Advice on how to design a good e-learning classroom is available in this month's issue of Inside Technology Training.
When designing a room, Craig Park of Intellisys Group, a company that builds e-classrooms in the USA says that you need to consider the following:
- Aim to reduce reverberation and background noise such as air conditioning and heating equipment as much as possible, using sound proofing and carpeting
- Make sure that lighting focuses on the instructor from all sides except directly above to avoid shadows, but keeping display screens in the dark. Park recommends using a windowless room to help eliminate distractions. And most trainers will appreciate using lights that stay cool!
- Accommodate the use of traditional presentation methods such as flipcharts and whiteboards where trainers want to use them by capturing these on camera
- Blue is the best colour for e-classrooms
- Make the technology in the room user-friendly for trainers and students alike
- Look in-house for experts who can help you with the development process, especially IT people
- To get management to go along with your plans, show them the technology in action to convince them of its value.
One last tip is to steer clear of elevators when choosing your room!
