The Peter Coaldrake Education Precinct at QUT has been officially opened today by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
QUT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Sheil AO, said the naming of the Precinct was a fitting tribute to the university’s long-term former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Coaldrake AO.
“Peter Coaldrake’s contribution to this institution can hardly be over-stated," Professor Sheil said.
"Over nearly three decades here – almost half of that as Vice-Chancellor – he championed broad access to high quality education for all. As well as leading QUT, he has made major contributions to the state and the nation, especially in higher education and public policy and practice."
Professor Sheil said the high-tech centrepiece of the Precinct was a two-storey high five-metre diameter Sphere which along with its interactive digital wall form an exceptional learning and teaching tool.
“This $94.4 million Precinct was fully funded by QUT, as evidence of our strong commitment to teacher education including their ongoing professional development and puts the University at the forefront of innovative teaching and learning,” Professor Sheil said.
QUT Executive Dean of Education, Professor Carol Nicoll PSM said the Precinct’s state-of-the-art teaching and learning technology and flexible learning spaces would prepare preservice teachers for the classrooms of today and tomorrow.
“Our flexible formal and informal learning spaces are designed to foster collaborative peer-to-peer learning and can be configured for face-to-face and online learning,” Professor Nicoll said.
“The Precinct is also equipped with audio-visual equipment and other technologies to encourage creative and collaborative learning as well as providing lecturers with the technology to develop pre-lecture videoed information for students.”
She said the first Sphere program was developed by QUT teacher education and early childhood researchers in collaboration with the University’s Visualisation and eResearch (ViseR) team.
“This highly visual program demonstrates the importance of brain development in a child’s early years and shows how everyday activities such as play, games and reading also fire activity in a youngster’s brain.”
“We’re preparing and equipping teachers to thrive in a rapidly changing digital world, to be able to incorporate technologies and innovation into their teaching so they can inspire students and provide the best possible learning outcomes,” Professor Nicoll said.
The Education Precinct is connected with the QUT Library and HiQ, the University’s innovative student service centre, and also houses the Oodgeroo Unit, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student support unit of QUT.
Media resources:
Available via flickr
Fast facts:
- The Education Precinct was designed by Wilson Architects and Henning Larsen, and built by Hansen Yuncken.
- QUT Facilities Management managed delivery of the project over the past four years with management consultancy Turner & Townsend Thinc.
- The Sphere, from leading display technology company Leyard – Linso, weighs 3.5 tonnes. It comprises 1040 panels with a total of 7 million 3mm pixels. Each pixel is an individual LED light.
- The Sphere is the only one of its type in the world with 3mm LED 4K resolution, which allows it to operate in full daylight.
- Built and tested in China, the Sphere was dismantled and shipped to QUT and then installed in the Education Precinct atrium.
- Programs on the Sphere are run by a best-in-class gaming computer.
- Future programs developed may include augmented reality to enhance the 3D learning experience. A climate change simulator is also under development.
QUT Media contact: Rose Trapnell, QUT Media team leader, 07 3138 2361. 0407 585 901 or media@qut.edu.au
