The document discusses learning spaces and their role in educational development. It begins by outlining the current state of research on learning spaces and identifies some of the challenges involved in implementing new learning space designs. Some of the key benefits of innovative learning space designs are then presented, such as how the physical layout can impact the types of activities that can easily be performed. The document emphasizes that changing teaching styles to be more student-centered is an important part of realizing the benefits of new learning spaces. It concludes by stressing the importance of reflection and follow-through after professional development sessions to improve educational practices.

1. Learning
Spaces:
the Final Frontier
in Educational
Development
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#bett17
Image: B200 Lecture Theatre,
City, University of London

2. Overview
Where is the research in Learning Spaces now?1
2
3
4
What are the challenges of new Learning Spaces?
What are the benefits of new Learning Spaces?
How does this all link into educational development?
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3. What do you understand by a
learning space?
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4. What do you understand by a
learning space?
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What the
audience said…

5. Where is the
research in Learning
Spaces now?
@santanuvasant | #bett17 Image: ELG01,Lecture Theatre,
City, University of London

6. A very abridged version of
research so far…
In recent times it started again Oblinger (2005) and her EDUcause
book
There was SCALE-UP (2007), putting the teacher in the centre
More recently, in the UK, we had the UCISA Learning Spaces Toolkit
(2016) taking all the findings and sythesising them for a technical
audience
Australia has a lot of research into this area one such book is Learning
Spaces in Higher Education: Positive Outcomes by Design (2008)
1
2
3
4

7. Challenges in
Learning Spaces
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8. “…education is on the
brink of being transformed
through learning
technologies; however, it
has been on that brink for
some decades now.”
Professor Diana Laurillard, London
Knowledge Lab, IoE, UCL
(Laurillard, 2008, p1)
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9. Medieval
Learning Spaces
What do you notice?
Image: Bologna, 1350s
CC Public Domain
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10. Medieval
Learning Spaces
What do you notice?
Image: Bologna, 1350s
CC Public Domain
@santanuvasant | #bett17
What the
audience said…

11. A very challenging area of educational
development, but why?...
Teaching was until the 1800s*, a private thing between the teacher
and students… then inspections etc arrived
We are moving slowly from a teacher-centred to a student-centred curriculum
Structures and politics in education and technology adoption
(Selwyn & Facer, 2014) are difficult to navigate – Learning Spaces
involves a multi-stakeholder engagement (Estates, IT/AV, Academic
Development etc)
In higher education, the academic is autonomous (compared to a
School teacher)
1
2
3
4
*approximately

12. “…In light of this apparent
disparity it seems
appropriate that the field
of educational technology
begins also to question
that could be termed
‘state-of-actual’.”
Professor Neil Selwyn, Monash
University, Australia (2008)
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13. Benefits in
Learning Spaces
@santanuvasant | #bett17 CC Public Domain

14. Some very big benefits in this area of
educational development...
The way a room is laid out can have a big impact on the activities you
can do in the space with ease
You can move around the space yourself more, giving students more control
You only see students for a small time in their learning journey so
not do something more than talk at them
Changing your teaching style can make your students more
employable
1
2
3
4
*approximately

15. Learning Spaces in Higher Education: Positive Outcomes by Design (2008)

16. Modern
Learning Spaces
What do you notice?
Image: University of New
Mexico, 2000s
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17. Modern
Learning Spaces
What do you notice?
Image: University of New
Mexico, 2000s
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What the audience said…
“Creating a narrative of agency, rather than compliance.”
“Lots of student writing space”
“Movement, practice, activity.”
“Flexible, encouraging interaction”
“Mics on the tables”
“hands on work”
“Teachers as facilitators.”
“Team work”

18. “… Teamwork makes the
dream work, but a vision
becomes a nightmare
when the leader has a big
dream and a bad team..”
Dr John C Maxwell
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19. Are you a teacher-centred or
student-centred teacher?
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20. Are you a teacher-centred or
student-centred teacher?
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What the audience said…

21. What type of teacher-centred or
student-centred activities do you
do in your teaching?
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22. What type of teacher-centred or
student-centred activities do you
do in your teaching?
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What the audience said… student designed project based learning
Guided reflection
Self assessment
Debates
Groupwork
Listen
Role-based activities
Speak with students - not AT them
Polling!
Jigsaw activities
Peer teaching
CBC
Metacognition

23. It starts with constructive alignment in
your teaching...
What do you want your students to learn?
Learning Outcomes
How will you know they have learnt something?
Assessment Tasks
The last point is most often left out by many teachers, dependent on
their level of experience? (Nicholls, 2005)
How will you get them to this place of learnt?
Learning Activities
1
2
3
4
LO
ATLA
Constructive Alignment,
Biggs and Tang (2011)

24. What does this all
mean?
@santanuvasant | #bett17 CC Public Domain

25. What do you to after a CPD
session?
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26. What do you to after a CPD
session?
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What the audience said…
Have a little cry to myself
Try it
Depends, reflect, inform network
Take one key idea and share with colleagues
Discuss with peers
Think about how I can improve students' experiences

27. @santanuvasant | #bett17
There is a gap in the development of
staff in higher education
Without reward or recognition, staff usually don’t engage
What is your CPD offer to staff ? What about the experienced staff? Can they
be seconded to carry out a project?
All areas of education – Primary to Higher, the excellent institutions
have strong leadership and direction and a culture of
experimentation
Do you have a Community of Practice (Wenger, 2000) approach?
1
2
3
4

28. What is one thing you have taken
from this talk on learning spaces?
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29. What is one thing you have taken
from this talk on learning spaces?
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What the audience said…
Not yet 'figured out' - let's left to learn and improve upon.
The importance of the learning environment
Space / environment influences learning interactions. Can't be
ignored.
It is not about fancy furniture (only) *
Pollev as a tool
Follow through of references and explore further
*Corrected after audience member
forgot the word not

30. @santanuvasant | #bett17 Images: Northwood School,
Hillingdon, London
THANK YOU!
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@santanuvasant | #bett17
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