Lounging for Education
Christopher Beuschel
Issue date: 3/2/10 Section: Opinion
An important part of any college campus is the availability of places where students can relax and socialize outside of the lecture hall. Visit any college campus and you'll find these student lounges strewn about, often specialized for the department they are located in. Beyond providing a welcoming appeal for students, these provide a unique environment less rigorous than a classroom and allow for better collaboration than a dorm room.
Recently, the Physics department has been putting into motion several renovations, which includes adding a lounge exclusively for physics majors. In July 2007, a reorganization of the Science and Math department into separate offices left the Physics department with an opportunity to create this space for their students. Previously, the space was a conference room, but the Physics faculty felt the floor space could be better used to realize what department head Dr. Bahram Roughani describes as a focus on "student learning outcomes:" peer instruction and collaboration. Students can work through assignments together, in an environment which encourages close interaction of students and faculty alike. This is one of several steps the department is taking to move toward a new learning-versus-lecture focus in their curriculum. The lounge includes the standard amenities - table, chairs, whiteboard and couch - but also features a microwave and a bookcase full of physics-oriented books, with plans to add a computer and small printer as well. Students must card into the room, which adds a convenient level of security to the arrangement.
Additionally, the department has made significant improvements to AB 2222, the Computers in Physics Lab. It now features new computers with updated software, a projector and screen, and a premium sound system for acoustics work. While it plays an invaluable role in the curriculum itself, the lab also provides an indispensable tool for Physics students to use in their advanced studies outside of class to meet and work together in one few spaces specifically allocated for Physics students.
Recently, the Physics department has been putting into motion several renovations, which includes adding a lounge exclusively for physics majors. In July 2007, a reorganization of the Science and Math department into separate offices left the Physics department with an opportunity to create this space for their students. Previously, the space was a conference room, but the Physics faculty felt the floor space could be better used to realize what department head Dr. Bahram Roughani describes as a focus on "student learning outcomes:" peer instruction and collaboration. Students can work through assignments together, in an environment which encourages close interaction of students and faculty alike. This is one of several steps the department is taking to move toward a new learning-versus-lecture focus in their curriculum. The lounge includes the standard amenities - table, chairs, whiteboard and couch - but also features a microwave and a bookcase full of physics-oriented books, with plans to add a computer and small printer as well. Students must card into the room, which adds a convenient level of security to the arrangement.
Additionally, the department has made significant improvements to AB 2222, the Computers in Physics Lab. It now features new computers with updated software, a projector and screen, and a premium sound system for acoustics work. While it plays an invaluable role in the curriculum itself, the lab also provides an indispensable tool for Physics students to use in their advanced studies outside of class to meet and work together in one few spaces specifically allocated for Physics students.
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