MAILING LISTS

At the University of Virginia we do TBL with 156 students in teams of 6 in two different locations.
1. In a large standard format lecture hall with microphones on the tables. This works very well. Students form groups of 6 with three on each side of a table. All students can see and interact with each other and with the faculty. Unless there are microphones on the tables, faculty facilitators have to "Donahue" which slows the session and can frustrate the students. 
2. In a flat circular "learning studio" with a central podium surrounded by two rings of 26 tables that seat 9. The students prefer TBL in this setting, but there are a couple problems. Because the room is flat, it is impossible for some groups to see each other across four tables and the central podium. The round tables of 9 are too big for our groups of 6 (and groups of 9 are not optimal for TBL). Our students form groups of 6 between the tables. Imagine clotting blood cells. The faculty are unable to circulate. There are insufficient number of tables for students to work 6/table and even if there were, the large diameter requires students to talk very loudly. I think rectangular tables of 6 would be better.
Regards,
Chris Burns

Date: Mon, 21 May 2012 14:28:04 +0000
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Dimensions of the ideal TBL facility
To: [log in to unmask]






My question is how rectangular....a little bit might be ok....but not too much....hmmm



In really large group (what I would call 220)...the best I have seen....is the low angle....curved near square (slightly rectangular) theaters with lots of room to move behind rows...usually 2 row each low angle teir



Really pay attention to the quality of the room acoustics.....if I can see you and hear you....it will be OK



There are some specific facilitation techniques in large groups to encourage interconnectedness



I have one of my faculty that is really talneted at this.....If you want I could try to gt you connected with him



Jim Sibley



Sorry for brief message -sent from my iPad



On 2012-05-21, at 7:03 AM, "Clements-Jewery, Hugh" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:








Hi All,
 
We are in the process of designing a large facility for TBL. The facility would encompass the entire class (approx 220 students). Thus far the architects have come up with a room of rectangular
 proportions. We are worried about the possible lack of ‘inter-connectedness’ (for want of a better phrase) of the teams in a rectangular room – can teams at one end (or one corner) of the room have difficulty feeling and being a part of the inter-team discussion?
 Is there any hard evidence that a room with a square design would help with ‘inter-connectedness’ (we’ll need to back up requests to the architects!)?
 
I understand that many of us make TBL work in facilities that are non-ideal, but theoretically what room proportions would you have if money, practicalities etc were not issues?
 
Many thanks in advance
 
Hugh
 
Hugh Clements-Jewery, PhD
 
Assistant Professor of Physiology
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
400 N Lee Street
Lewisburg, WV 24901
 
Office: +1-304-793-6822
Fax: +1-304-645-4859