Welcome to the COLAB: WSU Tech’s Hub for Creativity and Collaboration!
Collaboration Laboratory Early Fall Campus Update
Whether you’re diving into a group project, studying for exams, or simply exploring new technology, the COLAB at WSU South E108 is your space to innovate, collaborate, and create! Designed for both students and faculty, this space has all the tools you need to take your projects to the next level.
Here’s What You’ll Find in the Refreshed COLAB:
Get ready to explore a range of technology that’s ready to bring your ideas to life:
Media Board Stations: Each Media board station is equipped with a smart TV, a webcam, a computer, a whiteboard, and whiteboard tables. It is ideal for group work, brainstorming sessions, or presentations.
The Nursing Department having a Lunch & Learn at Media Board 1 & 2 The Innovation Studio: Equipped with a green screen, black screen, professional lighting, a touchscreen computer, 4 monitors, and an adjustable camera, the Innovation Studio is perfect for creating high-quality video content. Your imagination defines the possibilities.
The Innovation Studio is ready for all your filming needs! eGlass: This is a transparent, illuminated lightboard equipped with a blacklight to display writing or drawings in bright neon colors. It allows users to write in real-time while facing their audience, and it automatically mirrors the text for virtual viewers, providing a seamless and engaging presentation experience.
Kristy Dugan, an Instructional Designer, was excited to playtest out the eGlass.
zSpace Laptops: These laptops are equipped with interactive augmented and virtual reality, allowing users to explore complex subjects like veterinary technology and anatomy & physiology in immersive 3D environments. They provide hands-on simulations where students can thoroughly manipulate and examine human or animal anatomical structures, making challenging concepts more accessible and engaging.
Podcast Studio: The Podcast Studio is equipped with everything you need to launch your podcast, featuring professional audio equipment, including the Rodecaster Pro and four SM7B microphones. The Rodecaster Pro is an all-in-one production console, allowing for seamless recording, sound mixing, and live effects, complete with user-friendly touchpads for sound effects and music integration. The SM7B mics provide high-quality audio capture, ensuring a professional-grade experience for podcasters at any level.
Create your own Podcast! 
Dr. Tasha, The Millennial Black Professor, sits on the right, joined by her guest on the left as they prepare to record an episode of BLACK in One Piece. XR Corner: The XR Corner is equipped with six MetaQuest headsets and two Apple Vision Pros, offering users incredible extended reality experiences that cater to the whole person, both educationally and personally. With a variety of engaging applications, including a human anatomy app that allows students to explore detailed 3D models of the human body, Beat Saber for rhythm gaming, First Encounters—an augmented reality app where adorable fuzzy aliens invade our world, requiring players to capture them and return them to their home planet—and Tripp, a meditation app designed to enhance mindfulness, this space provides a unique opportunity to delve into the cutting edge of virtual reality.
Students and Faculty alike enjoy experiencing Virtual Reality The Whole COLAB: Got a big project, workshop, or large group? Reserve the entire COLAB to access all our tech stations and space for brainstorming, collaborating, and creating on a larger scale.
Unfamiliar with the Tech?
We're here and excited to support you every step of the way! Whether you need a hand with Panopto or Zoom for video sharing and captioning, want to dive into the Podcast Studio, explore the XR Corner, or get hands-on with eGlass and zSpace, our friendly COLAB team is ready to help. Whatever your tech goals, we’ll make sure you’re set up for success in your adventures!
Meet the COLAB Crew: Your Guides to Innovation
Alyssa Dehncke-White, Instructional Technologist:
Alyssa Dehncke-White is an Instructional Technologist with a passion for integrating technology into education. She began her career with aspirations to teach high school English but discovered her passion for higher education, leading to a diverse career spanning over a decade. Her experience includes roles in IT support, administrative assistance, and directing an Early College Academy, where she honed her ability to manage complex initiatives and support students and faculty.
A lifelong Wichita/Derby native, Alyssa holds an Associate in Liberal Arts from Butler Community College, along with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in English from Wichita State University. For her Master's, she started an archive on Domesticity in British & Early American Literature from 1792-1901. As a self-proclaimed philomath, Alyssa is committed to cultivating lifelong learning and fostering this mindset in others.
In her current role, Alyssa supports faculty and students by integrating innovative technology into educational practices. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, playing tabletop RPGs, and embarking on new adventures. Always seeking the next big experience, Alyssa brings her enthusiasm for growth and exploration into both her professional and personal life.
Cassie Addington, Educational Technology Specialist
With a background rooted in instructional technology and hands-on teaching experience, Cassie Addington currently serves as an EdTech Specialist. In this role, she oversees the COLAB space, working closely with the Instructional Technologist to enhance educational experiences for faculty, staff, and students. Cassie provides invaluable support with, Canvas Catalog, Blueprint and Template creation, faculty training, reporting, and Digital Badging/Credentials. Cassie is also a certified Instructional Designer, working toward a future in instructional design with a vision to incorporate her passion for aviation into her career.
A Wichita native and Wichita State University alum, Cassie transitioned to educational technology after a few years as a high school culinary instructor and several years as a middle school math teacher. She’s driven by a deep resilience, having overcome life-threatening injuries that required extensive recovery, and now lives life with a focus on meaningful connections and experiences. In her downtime, she enjoys cooking, baking, nature, and spending quality time with friends, embracing every moment life has to offer.
Viola Wilner, Surgical Technologies Student, and Student Worker:
Viola Wilner is a dedicated Surgical Technologies student with aspirations of pursuing a career in tissue donation after graduation. With a deep passion for art and animation, she finds joy in creative expression. In her free time, she loves spending moments with her puppy, Porcini Omelet, a lively miniature Australian Shepherd, and her two cats, Saxon and Athena. An avid reader and horror movie enthusiast, Viola also has a unique collection of curiosities, including tarot decks, tarantulas, pretty rocks, and animal bones. Her fascination with the medical field and the ethics surrounding “the good death” has been a lifelong interest, nurtured since childhood. \
Study, Create, Collaborate—The COLAB is Here for You!
Whether you need a quiet place to study or a space to dive into group projects with innovative tech, the COLAB is ready to adapt to your needs. Come explore what’s possible and discover how our tools can support your goals.
Come See Us!
Want a firsthand look? We’d love to show you around! Whether you're coming solo or with a group, we’re excited to introduce you to the COLAB! Follow the link below or scan the QR code to make a booking!
https://wsutechcolab.skedda.com/booking
Until Next Time—Beware the Tech Spirits! 👻
As the nights grow longer and the air gets chillier, the COLAB transforms into a realm of creativity and collaboration—perfect for all your hauntingly good projects! So come join us, but beware of the tech spirits that might just inspire your next big idea!
Happy Haunting, and see you soon at the COLAB! 🎃
