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Innovations in Learning
Our initiative to promote what is called Active Learning (student-directed, hands-on, collaborative, interdisciplinary, technologically-facilitated inquiry) involves both professional development for faculty and the renovation of spaces.
Professional Development: At the Faculty Institute on Jan. 4, we were lucky to hear an alumna of the school, Duke Education professor Molly Goldwasser ('03), share with teachers active learning techniques, one of her research interests. Upcoming faculty meetings will allow experts in our own faculty the opportunity to present on what they do with active learning.
Facilities: Now that Rm. 106N is largely complete, we are focusing on the Chemistry Lab and Chemistry classroom as the next area to renovate. It would include a Makerspace-a location for building, such as 3-D printing, robotics, audio-visual productions, art, and sewing. More details to come.
As an example of Active Learning, the photo at the right depicts a recent project in Uni alum Ben Leff's World History class. As Ben  describes the experience, "[This is] part of a group project in which they are making a video on explaining the "fall of Rome" (which is one of those classic historiographical debates). They just finished research, and today was brainstorming day to map out the video. The boards in the library [new glass boards that show markers clearly and are easy to erase] were awesome for this."
Faculty Offices Update
As you know, faculty offices currently in the adjoining houses will be moved into the main building before the houses are razed this summer. A Space Committee of UI, Uni admin, and Uni faculty members set the following goals, among others, for any solution:
▪ Have a minimum impact on scheduling.
▪ Have a minimum impact on student spaces for study, relaxing etc.
▪ Allow for confidentiality for teachers and for teacher-student meetings.
▪ Keep departments in proximity as much as possible.
▪ Avoid repurposing storage areas such as closets and provide aesthetic improvements to any affected rooms.
The Space Committee has developed a plan and two alternatives that they believe satisfy the above parameters. UI architects are drawing up the plans now for upcoming presentations to the faculty.
Alumni Association
The new Uni Alumni Association is making good progress. They plan to hold their second steering committee meeting in conjunction with Uni's April Gala. Some of the goals of the group's subcommittees are developing class agent systems, a week each year during which all Uni class reunions would occur, Uni events for graduates in various cities throughout the country, and connections between alumni and current Uni classes.
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University of Illinois 
