This document discusses designing learning spaces in physical and virtual settings. It provides definitions of learning spaces and analyzes how their design has evolved from fixed and formal to being more dynamic and flexible to support greater movement and collaboration. The document outlines key questions in learning space design around intentional pedagogical alignment and user experience. It presents five socio-constructivist principles for designing spaces that promote learner interaction, engagement, real-world contexts, participation, and evolution. Examples of applying these principles in physical and virtual spaces are provided.

1. 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

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

4. 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

5. Analysis of Learning Spaces

6. Formal Learning spaces began as fixed and formal . . .

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

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

9. . . .which now support greater movement and collaboration

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

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

12. 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?

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

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

21. PRINCIPLE 2: INCITE ENGAGEMENT AND OWNERSHIP IN LEARNERS

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

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

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

33. 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

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

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