The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing is ranked eighth among top nursing schools in the nation. They are committed to delivering innovative programs with degree offerings at both graduate and undergraduate levels. With over 2,500 students and 30,000 square feet of simulation space, students receive an intuitive and hands-on learning experience. To adapt to the growing and changing needs of the university, the UAB School of Nursing added a brand-new tower onto their existing building. The new tower includes four classrooms and an Innovation Collaboratory, a space specifically designed for students to congregate, work, and learn.
THE CHALLENGE:
As it constructed new classrooms aimed at collaboration, the UAB School of Nursing wanted to ensure its students could engage with material in a dynamic, inclusive, and participatory learning environment to prepare students to be lifelong learners, while giving them a say in their education. The UAB School of Nursing’s Innovation Collaboratory and other technologically advanced classrooms create spaces that provide the university with a competitive advantage that secures their spot as one of the highest ranked nursing schools in the country.
THE SOLUTION: While this room was designed with students in mind, it has the flexibility to be used for other purposes. Medical professionals can use the room to continue to innovate, learn, and collaborate even after achieving their degrees. “This room is not limited to teaching students,” says Moss. “The room’s interactive technology enables nurses to collaborate with each other, or health care colleagues in the room or anywhere there is the ability to connect.”
THE TECHNOLOGY:
Inside the new 72,000 square-foot, two-story tower each active learning and collaboration classroom features Crestron DM NVX™ technology and Crestron TSW touch screens to easily manage the space. These interactive classrooms allow instructors to walk into the room and begin their lessons effortlessly. From the instructor’s lectern, a Crestron TSW touch screen is used to control the presentation content displayed throughout the room. The instructor has the ability to project content to any screen in the room and share everything from classroom workshops to X-Rays to research.
The Innovation Collaboratory on the second floor is the heart of the school’s new commitment to collaboration. Inside the space, five annotation boards also act as dry erase boards with projection. There are seven, big oval desks that are split into two sections to create 14 pods around the room. Each pod has a 55” monitor and six seats designed to encourage students to work together.
DM NVX drives the collaboration in this space as well, providing pristine 4K image quality and no latency, while enabling content sharing across all the screens. The instructor’s lectern also includes a TSW touch screen that provides management and control of all the sources throughout the room.
RESULTS: The new immersive environment, designed to foster creativity and revolutionize learning, provides students and staff a unique place in which to collaborate. “With this setup, faculty members are able to create a jointly constructed learning model that allows students to innovate in the classroom and beyond,” says Moss. “It provides our instructors with the tools we need to create a collaborative space.”
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
