As the semester begins, remember to contact the Classroom Support
Hotline at 612-625-1086 if you need any assistance with your general
purpose classroom.
As an additional service, for the first few days of the semester, OCM
technicians will be pre-positioned throughout the Twin Cities campus to
provide rapid assistance should any issues arise.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Office of Classroom Management's Web site has a new look
On Monday, August 31, OCM launched a redesigned and improved Web
site. The redesigned site includes easier access to information and
features:
- Improved navigation and layout
- Expanded information and detail
- Classroom project photos and summaries
- More comprehensive online instructions and help
While there are some changes to many URLs, the left navigation margin
still provides links to the most requested pages and includes a new get
help link. The organization, navigation, terminology, and design are
based on user evaluation, research, and University standards.
Please note the Web site search feature may not work properly on Monday
while the Office of Information Technology indexes the site. They can
only do this when the site is live.
The OCM Web site is our main communications and information resource.
Please let us know what you think: e-mail us your comments at ocmhelp@umn.edu.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Science Teaching and Student Services Building Update
The following is an excerpt from the 8/11/2009 Capital Planning and
Project Management construction update regarding the new Science
Teaching and Student Services Building (ST+SS):
McGough Construction has made a significant progress. Yesterday the
last big concrete pour was done and now the Superstructure is completed!
INTERESTING FACTS: 6,114 YARDS OF CONCRETE AND 603 TONS OF REINFORCING STEEL WERE USED TO DATE!
Starting the week of August 17th., Twin Cities Glass will begin
installation of the curtain wall. Then, during the week of August
24th., McGough will start installation of precast panels on the
Pleasant Street side. By the end of the year the envelope of the
building will be completely enclosed.
Also, great news for pedestrians and bikers - the bridge connection
from Kolthoff Hall to the Washington Bridge enclosure will be re-opened
by August 28th., and all construction on Pleasant St. will be completed
by September 4th. (weather permitting).
Project Management construction update regarding the new Science
Teaching and Student Services Building (ST+SS):
McGough Construction has made a significant progress. Yesterday the
last big concrete pour was done and now the Superstructure is completed!
INTERESTING FACTS: 6,114 YARDS OF CONCRETE AND 603 TONS OF REINFORCING STEEL WERE USED TO DATE!
Starting the week of August 17th., Twin Cities Glass will begin
installation of the curtain wall. Then, during the week of August
24th., McGough will start installation of precast panels on the
Pleasant Street side. By the end of the year the envelope of the
building will be completely enclosed.
Also, great news for pedestrians and bikers - the bridge connection
from Kolthoff Hall to the Washington Bridge enclosure will be re-opened
by August 28th., and all construction on Pleasant St. will be completed
by September 4th. (weather permitting).
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Campus Technology 2009 Presentations
Presentations delivered by Nate Meath, Anya Norton, and Jeremy Todd at Campus Technology 2009 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, Massachusetts on July 27-30, 2009.
Successful Approach to Managing Classrooms
Lessons and Outcomes of University of Minnesota Future Classrooms
If you have any questions about the presentations, please e-mail classrm@umn.edu.
Lessons and Outcomes of University of Minnesota Future Classrooms
If you have any questions about the presentations, please e-mail classrm@umn.edu.
Friday, June 19, 2009
OCM names Interim Director
Steve Fitzgerald, Director of the Office of Classroom Management (OCM)
in Academic Support Resources, has announced that he will step down as
OCM director to pursue other opportunities, effective the end of June.
Classroom Planning and Projects Manager Jeremy Todd will become interim
director of OCM on June 30, 2009.
Ten years ago last month, Steve accepted the challenge of fixing the
pervasive and wide-spread problems in classrooms that had existed for
years on the Twin Cities campus. As the founding director, he set a
vision and successfully created OCM as an accountable and innovative
organization that has produced tremendous outcomes in all facets of the
classroom experience, and that has made a great positive difference for
students and faculty.
Under Steve's guidance and leadership, OCM has implemented many
innovations and initiatives that are now part of our normal classroom
landscape. His focus on accountability, deliverables, and a systematic
planning approach has been balanced by constant awareness of developing
faculty friendly technology and a teacher-focused support system. He
has helped develop an expert classroom staff that is a great resource
for the University today and in the future.
Innovations include the Projection Capable Classroom (PCC) technology
system in 98% of all central classrooms; transparent Balanced
Scorecard, dashboard and web reporting; a powerful user-oriented
classroom web resource; automated scheduling and web-viewers for both
central and departmental classrooms; Active Learning Classroom (ALC)
designs that are nationally recognized for innovation and excellence; a
responsive Support Hotline system with viable emergency help for
teachers in classrooms, and significant improvements in both room
utilization and physical condition of all central classrooms.
Steve's use of leveraging and partnership programs with colleges
accelerated the pace of classroom upgrades and improvements, and his
forward looking ideas have helped in the planning and construction of
future formal and informal learning space on campus.
OCM has been a resounding success, and today this University of
Minnesota classroom management model is widely regarded as a best
practice enterprise level model for supporting teaching and learning in
classrooms. We thank Steve for his voice as classroom champion and
advocate, for his many contributions to teaching and learning at the
University of Minnesota and for making a lasting positive impact on the
lives of students and faculty. We wish Steve all the best in his future
endeavors.
Sue Van Voorhis
Director, Academic Support Resources
University of Minnesota
in Academic Support Resources, has announced that he will step down as
OCM director to pursue other opportunities, effective the end of June.
Classroom Planning and Projects Manager Jeremy Todd will become interim
director of OCM on June 30, 2009.
Ten years ago last month, Steve accepted the challenge of fixing the
pervasive and wide-spread problems in classrooms that had existed for
years on the Twin Cities campus. As the founding director, he set a
vision and successfully created OCM as an accountable and innovative
organization that has produced tremendous outcomes in all facets of the
classroom experience, and that has made a great positive difference for
students and faculty.
