Copyright Department of Computer Science University of Durham 1 Designing Learning Spaces for Group Working Liz Burd Active Learning in Computing Durham

Copyright Department of Computer ScienceUniversity of Durham 1

Designing Learning Spaces for Group Working

Liz BurdActive Learning in Computing

Durham Universitywith Leeds, LeedsMet and Newcastle




Initial requirements

• Promote café style environment • Facilitate face-to-face meetings• Provide distinct working spaces for groups• Space to reflect actual group sizes• Enable common drawing and writing facilities• Provide display facilities• Be aesthetically pleasing

• Recommendation: based around American Diner




Technology specifications

Item Specification

Laptop 1.7GHz processor; 512MB RAM; 40GB disk; DVD-R/CD-RW; 14.1” display

Table PC 1.0GHz processor; 256MB RAM; 30GB disk.

Display 42” plasma display panel; 16:9 format; 1024x768 resolution

Overlay Pen & finger sensitive; 4 pen; 1 eraser


Cost breakdown of Techno-Café

Item Cost

Refit of the room £207k

Displays and Interactive whiteboard £45k

Laptops and Tablet PCs £25k






Issues to consider in design

• Space utilisation• Teaching space or private study• Conditions that YOU would be happy to work in• Flexibility versus IT security and disabled access • Wireless and/or cabling • Group privacy and noise pollution • Lighting



Mistakes we made

• Technical:– Cables– Smart board pen trays– Plasma screens tend to burn

• Managerial– Training for students: use of technology and work pattern– Initial failure to bringing on board IT providers– Difficulties in getting staff to change the way they teach


What changes the students wanted

• Curtains!• More technology• Coffee • Restricted access


Issues to ponder

Research issues to consider

• Train travel phenomena • Does booth ‘ownership’ occur?• Loan versus fixed equipment

Documents

Copyright Department of Computer Science University of Durham 1 Designing Learning Spaces for Group Working Liz Burd Active Learning in Computing Durham