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eLearning Lab

eLl logo   e·learn·ing lab·o·ra·tory
|e ˈlərni ng ˈlabrəˌtôrē|
noun
: an experimental environment, enhanced with technology, that promotes exploration of electronic tools and materials that support education; also: classroom 2.0

The eLearning Lab (eLL) is a state-of-the-art space supports flexible teaching styles and collaborative student learning. Located in Stager Hall 029, this prototype teaching and learning space provides students and faculty access to innovative digital instructional media construction, creation, collaboration, and presentation tools, and internet-based telecommunications technologies.

In the eLL, Franklin & Marshall faculty have opportunities to explore and experiment with new teaching and learning technologies to help guide the design of future teaching and learning spaces at the College. The eLL will provide interdisciplinary support for all academic departments and disciplines and be supported by professional staff as well as by specially-trained student instructional media consultants.

Semester Hours:

  • Classes: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM; Monday - Friday
  • Open Instructional Media Lab: 4:30 - 10 PM; Monday - Thursday; 1:00 - 10 PM; Sunday

Summer Hours -- 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM; Monday - Friday

For more information about the eLearning Lab and/or scheduling requests, please contact the Director of Instructional & Emerging Technologies.

How might a professor use the eLL?

  • experiment with new teaching tools like audience response systems, wireless writing tablets, audio- and video-conferencing, podcast production and delivery, and instructional digital media production
  • teach a class using one or a combination of the supported tools with or without the support of an ITS professional staff or Student Instructional Media Consultants (IMCs)
  • schedule a class session for you students to be trained by ITS staff on one or a combination of the supported tools
  • assign your students eLearning projects; Student IMC support is available on evenings and weekends

Sample Projects

  • record audio clips practicing oral exercises
  • produce short student-produced video vignettes
  • create visual stories using different languages
  • podcast a story
  • hold a live audio conference ("e-tandem") with two or more students
  • global collaborations (student to student, student to subject matter expert, student to faculty, etc.)

Hardware

  • 24 seat interactive technology-enhanced prototype classroom
  • 12 student digital media interactive workstations
  • Multi-standard (NTSC, PAL, SECAM) video projection
  • Multi-region (world) DVD projection
  • Video iPod projection (pictures/slides/audio/video)
  • High definition (HD) video projection (Blu-Ray, HD DVD)
  • 16x9 Widescreen HD projection
  • Interactive white board with multi-source projection
  • "Remote lectern" (control your presentations from anywhere in the room)
  • Control and project any computer in the eLL from the Lectern
  • Hands-free presentation recording
  • Student Response Systems ("Clickers")
  • Digital media acquisition, capture, and editing (LPs, cassettes, CD, VHS, DVD; live audio and video)
  • Wireless internet device testing (iPod Touch, Skype Phone)
  • High-speed (gigabit) internal ethernet
  • Next-generation operating systems

Software

  • PhotoShop Elements: create and edit images
  • PowerPoint & Keynote: create a presentation
  • iTunes: listen to podcasts
  • Audacity: record and edit an audio clip
  • iMovie: make a movie
  • iDVD: publish a movie as a DVD
  • Comic Life: create visual stories and storyboards
  • iChat AV: participate in an audio- or video-conferenc
  • Skype: talk to other Skype users using VoIP*

* voice over internet (protocol)