Under Steve's guidance and leadership, OCM has implemented many
innovations and initiatives that are now part of our normal classroom
landscape. His focus on accountability, deliverables, and a systematic
planning approach has been balanced by constant awareness of developing
faculty friendly technology and a teacher-focused support system. He
has helped develop an expert classroom staff that is a great resource
for the University today and in the future.
Innovations include the Projection Capable Classroom (PCC) technology
system in 98% of all central classrooms; transparent Balanced
Scorecard, dashboard and web reporting; a powerful user-oriented
classroom web resource; automated scheduling and web-viewers for both
central and departmental classrooms; Active Learning Classroom (ALC)
designs that are nationally recognized for innovation and excellence; a
responsive Support Hotline system with viable emergency help for
teachers in classrooms, and significant improvements in both room
utilization and physical condition of all central classrooms.
Steve's use of leveraging and partnership programs with colleges
accelerated the pace of classroom upgrades and improvements, and his
forward looking ideas have helped in the planning and construction of
future formal and informal learning space on campus.
OCM has been a resounding success, and today this University of
Minnesota classroom management model is widely regarded as a best
practice enterprise level model for supporting teaching and learning in
classrooms. We thank Steve for his voice as classroom champion and
advocate, for his many contributions to teaching and learning at the
University of Minnesota and for making a lasting positive impact on the
lives of students and faculty. We wish Steve all the best in his future
endeavors.
Sue Van Voorhis
Director, Academic Support Resources
University of Minnesota
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Science Teaching and Student Services Building Update
The following is an excerpt from the 5/8/2009 Capital Planning and
Project Management construction update regarding the new Science
Teaching and Student Services Building (ST+SS):
The project work hours have changed for the summer months and now
involve two shifts. The first shift runs from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and
the second shift runs from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m..
The University has approved McGough's request to work double-shifts for few reasons:
1. It will insure the new building will be enclosed prior to the winter months.
2. It will employ additional trades for the season and help (in a small way) the economy.
3. It will allow the project to take full advantage of longer daylight hours.
The concrete pours (and the associated trucks) would be generally
isolated to first shift. Second shift would focus on form work and prep
(to minimize noise).
Additional work related to the project requires a partial closure of
Pleasant Street. Beginning May 18th, Pleasant Street will temporarily
become a one-way street for approximately 6 weeks. Signs will be posted
to aid in traffic flow.
Project Management construction update regarding the new Science
Teaching and Student Services Building (ST+SS):
The project work hours have changed for the summer months and now
involve two shifts. The first shift runs from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and
the second shift runs from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m..
The University has approved McGough's request to work double-shifts for few reasons:
1. It will insure the new building will be enclosed prior to the winter months.
2. It will employ additional trades for the season and help (in a small way) the economy.
3. It will allow the project to take full advantage of longer daylight hours.
The concrete pours (and the associated trucks) would be generally
isolated to first shift. Second shift would focus on form work and prep
(to minimize noise).
Additional work related to the project requires a partial closure of
Pleasant Street. Beginning May 18th, Pleasant Street will temporarily
become a one-way street for approximately 6 weeks. Signs will be posted
to aid in traffic flow.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Classroom Heating and Cooling
Classrooms on the Twin Cities campus may experience fluctuations in their
normal temperature range throughout the year, especially during
seasonal weather transition periods. The Office of Classroom Management
and Facilities Management are committed to providing the best possible
teaching and learning environment for University faculty and students.
The following is a note from Facilities Management regarding the transition from heating to cooling in campus buildings.
Dear FM Customers:
As we move into the warmer seasons of spring and summer, we would like
to take a moment to explain Facilities Management's role in the
transition from building heating to building cooling systems.
In most homes, the process of switching from heating to cooling is
often as simple as flipping a switch. On campus, the process is more
complex and requires much more time. The process, which includes
filling cooling towers with water, varies slightly in each of the 250
campus buildings we serve. Because freezing temperatures would cause
complications to the switching process, the water must be added only
when temperatures are consistently above freezing.
While Facilities Management typically completes the switch by the end
of April, some areas on campus need to be handled differently and can
experience changes in temperature both earlier and later than this
projected time.
Please be aware that until this transition takes place, we have limited
options for bringing cold air to many of our buildings. As the outside
temperatures reach over 60 degrees, we anticipate that some areas may
experience uncomfortable temperatures. Please be patient with us if
your building or space becomes too warm because of outside
temperatures.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
normal temperature range throughout the year, especially during
seasonal weather transition periods. The Office of Classroom Management
and Facilities Management are committed to providing the best possible
teaching and learning environment for University faculty and students.
The following is a note from Facilities Management regarding the transition from heating to cooling in campus buildings.
Dear FM Customers:
As we move into the warmer seasons of spring and summer, we would like
to take a moment to explain Facilities Management's role in the
transition from building heating to building cooling systems.
In most homes, the process of switching from heating to cooling is
often as simple as flipping a switch. On campus, the process is more
complex and requires much more time. The process, which includes
filling cooling towers with water, varies slightly in each of the 250
campus buildings we serve. Because freezing temperatures would cause
complications to the switching process, the water must be added only
when temperatures are consistently above freezing.
While Facilities Management typically completes the switch by the end
of April, some areas on campus need to be handled differently and can
experience changes in temperature both earlier and later than this
projected time.
Please be aware that until this transition takes place, we have limited
options for bringing cold air to many of our buildings. As the outside
temperatures reach over 60 degrees, we anticipate that some areas may
experience uncomfortable temperatures. Please be patient with us if
your building or space becomes too warm because of outside
temperatures.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
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