Supporting Active Learning at NPS

The Flexible Learning Experience (FLEx) spaces support active learning in many ways, by piloting new technology that meets the needs of all types of faculty and students.

Each FLEx Space on campus has a different configuration; please visit the FLEx Classrooms Wiki page to learn more. NEC has also created virtual walkthrough tour videos of many of our campus' FLEx Spaces.

Movable furniture to support multiple classroom configurations

• Comfortable chairs to reduce distraction while studying and learning
• Tables can be repositioned to serve a wide variety of needs
  • Traditional lecture layout with all students facing the instructor
  • Breakout groups for collaboration
  • Seminar
  • Conference
  • Freeform
• Moveable camera pillars for easier collaboration with online students

Multiple displays with wireless presentation capability

• High-resolution screens are positioned around the classroom
• Teachers can instruct from anywhere in the room as needed
• Students and teachers can project their devices around the room, regardless of operating system

Integrate remote students effortlessly

• Cameras and ceiling array microphones allow remote students to see and hear instructors clearly no matter where they are in the room
• Displays allow remove students to be a part of the visual learning environment
• Microsoft's Office 365 Suite provides the necessary tools for instructors to bridge the gap between resident and remote students

Whiteboard capture and annotation capabilities

• Save whiteboarding activity for later reference, and easily collaborate in realtime with remote participants
• Enables both local and remote participants to see whiteboard content as well as capture thinking processes through timeline snapshots
• Touchscreen monitors allow instructors to interact with content, maintain face-to-face interaction, and provide frequent and continuous feedback using annotation software