Category Archives: Learning Spaces

Photo Set of Flexible Learning Classrooms @ Illinois

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Rhetoric Program Flexible Learning ClassroomHenry Administration Building - Flexible Learning ClassroomRhetoric Program Flexible Learning Classroom - Henry Administration BuildingHAB - UIUCHAB - UIUCHAB - UIUC
Rhetoric Program Flexible Learning Classroom - Henry Administration Building1 of 3 LCD screens in Rhetoric Program Flexible Learning ClassroomHenry Admin Building - Rhetoric Flexible Learning ClassroomHenry Admin Building - Rhetoric Flexible Learning Classroom1 of 3 LCD Screens in Henry Admin Bldg Rhetoric Flexible Learning Classroom2 of 3 screens in Henry Admin Bldg Rhetoric Flexible Learning Classroom
Henry Admin Building Rhetoric Flexible Learning ClassroomHenry Admin Building Rhetoric Flexible Learning ClassroomHenry Admin Building Rhetoric Flexible Learning ClassroomHenry Admin Building Rhetoric Flexible Learning ClassroomHenry Admin Building - instructor podium controls for laptop plug-inInstructor podium in Flexible Learning Classroom
Henry Administration Building Rhetoric Flexible Learning ClassroomRhetoric Program Flexible Learning Classroom - Henry Administration BuildingRhetoric Program Flexible Learning Classroom - Henry Administration BuildingRhetoric Program Flexible Learning Classroom in Henry Admin BuildingRhetoric Program Flexible Learning ClassroomRhetoric Program Flexible Learning Classroom

HAB Photos Spring 2011, a set on Flickr.

Rooms 148, 152 and 154 in Henry Administration Building are general assignment classrooms utilized by the Rhetoric department. The Rhetoric Program Director, Dr. Catherine Prendergast, received a grant from the Library/IT Fee to renovate these classrooms to meet her program needs and pilot a new approach in classroom design that brings flexibility and new models of technology implementation to general assignment classrooms.

Supporting a curriculum that is highly collaborative and relies on a digital eBook platform, this space is designed to enable easy transitions into group work modes, multiple displays for better student access to technology, improved sight lines to engage with the electronic materials, and an easy-to-use control system for the instructor to manage the classroom.

Spring semester 2011 was the first semester these rooms were used. As we learn from the experience in all stages of design, construction, and teaching in flexible spaces, we are better able to work with faculty and students to meet the needs that technology, new approaches to teaching and learning, and emerging curriculums bring to the daily life of our campus community.

Some Reading on Learning Spaces

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This morning was the first fall semester meeting of the Informal Group on Learning Spaces. We had a great turnout with 21 folks representing all parts of campus there, and some new faces. We shared updates on the Student Collaboration Space Pilot Project, Lincoln Hall Renovation, DKH renovation, Residence Hall changes in their libraries, Engineering’s Virtualization pilot and CARE (Center for Academic Resources in Engineering) project, Lab managers group, and the fall theme for the Teaching Academies (impact of spaces and technology on teaching practices). We are finalizing topics for our next 4 meetings, but some suggestions at today’s meeting were: Presentation and demo on library collaboration space with Steelcase, demo and presentation from AllSteel, tour of BIF, tour of EWS and CARE (computer labs), late November review of projects to start preparing for spring action. The topics for the rest of the Fall meetings will be announced by September 22, our next informal group meeting.

One theme that stuck with me from our meeting this morning is how important it is to have students and faculty engaged in the process of designing learning spaces. The day before this meeting, EDUCAUSE released a paper from Texas Wesleyan University that describes the process and outcome of a faculty and student designed learning space. I shared this with the group, and subsequently have seen many other media sharing this story. As we strive to fulfill this desire of engagement from our faculty and students, it is inspiring to read about the successes that are possible. In that spirit, I’d like to share some reading (and listening!) sources that have crossed my network recently.

