Designing Learning Spaces in Physical and Virtual Settings Alyssa Wise Assistant Professor of Education Educational Technology & Learning Design Program Simon Fraser University Justin Marples Director of Classroom Services University of British Columbia Fall 2009 Workshop

Overview Definitions Analysis of Learning Spaces Activity Key Questions Design Principles with Physical & Virtual Examples Take-Aways & Looking Forward

Definitions

Analysis of Learning Spaces Activity

Key Questions

Design Principles with Physical & Virtual Examples

Take-Aways & Looking Forward

Definitions: What Does it Mean to Design "Spaces" For Learning? Creating an environment or setting in which learning interactions will occur Different kinds of spaces facilitate certain kinds of interactions and hinder others

Creating an environment or setting in which learning interactions will occur

Different kinds of spaces facilitate certain kinds of interactions and hinder others

Analysis of Learning Spaces

Formal Learning spaces began as fixed and formal . . .

. . .but are now designed to be more dynamic and flexible.

The same progression can be seen for technology-enhanced learning spaces . . .

. . .which now support greater movement and collaboration

Even the design of virtual learning spaces is changing. . . . . . from a hierarchical push of information . . .

. . . to creating multiplexed spaces for user-driven interactions

Activity: Analysis of Learning Spaces Take a look at the two images of learning spaces. What specific kinds of interactions are promoted by the design of the learning spaces? What specific kinds of interactions are inhibited by the design of the learning spaces?

Take a look at the two images of learning spaces.

What specific kinds of interactions are promoted by the design of the learning spaces?

What specific kinds of interactions are inhibited by the design of the learning spaces?

Designing Learning Spaces: Two Key Questions How can we design spaces with intentionality? Design needs to follows pedagogy Goals, principles, instantiation What mediates how that intentionality is taken up by the people in the space? “ Soft” design - possibilities and probabilities Communication of design intent via affordances

How can we design spaces with intentionality?

Design needs to follows pedagogy

Goals, principles, instantiation

What mediates how that intentionality is taken up by the people in the space?

“ Soft” design - possibilities and probabilities

Communication of design intent via affordances

Socio-Constructivist Principles for Designing Learning Spaces Current theories of learning conceive of: Knowledge as a social construction - ideas are meaningful because of the societal context in which they exist Learning as a process of building, testing negotiating and revising viable understandings of the world and becoming a participant in the knowledge practices of a community

Current theories of learning conceive of:

Knowledge as a social construction - ideas are meaningful because of the societal context in which they exist

Learning as a process of building, testing negotiating and revising viable understandings of the world and becoming a participant in the knowledge practices of a community

Five Socio-Constructivist Principles for Designing Learning Spaces Provide opportunities for learners to interact and negotiate understandings Incite engagement and ownership in learners Contextualize learning in real communities that use the knowledge Provide opportunities for active participation with respect to the communities Allow for evolution of knowledge, learners, and the learning process

Provide opportunities for learners to interact and negotiate understandings

Incite engagement and ownership in learners

Contextualize learning in real communities that use the knowledge

Provide opportunities for active participation with respect to the communities

Allow for evolution of knowledge, learners, and the learning process

PRINCIPLE 1: PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNERS TO INTERACT AND NEGOTIATE UNDERSTANDINGS

PRINCIPLE 2: INCITE ENGAGEMENT AND OWNERSHIP IN LEARNERS

PRINCIPLE 3: CONTEXTUALIZE LEARNING IN REAL COMMUNITIES THAT USE THE KNOWLEDGE

PRINCIPLE 4: PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION WITH RESPECT TO THE COMMUNITIES

PRINCIPLE 5: ALLOW FOR EVOLUTION OF KNOWLEDGE, LEARNERS, AND THE LEARNING PROCESS

Key Takeaways Designing a learning space means to create an environment that facilitates pedagogically-valued interactions Spaces should be designed for: Interaction Engagement Real-life Connections Authentic Participation Evolution

Designing a learning space means to create an environment that facilitates pedagogically-valued interactions

Spaces should be designed for:

Interaction

Engagement

Real-life Connections

Authentic Participation

Evolution

Pushing Forward How can we integrate the design of Physical and Virtual learning spaces to support each other?

How can we integrate the design of Physical and Virtual learning spaces to support each other?

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