Parramatta City: Technology

Learning studiosCollaborative learning studios are spread across six floors of the Peter Shergold Building. Photo: Nicole England Photo: Nicole England

Australia's most digitally infused and technology-rich teaching and research spaces

Levels two to seven of the building are the student learning spaces – each of which consists of four interactive technology-enabled learning studios per level.

These highly-interactive, digitally-infused studios promote the 'flipped classroom' model of group-based learning, and includes:

  • Collaborative based learning spaces – Designed for a very collaborative and active learning pedagogy with no obvious front of room. The facilitation of learning sessions should mainly occur from the middle of the room or walking around and intentionally does not support more didactic modes as all lectures are now recorded instead and sent to students to view in their own time.
  • A layout that encourages flexible group – The rooms are setup for groups of 4-6 students with their own table and screen at the end. All tables are on wheels and can be moved and configured as required with services in many locations on walls and in floor boxes.
  • Student Centred COWs – Each table has their own computer on wheels (COW) that the students log into and allows them to share content to the screen, view the room content, the whiteboards or the document camera and also to share their screen with the rest of the room. This control is left with the students to leave them in control of their own learning.
  • Wireless sharing – The rooms have a strong focus on wireless with a software sharing solution used to allow devices to connect to the room and stream content (many can connect at once).
  • Whiteboard capture – PTZ cameras have been installed to capture all whiteboard zones with buttons to spin the camera to the chosen location and allow students to see the whiteboard from anywhere on their screen.
  • Large touch screen – The main screens are touch enabled to allow academics to control multiple shared content or to leverage software packages that allow touch.
  • Audio reinforcement / Zoom – The rooms are fully configured for video conferencing and has ceiling microphones and speakers for in room audio reinforcement as well as joining guest lecturer or remote students to session.

Curved LED screen in the foyerA spectacular 7.5 metre x 1.5 metre curved LED information display forms the centrepiece of the building's lobby. Photo: Nicole England

Building facts and figures

  • Curving around a central wall behind the information desk in the main lobby is a unique 7.5m X 1.5m LED screen - specifically sourced by Digital Place Solutions.(opens in a new window)
  • Students have access to quiet study spaces; group study rooms; screen sharing and video conferencing.
  • The building has more than 120 student PCs.
  • 550 panels /screens.
  • 270 COWS (computers on wheels).
  • 230km of data cable powering high speed, latest generation wi-fi.
  • 30km of AV cable.
  • More than 260 data ports per floor.
  • 324 AV speakers.
  • 316 microphones.