Let?s take it outside.
Those are no longer just fighting words. Now University of Central Arkansas faculty has the ability to put a new spin on their lectures by exploring the capabilities of the new outdoor Technology Plaza.
The plaza, located behind the new Math/Computer Science/Technology Building, includes a 9 foot by 12 foot LED jumbo screen and wireless Internet connection.
UCA has the only outdoor fully wireless digital classroom in the nation.
?It takes it outside the traditional class and it demonstrates the power of technology,? Dr. Ron Toll, dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics said. ?It?s multifunctional.?
It is an outdoor classroom with a ?21st century chalkboard,? he continued.
Plans for the MCST building began five years ago, and from the beginning the department had big plans for the new space. The building has a high-tech corporate feel in the entrance and shifts to more of a conference-room feel where classes are held.
A year into planning, the department developed the idea of the Technology Plaza including the screen but knew the indoor classrooms carried first priority. The first technology went inside the building including all teachers getting laptops and equipping the entire building with a wireless Internet connection.
At the end of the building project, due to careful planning, they found out the cost of the building was under budget. The excess allowed the department to move ahead with their plans to install the jumbo screen.
?The screen was effectively free because the management on efficiency of building was so well planned,? Toll said.
The price of the screen was also reduced because the department chose to share advertising revenue with Daktronics, the maker of the screen. Both the classroom use and the advertising ability of the screen are new ventures for Daktronics and the university. Toll said a few months ago only 16 screens like the one on campus were being used for advertising, including two roadside screens in Branson.
Classes in the MCST building began in November 2002, but the screen was installed only in March. Teachers are training this summer so they will be able to conduct some of their classes outside this fall. Toll also expects more training to go on when school starts because of increased interest in the screen. Use of the screen is not limited strictly to teachers in the College of Natural Science and Mathematics, Toll said it belongs to the university and any teacher interested will be able to use it.
?It has all sorts of potential applications,? Toll said. ?We?re welcoming interests from across the university, and I would like to see different disciplines experiment with it and use it.?
Groups from across the university and the city have shown interest in using the screen for events and advertising. The Student Activities Board could show movies for students, the Student Government Association may use it to promote awareness of a campus issue, and other groups could use it for purposes they see fit.
Planning and pixels came into play to ensure the best quality picture. Toll said the cost of screen was based on pixels – the more pixels, the greater the cost. The screen with its 12mm center-to-center pixel space is impressive to watch because of its ability to show detail on such a large screen.
The unit has its own air conditioner to keep its climate controlled. If the weather is raining, snowing or too hot for class to be held outside, there is no need to worry about the jumbo screen, it is designed to hold up to the weather.
Toll said they chose to purchase the screen from Daktronics for many reasons. He said that not only are they one of the best-known big screen manufacturers, but the department has been pleased with the company?s customer service and interest in the project.
?Daktronics was excited about the installation ? it?s the first application of its kind,? Toll said. ?They most understood what we wanted. They are going to stick with us, we have a continuing partnership with them.?
Toll said he thinks the screen will be able to show the university?s ability to keep up in an ever-changing world.
?UCA can demonstrate its leadership in innovation and technology-based business models,? Toll said.
-Rachel Roberts
