Complexity in spaces for learning

Just starting to go through some of the interview results I have from my student teachers reflecting on their time in school. There were only four students tracked in detail, but it is obvious that they all use both space and technology in very different ways. Some make a lot of use of Face book for contacting others on the course and sharing ideas and resources, whilst some don't. Some prefer to work in school and then leave time to get away from the pressure at home. Others feel safe working at home. All identify the car/bus as a fantastic place to reflect and plan. All make use of laptops, but some like to use the net extensively whilst others don't. I've also collected detailed written reflections about placements, learning and space. Intend to begin to look through these in the next few days.

Looking at complex spaces

I'm about to start a new research project working with Dr Paul Warwick (also in the School of Education) and the Stduents' Union at Leicester. We are trying to understand the use students make of the various spaces they inhabit whilst studying at the university. Obviously, they use a number of spaces during a typical week, including managed spaces such as lecture theatres and labs, but also many other spaces (both physical and virtual) such as bedrooms, cafes, libraries etc. We will try to find out which spaces are important, and the types of activities which go on there, including the use of technology.

Web 2.0 - Prezi alternative

I've come across a fantastic alternative to Powerpoint - http://prezi.com a presentation app which allows a more dynamic way of presenting information. Will certainly be trying thsi one out in the next few weeks as I start working with a new group of post-grads.

JISC case studies for learning spaces with technology

Found an interesting web page from JISC outlining a number of case studies of new learning spaces which have a distinct element of technology

Students' views on learning spaces

Over the past week we've been developing some inital methods for capturing the spaces students learn in, and then using this as a basis for getting them to be creative about the spaces they would like to see in universities to help them learn better.

There was a variety of responses, but some common themes emerged. These included preferences for fully integrated technology, through ubiquitous WIFI provision, interactive whiteboards in seminar rooms etc, but also the desire to see a lot of green space was a strong sentiment. 'Spaces for solitude' were mentioned a number of times, spaces where indivduals can go to think, reflect and contemplate. Finally, multiple-use spaces were also preferred, especially those which linked social and eating provision with learning. This is one we intend to mature and pursue to bigger things next academic year!

Linking real and virtual spces in learning

Found an interesting Futurelab power point presentation in Slideshare. Got some intersting ideas about the spatial aspects of blended approaches to learning.

Thinking about learning spaces - student views

Over the past few days I've been involved in doing some small-scale research focusing on the spaces which students learn in. From visual diaries, concept maps and interviews, it seems that students generally feel that the spaces which the university provide are received positively. The learning environment is seen as inherently collaborative in nature, whilst home spaces are seen as personal and reflective. This clear dichotomy is seen as a natural system with social learning being seen as important whilst at the university, whilst spaces such as offices and bedrooms at home are seen as a more positive space for quiet work to extend and reflect on the understanding considered in university sessions. The only space which was considered to be underrepresented in the university campus were social spaces, seen as having great potential for more informal social learning - especially where WIFI is available.

more resources

Two more resources which develop thinking about the interrelationship of space and e-learning (although only implicitly) are one from Educause called 'The Tower and the Cloud' based around the adoption of ever more ICT in HEIs, and the other is concerned with the ubiquitous access to the net and ICT and the impacts this might have on learning. Both really good reads.

I've also opened up a wiki which I hope to develop with the help of a couple of colleagues which focuses on a manifesto for learning in the 21st century - little content at the moment, but hopefully will grow quite quickly over the coming months - will consider not only the types of learning which might be desirable in schools, but the spaces which will allow those types of learning to grow.

Educause - useful resources

There are two fantastic resources at Educause which focus on elements of learning and learning spaces. The first is a free access e-book on Learning Spaces which looks at advances about leanring spaces in HEIs, whilst the second takes a look at the Net Generation and its links to learning. Both are really interesting takes on teh developing fields of leanring spaces and e-learning.

21st century schools - the development of blended spaces?

Click here for a video which considers the infusion of technology in schools, and the resultant enriching of learning spaces. Technology is forefronted in this video - do we need to give equal consideration of the spaces in which they are used?