Olivet College recently received a $50,000 contribution from the Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation in Midland. The donation will be used to support the development of a Smart Classroom in Mott Academic Center.

Smart Classrooms include a video, DVD and CD player, a copy camera and document reader to display three-dimensional objects, including books and paper. They also feature a 12-foot porcelain Polyvision white board with laser sensors. A microphone is located behind the board to track pen movement. After an instructor writes on the board, he/she pushes a button that signals lasers to scan the board and take a picture of the work, which is then saved as an image on the Internet.

Smart Classrooms also feature several “huddle boards” where students can gather during class to work on group projects. The boards can be taken off the wall and moved to any location in the room. After students take notes on the boards, they are placed in front of a copy camera, photographed, saved and posted on the Internet for students to refer to after class.

Besides becoming a Smart Classroom, it will also receive new lights, ceiling tiles, window dressings, furniture, storage and flooring.

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