Blended Learning – Space Matters

Yuen Yuen YipManager, Project Planning Services

Capital Works & Facilities

Sarah ChalonerAssociate Director, IT Services

Introduction

Why does it matter?

“Space—whether physical or virtual—can have an impact on learning” (Oblinger, 2006)

“Institutions are responsible for creating environments that make learning possible, and that afford opportunities to learn” (Krause & Coates, 2008)

“..learning can be enhanced, deepened, and mademore meaningful if the curriculum makes the learners active participants..” (Brown & Long, 2006)

Change is inevitable…isn’t it?

Abel Smith Lecture Theatre, UQ, 1968 Abel Smith Lecture Theatre, UQ, 2011

What did your suburb look like 100 years ago?

Technology Expectations

• Wide variety of students and devices• Assumptions about wireless capacity• Students with disabilities• Staff prioritise ease of use• Disruptive technology– iPad was announced Jan ’10– AV ain’t what it used to be

Transition – New UWS Standards

Existing teaching spaces• Tutor led layout• Designed for efficiency

New learning spaces• Student focused layout• Designed for effectiveness

Transition – New UWS Standards

Existing hallways• Empty waiting areas

New social learning spaces• Opportunities for learning

Transition – New UWS Standards

• Learning commons

Curriculum Redesign

Technology

Space

Teamwork

CW&F: Space, lighting, furniture etc

IT Services: Teaching Technology Toolkit

eLearning: Curriculum Design Support

Schools: Input on any discipline needs and space use

Students: Feedback on independent learning needs

Review, evaluation – feeds into next iteration of standards

Feedback So Far….

“This morning I taught in EB.3.22 . The students loved the round tables and the ability to see both screen and white board with ease. Additionally I can’t tell you the difference that a dedicated and fixed console makes to set up and the like. The ease of the students was palpable; at both an intellectually intuitive level it felt right, a feeling only exemplified when I moved back into a more conventional tut space later today! Appreciate greatly the work you invested in this outcome.”

Future of Space Design

Scheduled learning session at North Beaches Christian School (NBCS)

Students collaborating in the new PTA social learning spaces

References Brown, M, Long, P (2006) (Chapter 9) Trends in Learning Space Design in Oblinger, D G (2006)

Space as a Change Agent, Educause CABE (2005) Design with Distinction: The value of good building design in higher education,

Published March 2005. Kraus, K, Coates, H (2008) Student’s engagement in first year university, Assessment &

Evaluation in Higher Education, 22:5, 493-505 Laurillard, D (2002), Rethinking university teaching :a conversational framework for the

effective use of learning technologies, 2nd Ed, London ; New York : RoutledgeFalmer Lippincott, JK (2009), Learning Spaces: Involving Faculty to Improve Pedagogy, Educause

Review, March/April 2009 Oblinger, D G (2006) Space as a Change Agent, Educause Wojtas, O (2008) Better by design: putting learning spaces to work, Times Higher Educational,

6 November 2008

Learning Space Tour: http://cauditlearningspaces.blogspot.com.au/

Thank-you

Any Questions?