The Sextant Group - True North - March 2009

2001 A Virtual Space Odyssey - By John Cook CTS

Subsequent to appearing in True North, this article was featured in Archi-Tech Magazine.

Educational institutions are constantly seeking out new ways to attract and nurture the corporate leaders of tomorrow. Over the past decade a vast number of colleges and universities have implemented media-rich learning environments to support their curricula.

Similarly, there has also been a steady trend among business colleges with incorporating specialty classrooms such as Financial Services and Capital Market Labs that emulate a real world financial environment. These spaces not only foster situational / experiential learning, but meaningfully enable the study of business decisions in highly complex interactive environments. The integrated technologies range from a simple converted computer lab with specialized financial software to a full-blown simulation lab with custom desks, computers with multiple displays, and attention walls with wall-mounted digital stock tickers, LED boards, world clocks and LCD screens.

Learning Environment ROI: Current education models indicate that both theory and real-world “field experience” is essential to the learning process. However, in many current business teachings, the “feel” of real investment risks associated with money flow during investment practice is lacking. In such settings, students are unlikely to obtain necessary investment information and acumen for the long haul. To overcome this obstacle, schools are increasingly choosing to create investment simulation environments, with scenario-based learning as a tool to exercise real market practices in finance and investment. When implemented correctly, the learning experience can be realistic and more effective than that taught in a traditional classroom.

Computer-based / web-based instruction and interactive learning environments

are not new concepts. These tools have been utilized as an intricate component to general education models at all levels for a number of years. Numerous studies on instruction reveal that appropriate use of real-world technologies can significantly enhance teaching and learning effectiveness. Consequently, many business programs are discovering significant return on investment from incorporating these technologies into their learning environments.

DIVIDENDS IN MOTIVATION AND ACHIEVEMENT: By planning and designing spaces that meet the evolving needs of both students and faculty, the right classroom can make a significant difference how engaged a student becomes or how they actually interpret and retain information. Studies have shown that time spent meaningfully engaged in learning-related tasks is positively correlated to student motivation and achievement. There is also growing appreciation that peer-to-peer interaction has long-term benefits as well.

Additionally, new educational technology trends, like “game-based” approaches promote the idea that students need to be actively engaged with digital / software-based resources to assist with the retaining of information. Furthermore, applying the concept of physical interaction with that of interactivity of a real-world environment enables a paradigm shift from the “Information Age” to that of an “Interaction Age.” Therefore, a blend of both a physical and digital world needs to be considered in the design of these specialty learning spaces.

YOUR NEW FINANCIAL LAB CHECKLIST
Planning a financial lab or business simulation environment? Experts say the space should:
	Establish an environment that supports your business curriculum and pedagogy
	Be a showpiece for the campus, faculty and alumni, enhancing the quality and prestige of the program
	Provide real-life simulation to keep the students engaged, enhancing the learning experience
	Function as a recruitment tool to entice new applicants
Once key principles have been established, close attention to critical facility issues during design pays off with an environment that properly supports necessary technology:
	Adequate sight lines need to be preserved from each workstation to the various financial displays through the space
	Appropriate acoustical characteristics should be maintained to provide isolation from adjacent spaces and optimize speech intelligibility
	Effective ventilation, heating, and cooling is crucial due to the anticipated amount of equipment hardware, including student workstation CPUs
	A high-quality lighting system should be designed to provide for ambient light and glare control, uniformity and balanced brightness, visual comfort and third-party dimmer control
	Multiple attention walls
	Multiple screens
	Raised floor

THE THREE THINGS B-SCHOOLS WANT: Of the estimated 1,100 business colleges in the United States, only about 225 of them have opened on-campus financial-based classrooms so far. A recent survey conducted by Rise Display suggests that out of these 225, 17% share the space with a general computing lab, 33% have a dedicated room, (but is shared with other non-finance related classes), with the remaining half having a dedicated space used exclusively by the finance / business program. Of the many reasons why business colleges are starting to implement these specialty classrooms (labs) into their strategic plans, the top three justifications are 1) a showplace for students, alumni, and faculty, 2) to enhance the quality of the business program by providing real-world technologies for the students, and 3) to run a student-managed investment fund. In the latter, a stunning 60% manage these funds with real money while 58% use simulated portfolios with “play money”, states the Rise Display survey. *

While every campus may not have a designated advocate for financial-based classroom design, the pressure is on

at every institution from the toughest customers of all – future applicants. Incoming students are more technologically aware and attuned to real-world simulation more than ever. As a result they are expecting and “demanding” a lot from their classrooms of study. A specialized financial simulation space often serves as a real differentiator.

AUGMENTED-REALITY: Looking ahead, emerging technology developments will allow institutions to create augmented-reality environments in which real and digital worlds meet. The design challenge is then to preserve the richness of non-technical experiences while deploying a technology approach that extends the physical learning environments of students and faculty in ways

to enhance their shared experiences.

