We know from extensive educational research that students should collaborate on interesting tasks and be actively involved with the material they are learning. Since the 1998-99 academic year, two sections of 54 students per semester have participated. Starting in the fall of 2000, class sizes of 99 will meet in a new classroom designed to support this type of instruction. Essentially these are hands-on activities, simultations, or interesting questions and problems. Students sit in three groups of three students at 6' diameter round tables.
Instructors circulate and work with teams and individuals.
Each table has three networked laptops. The setting is very much like a banquet hall, with lively interactions nearly all the time. A new classroom seating 99 students is now in use. Construction photos looking north and south are available. We have a nice slide show that illustrates many of the critical aspects of the room design.