Establishing Virtual Learning Spaces for Students
Prior to the start of the semester, several forums were held to inform students, parents and others the university serves, about what could be expected for the Fall semester. One of the concerns that kept coming up in these forums was the availability of safe, non-instructional, spaces on campus to study or do work. The RO worked with partners across campus, the Provost’s Office, Wisconsin Unions, campus libraries, Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M), and Wisconsin Collaboratory for Enhanced Learning (WisCEL) to identify and establish “virtual learning spaces.”
Determining these spaces was done with much forethought and insight, utilizing the opinions and expertise of those involved. The best effort was made to ensure all the rooms available for use are located on the same floor of the building in which they reside. Additionally, the assorted buildings from across campus were chosen to provide variety in location, from Babcock Hall to the Pyle Center.
These spaces fulfill the needs of many populations for a variety of uses: those with poor internet access, use between classes, advising appointments, confidential meeting spaces, and much more. Across campus there have been approximately 900 seats in 14 different locations made available. The RO helped identify 71 general room assignment (GA) classrooms for use. The GA rooms were smaller classrooms that could not be used for instruction due to social distancing guidelines. A map has been published to indicate all available virtual learning areas on campus.
The majority of these spaces are available as drop-in spaces. Because of this, those using the rooms are encouraged to stay a maximum of two hours to allow others to use the spaces. Some spaces do require a reservation or check-in upon arrival. Having multiple users in one space in a day, health and safety still remain a concern. To ease this concern, each space has cleaning supplies available and the spaces are cleaned on a nightly basis.
The start of this fall semester has been difficult for everyone. However, with the availability of these virtual learning spaces in response to requests from the campus community, it is hoped that some of the stressors associated with starting a semester during a pandemic are alleviated.