Language Lab Project Meeting

Sep. 12, 2002, 12:00-2:00 pm

Departmental Collaboration and Shared Use Issues

Present

Phil Pabich, Jody Hacker, Carol Qazi, Dianne McKay, Marji Knowles, Kathy Moles, Jim DeLongchamp, Karyn Armstrong, Monica Rivas, Pat Hudak, Marsha Chan

Overview of project

Purpose: to replace existing antiquated language lab with a state-of-the art multimedia language lab

Marsha shared a transparency of page 1 of Gwen's 5 Sep 2002 meeting notes. She proposed that today's meeting begin with a statement of departmental needs and follow by focusing on departmental collaboration and shared use.

Needs

Faculty members of three departments presented the lab needs of their departments.

Foreign Language (FL)

Monica said that FL currently has 201 students enrolled in labs (self-access, hrs TBA). FL needs two labs 1) language lab, 2) independent learning center, like LATC. Two rooms. Expansion into Ethnic Kitchen, S2-601, was brought up.

Institute for International Studies (IIS)

Kathy explained that IIS classes meet 4 days a week including Fridays. She noted that IIS enrollment is capped at 20.  IIS has a potential need for lab use 15-20 hours a week. Fridays are good.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

Marsha presented a transparency of ESL lab needs and some county and college statistics, including the following:

Minimum Facilities required

Need for English language training increases

Mission ESL Statistics

Instructional Technology

Pat presented a transparency and handouts of computer labs on campus. This document shows the room, number, of computers, program & classess, departments and scheduling priorities. He noted that E2-401 hands-on lab, currently outfitted with 31 Apple Macintosh G3 computers, is underutilized, largely because faculty prefer to use PCs over Macs.

A lively discussion ensued about the possible use of E2-401 as the location of one of the new language labs. Pat noted advantages of E2-401 and S2-501. E2-401 already has electricity, networking, Internet connectivity for 30 student stations and 1 instructor station, whereas S2-501 does not. S2-501 has acoustical study carrels, but E2-401 does not. Jim cautioned against the bandaid approach of installing lesser equipment than we need.

A decision about room use must be brought to the college-wide committees, including but not limtted to Instructional Technology and Facilities. Marsha will investigate the status, use and availability of E2-401 as a potential location for a new language lab.

Further Discussion

Two labs

Jody voiced a need for two language labs to serve Mission's students. Planning for the completion of the project in phases was proposed, with one lab being installed sooner and one later after grant money is procured.

A suggestion was made that LATC be considered as a place to incorporate the learning center activity need expressed by FL. FL tutoring is already conducted in the LATC, and the other types of activities described by Monica are similar to the ones offered by ESL and Communications. It was noted that space is an issue: LATC is maxed out in its current configuration.

Funding

Marsha announced that she would meet with Cindy Schelcher of Advancement to investigate private funding sources. Jim suggested that FL might apply for funding. It was noted that different funding sources have retrictions, e.g., some can be applied to English/basic skills but not foreign language. Monica and Karyn responded that, as contract faculty, it is not a suitable time for them to pursue a grant. Marji offered that Workplace can fund training for faculty and staff in the use of new technology beginning in June. She suggesting tapping into the community for donations from businesses and individual ESL and FL learners.

Dianne emphasized that the district is in dire straits financially, and that space is another serious issue. She informed us that GAP will review all grants before they are accepted because they have implications for staffing and space, which are in short supply.

Phil reported that Community Education funding for the language lab has decreased due to the college's dire financial condition. The $93,000 figure given previously dropped to $83,000 and $80,000. Phil is considering partitioning the CE 20-station lab to separate it from the kitchen side of the room that the Agnews program uses. It was noted that a lab of that size would serve the needs of small classes like IIS (20 max) and drop-in users, but not ESL classes (28+) or FL (40+).

Collaboration and Shared Use Issues

Marsha attempted to steer the discussion to potential scheduling arrangements and showed a transparency Language Lab Scheduling.

The meeting adjourned at 2:00.

Respectfully submitted,

Marsha Chan

Multimedia Language Lab Project