This page holds a very rough list of ideas (not plans) for how technology and facilities can positively impact education at Art Center. These are not funded or approved ideas, and they may not even be good ideas. But they are designed to stimulate discussion, and help the visioning groups to think about their areas in the context of facilities and technology. Please post comments at the bottom.

Learning Center

An on-campus facility combined with a strong online resource that integrates multiple modes and areas of learning for both students and faculty. Potential areas supported range from software skills, drawing and other hand skills, technology/electronics, writing, ESL, entrepreneurship, etc. This support system would have computer based learning, tutors, and skilled advisors to assist both students and faculty in learning new skills, as well as to help facilitate work on student projects.

The campus facility could be located in close proximity to the library, CMTEL, existing shops, as well as new digital and other making facilities. The Learning Center itself would be a community gathering space, where faculty and students are both learners and teachers, helping each other, as well as being helped by Learning Center staff.

Courses and curriculum could be structured to take advantage of the Learning Center, for example requiring “lab time” in the Center as part of course requirements. This would allow faculty to focus on the teaching and working with students where their personal contact is critical. Students can work in the Learning Center on their own time and pace, supplementing what they get in the classroom as well as gaining new knowledge independent of a classroom experience.

The Learning Center could also be a resource for Faculty to produce new learning materials for use in the classroom and online.

Laptops

• Provide and/or subsidize laptops for faculty.
• Require and subsidize laptops for students, according to department needs.

Classroom Technology

Move towards equiping all classrooms with digital projection.

Meeting Rooms

• Create places for faculty to meet with students and other faculty
• Increase the number of small meeting rooms on campus that accommodate groups of 10-12 people.
• Add several flexible use spaces that serve a similar purpose as the LAT (Los Angeles Times Theater). The rooms need to have the following capability:
  • High quality projection, screen, and sound system
  • Changeable lighting to illuminate presenters without washing out screen
  • Comfortable seating for 40-60 people, removable, on a flat floor
  • Raised stage for presenters
  • Podium

Community spaces

• Increased and more well integrated community spaces, indoor and outdoor
• Cultural programming – music, dance, art
• Create collaboration areas
• Foster better communication between faculty, students, staff

Student Studio Space

Increase the space available for student studios and workspaces. Given limited space, options are to establish shared studios, and/or limit access to studios to upper term students. Possibly use South Campus as a place for student studio space?

Big Space

Create a collection of flexible use spaces for student and faculty projects and exhibitions that can be reserved for periods of days to weeks. This is raw space with bare walls and concrete floors. Spaces could be available in sizes of 10×10, 20×20 and 40×40, or perhaps have movable partitions. The Big Space facility must have access to a loading dock, and have large doors capable of having vehicles and other large items brought in.

Online Spaces

New online spaces and new forms of distance education specific to art & design learning

Digital Learning Tools

Acquire or develop new digital learning tools such as the iPad, for use both in and outside the classroom.