Dell Higher Education Solutions: Intelligent Classroom

Motivate interactive, collaborative learning

Intelligent Classroom solutions combine presentation technology with personal computing to create interactive, collaborative learning environments. Successful classrooms use:

Multimedia learning
Personal computing
Online curriculum and educational resources

Understand your technology options

At the center of the Intelligent Classroom solution is the projector and screen , which can be combined with a variety of technology options, including:

Wireless pads allow professors to annotate and control presentations.
Interactive whiteboards enable documentation of notes that can be saved electronically and sent via email or stored on the network.
Polling applications let students respond instantly to questions supporting an interactive, dynamic lesson.
Document image cameras
Multimedia devices (i.e. DVD, VCR,)and TVs or LCD TVs enable professors to share media with the entire class.
Digital cameras and camcorders enable students to capture images and create dynamic presentations they can share with their peers.
Personal and workgroup printers
Laptops, desktops, handhelds, and tablet PCs connect students with professor and peers, and enable their active participation in the learning process.

How do you know which components to incorporate in your Intelligent Classroom solution? Working with just one technology provider enables you to consolidate your decision-making and your purchases. Call Dell today to begin building your Intelligent Classroom solution.

Getting started

You can create an Intelligent Classroom solution as part of a new building project or by modifying an existing room. Either way, assessment and planning is key for successful implementation. By understanding your university's needs and the types of solutions available to you, you can create Intelligent Classroom solutions that truly motivate learning. Partner for training & support
To get the most out of your Intelligent Classroom solution, students, faculty and staff must:

Know how to use the technology
Have support to keep things up and running.

Training and support is essential to enabling this interactive approach to learning. With Dell as your partner, you will work with technology experts who specialize in implementing successful education solutions.

Assessment and Planning

With numerous users to please, a budget to meet and an exciting array of technology options available, there are many things to consider and plan for when implementing Intelligent Classroom solution. These 12 steps will help you ensure that you meet the needs of your stakeholders and optimize the placement and use of your technology:

Obtain faculty buy-in and input - They are the ones who will use the technology you implement.
Consider customization options - Will you implement the same technology in each classroom, create a few types (tiers) of rooms, or customize each room for the specific needs it serves?
Keep it simple - Implement the technology you need and make it easy to manage.
Provide support - Do you have the staff needed to support the technology you will implement?
Stay current - Requires regular review of the quality, currency and usefulness of your Intelligent Classroom tools¹.
Be informed - Staying up on the latest technology will help you to conduct realistic assessments of your equipment.
Be flexible - Set up your technology so that it supports a variety of users and teaching styles.
Motivate interaction - Place technology in a manner that enables collaborative learning and facilitates a flow of movement.
Make it user-friendly - Make classroom technology simple, friendly and non-intimidating to encourage use by all.
Broaden your connectivity - Create a room that supports a variety of connection scenarios by including telephone lines, TV distribution, and data connections.
Sweat the details - Ponder the variety of scenarios in which this technology will be used and account for the details of each scenario².
Support and train faculty - Ensure that training and instructions are easy to access and understand³.

To get started with your assessment today, visit Dell Services.

Training & Support

Dell Services offers complete services for both new classroom construction and retro-fitting existing buildings, including:

Planning and design - Working with technical and non-technical customers, Dell Services uses its expertise to identify targeted solutions for each need.
Procurement, installation and configuration — Dell implements a variety of curriculum-enhancing solutions.
Training — Includes numerous Professional Development and "Train-the-Trainer" programs.
Maintenance and support — DPS helps you maintain and grow your Intelligent Classroom solutions.

1 Murphy, Cathy. "ABCs of Smart Classrooms." 1 September 2002. Syllabus Magazine. [http://www.syllabus.com/article.asp?id=6704]
2 "Classroom Design Principles that Improve Teaching & Learning." Tips For: Smarter College Classrooms Website. [http://classrooms.com/principles.html]
3 Kelly, David S. "Effective Practice - Smart Classrooms - Online User Instructions." 16 December 2002. EDUCAUSE. [http://www.educause.edu/ep/ep_item_detail.asp?ITEM_ID=122]