Academic Policies

16: Scheduling and Management of Computer-Assisted Classrooms at Penn State Harrisburg

Purpose

To establish a scheduling practice that serves the instructional needs of students and guarantees the availability of the appropriate technologies at the Harrisburg campus. This Guideline applies only to the Student Technology Enhanced Classrooms [STEC] defined below.

Introduction

The College no longer uses the term "computer labs" for spaces containing computers, though the term lingers for some spaces, which are not commonly scheduled for instruction, such as Harrisburg's W-305 Olmsted. All such spaces should be designated "computer assisted classrooms" or Student Technology Enhanced Classrooms [STEC] according to the standard classroom designations adopted for use throughout the University. A glossary of the types of classrooms available is attached to this Guideline.

At Harrisburg, there are only eight classrooms in which each student has access to a computer and all the related Penn State services. Of those eight classrooms, only six are regularly accessible. The other two classrooms are located at Eastgate and the other is the Bibliographic Instruction Classroom in Library 106. Harrisburg also has 28 Instructional Technology Enhanced Classrooms [ITEC], that is, classrooms that contain a single computer and related video and computer projection equipment for use by instructors. Faculty and staff wishing to view "Classrooms at a Glance" at Penn State Harrisburg should access the following site.

Guidelines

The following guidelines govern the scheduling and use of technology classrooms:

  1. School Directors have the authority to request specific classrooms at the time the class schedules are submitted to ensure that students receive the highest quality instruction.
  2. With very few exceptions, such as with the SUN workstations used by Science, Engineering, and Technology students, no School, department, or instructor "owns" a computer-assisted classroom. Such rooms must be available to accommodate the instructional needs of students and the mission of the respective campuses.
  3. School Directors should request technology classrooms for specific classes with an understanding of the limited number of STEC and ITEC classrooms at both campuses.
  4. The Informational and Instructional Technology unit [IIT] will announce the number of available technology classrooms well before the class schedules are due.
  5. Preference will be given to those classes that use the available technology for most of the class period up to the number of available classrooms. The determination of how much time students will be required to use the computers will be made by the School Directors and Program Coordinators in consultation with the faculty.
  6. Classes containing students who pay a technology surcharge or are enrolled in the IST or similar computer-intensive programs will generally be given preference as long as the scheduling arrangements remain fair and equitable for all students.
  7. All classrooms at the Harrisburg campus must be requested on the Master Schedule Database when the schedule is submitted to Enrollment Services. The School Director must approve such requests.
  8. The Enrollment Services office at Harrisburg will schedule technology classrooms based on the requests from the various Schools as long as the decisions are consistent with the principles outlined above.
  9. Schools with dedicated classrooms should use those rooms.
  10. Faculty members who plan to use technology a few times each semester should inform the School Director when the schedule is submitted with exact dates and times needed. Such casual or spontaneous use will be accommodated whenever possible the regularly scheduled classes should not be disrupted.
  11. If instructors are showing films, videotapes, or other relevant instructional materials in a "computer-assisted classroom," that class should be moved to another location for that period if possible to provide additional hours for students or faculty wishing to use that classroom. In all cases, faculty should consult in advance with the IIT staff to ensure that student learning is not impeded.
  12. Learning should not be interrupted by transferring students in and out of labs during regularly scheduled class periods. Only in the rare circumstances and only with appropriate prior preparation will such disruption be permitted.
  13. Once the classes are assigned to a technology classroom, any conflicts must be resolved by the School Directors and the Program Coordinators affected.
  14. IIT has the authority to schedule classrooms for special teaching, learning, training, and instructional events in consultation with the School Directors.
  15. There is no longer any need to use special reservation forms for technology classrooms. However, if there are particular software needs, the Schools must contact IIT to arrange for the installation according to the IIT policies shown on that department's homepage at both campus locations.

Approved: Academic Leadership Council September 16, 2003

Implemented: October 11, 2003

Glossary of Classroom Designations

General-Purpose Classroom (GPC) - Classroom in which any academic course may be scheduled. No technological enhancements

Installed Technology Classroom (ITEC) - The following technology features generally apply to an ITEC classroom:

Projection Technology Classroom (PTEC) - The following technology features generally apply to a PTEC classroom:

Student Technology Station Classrooms (STEC) - The following technology features generally apply to a room designated as a student technology station classroom:

Video Conferencing Classrooms (VTEC) - The following technology features generally apply to a VTEC classroom:

Links