UK Higher Education Learning Space Toolkit: case studies

About the case studies

The UK Higher Education Learning Space Toolkit (view via Wayback Machine) was launched in 2016 to help staff from different professional services share best practice and work more effectively when creating learning spaces.

It is intended as a practical guide and a source of inspiration in the design of spaces that delight and motivate students, as well as meeting their functional needs.

This series of case studies complements the original toolkit and illustrates how a range of different institutions have applied the good practice in their own distinctive ways. This is not an exclusive list of projects but presents a series of examples of the variety of effective learning spaces projects being delivered across the UK. It is hoped this will be extended over time as more institutions evaluate the learning spaces projects they deliver.

The case studies were created using: a questionnaire to project champions, stakeholders and users; focused interviews with key stakeholders; talking heads videos; observation of space in use and existing post occupancy information.

The case studies themselves are a valuable source of inspiration and lessons learned for the sector. More than that, the approach we have taken provides you with a model you can use to evaluate your existing learning spaces and to approach new developments.

The format of each case study follows the chapter headings of the toolkit.

The toolkit and case studies were produced by:

• Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE)
• Heads of eLearning Forum (HeLF)
• Higher Education Design Quality Forum (HEDQF)
• Jisc
• Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL)
• Standing Conference for Heads of Media Services (SCHOMS)
• Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association (UCISA)

Pedagogy

We advocate a holistic approach that views entire campuses as learning spaces and considers the seamless flow of different types of learning activity as well as the overall range of provision.

Design decisions should be guided by sound educational principles. Here are the principles on which the Toolkit is based:

• Integrate and connect learning
• Meet a range of different learning needs
• Offer a comfortable working environment
• Offer support
• Make effective use of technology
• Be inclusive and sustainable
• Involve, inspire and motivate students

Chapter 1: building a new pedagogy (view via Wayback Machine)

Partnership working

Professionals leading learning space projects need to work with a range of stakeholders across functional areas that are outside their day-to-day experience.

The Toolkit emphasises the importance of participatory approaches to stakeholder engagement from the beginning if you are to avoid costly mistakes and we suggest some techniques for gaining effective stakeholder participation.

Chapter 2: working in partnership (view via Wayback Machine)

Project management

Learning space projects can be complex and challenging even for experienced project managers.

You will be dealing with the 'hard' aspects of the physical build as well as the 'soft' aspects of a change initiative.

The toolkit discusses the particular life cycle of a learning space project and provides some guidance, templates and checklists.

Chapter 3: managing a learning space project (view via Wayback Machine)

Snakes and ladders

For a fun way to understand some of the challenges you can face in a learning space project try our snakes and ladders game.

Creative Commons attribution information

Learning spaces snakes and ladders

©AUDE, UCISA, SHC and UCISA

CC BY-NC

Download a pdf copy of the game. 

Design

This section of the toolkit brings together good practice guidance on a range of topics including:

• General good design practice
• Functional room specifications
• Audiovisual standards
• IT standards

By taking a holistic view of these topics at an early stage you can avoid management and usability issues further down the line.

Chapter 4: effective learning by design (view via Wayback Machine)

Learning technologies

The continued importance of physical learning spaces lies in supporting learning activities that are best undertaken collectively or which have a compelling reason for bringing students on campus and technology has an important role to play in this.

Our toolkit takes a broad look at digital technologies and other equipment used in learning spaces.

Chapter 5: learning technologies (view via Wayback Machine)

Evaluation

Learning space projects are often significant investments and you need to know that they are delivering the intended benefits.

Typical post-occupancy evaluation of a building focuses on technical and functional performance. The toolkit goes further than this and provides guidance on designing evaluations that measure whether the space is actually enhancing learning.

Download the questions we asked our focus groups in preparing the case studies (Word docx).

Chapter 6: evaluation (view via Wayback Machine)

Change management and transition

Creating new types of learning space often demands a major exercise in change management to ensure that both staff and students are able to make effective use of the space.

A space designed to support a particular pedagogic approach, such as active learning, will only be effective if the curriculum and individual lesson plans are also designed with this in mind.

Our toolkit looks at a range of strategies for managing change and easing transition to new practices.

Chapter 7: change management and transition (view via Wayback Machine)

Further information

For more on each of the topics mentioned here see the UK Higher Education Learning Space Toolkit (view via Wayback Machine).

Download UK Higher Education Learning Space Toolkit (pdf)