Active learning classrooms are designed to foster engagement and collaboration among students through the use of flexible seating, interactive technologies, and varied instructional methods. These environments encourage participation, critical thinking, and hands-on activities, promoting deeper understanding and retention of course material.
On This Page
Pedagogical Best Practices and Guiding Principles
Sam Ibrahim Building Classrooms
The Sam Ibrahim Building features 23 lecture halls including UTSC's first Circle in the Round Classroom, multiple collaborative-style and active learning classrooms, as well as various informal collaboration spaces.
Arrow Group Innovation Hall
The Arrow Group Innovation Hall (formerly known as the CampFire) is an innovative, 500-seat Circle in the Round Lecture Hall. No seat is more than 7 rows away from the central lecture podium, increasing student engagement, proximity, and access to the instructor and fellow students. With the podium in the centre, faculty can move around the room with ease and interact with the students. This the very first circle in the round lecture hall at the UTSC campus.
Teaching Techniques:
(Video)
(Video)
Faculty and Student Experience:
Collaboration and Teaching in the Round
What Instructors have Learned about Classrooms in the Round
Teaching in the Round New Lecture Hall Creates Increased Engagement
Capacity: 500
Location: IA B1050
Teaching Station: Custom Podium
Technology: 6 LED screens set up in a 1-2 pattern, central teaching podium (non-moveable), Auxiliary IT room for class preparation, document projector
Collaboratorium
The Collaboratorium is an innovative, 200-capacity, banquet-style seating. This room is designed for collaborative, discussion-based teaching. Microphones are installed at each table, which can be controlled from the instructor podium and set up in a queue. The banquet-style seating is designed to foster collaboration within students and to increase discussion across the room.
Capacity: 200
Location: IA B1100
Teaching Station: Teaching Desk
Technology: Microphones at each table, blackboards, a projector, and a document camera.
Active Classrooms with Nodes
Some of the Active Learning Classrooms in the Sam Ibrahim Building have seating called "nodes". These seats allow for quick movement of students and space, encouraging discussing, collaboration and active learning. The node chairs allow for multiple learning modes to better support students.
Capacity: 36
Location: IA B1010, 2120
Teaching Station: Teaching Desk
Technology: Node seating, blackboards, projectors, document projector.
Active Classrooms with Active Media Tables
Some of the Active Learning Classrooms in the Sam Ibrahim Building have active media tables with retracting screens. This allows students at each table to have their own screen, promoting collaboration and discussion. The tables are not moveable in order to accommodate the AV inputs. Video resources may show a slightly different model of the Active Media tables.
Capacity: 36 - 60
Location: IA 2050, 2060, 2170, 3060, 3120
Teaching Station: Teaching Desk
Technology: Active Media Tables, blackboards, projectors, document projector.
Technology Guides
Coming Soon! How to use the various technologies.
Pedagogical Best Practices and Guiding Principles
Teaching Techniques
- 锘匡豢 (Video)
- 锘匡豢
Faculty and Student Experience
- (Video)
- 锘匡豢 (Video)
SoTL and Research
(accept and download article)
Classroom and Tech Support
For pedagogical and technology outside the classroom, contact CTL's Educational Developer Team:
For during class tech and AV support, contact IITS: