TRANSFORMING INFORMAL

LEARNING SPACES

Meg BradyDirector, Educational Technology

Missouri S&T

LEARNING & SPACES• Where does learning occur?

– Formal spaces (classrooms)– Informal spaces (hallways, coffee shops, libraries)

• How does “space” influence learning?– Physical or virtual, they can…

• Bring people together and encourage exploration, collaboration, and discussion, or,

• Carry an unspoken message of silence and disconnectedness

Oblinger, Diana, “Space as a Change Agent”, Learning Spaces, Educause2006, http://www.educause.edu/LearningSpaces/10569

THE PROCESS FOR DEVELOPING INFORMAL

LEARNING SPACES

EVALUATING NEEDS

• General– Human‐Centered Design– Active Learning– Social & Interactive

• Space Needs– Holistic view of campus’ “learning” real estate– Often determined by size/shape of existing physical area– Department specific requirements

• IT Expectations– Economies of scale, support and lifecycle management– Availability of duplex printing– Adaptability to new technology over time

CHOOSING THE SITE

• Location, location, location

• Impact on student population

• Costs and funding

• Additional requests

EXPLORING SOLUTIONS

“Intentional Design” and

“Continuous Improvement”

Use Your Resources:• Design guides • Environmental Psychology• Space research findings• User input on existing spaces• Consultation with involved parties

IMPLEMENTING CHANGES

TWO RECENT TRANSFORMATIONS

ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT 222BEFORE

ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT 222AFTER

COMPUTER SCIENCE 212/213BEFORE

COMPUTER SCIENCE 212/213AFTER

EVALUATION

• Perspectives: Student v. Faculty

• Data: Quantitative v. Observational

• Time: Changes Everything

HOW CAN THIS APPLY AT YOUR CAMPUS?

• Intentional Design

• Understanding your students

• Partnering across campus

• Creating buy-in with all parties– Administration– Faculty– Students

• Be flexible

• Think ahead

CHANGING PERCEPTIONS

• “I learned in hard chairs in the heat, and they can too.”

• “Students will steal anything not nailed down.”

• “Students will ruin anything upholstered or carpeted with their carelessness.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Watch for our “article” in the new online, multi-media version of Educause Review, due out April 2, 2009 at educause.edu

Contact us at:

Educational Technology @ Missouri S&T

http://edtech.mst.edu

edtech@mst.edu