Classrooms take on a new look for fall semester | Tulane News

In the Norman Meyer Memorial Hall, a document camera is part of the classroom technical setup.

A classroom of Norman Mayer demonstrated some of its technological enhancements.

The overhead microphone will capture class discussions for remote students.

The desks of the School of Social Work are placed at regular intervals to observe the physical distance.

In the School of Social Work, the staff will arrange decals for desk placement. From left: Amber Beezley (university planning), Kelly Venable Carroll (campus service) and Meredith Beers (emergency preparation).

Stickers on chairs in McAllister Hall show where students are sitting.

A technical team installed wiring in a classroom in the Goldring-Woldenberg business center.

The staff at the Lavin-Bernick University Life Center equips the Qatar Ballroom with space for tables and chairs. From left: Kevin Morgan (University Planning), Kelly Venable Carroll (Campus Service), Kate Simon (Campus Service) and Amber Beezley (University Planning).

The Kendall Cram Lecture Hall at the Lavin-Bernick University Life Center is being converted into classrooms.

The elevator shows the check-in guide.

The classroom will follow the entrance/exit agreement and the maximum number of people.

Tulane is transforming its classrooms into learning environments that comply with CDC guidelines to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Throughout the summer, campus service staff are committed to developing a series of classroom upgrade courses in the fall semester. Classrooms will get rolling glass screens that will separate the lecturer from the first row of students present, while allowing the professors to move more. These shields are 6 1/2 feet tall and have been tested for visibility and sound clarity.

The Campus Services Department also worked with the University Planning Office to determine how many students can be safely accommodated in each classroom, because students must sit at least 6 feet between each other. Campus services, environmental health and safety, emergency preparedness and university planning staff and JS Held consultants assessed the maximum occupancy of each classroom, and remember that the placement of the door and blackboard and other factors will affect the students in the room Number of people. After determining the maximum value, stick the decal on the floor where the desk should be kept. Room occupancy signs specify how many students are allowed in a given class.

Colette Raphel, Director of the University Registrar, said that throughout the summer, the staff of the Registrar’s Office spent class hours and homework, and communicated with teachers about the various technical functions of each classroom.

Raphel said: “Since March, the Registry has been working closely with the campus service team to plan our return to school in the fall.” She added that she also relies heavily on the mutual support and guidance of colleagues from the American University Colleagues Association. "Registrars created a new grade model and system within a few weeks, and implemented an online option for students to choose spring courses so that they can choose their own grade model. We created a new academic calendar and changed our transcript The way that information is recorded on the Internet-all of this is done while employees are working remotely. Even for Hurricane Katrina, we are not forced to think creatively as we do today and work closely with other offices on campus to achieve Same target."

Non-traditional teaching spaces have also been converted into classrooms, such as the Kendall Cram Lecture Hall and Qatar Ballroom in the Lavin-Bernick University Life Center. These spaces and

These are built on the university quadrilateral, using new technology, and equipped with chairs and desks and/or tables and other furniture to suit a comfortable teaching environment.

Since most students will continue to study on campus, face-to-face courses will be enhanced with the development of technology. Some classes may stagger the face-to-face appearance time to accommodate all students. Other courses have been converted to online format.

In the summer, all classrooms and public areas on the Dulan campus, including offices, meeting rooms, and toilets, are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected by contractors appointed by the university.

Pay special attention to high-touch areas such as tables, chairs, elevator buttons and door handles. In addition, these surfaces are subsequently inspected to detect any biological residues.

Sodexo, which is responsible for the university’s guardianship service, has partnered with Tulane to switch to more effective disinfectants and disposable cleaning materials to thoroughly clean and minimize the possibility of cross-contamination.

Once students and staff return to campus, Sodexo will maintain a regular daily cleaning schedule for all classroom surfaces. Sodexo custodians will perform a simple test-when the surface is completely clean, the indicator will disappear-to ensure proper disinfection. Random sampling with ultraviolet light will further determine the degree of clean surface. Students and staff will be able to use disinfectant wipes that can be used on surfaces between cleanings.

The Campus Services Department negotiated with externally certified industrial hygienists, epidemiologists, and Duran’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety, and formulated guidelines for continued cleaning and disinfection under the guidance of the CDC and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Detailed agreement.

Tulane's information technology team worked closely with the Campus Services Department and Registry this summer to develop and execute a plan to use enhanced technology to transform up to 180 classrooms to support a mix of face-to-face and distance learning environments. These new and upgraded classrooms are designed as one of three classroom types: high-build, low-build or "all-in-one classroom", with many of the latter two categories. The boxed technology classroom includes a mobile podium with a standalone system suitable for smaller classes or temporary spaces.

The classrooms in both temporary and permanent buildings will be equipped or installed with a podium-mounted PC used as a podium. The high-definition camera aimed at the front of the classroom and the wireless lapel microphone of the professor will transmit the lesson through Zoom. Students can also use the wireless microphones and shelves in the classroom to facilitate class. The speaker system will amplify the sound for all participants. At the same time, professors can use the document camera that simulates the whiteboard, touch display, projector and screen to display their own materials.

Some permanent classrooms that already have the most advanced technology have received other upgrades, such as ceiling-mounted microphones and video monitors, which can serve remote students. The largest category may also use advanced recording equipment and other cameras.

In order to enable professors to focus on teaching, the Information Technology Department has hired student workers to participate in the "Classroom Experience Student Group", which will help teachers with classroom management, including technical troubleshooting and development of online course materials.

Raphel added: "Through the thousands of details that we manage, communicate, and constantly adjust, there is one constant factor: we are a Tulane University, and our goal is a single goal to bring our students, faculty and staff back. campus."