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Room to Experiment

December 16, 2014

A photo of an alternative classroom layout.

Photo Courtesy of Inside Higher Ed

"Ball State University is using active learning, multimedia-enabled classrooms and swivel chairs to put a new spin on its faculty development efforts.

The university earlier this decade renovated its Teachers College building, creating two classrooms it calls Interactive Learning Spaces. The rooms are part of a larger faculty development program intended to promote active learning techniques and cut down on lecturing. As the program has expanded, the university is researching whether teaching at-risk students -- those withdrawing from or earning a D or F in a basic math course -- in the classrooms could improve academic outcomes and, eventually, graduation rates.

'Universities obviously are all going through the same difficult financial straits, and for a university that is considered mid-major like Ball State, [creating experimental classrooms] is a financial strain,' said Gary M. Pavlechko, director of teaching technology in the office of educational excellence."

Read more at Inside Higher Ed