A new pilot classroom project at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补 is testing how campus learning environments can better support students and faculty using active, collaborative and evolving approaches to teaching. The 1,600-square-foot classroom in the Physical Science Building is the first step in an effort to establish new renovation standards for generally assigned classrooms at 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补.
“The goal of the pilot is to understand how we can make our classrooms work harder and better for both faculty and students,” said Brian Strawn, director of Office of Planning & Spatial Experience (OPSE). “Instead of designing a room around one fixed configuration, we are looking at the classroom as adaptable infrastructure that can support different ways of teaching and learning and help us establish better standards for future renovations across campus.”
Developed through a collaboration between OPSE and the Office of Faculty Development & Academic Support (OFDAS), the project was designed by Mason Architects and implemented in coordination with the Office of Project Delivery (OPD).
Flexible space for teaching and learning
The classroom, tested for the first time during the fall 2026 semester, can transition between lectures, discussions, small-group work and collaborative activities. Mobile tables, chairs and teaching stations allow faculty and students to reorganize the room as instructional needs change.
Technology is designed with the same flexibility. Multiple projectors, whiteboards and screens allow instruction and digital content to shift between different areas of the classroom. A “bring your own device” approach also lets instructors connect their own devices to smaller, mobile podiums rather than relying on fixed computer stations.
“Teaching today can move between presenting information, discussion, problem-solving and collaborative work within a single class period,” said Hazel Gedikli, interim director of OFDAS. “Giving faculty a space that can move with them makes it easier to explore active-learning strategies and gives students more opportunities to participate, interact and learn from one another.”
Putting the classroom to the test
Faculty and students using the classroom this semester are already experiencing how the new features can support different approaches to instruction.
Yuqin Jiang, assistant professor who teaches GEO 468: Spatial Data Analytics, said the room’s multiple displays provide more options for collaborative learning.
“You can make all three separate inputs,” Jiang said. “In terms of group discussion, you can break students into three groups, and they each have their own projection.”
Senior Tiana Beal said features such as the large display, additional desk space and charging outlets make it easier to participate in class.
“I think it makes it easier to learn and participate,” Beal said. “There’s a lot of charging outlets, so you can easily connect from your desk.”
The pilot room is also testing materials and construction strategies, including flooring, ceiling tiles and window shades, to determine their performance and durability before establishing broader campus standards.
Feedback from faculty, instructors and students throughout the semester will help determine opportunities for improvement and future classroom renovations.