Many campus administrators dream of being able to build a personalized, high-tech learning environment that meets students and faculty needs. An experimental 30,000 square foot learning lab at Austin Community College (ACC) is designed to do just that—and the results have been remarkable.
The new ACCelerator lab, installed inside a building that was once a shopping mall, provides over 600 virtualized desktops for scheduled classes, individualized learning, and small group sessions. In addition to technology-based instruction, the ACCelerator features an extensive support network of faculty members, academic coaches, counselors, advisors, tutors, librarians, and other staff members—all ready to help students succeed.
During the opening plenary at this year’s AACRAO Technology and Transfer Conference in July, Stacey Güney, Director of the ACCelerator, will describe the vision, challenges, operation, and outcomes of the center.
“It’s been a big experiment in redesigning the student experience. Under the old paradigm, the student went to point A to access instruction, point B to meet with an adviser, point C for something else,” Güney said. “The ACCelerator offers an opportunity to make campus logistically and physically student-centered—not just philosophically.” That’s because colleagues from across departments and from both sides of the house—academic and student services—are working in the space.
Some people at ACC were concerned that the ACCelerator space would be depersonalizing, due to its size and technological focus. “But it’s actually been ultrapersonalizing,” Güney said. In many cases, such as with the Developmental Math program, which was the first class launched in the ACCelerator, students work at an appropriate pace, rather than in lock-step, and advisors and instructors help them individually, meeting them where they are.
“It’s changing the roles of people in education but making them have more high touch opportunities with students but in different ways,” Güney said.
As for the wide-open space—“The world of education has traditionally been occupied by silos,” Güney said. “Removing those walls—literally—has led to more collaboration and a true focus on the student. The emporium model is hands-on and requires face-time—it’s like the modern one-room schoolhouse. The technology has allowed us to do a lot of the things we’ve wanted to do for long time but couldn’t do at this scale. ”
“Not only are students happy with the environment, faculty have thrived. Now they choose to be here instead of office hours, because they have conferencing time and more interaction with students,” Güney said. “Overall, people are feeling a sense of camaraderie and teamwork they haven’t had on a traditional campus.
Learn more and register for the 2015 AACRAO Technology and Transfer Conference, July 12-14 in Austin, Texas. (For more discussion about transfer issues, you can also check out the Weds., June 10 free webinar "A Revealing Look at Mobility and Transfer Pathways Towards Student Success: What does research by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center Show?")
Fast Facts about the ACCelerator
Developmental Math: The ACCelerator is the home of the redesigned developmental math course which serves as an alternative to the three semester series of basic math, elementary algebra, and intermediate algebra. Students attend scheduled classes using ALEKS software and developmental math tutors are available.
Visual Communications – Motion Graphics: This Spring, the ACCelerator welcomed the entire Motion Graphics department. Motion graphics uses the principles of graphic design to bring together special effects, animation, fine art, compositing, type design, music, and live elements to create motion graphics sequences for filmmakers, advertising agencies, television networks, and video game companies, among others.
Adult Basic Education: The Adult Education Division offers classes in the ACCelerator in English as a Second Language, literacy/civics, and GED preparation. The programs are designed for native and non-native speakers who want to improve their language skills and gain the core academic skills needed to obtain a GED.
Project-based Learning: A variety of instructors at the Highland Campus regularly schedule classes in the ACCelerator to take advantage of the computers for project-based learning. For example, a speech class may meet in the ACCelerator in order to research the elements required for an assignment.
Academic Coaching: Academic coaches seek to develop a rapport with students built on trust and respect for their unique goals and strengths. During private meetings or small group settings, students are coaches on skills such as time management, self-advocacy, motivation, goal clarification, reading comprehension, study skills, and developing personal plans for academic success.
Small Group Study Rooms: The ACCelerator offers 14 small group study rooms for use by members of the ACC community. Faculty often reserve rooms for conferencing hours or study groups. Several groups of students have “cohortized” themselves into study groups. For example, nursing students regularly meet each afternoon after clinicals to study.
Library Instruction: ACC reference librarians are faculty members who provide instruction to classes in ways to integrate resources to support student learning. Library instruction sessions are regularly scheduled in the ACCelerator to support a variety of subject areas.
Early College High School: The ACCelerator hosts students in orientation activities and as a resource for information technology. Additionally, local high schools have reached out to support instruction in a variety of ways.
Student Services and Student Life: The ACCelerator regularly hosts advisors and counselors. Group advising sessions are also held in the ACCelerator, as well as activities such as the FAFSA frenzy. Student life regularly uses the ACCelerator as a resource to support their activities.
Moving Forward: The ACCelerator is looking forward to being the new home to the Computer Aided Design Department and to offer support for a cohort in the Competency Based Education program in accelerated training for programmers developed through a Department of Labor grant.