The converged classroom

Abstract

The growing need to work smarter in teaching classes plus effective utilization of classroom space gives way to a rethinking of how classrooms should be structured to accommodate today's students. One engineering department at Southern Polytechnic State University, a 4-year technology-based university, stepped up to the challenge of developing and offering a converged online and face-to-face (f2f) interactive learning environment. The uniqueness of this converged learning environment is our ability to offer multiple delivery modalities simultaneously as one single classroom. Students have a choice of attending as a distance learner (online), or as a hybrid learner (both f2f and online). The lecture meetings are recorded for later playback in case students are unable to attend. The virtual attendee and the physical attendee become harmonious with the added ability to freely switch among modalities from week to week. This unified yet flexible environment goes beyond the need to accommodate job and family commitments; it also serves to provide consistent course content, to promote more student interaction, and support their various learning styles. Benefits to the school are better utilization of space, increased enrollment, better utilization of faculty, and promotes student retention. This engineering technology department continues to improve the environment with more efficient use of learning management technology and working with the school administration for adaptations in the areas of course registration, tuition costs, and information technology. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2013.