When selecting an area to be used for your Multimedia Language
Lab, it is important that you consider the following items in order
to accommodate your new equipment to its best advantage.
Acoustics
The proper acoustical level in the room can be obtained
by;
Installing sound absorbing acoustical tiles on the ceiling and
part of the walls, if necessary.
Covering all floor area with anti-static carpeting.
Hanging draperies at all windows.
Hanging pictures on the walls.
Extraneous
Noise
This would include factors such as school yard noise, automotive
traffic and student-generated noise in stairways and corridors.
Electrical
Requirements
A dedicated power line, must be provided at the point where
the Master Console will be installed.
1. One 20 amp circuit for up to 48 student positions
2. Two 20 amp circuits for up to 70 student positions
3. Three 20 amp circuits for up to 100 student positions
Separate power lines for equipment, such as VCR's, video monitors
etc. must be provided at the point of each row of students carrels.
Cable duct or wire mold covers all cables from the Master Console
to the student positions. It is preferable in new constructions
to have a sunken cable channel installed beneath the floor to
accomodate all interconnecting cables between rows of student
positons and the main power supply and Master Console.
The
illustations shown will give you a basic idea regarding placement
of cable deucts to suit specific configurations.
The
Teachers Platform
The platform serves two purposes; (1) to conceal all wiring
to the Master Console, and (2) to give the teacher a better view
of the student positions. This platform can be of a simple wood
construction, and should have a removable panel to facilitate
access to the main power cable and cables from the Master Console
tothe rows of student positions. In some installations, particularly
where side planels are not used at the student positions, this
platform may not be needed.
Extraneous
Equipment
Additional electrically powered equipment, such as an air
conditioning unit, may produce a noise level that will interfere
with the normal media center work. This type of equipment should
be connected to main outlets independent of those used for the
Multimeadia Language Lab.
General
Information
Any room used for a Multimedia Language Lab should be rectangular
if possible, with the door on the longest wall and/or the back
wall. This type of room requires less construction, needing only
the platform for the Master Console.
If a rectangular room is not available, this planner will provide
youwith the items necessary to create a Multimedia Language Lab
suited directly to your purpose. The scaled furniture illustrations
can be used in planning a Multimedia Language Lab that will be
a model of efficiency as one of the best aids to contemporary
teaching.
