2004 Fall Focus Session

Wideshot of the focus session attendees

Learning Space Design for the 21st Century
September 9–10, 2004
Hotel @ MIT
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Proceedings

Purpose and Program

Designing effective technology enabled learning spaces will be the topic of the NLII Fall Focus Session which will be co-sponsored by MIT. The purpose of the meeting is to explore learning space design principles as a way to enhance and transform teaching and learning with technology and make it possible for faculty and students to engage in active learning. Excellent learning space design can enhance learning outcomes.

To provide sufficient time for campus teams to address learning space design issues within their respective contexts this focus session will be one and one-half days in length.

The goals of this session are to:

Develop a taxonomy of learning spaces and the attributes that make them effective learning environments
Define the types of activities that need to be enabled by particular learning spaces
Describe the design features (including support services and infrastructure) that are important in each type of learning space identified
Articulate the principles and processes that should be used in learning space design and renovation
Develop a deeper understanding of effective processes that lead to the design and delivery of effective learning spaces for the college or university environment
Provide an opportunity for campus teams to discuss these issues among themselves and with their peers from other institutions

This initial session on learning spaces will focus on traditional classrooms, lecture halls and contiguous spaces. Computer labs and learning lounges may also be touched on in this focus session. The principles developed in this session acknowledge changes in our understanding of student cognition and faculty roles in the learning process. The design principles should also incorporate the enabling role of technology - not just today's technology but also new, emerging technologies.

Learning space design is an emerging NLII key theme. Educators, technologists and space planners must develop an understanding of the relationships that occur at the nexus of technology, pedagogy, learning, and physical space. Space configuration and use can impact teaching practices and learning activities; physical space must not be forgotten as an essential component of the learning environment.

Overarching questions are:

What makes a physical space conducive to learning?
How does the relationship between learning activity and physical space foster or impede academic goals?
What principles and processes should apply to the design of physical space on campus when learning is at the center?

Work Products and Outcomes

The following questions are representative of the issues and topics for the focus session/workshop:

What types of activities are important in building deeper learning? How can the traditional classroom and technology encourage deeper learning?
What are the important characteristics of learning spaces? What works?
What types of space align well with specific teaching and learning approaches?
What learning space design principles are most relevant to your campus?
What assumptions should we challenge as we design learning spaces for the future?
Who are the right people to have involved in learning space design?
What kind of institutional process leads to the creation of excellent learning spaces?

As a result of the focus session we expect that participants will:

Have an opportunity to reflect on learning space design principles in use at their own institution and others
Identify designs, components, principles, and processes that need to be built into their own projects to enhance learning
Create a shared conceptual framework that

Elucidates the relationships among learning, technology, and space
Allows space design and utilization to contribute to deeper learning

Establish a community that builds on individual and collective practice

Intended Audience

Participants representing key campus roles in learning space design and planning who are interested in exploring the linkages between learning principles and learning spaces. These participants may include representatives from:

Information technology
Planning and finance
Facilities management
Faculty
Library
Academic administrators
Other areas as determined by the campus context

Campus teams are encouraged to attend.

ELI ELI Events ELI Events Calendar		2004 Fall Focus Session Learning Space Design for the 21st Century September 9–10, 2004 Hotel @ MIT Cambridge, Massachusetts Homework Assignment Reading List Meeting Materials Proceedings General Sessions 2004 Fall Focus Session Summary Purpose and Program Designing effective technology enabled learning spaces will be the topic of the NLII Fall Focus Session which will be co-sponsored by MIT. The purpose of the meeting is to explore learning space design principles as a way to enhance and transform teaching and learning with technology and make it possible for faculty and students to engage in active learning. Excellent learning space design can enhance learning outcomes. To provide sufficient time for campus teams to address learning space design issues within their respective contexts this focus session will be one and one-half days in length. The goals of this session are to: Develop a taxonomy of learning spaces and the attributes that make them effective learning environments Define the types of activities that need to be enabled by particular learning spaces Describe the design features (including support services and infrastructure) that are important in each type of learning space identified Articulate the principles and processes that should be used in learning space design and renovation Develop a deeper understanding of effective processes that lead to the design and delivery of effective learning spaces for the college or university environment Provide an opportunity for campus teams to discuss these issues among themselves and with their peers from other institutions This initial session on learning spaces will focus on traditional classrooms, lecture halls and contiguous spaces. Computer labs and learning lounges may also be touched on in this focus session. The principles developed in this session acknowledge changes in our understanding of student cognition and faculty roles in the learning process. The design principles should also incorporate the enabling role of technology - not just today's technology but also new, emerging technologies. Learning space design is an emerging NLII key theme. Educators, technologists and space planners must develop an understanding of the relationships that occur at the nexus of technology, pedagogy, learning, and physical space. Space configuration and use can impact teaching practices and learning activities; physical space must not be forgotten as an essential component of the learning environment. Overarching questions are: What makes a physical space conducive to learning? How does the relationship between learning activity and physical space foster or impede academic goals? What principles and processes should apply to the design of physical space on campus when learning is at the center? Work Products and Outcomes The following questions are representative of the issues and topics for the focus session/workshop: What types of activities are important in building deeper learning? How can the traditional classroom and technology encourage deeper learning? What are the important characteristics of learning spaces? What works? What types of space align well with specific teaching and learning approaches? What learning space design principles are most relevant to your campus? What assumptions should we challenge as we design learning spaces for the future? Who are the right people to have involved in learning space design? What kind of institutional process leads to the creation of excellent learning spaces? As a result of the focus session we expect that participants will: Have an opportunity to reflect on learning space design principles in use at their own institution and others Identify designs, components, principles, and processes that need to be built into their own projects to enhance learning Create a shared conceptual framework that Elucidates the relationships among learning, technology, and space Allows space design and utilization to contribute to deeper learning Establish a community that builds on individual and collective practice Intended Audience Participants representing key campus roles in learning space design and planning who are interested in exploring the linkages between learning principles and learning spaces. These participants may include representatives from: Information technology Planning and finance Facilities management Faculty Library Academic administrators Other areas as determined by the campus context Campus teams are encouraged to attend.
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