History of the DLC

Memorial's original language laboratory was designed by Dr. John Hewson, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Linguistics, and his colleagues in 1961. First opened in the Arts and Administration Building, this reel-to-reel tape lab was relocated to the Education Building a few years later, where it was managed by Mrs. Josette Kielley until the mid- to late 1970s. Near the end of that decade, the lab was re-located to the Science Building and the reel-to-reel machines were replaced with audio cassette equipment. This new
"French Lab" was joined by an adjacent "German Lab" in the mid-eighties.

Technological advances being made in the early nineties brought about a necessary change in the type of facility that would be planned next. Early computer-assisted language learning (CALL) research supported a movement toward networked computers that provided immediate feedback to language learners.

The first such networked multimedia language centre at Memorial University opened in 1995 to the delight of those with an interest in introducing computerized grammar practice. The advent of course management systems and publishers' textbook-specific multimedia materials in the new millenium took focus away from in-house produced software and toward the Internet. 

The Digital Learning Centre in its current form came into being in 2009, when the remaining audio cassette lab was renovated into a uniquely smart classroom. This overhaul expanded the newly named centre into a 70-station technology-enhanced teaching facility.

Departments/Units using the Digital Learning Centre:

 For further information about the DLC's capabilities in enhancing teaching, please see the section Resources for Instructors.