Distributed Education Centers (DEC)
The INI has two Distributed Education Centers (DEC) where Pittsburgh faculty and students connect with their international and Silicon Valley counterparts. The facilities support the growth of the INI programs that require classes to be conducted in real-time at multiple locations: Pittsburgh, Silicon Valley and any one of the INI's international partners, which to date have included leading educational institutions in Greece, Japan and Portugal.
The INI Distributed Education Center in the Collaborative Innovation Center (DEC@CIC) is located on Forbes Avenue on the Carnegie Mellon campus. The INI Distributed Education Center on Henry Street (DEC@Henry) is located on the lower level of the INI building.
Both facilities are equipped with a combination of traditional and emerging videoconferencing technologies to promote the highest possible degree of interaction between students and faculty at all participating sites. This virtual classroom environment allows all participants equal opportunity for participation and interaction in a shared virtual instructional environment, even though they may be thousands of miles apart.
The design of the DECs was based on years of experience in delivering the Athens Master of Science in Information Networking program, where the top priority was to promote interaction between faculty and students in different locations.
"Research in distance education has shown that interaction is the key predictor of success in distance learning - so having the technology to facilitate that interaction is key," says Dena Haritos Tsamitis, the director of the INI.
What look like ordinary classrooms are actually high-tech media production and distribution facilities. The rooms are equipped with high quality, remotely operated video cameras - one focused on the lecturer and multiple cameras positioned around the room to capture student questions and interaction. These cameras are placed as close to eye level as possible in order to make remote students feel a part of the discussion and lectures. Multiple monitors in each facility allow instructors and students in Pittsburgh to observe and interact with students in remote locations.
Rooms are acoustically treated to minimize background noise and preserve sound quality as much as possible. Microphones are mounted on each desktop between every two students. Once a microphone has been activated, one of the cameras automatically focuses on the student speaking. This facilitates interaction between faculty and both local and remote students and promotes that feeling of a shared, virtual instructional environment. The goal is to provide remote participants the same opportunities for student to instructor and student to student interaction as those on site.
Directions and Parking
DEC@CIC
The INI Distributed Education Center at the Collaborative Innovation Center
4720 Forbes Ave. Room #1201, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
A parking garage is located in the building.
DEC@Henry
The INI Distributed Education Center on Henry Street
INI Building, 4616 Henry St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213
The INI is located in Oakland, two blocks from the Carnegie Mellon campus, off of South Craig Street on Henry Street. The office can be reached from Forbes Avenue or Fifth Avenue. Both Forbes and Fifth run the length of Oakland.
Please note that visitor parking on Henry Street is limited and is intended for individuals making short visits to the office. To the west of South Craig is the South Dithridge Street garage. If you are driving, you should use this facility to park.
DEC Reservations
Step 1: Please review the Room Reservation Policies and Guidelines
Step 2: Check the DEC@Henry or DEC@CIC
Please do not submit a request without checking the availability of the room first.
Step 3: Fill out the request form and submit. By submitting the form, you agree to the INI Terms and Conditions of the rooms use. NOTE: The reservation is NOT booked until YOU RECEIVE AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT via email.
Available facilities:
DEC@CIC
This classroom accommodates up to 94 in a flat-classroom style configuration.
CIC Price List
DEC@Henry
This classroom accommodates up to 54 in a flat-classroom style configuration. NOTE: Non-INI affiliates who don't have an INI building access key can't host an event that begins after 5 p.m.
Henry Price List
Feedback
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