Big data problems require big data solutions

There's two key features of this new classroom that are novel, unique to any other classroom on campus. The first is this large high resolution display at the front of the classroom. The other key component is our SAGE3 software, which drives the display and enables students to connect to the display from their laptops and do collaborative interaction. Particularly for a data visualization class, I can display a lot of data and a lot of visualizations. A simple example is, well, hey, now I can display multiple slides instead of just one slide at once. And so now as I'm talking about one slide, the students can still see back and I can still refer back to previous slides in order to make connections. The second key capability is the ability to allow the students to collaborate. And so the students can connect with their laptops to this big display through the SAGE3 software. And they can contribute. They can add information onto the display. They can manipulate things and help organize things. You can do things like brainstorming exercises, design exercises, and things like that where the students are contributing. It's a really big screen, so you can fit more information on it. You can have different images surrounding your Powerpoint showing exactly what you're talking about. So it allows for the option of students being on the board at the same time that the instructor is. And what this can enable is more effective engagement with material. We know that when students actively engage with material, they're more likely to learn. So in other words, it allows teaching to be less of the classic model that we see, which is very much: instructor talks, you listen. And more of a collaborative discussion between the instructor and the students.