University opens new Tech Station

Written By: Krystal Pugh/Assistant News Director

Like in a Google laboratory station, students are engaging with technology at the University’s new $3 million Tech Station.

Located in Parking Garage Six, the station serves as a technology hub for students to be actively engaged with technology learning experiences. The 8,000 square-foot facility opened Aug. 26.

It includes high-tech classrooms, “team rooms” where students can work on group projects, advising centers, research and computer labs, a hardware lab and open spaces for workshops. It is designed by the College of Engineering & Computing for majors with the college’s School of Computing & Information Sciences.

The facility was paid through different grants by the Florida Legislature with the intention of producing more graduates for careers in the state’s highest-need areas, said Mark B. Rosenberg, president of the University at the station’s opening ceremony.

Steven Luis, director of Information Technology; Ram Lyengar, SCIS director and Mark Weiss, SCIS associate director, collaborated in creating the vision for the facility about a year ago.

The station was created in hopes to expand, provide further in-depth advanced training for students, allow students to optimize their thoughts and leave space for active learning, said Luis.

Luis said the station’s location in the garage was a perfect since it is directly across the street from Engineering and Computer Science building.

“We could not have asked for a better location,” he said. “It makes the continuity of our operation so much easier.”

The hardware lab gives students opportunities to physically tear equipment apart and figure out how to put them back together. An advanced training room, which expands 48 machines, allows students to work with instructors and mentors from different companies.

Luis said that the University was rewarded with a Targeted Educational Attainment grant and an Information Technology Performance Funding grant to purchase the facility, build it with equipment and Japanese tatami-inspired furniture. The funding is referred to as IT performance funding.

The project was approved April 2014.

Everything in the Tech Station was designed a certain way for its different features. For example, the advising rooms are integrated in the open to better identify student struggles and to help each student reach optimal performance.

“Interventions take place in the study rooms or team rooms where students may find study groups, peer lead discussions or teacher assistants,” Luis said. “This is another way to maximize student learning and academic variation.”

The classrooms are designed with removable seats and experimental models. The station is open to all students who use lab resources and experience what it is like to actually develop technology, said Luis.

Elliot Moncrieff said he has already worked with other students on homework assignments and has received help identifying computer coding on a technical project in the station.

“None of my classes have required me to go to the technology station yet, but I am anxious to get in there,” said Moncrieff, a junior computer engineering major.

“I like being able to stand up and ask anyone in the room about coding or breaking down a model and more than likely everyone in the room can help me because we all share the same common major and interest,” he said.

Although the technology station was designed with efforts of program technology enhancement and advance training, it is open to all students.

“We would like to see all students get involved in creating technology,” Luis said.

Krystal.pugh@fiusm.com