The TRLC is a crucial part of the Lehigh Lab, Lehigh's
campus-wide initiative to advance
the adoption of innovative technologies and techniques that enhance
teaching, learning, and research. Located
within the Media Center in EWFM
Library, the TRLC offers both physical facilities and consulting
services. The physical facilities include the TRLC classroom and a
public cluster of computers. Consulting services are offered by
the Director of Faculty Development (Greg Reihman), the Lehigh Lab
Faculty Fellow
(Ed Gallagher), the Instructional
Technology Team Leader (Sherri Yerk-Zwickl), and the Instructional
Media
Services Team Leader (Elia Schoomer). Faculty who wish to learn
more about academic
uses of technology are encouraged to arrange a visit to the TRLC, where
they can receive guidance, assistance, and training with instructional
technology projects at any stage of development.
The classroom has a dual screen projection system, interactive SMARTBoard capability, Internet2 resources, a digital document camera and other typical classroom features. It seats 12 with movable tables and some tablet arm chairs. It is intended as a training and practice resource for faculty, as a technology meeting environment, and as a functioning classroom. For I2 teleconferencing, there are two cameras, both controllable by the instructor, a Polycom 4000 Codec with a wireless microphone and two desk microphones, and a scan converter for transmitting computer materials. In addition to the VCR, DVD player and digital document camera, the instructor has access to a standard Lehigh PC, a port for a user supplied laptop, and the interactive Sympodium device. The Sympodium allows control of the room system, PC programs, and annotation of computer applications with a stylus. It also serves as a virtual white board facilitating the transmission, display and saving of annotated materials. There is also a wireless keyboard and mouse that allows use of the computer from the tables. In classroom mode (not for teleconferencing) the desktop of the PC can be extended to both displays to run multiple applications or the plasma screen can be used to display one source while the projector displays another.
Gregory Reihman, Director of Faculty Development and
coordinator of the Lehigh Lab, works to improve the quality of teaching
and learning at Lehigh by offering faculty a wide range of resources,
including consultation on the use of technology. Faculty
who are interested in discussing pedagogically sound uses of academic
technologies may wish to begin with a visit with Greg, who can provide
quality examples, help develop ideas, and direct faculty to other
services as needed.
Ed Gallagher, the Lehigh Lab Faculty Fellow and chair of the Lehigh Lab Steering Committee, is a motivator, mentor, and facilitator of innovation in teaching and learning. Faculty who wish to meet with a senior faculty member to learn more about how to upgrade from the traditional to the technological will want to meet with Ed, who is personally familiar with the challenges and rewards of such a transition.
Instructional Technology Consultants' Team Leader