Language Lab & Research CenterResources for Faculty

A central feature of the LLRC is its expansive collection of educational materials. The collection spans thousands of video titles, books, maps, language games, teaching ancillaries, and professional development materials. This collection is the mainstay of the LLRC's role as a Campus Special Library.

The materials are available to all instructional personnel in CMLL, and may be withdrawn for use outside the facility. Reservations are always recommended. Instructional personnel may also place various items on reserve. Undergraduate students may withdraw many of the materials for use within the facility.

Withdrawals Process

Language instructional personnel (within CMLL) are free to browse the materials stacks, located in our main areas. Our staff are available to answers questions about specific titles, or perhaps to recommend items for particular goals.

Items are checked-out through the HelpDesk, and customarily issued for 3-5 business days, but longer withdrawals are available. Undergraduate students may review our printed catalog, and often receive specific instructions or suggestions from their instructors.

Instructor Recommendations for New Material

The LLRC prides itself on responsive collections development, and we are glad to receive continuous input from all levels of language instructional personnel. We consider your input valuable, and appreciate any suggestions. We have a protocol for requesting items and the subsequent acquisitions process.

Due to a number of issues—time constraints, available budgets, and specific costs—we cannot guarantee that every suggestion will be acquired, although we do strive to respect every request we receive. Be aware that we may prioritize materials related directly to instruction. We may also be able, in certain cases, to assist with materials for faculty research, and have wider purview to assist with undergraduate and graduate student research. Any materials purchased by the LLRC become part of our larger collection, and thus are available to all interested patrons.

The LL&RC maintains a collection of instructional equipment. While most classrooms in our building have been equipped with larger equipment items, a number of smaller, portable, or carted items are still available for withdrawal.

Note that reservations for in-circulation portable equipment are always recommended, and that training and support is available from the LLRC.

In-circulation Equipment Available for Withdrawal

• Digital voice recorders
• High Definition Webcams (can be mounted on tripod)
• Camera tripods
• Easels
• PA System
• Extension cords

Equipment Stationed in Classrooms

General Classrooms:

• Cart with computer and webcam
• 75" TV

Qualia Room:

• Dual monitor cart with high definition webcam
• Audio amplifier system and large stereo speakers x 2
• LCD projector
• Motorized high-grade projection screen
• Instructor podium microphone.
• Professional theatrical stage light array
  (for Qualia Room stage).

Equipment Stationed in Conference Rooms

Faculty Lounge:

• Dual monitor cart with high definition webcam

Janet Perez Conference Room:

• TV and computer setup
• Conference webcam

CMLL 255

• TV and computer setup
• Conference webcam

CMLL instructional personnel may reserve certain areas, equipment, and educational materials in advance. In fact, we certainly encourage this process since we may not be able to honor a late-breaking or walk-in request if the item(s) or area(s) are not available or if already reserved. Reservations provide much better assurance that we will be able to serve you!

Incidental or Occasional Reservations

Please contact Lisa Melendez  for lab reservation requests. She will be glad to check availability and to set your reservation. Please note that some items are in limited supply, and certain areas require a specific approval process. We will always strive to let you know as promptly as possible when your reservation is confirmed.

Semester-wide Reservations

It is often possible to request recurring reservations, such as the same item/area over a longer duration, such as several weeks, or even an entire semester. Recurring reservations are typically documented on specific forms and require careful planning, so please feel free to call Lisa Melendez.  We will be glad to assist you and explain any special circumstances or protocols.

Placing Materials on Reserve

Instructional personnel can initiate a materials reserve in two fashions:

• Materials already in the LLRC's collection, such as DVDs, can be placed on reserve for a specific class or group of students.
• Material(s) owned by an instructor can also be placed in the facility, and made available along the above protocol, along with the additional parameter of whether or not the item can be withdrawn from the LLRC.

The LLRC provides support and training for most of the instructional equipment in the CMLL building, including the first-floor classrooms and all Lab areas in the basement. The LLRC's IT Specialist is available during the hours the LLRC is open, and is the primary support contact.

In addition, all HelpDesk Representatives are also trained in providing support and assistance with the broad array of equipment the Lab maintains.

Equipment Support

For technical issues related to the operation of instructional equipment, please contact the LLRC at 806-742-3151 or stop by the HelpDesk (CMLL 19) at your convenience. If the issue occurs during class, please feel free to send a student to request help. If at all possible, the Lab IT Specialist will be dispatched immediately.

In the event that a malfunction cannot be resolved promptly, the LLRC will attempt to provide an expedient alternative. This may include placing temporary equipment in the stead of the non-operating device(s), or offering relocation to an alternative area for the remainder of the class period.

Please be aware that LLRC personnel are glad to offer topical support for personally-owned equipment (such as your personal laptop) while you are attempting to use it for instruction, in class. This support is limited to helping connect video projectors and similar equipment, and checking directly-involved system settings so that the devices connect properly. Please understand that, for a number of reasons, LLRC personnel cannot perform involved support on personally-owned equipment beyond what is described here. For further support for personal devices, please contact IT Help Central, a local computer shop, or the device's manufacturer.

Training

The LLRC is glad to provide training on any of our equipment, and encourages all instructional personnel to utilize this service. We are happy to assist you with training on:

• Any of our in-circulation equipment.
• The Sanako student instructional system in the main Lab Practice Theatre.
• The equipment setup in the Qualia Room, Video & Demonstration Lab, and class rooms.

 Please contact the LLRC to schedule training and we will be happy to help you!

The LLRC is available to assist with special needs and research projects. Special projects can span the creation or development of teaching materials, the production of recordings (video, audio), or the authoring of computerized tutorials, to name a few examples. It might also include special pedagogical applications with your students.

Research includes any pursuit, whether at the undergraduate, graduate or faculty levels, that is structured and under the supervision of a faculty mentor or investigator. The LLRC can assist via the deployment of resources, staff time, and facilities, and limited budgets for materials, software or technology may be available to assist with projects undertaken by undergraduate or graduate students. Limited funding may also be available to assist faculty members when there is a strong connection to pedagogy, applied linguistics, or to an increase in the professional body of knowledge for language laboratory operation, support and/or strategies.

Project Requests

Please email Frank Torres to discuss your proposed project in detail. Advance planning is always helpful so that the LLRC can be prepared to meet the needs of approved projects. An optimum plan provides ample preparatory time, but please contact us to discuss your needs even if the timeline is short.

Graduate Students

The LLRC specifically invites CMLL graduate students, for those whose discipline is appropriate, to consider using the LLRC for research projects contributing to their master's thesis or doctoral dissertation. As noted above, appropriate projects are those which involve, or are very closely associated with, pedagogy or linguistics in undergraduate world languages and culture instruction.

Regulations

The LLRC strongly suggests that those interested in conducting research contact the TTU Human Research Protection Program to follow prescribed advice and IRB protocols regarding research. Approvals will route through CMLL Administration and will assure no steps in the preparation process have been overlooked.

The LLRC services and maintains the instructional equipment in all first floor classrooms. We are glad to provide support:

Training: At any point you would like training on the equipment that is in your assigned classroom, please simply inquire at the HelpDesk.

On-Call Support: If you need help or support during class, please notify the LLRC, and someone will assist you as soon as possible. It is often the case that we can render service very promptly. In some instances, however, there may be a slight delay. The LLRC always prioritizes such support requests, and we will do everything we can to help yo, to resolve the problem, or offer an alternative in the case of a unresolvable malfunction or other problem.

Please note that instructional personnel are recommended to use their own computing equipment with the installed projector and other equipment in the classrooms. LLRC personnel can offer initial advice on connection, basic video and/or sound settings, and similar topical advisories. Our staff cannot, however, provide in-depth computer support for personally-owned computer equipment.

Materials may be withdrawn for the class period for which they are needed. We do understand, however, that you may need time to review video materials. You can withdraw video resources, that are not otherwise on some sort of reserve, for three to five business days. This is also helpful for graduate students who may wish to withdraw materials they are currently studying.

Longer withdrawal periods are certainly available; please inquire.

