Teaching rooms put in order for the start of term
Ahead of the start of term, all centrally administered teaching rooms have been given consistent layouts and the correct number of seats according to TimeEdit. Broken furniture has been removed, and the rooms are now ready for the autumn semester.
Zoom imageA centrally administered teaching room at Albano. Clear aisles between the desks help ensure a quick and safe evacuation. Photo: Carlos Murakami
It began with a report about the furniture arrangement in a few rooms. When the rooms were inspected, it became clear that furniture had been moved, different types of chairs had been mixed together and broken chairs had been left behind. Similar issues were then found in more rooms.
The discovery prompted the Property Management Office to inspect all centrally administered teaching rooms, including both lecture rooms and lecture theatres. During the summer, staff inspected the rooms one by one, counted the seats, removed damaged furniture and restored the layouts.
Correct seating capacity is a safety issue
The review has covered more than just chairs and tables. The number of seats permitted in a room depends on the ventilation and the ability to evacuate safely. The stated capacity must therefore not be exceeded. The information has now been checked and updated in TimeEdit, the University’s system for timetabling and room bookings.
‘Staff must be able to rely on the information in TimeEdit. Teaching staff should be able to enter the room and start teaching straight away, without first having to look for chairs or rearrange the furniture,’ says Teresa Weidsten, Head of University Services.
Photo in every room shows the layout
Each room now has an image showing how the furniture should be arranged. The image makes it easy to restore the layout and leave the room ready for the next group.
To maintain the new arrangement, whoever is responsible for an activity in the room needs to restore the furniture layout afterwards. Furniture must not be moved between rooms.
The initial report that prompted the review also demonstrates why it is important to report anything that is not working. Problems with a room or its equipment should therefore be reported via the Service Portal.
‘Teaching rooms form a shared working environment. When everyone helps by leaving them tidy and reporting problems, teaching staff are better able to focus on their teaching. This contributes to a better study and working environment for both students and teaching staff,’ says Teresa Weidsten.
Zoom imageThe photograph shows how the furniture in the room should be arranged.