Ronald H. Henderson

rhenders@mtsu.edu

Ronald H. Henderson

Physics and Astronomy

Master Classroom

WPS 201

N/A

N/A

Wiser-Patten Science 201 serves 750 general education PSCI 1031 students each semester (26 students in 29 sections), but classroom utilization is low because the facilities in the room are not sufficient for a lecture class during open days. The lab tables cannot be moved because of obsolete floor mounted gas lines, and the tables face the narrow entry wall that also has a closet door; this leaves an off-centered six foot space where a chalk board is mounted. In preparation for TAF funding, a significant change was implemented in fall 2012 to schedule all laboratories on M, W, F, and S. This frees the room for lectures on a T/R schedule once the master classroom renovations have been completed, and prepares that space for full utilization upon backfill of WPS after the new science building is opened. The resulting 34 seat master classroom will allow laboratory sections to offer enriched content for PSCI 1031 students, and provide benefit for up to 1000 students each semester with additional PHYS, CHEM, and ASTR lectures. In addition, this master classroom will represent a much needed intermediate-sized lecture space for a department that will have no presence in the new science building.