Since each moment in a classroom is precious to both faculty and student, any decisions regarding classroom design needs to maximize the value of this time and deliver an inspired learning setting. Recognizing the opportunities to both differentiate their program and deliver a better product, B-schools are increasingly integrating technology into their classrooms in pursuit of improved ROI.

Senior Consultant James Viviano CTS has designed facilities and systems for institutions of higher education across the country, including business schools and other academic spaces for Ohio State, Carnegie Mellon, SUNY Albany, University of Pittsburgh, DePaul University, University of Colorado Boulder, Augusta State, Lorain Community College, University of Nevada Reno, Middle Tennessee State, University of Idaho, Wayne State, Westminster College and Youngstown State. Jim can be reached at jviviano@TheSextantGroup.com.

** - Source: Rise Display, Shawnee KS

The Sextant Group is an award-winning full service digital technology consulting firm specializing in design, engineering and specification of architectural and environmental acoustics, audiovisual systems, IT, telecommunications, security, and structured cabling technologies.
As an independent consulting firm, The Sextant Group does not represent any manufacturer, supplier, or reseller of any equipment, products, or technologies, thus delivering consulting services and recommendations free from bias.

Clients include education, medical, corporate, government, institutional, performing arts, broadcast, and sports & recreation, on over 1000 projects for more than 500 owners in 42 states and 11 countries.


MARK VALENTI CTS presents “Space, Time and Technology: The Future of AV” at InfoComm ’09 in Orlando FL, June 18.
Mark also co-presents “Reinvigorating the University Library - Incorporating the Learning Commons/ Student Success Center Concept” at SCUP-44, the annual international Conference and Idea Marketplace of the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) in Portland OR, July 18 - 22.
JOHN COOK CTS is co-author of "Trends: How Demographics, Technology, and Sustainability are Shaping Future College Unions", published in the ACUI’s The Bulletin, and also available on-line. John was also a two-time co-presenter at the April 2009 ACUI National Conference in Anaheim CA: “Forecasting Trends in Student Life & Technologies” and “Staying Ahead of the Curve: Planning Student Centers with an Eye toward the Future”.
ACOUSTAPALOOZA: Acoustical Consultants JEFF BABICH INCE, CTS and GREG COUDRIET INCE, CTS are both presenting at the Inter-Noise International Conference in Ottawa ON August 23-26, 2009. Jeff leads a discussion group on “Lightweight Constructions,” while Greg takes the lead to discuss "Green/Sustainable Quiet Building Design."
Senior Consultant MICHAEL KERR presented “Acoustics in the Built Environment” to AIA \| DC, May 8, 2009
Senior Consultant DAVID McDIARMID CTS will co-present “Bursting at the SEEMS: Five Forces Shaping the Future of Learning Spaces,” at the Council of Educational Facility Planners International's (CEFPI), 86th Annual World Conference and Expo in Washington DC on September 28, 2009. Dave recently co-presented at CEFPI's Midwest/Great Lakes Regional Conference in Columbus OH in April.
Marketing Director TERRY CAYWOOD will be Roundtable Moderator for SMPS Best Practices Forum “Speaking with the Same Voice from Multiple Mouths” Las Vegas NV, July 2009. Terry was also judge for the Marketing Communication Awards being announced at SMPS's upcoming Build Business Conference.
HARDLY BORED: John Cook CTS was recently appointed to the board of International Communications Industries Foundation. Cook also was reelected to the board of directors for a small private school serving Western PA.

	RECENT & CURRENT PROJECTS HOSPITAL New Orleans VA Medical Center Replacement Hospital New Orleans LA SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY University of Virginia Information Technology Engineering Complex Charlottesville VA CORPORATE Westinghouse Electric Nuclear Services New Corporate Headquarters Cranberry Township PA HIGHER EDUCATION Wayne State University Wayne State Medical Center Detroit MI St. Mary's College Anne Arundel Hall St. Mary’s City MD STUDENT LIFE College of the Desert Student Services Building Palm Desert CA Miami University of Ohio Bicentennial Student Center Miami OH SPORTS & RECREATION Rice University Autry Court Athletic Center Houston TX OPEN JAN 09 CIVIC & CULTURAL August Wilson Center African American Cultural Center Pittsburgh PA OPEN JUNE 09 LIBRARY William Jewell College Learning Commons Liberty MO HEALTH INDUSTRY University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Center for Connected Health Pittsburgh PA OPEN MAY 09

	DESIGN SMARTER FOR FREE: Mark Valenti and John Cook were recent contributors the SCUP publication, A Guide to Planning for Change (Norris and Poulton, 2008). A digital companion piece, the collection of essays New Directions in Planning, is available online. To read this evocative treatise on the three forces combining to change *the nature of learning environments today and in the future, click here.* The hardcopy of *A Guide to Planning for Change* can be ordered from SCUP's online bookstore or via this downloadable PDF order form.

Earth Day 2009

The Sextant Group put sustainable words into actions, taking an afternoon to clean up brush, debris and refuse in the neighborhood around the Riverside Center for Innovation on Pittsburgh’s North Shore for Earth Day 2009.