Digital Classroom Standards

Revised December 11, 2023

As part of our commitment to exemplary teaching and learning practices, DC developed a comprehensive set of standards for our learning spaces in 2019 with detailed consultations from faculty, students and staff. The postsecondary landscape has rapidly evolved with new advanced technologies transforming industries and the way people interact with one another, necessitating the constant modernization of our programs, the way we teach and our learning spaces. As such, our Classroom Standards required revisions to ensure our learning spaces are sustainable, provide streamlined technical infrastructure, and offer flexible, accessible, and high-quality experiences for our students.

In this section

Vision

Photo of a smartphone with "DC Vision" appearing on the screen.

DC programs and learning spaces offer flexible, accessible, high quality, and digital-by-design educational experiences to support the development of 21st century skills.

Guiding Principles

Our Digital Classroom Standards align with the guiding principles of our Digital Learning Strategy. In a learning environment, these guiding principles are applied in the following ways:

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Foster Belonging
and Equity

Creating a sense of belonging regardless of delivery mode by providing equitable access through barrier-free design (such as inclusion of accessible seating, closed captioned videos) and equitable learning experiences (clear sightlines to the learning materials and professor), and collaborative environments.

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Advance Digital Innovation

Providing seamless, consistent, easy-to-use integrated high-quality current classroom technology.

Icon of laptop with a rocketship leaving the screen.

Cultivate Transformational Learning

Applying a strategic and intentional approach to high-quality equipment and technology focused on creating an active and collaborative learning environment, focusing on student success.

Icon of a globe with circle representing connections and three people standing in front.

Foster Belonging
and Equity

Creating a sense of belonging regardless of delivery mode by providing equitable access through barrier-free design (such as inclusion of accessible seating, closed captioned videos) and equitable learning experiences (clear sightlines to the learning materials and professor), and collaborative environments.

Icon of head with microchip appearing in place of brain.

Advance Digital Innovation

Providing seamless, consistent, easy-to-use integrated high-quality current classroom technology.

Icon of laptop with a rocketship leaving the screen.

Cultivate Transformational Learning

Applying a strategic and intentional approach to high-quality equipment and technology focused on creating an active and collaborative learning environment, focusing on student success.

Icon of a globe with circle representing connections and three people standing in front.

Foster Belonging and Equity

Creating a sense of belonging regardless of delivery mode by providing equitable access through barrier-free design (such as inclusion of accessible seating, closed captioned videos) and equitable learning experiences (clear sightlines to the learning materials and professor), and collaborative environments.

Icon of head with microchip appearing in place of brain.

Advance Digital Innovation

Providing seamless, consistent, easy-to-use integrated high-quality current classroom technology.

Icon of laptop with a rocketship leaving the screen.

Cultivate Transformational Learning

Applying a strategic and intentional approach to high-quality equipment and technology focused on creating an active and collaborative learning environment, focusing on student success.

Digital Learning Infrastructure (Systems) Working Group

In September 2023, the Digital Learning Steering Committee Infrastructure (Systems) Working Group was tasked with developing a plan for high-quality, easy-to-use flexible classroom technology. As part of this initiative, it was determined that a revision of the Classroom Standards was necessary to ensure high-quality progressive classrooms. To collect feedback from faculty, the Digital Learning Steering Committee was invited to the Program Coordinators’ Meeting in October 2023 to determine what additional features or attributes should be included in our face-to-face and online learning environments. The following classroom standard incorporates this faculty feedback.

Classroom Standards

Scheduling Definitions

Technology Standards

Screen(s)

Classroom
  • Minimum one wide screen
  • Enhancement - Interactive whiteboard
  • Enhancement – Document camera
Flexible
  • Minimum one wide screen
  • Second monitor to display virtual students
  • Interactive whiteboard
  • Enhancement – Document camera
Computer Lab
  • Minimum one wide screen
Specialty Labs
  • Minimum one wide screen
  • Specialty labs may have unique standards (e.g. Nursing lab)
Online
  • n/a

Computer

Classroom
  • Desktop computer with mouse and keyboard*
  • HDMI or USB-C for laptop use
Flexible
  • Desktop computer with mouse and keyboard*
  • USB-C for laptop use, automatically connected to Flex equipment
Computer Lab
  • Desktop computer with mouse and keyboard*
  • HDMI or USB-C for laptop use
Specialty Labs
  • Desktop computer with mouse and keyboard*
  • HDMI or USB-C for laptop use
  • Specialty labs may have unique standards (e.g. Nursing lab)
Online
  • n/a

Podium

Classroom / Flexible / Computer lab / Specialty lab
  • Confidence monitor
  • Height adjustable podium
  • Clear and consistent display touchpad
  • Support instructions
Online
  • n/a

