Teaching in the SHED

The Student Hall for Exploration and Development (the SHED) has several large classrooms that have been designed for large classes that use active learning techniques. This page lists the resources available in these classrooms and links to more detailed information. 

Note: Descriptions of all of the types of classrooms can be found at Classroom Technology Overview.

The active learning spaces in the SHED have been designed to facilitate participation and collaborative group work. Instructors are expected to use activities that foster peer engagement that enables students to achieve learning outcomes along with developing interpersonal and workplace skills. 

About Active Learning

Designing Active Learning Activities

Teaching station

Although most SHED classrooms were designed to not have a “front,” there is an area in each room that serves as the instructor’s base.

The podium contains a touchscreen, microphone [cradle], laptop connections, and the doc cam. From here, instructors can set up projection sources, turn on the interpreter camera, and control the window shades. The podiums are not movable.

The touch panel on the teaching station can be used to select projection from your laptop (HDMI/USB-C), the provided document camera, wireless projection (Mersive), or Zoom for sharing content in the space.

Connecting Device by Cables to Classroom Projector

Other podium controls may include:

  • Lights
  • Window shades
  • Mute student table microphones

For training on the controls in the classroom you will teach in, contact CTL@rit.edu.

There is a rolling tall table in each classroom that allows the instructor to move around the room and still have access to their laptop which can be projected wirelessly.

Wireless projection

Each of the SHED rooms has a dedicated space for ASL interpreters marked by an orange x on the floor. When interpreters are sitting or standing in this space, they are in the frame of the interpreter camera.

Interpreter cameras in the SHED

Activating an Interpreter Camera in a Classroom

Each room has storage cabinets for use by faculty teaching in the room. If you are scheduled to teach a class in the SHED and would like access to storage contact CTL@rit.edu.

There is a single non-rolling straight backed aqua chair in each of the SHED classrooms for captionists. Please make sure this chair is available for your captionist.

Technology

Most SHED classrooms have two displays that are repeated on three walls.

  • The Primary screen is behind teaching space and the right side of repeated display
  • The Secondary display is on the left side of the dual screen and used for the Doc Cam, a tablet, or other device. The bottom right portion of the secondary display is reserved for the interpreter camera and cannot be moved or resized.

Note: In room 3350, there is a single set of screens. located behind the podium.

Projecting in the SHED

Because of the size of the classrooms, instructors, students, and interpreters should use microphones when addressing the entire class.

SHED Microphones

SHED Rooms are configured as Zoom classrooms so classes can be shared with remote participants or recorded. Three selectable cameras in the room can be shared on Zoom to remote participants. The gallery view from Zoom can be shown on the primary display in the classroom. Instructors and students must use a microphone to be heard by Zoom participants.

Zoom Room

Class area

The hexagonal classroom tables seat six students to facilitate group work. The tables cannot be moved to allow for power outlets and microphones at each table. They are also numbered so they can be tracked for teams and assignments.

In classrooms 3300, 4300, and 4350:

  • Table 1 is “out of the way” of the main class area and sometimes preferred by students who are neurodivergent or students who benefit from a quieter space.
  • Tables 2 and 3 are in the sightline of the interpreter when they are facing the camera .

Room 3350 is under re-design to meet the needs of faculty teaching in the space.

There is a round microphone at the center of each student table. Encourage your students to use them so the instructor, other students, and interpreters/captionists can hear them. 

SHED Microphones

Please make sure that your students erase the white boards in the classroom at the end of the class. Also, make sure they return the rolling white boards to the room perimeter before leaving the room.

There are four cameras in the classrooms. Three are connected to the Zoom Room; one is dedicated to the interpreter.

Room 3350 currently includes two cameras.

Classroom management

Besides being larger, SHED classrooms have a different setup and technology than other campus spaces, and schedules often mean many people moving in and out at changeover. You should give some thought to how you will manage the space while teaching. 

Managing the SHED space

Scheduling SHED classroom

Are you interested in teaching in the SHED? Contact TeachSHED@rit.edu for more information.

Help in the space

For assistance

Learning to use the space

The Center for Teaching and Learning is available for technological and pedagogical guidance for these classrooms. We are staffed to assist you through one-on-one consultations, to guide you through the technology in the classroom itself (e.g., wireless projection, Zoom Room capabilities, etc.), and to work with you to develop / revamp activities for these flexible class spaces. To work with us contact CTL@rit.edu (technology/pedagogy).

For issues in the room such as general cleanup and maintenance, contact SHED@rit.edu or contact the SHED desk on the first level.

There is a SHED/Wallace Classroom Issues List with Status that tracks the previously reported issues in the SHED. If you have a concern that is not on this list, please report it to: