Study pods providing distraction-free spaces for students
By: Toni De Guzman
RRC Polytech is placing more quiet pods and undergoing upgrades in the Exchange District and Notre Dame campuses from mid-April to summer.
Quiet pods are a compact sound-proof space for focused work and private conversations.
“There’s a buzzing noise somewhere up in the fans or the air system [at the Learning Commons], and when we walked in here, it was peaceful and quiet,” said student Issabelle Toews.
Toews said her ADHD makes it harder for her to focus with distractions and noise.
There are four quiet pods around the Exchange District Campus: three in faculty office areas, and one in the Learning Commons.
The quiet pod in the Learning Commons doesn’t have a TV for students to connect their devices to.
“We also don’t have enough breakout rooms, so finding enough breakout rooms are a big struggle,” said Toews. “I’m happy they put this in.”
The quiet pods have a touch screen to check the temperature, lights, and humidity. The older models have a dial.
The compact workspace’s ventilation system renews the air every couple of minutes.
“We only have one pod. If we had 20 pods around the school it might be a different conversation, but at this point I think that it’s not going to make a huge difference to students,” she said. “It’s not enough.”
The first quiet pod was bought in 2021 for the Exchange District Campus and was placed in a faculty area.
“One pod for the entire [Exchange District Campus] student population. How often are you going to get the pod?” said Toews.
There are currently seven quiet pods at the Notre Dame Campus. The campus will receive three more on Apr. 9 and 10 in the library, and one more over the summer – combing for 11 pods total.
Lisa Kirton is responsible for purchasing furniture and campus renewal at RRC Polytech campuses.
She aims to “create little nooks” around campus with these quiet pods.
Compared to the breakout rooms, she said quiet pods are flexible because they can be easily relocated.
Not all quiet pods will have a monitor in them.
“I don’t want to build spaces that become redundant or not needed,” Kirton said.
Kirton said there hasn’t been a request or demand from the regional campuses for quiet pods and they will not be receiving the workspace any time soon.
She said faculty offices don’t have enough enclosed office spaces for everyone, so the quiet pod was needed for private conversations, and meetings.
The Notre Dame Campus library will receive upgrades including a new carpet, artwork, and the Academic Access Centre is moving in the space.
The quiet pods can send Kirton’s team notifications if something is not functioning, but she said she also depends on staff and students to report malfunctions.
