Learning landscapes: clearing pathways, making spaces
e-Learning online conference 09 programme
Presentation and associated materials
Abstract
TEACHING AND LEARNING WITH SPACE IN MIND
Learning Landscapes in Higher Education is a research project looking at the ways in which academics work with colleagues in Estates and other key stakeholders to develop and manage innovation in the design of teaching and learning spaces in Higher Education.
The research has been carried out as a series of case studies across twelve universities in the UK. The research has been done in collaboration with DEGW, an internationally re-knowned design company. These case studies have been used to develop change management tools that can be utilised elsewhere in the HE sector.
The tool featured here is Teaching and Learning with Space in Mind. This tool encourages academics to make use of the literature on effective teaching when designing teaching and learning spaces. Of particular interest for the Learning Landscapes project is the relationship between virtual and physical space, and the ways in which new forms of spaces are emerging that support connectivity between teaching and research.
The Teaching and Learning with Space in Mind tool is built on principles for effective teaching that have been synthesized from research into effective pedagogical practices in university teaching The principles are further supported by the work has been done as part of the Learning Landscape research project.
These most effective forms of teaching and learning are not presented as a definitive statement on teaching and learning in HE; indeed colleagues are encouraged to produce their own most effective practices based on their own practices and research.
The activities described by this tool provide staff with the opportunity to discuss the relationship between pedagogy and the design of learning spaces in Higher Education so as to develop a common understanding among key stakeholders.
Presenter
Mike Neary
Professor Mike Neary is the Dean of Teaching and Learning at Lincoln and the Director of the university’s Centre for Educational Research and Development. Mike was the founding director of the Reinvention Centre for Undergraduate Research, a Centre for Excellence based at Warwick and Oxford Brookes universities. The aim of the Reinvention Centre is to introduce research-based learning into the undergraduate curriculum.
Mike's research is based within Critical Labour Studies and includes writings on youth unemployment, poverty, forms of trade unionism and other types of social protest and resistance. Recently his work has focused on academic labour and the undergraduate student experience. Mike has been an adviser and consultant for the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre Network and is a National Teaching Fellow.
Facilitator
Les Watson
Les Watson is a freelance educational adviser, and a consultant to the Joint Information Systems Committee e-learning programme on Technology Enhanced Learning Environments.
Previously Les was a Pro Vice-Chancellor at Glasgow Caledonian University from 1999 to September 2006. During this time he was responsible for Library, C&IT Services, student services, e-learning, the Caledonian Degree and work based learning all of which were integrated into a University wide Learning Service. At Caledonian Les led the development of the Learning Cafe, REAL@Caledonian, and the award winning Saltire Centre.
At Caledonian Les was also the Project Director of the JISC Digital Libraries in the Classroom Spoken Word Project which continues to develop access to streamed digital audio resources and promote their use in the curriculum. He is a Fellow of the RSA, a member of the Universities and Colleges Information Services Association (UCISA) executive, chair of the annual UCISA management conference committee, a member of the JISC Board and a registered consultant with the Higher Education Academy. He was also recently the lead consultant for the JISC Infonet project on ‘Developing Technology Rich Spaces for Learning’, and co-author, with Hugh Anderson, of a report for the JISC on ‘The Design and Management of Open Plan Technology Rich Learning and Teaching Spaces in Further and Higher Education in the UK’.