Proposal

Narrative

This technology fee proposal is requesting to upgrade the philosophy undergraduate seminar room, SO 283 (Room 283 in the Social Science building, #44), for instructional purposes by installing Newline Interactive TruTouch X7 unified collaboration system, a Newline Interactive TruTouch 550/650 wall mount, a Gyration Airmouse Elite Combo with low profile keyboard, and the electrical upgrades needed to operate it properly.  This is the University standard developed by OIT for e-classrooms. 

Although the space is already being used for instructional purposes, it is currently not properly fitted for classroom use.  For example, a whiteboard on wheels is currently used in that space but is not adequate for proper instruction.  Therefore, in addition to upgrading the room to e-classroom, we will also require the mounting of white boards on the North wall of SO 283.

 

The Department of Philosophy serves 80-100 undergraduate majors.  SO 283 is used to deliver several of our upper-division courses, including the capstone Senior Seminar course (PHI 4938). 

 

It is proposed that the instructional media be presented through a mounted interactive and unified collaboration TruTouch display on a retractable mount in front of the East window in the room.  The shade currently in place will keep light from interfering with the quality of the display.  The Newline TruTouch X7 interactive and unified collaboration system contains all of the components necessary to allow faculty to connect flash drives to access files, as well as to connect to the internet and to FAU hard drives.

 

The philosophy department seeks to provide its students with the best possible learning environment available.  Access to smart classroom technology that meets University standards should be available in this classroom space.  E-classrooms are the tools for more effective and efficient teaching.  Technology enhances the ability to teach courses using digitally-generated lecture materials, access to internet resources, and digital media.

 

Since philosophy is a reading-intensive discipline, the interactive display will allow faculty to access digitized readings either from flash drives or from online sources (such as Blackboard) and to highlight relevant information in the readings as these are being discussed in class.  This will be especially helpful for those students who do not have the resources to print out all of the assigned reading materials and bring them to class.  As well, in spite of the reading-intensive nature of philosophy, there are now many online resources (video, etc.) that both facilitate the teaching of the material and enhance the students’ learning experience.

 

Having an e-classroom in SO 283 will also advance specific department assessment goals regarding student learning.  The faculty needs to evaluate writing, reading, oral, and critical thinking skills.  By presenting research through appropriate media (PowerPoint, website projects, YouTube videos, etc.), these kinds of assessments can be done much more effectively.  Students will also be better prepared for the technology requirements that will come with whatever future endeavors they undertake, whether they continue their education by attending graduate or professional school or choose to enter the job market immediately upon graduation.

 

It is critical to the fulfillment of the philosophy department’s academic goals to have SO 283 upgraded to an e-classroom, so that the latest educational technology can be utilized both to facilitate and to enhance the instructional mission of the department, the college, and the University.

Facilities

WorX Electrical Services will do the following electrical work:

- Install duplex receptacle behind display

• Receptacle shall be fed from existing local circuit)

- Install JB behind display w/1” conduit to cable tray in hallway

• Conduit shall be bonded to cable tray
• Conduit shall have pull string installed

- Install JB on side wall of room w/1” conduit to above ceiling for A/V cabling

 

- Install floor track system to provide receptacle and data on floor underneath table

 

- Install new switch to control (2) of the (4) 2 x 4 fixtures in the room

 

                                                                                                                                                Materials:                   $1,312.00

                                                                                                                                                Labor:                          $1,048.00

Facilities/Physical Plant will:

- Install (2) 6ft x 4 ft. whiteboards

on North wall of room:                                                                                                     Materials:                   $1106.00

                                                                                                                                                 Labor:                            $200.00

                                                                                                                                                                                        ___________

                                                                                                                                                 Total:                          $3,666.00

Hardware Requirements

CCS Southeast will install the following hardware:

Newline Interactive 70 “ TruTouch X7 Unified Collaboration System:                 $10,175.29

 

Newline Interactive TruTouch 550/650 Wall Mount:                                                     $192.50

 

Gyration Airmouse Elite Combo with Low Profile Keyboard                                        $136.13

 

Miscellaneous Parts Adjustment                                                                                              $26.26

 

Labor                                                                                                                                              $790.13

                                                                                                                                                   _____________                                                                                                                            Total:              $11,320.31

                                                                                                                                     

Software Requirements

Personnel Costs

There are no personnel costs.

Other Costs

Costs for work provided by Facilities contractors for electrical work to support electronic hardware and for installing whiteboards on the wall will total $3,666.00.  These additional costs are described in detail under "Facilities".

Timeline

If funded, the project would be started immediately with completion before the Fall 2016 semester.

Sustainability

There are one- to three-year warranties on all equipment.  The department will pay for replacements of parts that need replacing after expiration of the warranties.

Resource Matching

There are no matching resources for this project.

Implementing Organization

The organizations implementing the project are: CCS Southeast, WorX Electrical Services, Arts and Letters IT personnel, OIT networking, and Facilities/Physical Plant personnel.