Tara Hayes

tara.hayes@mtsu.edu

James Beeby

History

Open computer labs

Peck Hall 227

N/A

N/A

This proposal is requesting for Technology Based Innovative Learning Space. The history department requests space (from PH 227) for the following multiple uses: supplemental instruction, tutoring, faculty advising for student success, and informal learning. Currently History teaches all students on campus who take all four years of their degree here. HIST 2010 and 2020 are the critical courses, and are considered to be two of the three most important courses for predicting student success. However, the department has no informal learning space to supplement this general education mission, to say nothing about such space for majors. Indeed, Peck Hall as a building has no such space. The space requested will offer a place for supplemental instructors and faculty to meet one-on-one with students, or to meet with small study groups. In addition, informal instruction is critical to hone writing, reasoning, and study skills necessary for the history courses as well as for every other course on campus. Faculty have long sought such a space for meeting because the offices in Peck Hall are small (the smallest on campus; meeting with more than one person is a challenge). For the same reason, history majors have expressed their wish for such a space. In order to be inviting to our students, such an informal learning space must be something other than one more non-descript classroom. For this reason we request the construction of a glass store-front, four lounge chairs and a small sofa. The room will require tables, chairs, outlets, two flat panels, and two white boards. Room occupancy is ten.