Flexing the Library Classroom
HyFlex, also known as "Flex" teaching, offers learners and participants the flexibility of engaging with the same content from the same instructor through three distinct modalities. You have the option to join a class in-person, via Zoom, or watch the recording at a later time. Over the past two years, I have conducted research, performed tests, and collaborated with instructors who teach in the Flex modality in order to redesign the classroom space at the RTC Library.
In the summer of 2022, I partnered with Renton Technical College's Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning to begin planning a state-of-the-art library classroom space that would facilitate Flexed meetings, workshops, and conference sessions. Our setup has opened possibilities for new interactions, such as student advisors joining meetings from Thailand to assist students on campus, or an instructor living in Iraq co-presenting conference sessions with in-person instructors. Additionally, all sessions can be recorded for individuals who are unable to participate in real-time. Since the RTC Library classroom reopened for bookings from faculty, staff, and students, it has received 66 bookings within the first 8 months, accommodating over 800 users in total.
The floor plan for the RTC Library classroom technology, designed, installed and tested over a three month period. The centerpiece of this setup is the Meeting OWL, which is a 360 degree camera with microphone/ speaker and AI software that automatically tracks the speakers in real time.
The Meeting OWL allows online participants to see the entire classroom in a 360 degree view while also focusing on whoever is talking at any given time. Those in the classroom can view online participants through the large screen TV in the front of the classroom, which can duplicate or extend the instructor computer screen.
I created the Flex User Guide for RTC Library Classroom to help instructors quickly get acquainted with the basic features of the Flex space. The user guide also includes instructions for using the Meeting OWL from Microsoft Teams as well as who to call for troubleshooting. The lead for the Flex team, Instructional Designer Yun Moh, called the document "precise and comprehensive." In the future, we will also include a QR code that takes users to more in-depth instructions and video demonstrations, courtesy of the wonderful Flex team at Renton Technical College.