Tech Savvy Teaching

As Salus University educates additional students to become valuable members of the healthcare team, the University has an increased need for medium-sized classrooms that provide a comfortable and flexible learning environment and use contemporary learning technology. The renovation and redesign of our traditional library into the Learning Resource Center, provides an opportunity to create a new 50-student classroom within the new center. Although the new learning commons won’t be completed until late fall, students are excited about the developments and technology features. “I love that Salus uses cutting edge technology to provide students with an excellent education,” Cassidy Carrion ‘19AUD said. “I can't wait to see this finished project.”
 
Conveniently located on the first floor of the Elkins Park Campus, the new classroom will be furnished with tables that accommodate a lecture format. All of the tables will be equipped to accommodate various devices students bring to the classroom. Today our faculty provide a rich lecture environment that include images and videos, and when appropriate, invite individuals who are not on campus to share information with those present in the classroom. To accommodate these types of media, the front of the classroom will feature two large touch-enabled LED displays that are also HD quality with wide screen capabilities. The podium will include a touch-enabled control panel to manage all aspects of the audiovisual system. Two additional monitors will be mounted to the ceiling so students seated near the back of the room can see the material clearly. “The proposed technology will definitely be beneficial and keep students engaged in lecture material,” Mao Yang ‘19OD said.
 
This classroom will also be equipped to handle audioconferencing, web conferencing and webcasting. Two cameras will be mounted to capture the speaker as well as the audience. Full lecture capture will be available using the Panopto system and audio reinforcement will provide excellent audio in the entire room. “The lecture capture feature is something my fellow students and I have been looking forward to because a lot of us love the idea that we will be able to watch lectures at home to reinforce what we learn in class,” Hannah Sunderlin ‘19OD noted. "Our university has been growing and expanding, and I think it's great that our learning environment is growing with it,” she said. Hannah undoubtedly shares in the excitement of her fellow classmates. This project will ensure an optimum classroom learning environment for future health care professionals at Salus University. “We have been using technology more than ever and it's great that Salus is going to be one step ahead by giving us tools to learn outside of the classroom while remaining in class,” she said.
 
While the renovations are underway, the library and computer lab have been temporarily relocated to the second floor of the Hafter Student Center.