5252-Peter Beaman Presentation 290114 EM RNE

EAST MIDLANDS HEATED REGIONAL MEETING
29th January 2014
Peter Beaman BSc FHEA MBPSs
Social Psychology Technician
Social Sciences Dept.
Loughborough University
Talk:
Social Psychology Lab – Flexible Teaching Space
HEATED Loughborough University Wednesday 29th January 2014
Background
 Lab Space was thought out after an
accreditation visit by the BPS (British
Psychological Society) in 2007 which
identified that the dept had a lack of space for
IT/AV facilities.
 The next stage was to find appropriate space
nearby and funding for the work.
Notes:
At that time we had a PC Lab (28 PCs, printer, projector) next
to a teaching room for about 50 students, we also had an old
CCTV/ Lab and a 3 small interview rooms. We approached
the University to help with space and costing's. It was not
until 2009 that a space was available and the specification
made to source out the work to different contractors. A
Project Manager was chosen and I had the responsibility of
checking things were going to plan. The final cost was about
£250K which included the SP Lab and the CCTV Lab plus the
furniture supplied by Broadstock http://www.broadstock.co.uk/
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Dept had:
2 PC Labs and a
VHS/CCTV Lab
and observation
room before the
BPS Visit in 2007
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Showcase B114 and its associated rooms
 As we wished to create a more flexible IT/AV teaching/learning
environment than previously it was down to negotiating with IT
Services whether they would support a unique LAPTOP Lab .
 Also the physicality was an issue being an old building (1960’s)
doesn’t always meet the legal framework (Equity Act 2010) it
was necessary to visualise what the final outcome would be.
 Secure location for Laptops and alarm system needed too
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Notes
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2 individual Stair lifts were needed in two part of the corridor outside for wheelchair users
or those with mobility issues to be able to access the new Lab
Room/lab is multifunctional (note colour of seats light/dark green, red so we can do
sample or group splits)
A new state of the art CCTV lab was needed with observation rooms (digital, easy to use
and admin)
The main lab B114 was to be flexible for the nature of group and class teaching.
Therefore the tables can be arranged in pods of different types (pods, squares,
rectangular) and also cleared away if more space is needed for open days or poster
exhibitions.
The main unique feature is the 50+ Laptop Wifi Computing facility it creates. For group
teaching stats, practicals, projects, the laptops are an invaluable source of allowing
students to be in more familiar environments like the library or cyber cafes.
Another feature is 90 degree projectors so wherever you are in the room you can see the
screen
Other rooms B121-B124 are used for researchers and Focus Groups.
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The 2 Stair-lifts for accessing into SP Lab.
The access passage was just within
the legal limit for a wheel chair to pass.
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Two Secure Cabinets were needed to house
the initial 50 Toshiba laptops (2009).
They have been
already replaced in 2012 by faster HP models.
Also the Network Switch which allows
Wake on Lan (updates) feature has
also been replaced too
Alarmed entry – connected to Security
In 2013 we had an increase in Student numbers
so a third Cabinet and 16 more units were
acquired note Network Switch
is integrated inside this Cabinet
Note Keep it Secure is the Cabinet Company in Nottingham http://www.keepitsecure.co.uk/
HEATED Loughborough University Wednesday 29th January 2014
Other Features in SP Lab apart from WiFi (2 points) has 60
Ethernet connections, plenty of double sockets, network printer,
two data projectors, 4 speakers and VOIP Telephone
Notes
 2 WiFi zones was expected to cover the SP Lab completely and in
reality we have no real problems. Dead areas in the Lab were
mentioned as a possible issue due to having 2 zones close by but in
my experience we haven’t had this happen.
 The back up plan is that the walls have 60 Ethernet sockets and power
sockets in case the WiFi Failed.
 Also we have spare batteries for the HP Laptops but as they are using
SSD (Solid State Drives) which are less power hungry we are getting a
good day’s work out of the laptops. We have 2 HP Models in use
which are 50 HP Probook 6460B 160SSD 8gbRam (July 2012) and
16 HP 6470b Professional Laptop 500GBHD 8gbRam (Oct 2013)
 There is a dedicated network printer HP Laserjet P4015DN which is for
students work in the lab and is setup to save paper on Duplex setting.
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The Lectern is Equality Act 2010
compliant as it moves on castors and
can be raised up and down accordingly
for lecturing staff’s needs and replaces
an older fixed model. The units has a built in
amplifier and DVD and can accommodate a
PC Base Unit in the front if needed.
Also an Induction Loop was also fitted
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Stats classes are more enabling and
interactive. Students and Staff alike
have fully appreciated this transforming
way of teaching/participating in classes
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Poster
Exhibition
for
Final year
Students
One of
many
uses for
the SP
Lab
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We also use Review Echo 360
software and Turning Point in
lectures to enhance the
student learning experience
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Other facilities in the Social Psychology Lab arena include
1. Digital/CCTV Control Room/Lab
for Focus Groups and small projects.
First and second year students
learning how to use the facilities
for their practical and project work
Looking at Social Behaviour such
as body language, gestures, NVC,
Team working, Interviewing etc
Used also by third years students
in their Dissertation if appropriate
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Video capture Software used is Noldus available through Tracksys that installed the
system and are based in Nottingham.
http://www.noldus.com/human-behavior-research/products/media-recorder-0
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Observation Room B124 has two cameras and keypad entry
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Other facilities in the Social Psychology Lab arena include
2. Qualitative PC Lab
Researchers and Visitors
can use these facilities
Specialised software for
Analysing Text, Video, etc
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Other facilities in the Social Psychology Lab arena include
3. Meeting Room for Discourse
and Rhetoric Group (DARG)
for seminars and researchers.
Large Screen used to demonstrate
Discourse Research, CA etc and
Has been used for Skyping too
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Loughborough Qualitative Digital Research
Laboratory
(called LIQUID) has flexible environment and
also WiFi, twin data projectors, DVD Players,
Amplifiers, Networked PC’s, Mac’s, Laptops,
Digital Cameras, Video Recorders and Voice
Recorders
HEATED Loughborough University Wednesday 29th January 2014
 Any Questions?
Guess the location?