Audio/Visual

Classroom
  • Speakers
  • Classrooms larger than 70 seats include a lapel microphone
Flexible
  • Speakers
  • Ceiling mounted high-quality microphones
  • High-quality video camera
Computer Lab
  • Speakers
  • Classrooms larger than 70 seats include a lapel microphone
Specialty Labs
  • Speakers
  • Specialty labs may have unique standards (e.g. Nursing lab)
Online
  • Computer
  • Microphone
  • Headset recommended

Collaboration

Classroom

Enhancement - Student pods for collaboration – screen for projection
OR
Enhancement - Moveable furniture such as desks and chairs with wheels

Flexible

Enhancement - Student pods for collaboration – screen for projection
OR
Enhancement - Student pods for collaboration – interactive screen for projection

Computer Lab

Enhancement - Moveable furniture such as desks and chairs with wheels

Specialty Labs

Enhancement - Moveable furniture such as desks and chairs with wheels

Online

Access to collaboration tools in an online environment

Wi-Fi

Classroom / Flexible / Computer Lab / Specialty Lab / Online

Reliable wi-fi

Furniture and room Standards

Accessibility

Classroom / Flexible / Computer lab / Specialty lab

Compliance as described in AODA compliance, such as:

  • Ensure seating allows for student sightlines to screen(s)
  • Height adjustable table and chair
  • Wheelchair access pathways, removable chair(s)
  • Sightlines: optimal sightlines for all students
  • Accessible Doors
Online

Compliance as described in AODA compliance, such as:

  • alternative text on images or closed captions on videos

Lighting

Classroom / Flexible / Computer lab / Specialty lab

Compliance as described in AODA compliance, such as:

  • Controllable lighting
  • Labelled controls
Online
  • n/a

Plugs**

Classroom
  • Laptop Rooms will have plugs accessible at every seat
  • Plugs accessible
Flexible
  • Laptop Rooms will have plugs accessible at every seat
  • Plugs accessible
Computer lab
  • Plugs accessible
Specialty lab
  • Plugs accessible
Online
  • n/a

Seating**

Classroom / Flexible / Computer lab / Specialty lab
  • Desks
  • Movable chairs
Online
  • n/a

Whiteboards

Classroom
  • One whiteboard
Flexible
  • Secondary interactive screen
Computer lab
  • One whiteboard
Specialty lab
  • One whiteboard
  • Specialty labs may have unique standards (e.g. Nursing lab)
Online
  • n/a

Environmental

Classroom / Flexible / Computer lab / Specialty lab
  • Windows for natural light
  • Movable blinds
Online
  • n/a
NOTES

“Enhancements” are noted as a characteristics to the room in the scheduling system. Faculty offices can request rooms with those characteristics with their sectioning report or through the room booking portal. These enhancements will not be available in every room.
* Podium desktop computer is being consulted with academic leadership.
** Consideration for plugs and seating will be consulted with logistics and standards revised.

Additional technology available

The following assets are available to borrow by making a request through the IT Service Desk.

  • Document camera
  • AV Adapters
  • Speaker in a bag
  • Projector
  • Webcams
  • Jabra microphone puck
  • Power Point clickers
  • Flat panel TV’s

Classroom Support

To ensure a seamless teaching experience, our classrooms are equipped with comprehensive support resources for faculty. Each classroom podium will feature readily available guides on using the classroom equipment, including a series of supportive step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting. Additionally, the podiums contain contact information for the IT Services (ITS). Self-service materials and ITS support enable faculty to focus on delivering high-quality education without the hindrance of technical difficulties.

If issues arise outside the operating hours of the audio visual services team, faculty members are encouraged to submit a service ticket to be addressed during operating hours.

Implementing Classroom Standards

As classrooms are renovated, these standards will be referenced and implemented.

In the 2024/25 academic year, pending budget approval, we will redevelop and enhance our flexible classrooms, creating one high-quality permanent easy-to-use learning space using the new Digital Classroom Standards.

DC follows the Scheduling Principles determined through the Scheduling Steering Committee and will make every effort to schedule all online courses on the same day(s), and all on-campus courses on the same day(s), reducing the number of times students need to commute.

Evaluation Plan

Annually, the Digital Classroom Standards will be reviewed by a standing Learning Space committee, including representatives from scheduling, ITS, academics, facilities, Centre for Teaching and Learning, and accessibility. This committee will include consultations and feedback collected from students, staff and faculty. To support these initiatives, the Learning Space committee may propose or suggest budget requests.

Legacy Clause

Renovations may not be possible in existing buildings, where operational or structural constraints will not permit revisions to align with the Digital Classroom Standards.

Digital Learning Strategy (Interactive Lookbook)

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