The LLRC must ask that instructional personnel help themselves in the withdrawal and transportation of materials and equipment. The LLRC does not currently have the staff resources to make regular deliveries. Fortunately, the most commonly-used equipment is permanently installed in all classrooms.

If the student is an employee of CMLL in any capacity, yes. If the student is not an employee, then no. If there are extenuating circumstances, we can make arrangements with you for a trusted student from your class to help you transport equipment. This must be done in advance, with the Director's approval, and documented by e-mail (please understand there are liability and access issues, compounded by past problems).

The LLRC runs periodic checks on its withdrawals, and items considered to be overdue are investigated. You may receive a polite note asking you to return the item(s); if the item is needed promptly, we may retrieve it from your office. The LLRC may visit with you about options and strategies if numerous instances of overdue situations occur.

 The LLRC strives to encourage all of its patrons — students, staff, and faculty — to make full use of its resources. In the case of students, it is very important to understand the structure surrounding effective learning in a facility such as the LLRC.

Please encourage your students to seek specific content, rather than "spend time" in the facility. You can lend guidance to their learning by asking for certain assignments, stressing content from LLRC materials that may appear on exams, and/or suggesting a specific software title, video, or audio lesson. There are a variety of creative solutions.

Be aware that the LLRC long ago adopted an official policy that it will not endorse or support, in any fashion, instructions to students by any instructor — junior or senior faculty — which indicate time accounting as a basis for using the LLRC. In short, please do not indicate to your students something such as "spend one hour per week in the LLRC." The problems and misdirection this can cause are legion, and we cannot cooperate with such a usage scheme. We would be glad to offer advice or suggestions, so please visit with us.

Undergraduates: The LLRC facility is wholly designed for language studies; it is a very structured learning environment. All students must check-in to the facility, and are expected to work on language activities. They are welcome to be in the LLRC as much as they wish, as long as this objective is observed. Depending on spikes in need for our cubicles, computers and other equipment, the LLRC may not be available, or may not be the most appropriate setting for simply studying. There are a few tables near the front entrance at which students may sit and study without being checked-in to the facility. Otherwise, they must check-in, and use our materials and equipment.

Employed Graduate Students/Other Instructional Personnel: Graduate students are invited to use the language facility for studying anytime it would suit their purpose. This type of usage falls into the category of professional courtesy. Simply let us know that you would like to have a seat in a cubicle, private booth, or use a computer, and you are totally welcome. We may ask that you work within our existing schedules, such as testing and assessment sessions, console groups, and/or other needs, which may affect availability of certain areas or resources.

Certainly. Every visit to the LLRC facility is tracked, and we can report to you either a summary of your students' visits, or provide more detail, such as individual dates and times of each visit. You can specify the frequency of reports you would like (bimonthly, etc.) with the Attendance Report Form. If no form is on file, only a final report will be issued at the end of the semester. Of course, this information is intended to support the general instructional process, and is not meant to construe "attendance" totals (see number 6 above).

The LLRC will certainly help you. We will provide you training, and full "backup" support while you are using the system with your class. We provide this support until you reach a comfort level with using the equipment, then we remain on-call to help if needed at any point.

We encourage all instructional personnel to explore the possibilities with the central student console system, and this can be particularly acute for graduate students. Learning to navigate and implement such language training systems can be a valuable professional asset — and entry on one's CV — and is becoming more and more desired, but is especially important if working in language pedagogy of any level.

Yes. This can occur with materials owned by the LLRC or owned by the instructor. We will make them available to students with the parameters you specify. Please inquire at the HelpDesk for more details. 

We have a protocol for receiving the suggestions of CMLL faculty and instructors for additions to our materials collection. We consider your input valuable, and appreciate any suggestions. Due to a number of issues — time constraints, available budgets, and specific costs — we cannot guarantee that every suggestion will be acquired, although we do strive to respect every request we receive.

Be aware that we purchase materials related directly to instruction; we do not purchase materials for faculty research. Any materials purchased by the LLRC become part of our larger collection, and in no way should be construed as especially set aside for the requestor.