Specifications

Learning Spaces Guidelines
Computer Cluster Rooms: 41
Section 8: Computer Cluster Rooms
These spaces are defined as having desktop PCs.
Computer cluster rooms are intended to support some or all of the
following three functions:
taught sessions that include a significant element of IT
usage by students
providing computer and associated facilities for self-
directed use by students to support their learning
electronic individual examinations (e-assessment) which are
usually taken under invigilation
Some computer cluster rooms perform all these functions at different
times whereas some are only used as ‘Open Access’ facilities and
are not bookable to teaching purposes.
The teaching technology within computer cluster rooms that are
bookable for teaching should closely resemble that installed in
lecture theatres and classrooms with common controls interfaces
and layouts. Audio reinforcement and assistive listening technology
may be necessary in rooms used for teaching due to the additional
ambient noise created by computer fans and the additional HVAC
required in rooms with many computers. Lecturecast is not likely to
be installed in computer cluster rooms as the sessions should be
making use of the computer facilities provided to each student and
thus if recordings of screen-based demonstrations are required these
should be produced out of the session time.
In computer cluster rooms that are used for taught sessions there
should be a distinct teaching position. Where space permits this
should be a standardised teaching station as described in Section 3.
Given the visual obstruction between the learners and the instructor
caused by the monitors/computers it is desirable that the teaching
station in this type of room is height adjustable. A visualiser is
unlikely to be needed in a computer cluster room and thus should
not be installed unless there a known specific need in the space.
Many of the existing computer cluster rooms are densely packed
which provides little opportunity for collaborative learning and
makes circulation around other users in the space difficult. Although
accommodating the maximum number of workstations in a space
is often a priority, the assumption that the density achieved with
straight rows is much greater than any other layout should be
questioned and alternative layouts investigated.
above: example of a ‘petal table’ cluster room layout
TASK
The
purpose of
a computer
cluster room
8.01
TASK
Technology
in computer
cluster
rooms
8.02
TASK
Layout of
computer
cluster
rooms
8.03