and no. Randy Killorn and I are currently team-teaching Agron 360. In it we are asking the students to use ARCView, which means they need computer workstations. We have solved this by reseving G528 for three weeks of lab. In the future, I would like to see the department teach an actual ARCView (GIS) course. For that we would need a workstation room. But does it need to be in this building? Plus, if we develop a free standing course on GIS I won't need the workstations in 360.
Do not have any specifics developed at this time but it would seem that any labs or courses that could guided interactive exercises could benefit. I think the students view the need for another student computer room similar to the one across from the 114 facility is a greater need.
AGRON 516. ONE CLASS PER SEMESTER ON CROP MODELING.
No, not necessarily. Do not teach that kind of a course.
Yes I would use them in the lab portion of 356. The would be used extensively by students for learning software specific to the fertilizer industry and for preparing presentations and reports required in Agron 356.
Would use it for occasional labs/assignments - e.g., for producing and working with maps using GIS, classifying soils online, etc.
As mentioned above, I already use computer workstations in mteor 301. Meteorology 455/555 may start using these workstations for student presentations during the semester as they report to the class on seasonal forecasting assignments and research. I occasionally use the projection capabilities in 3128 Agronomy, but not that often.
I would use the computers for Power Point presentations as I do today, but today I have to carry my laptop to class.
Agronomy 212 and 317. Yes, at first for occasional labs and assignments. But, if facilities are adequate I would investigate the possibility of converting to computer instruction.
The class that I now teach is agron/meteor 306. It is required by many agronomy students and it also attracts students from meteorology and agricultural studies. This semester I have 2 sections with 23 students each. Also, I had 15 unmet requests this semester, but I was not able to add a section because of scheduling problems with room 3128. I rely heavily on the computers for students to use to do many of the homework assignments. This is a data type class and STATISTIX software was placed on the computers in G528 so it works very well for students to use those computers. In the future, this class may be taught with one hour of official lecture in a large class room and 1 hour scheduled at various times throughout the week in the G528 or similar facility. Thus, I think it is important that room G528 be available for these types of uses in the future.
I teach a lab for 526 that meets every week during the spring for 2 hours in G528. This semester there are not enough computers to meet the need, and we may need to add another lab section if the course continues to grow.
At this time probably not. However, its existence might change my approach to teaching and create a need.
Not necessary at this time.
the 'PC' lab on the groundfloor is adequate for my purposes.
Yes, I'd use it to develop skills in the graphical presentation of data from class experiments.
Yes. Agron 527 (Plant Genetics)--several days each spring semester to demonstrate various software for genetic linkage analysis.
NO