American RadioWorks’ The Tomorrow’s College Series, “Don’t Lecture Me” by Emily Hanford, http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/tomorrows-college/lectures/index.html

Classroom.NEXT at Texas Wesleyan University from the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning blog, http://www.txwescetl.com/programs/classroom-next/

Campus Technology article on Classroom.NEXT, http://campustechnology.com/articles/2011/09/06/texas-wesleyans-classroom.next-opens-for-business.asp

And a blog that every person involved with teaching and learning at our school should read is by an undergraduate student doing pre-service work to become a secondary education  math and science teacher. Her post, “I am a 21st Century Learner”, was tweeted to @EdTechForum with the question, “Why can’t I act like one?”. Good question, Julie, good question.

 

Announcing Fall Series of Informal Group on Learning Spaces

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The purpose of the informal group on learning spaces is to provide a friendly, informal place for stakeholders at any level in the university to share projects, ideas, needs, dreams, etc about learning spaces. Come to build your network of colleagues who are interested and involved in many aspects of planning, supporting, and using formal and informal learning spaces. Share your projects that are currently in progress, brainstorm ideas for the future, and get to know people who can help you be successful. The informal group may lead to more formal interactions elsewhere, but the more significant idea with the informal group is that we start developing relationships and networks, and share ideas.

The group meets bi-weekly on Thursdays at 9 AM in 23 Illini Hall. Not on the list? Contact Leslie Hammersmith, lkhammer at illinois dot edu to be added to the invitation and receive reminders and topic announcements. Fall 2011 dates are:

September 8

September 22

October 6

October 20

November 3

We look forward to seeing you!

Informal Group On Learning Spaces Hosts Tour On March 24

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Who will be on campus tomorrow? If you are one of the lucky ones, consider joining the Informal Group on Learning Spaces at 9 AM to tour some of the newest facilities for students and see some fantastic learning spaces outside of classrooms! There will even be a demonstration of the cool donut-making machine in the Student Dining and Residential Programs (SDRP) Building! (Did you know that students could get fresh made donuts as part of their regular dining experience? I’m jealous!)

Tour details are below, and please be prompt as there are a lot of great spaces to see in a short time. Drop me a line if you plan to come so we will look for you.

SDRP/Nugent Hall Tour
Thursday, March 24, 2011
9 AM SHARP in SDRP Lobby
Hosts: Melissa Marriott and Gretchen Madsen

Nugent is the new hall that connects to SDRP and the first floor is dedicated to Beckwith program residents.  SDRP has seminar room (classroom) spaces, small study spaces, the learning commons (including the library and computer lab), larger meeting rooms, dining for 1200, servery venues, coffee house, and c-store.  It is a lot to squeeze in, but will give everyone a good look at learning spaces outside of classrooms.

Please gather in the lobby of the SDRP at 9 AM and we will depart from there. SDRP is on Gregory Drive, right behind Clark hall.

Find it on the Map.

 

 

Flexible Learning Space Open House in Henry Administration Building

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Tables, chairs and monitors in the Flexible Learning Classrooms in Henry Administration Building on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus.

Snapshot of Flexible Learning Classroom in HAB

Friday, February 18 marked the Open House for the first flexible learning classrooms in our campus General Assignment Classroom pool! More than 50 people turned out to to see the transformation in person, meet the faculty who imagined the space, the staff who put it together, and feel the impact that these new classroom environments have on our undergraduate students.

Rooms 148, 152 and 154 in Henry Administration Building are general assignment classrooms utilized by the Rhetoric department. The Rhetoric Program Director, Dr. Catherine Prendergast, received a grant from the Library/IT Fee to renovate these classrooms to meet her program needs and pilot a new approach in classroom design that brings flexibility and new models of technology implementation to general assignment classrooms.

Supporting a curriculum that is highly collaborative and relies on a digital eBook platform, this space is designed to enable easy transitions into group work modes, multiple displays for better student access to technology, improved sight lines to engage with the electronic materials, and an easy-to-use control system for the instructor to manage the classroom.

Spring semester 2011 is the first semester these rooms are being used. As we learn from the experience in all stages of design, construction, and teaching in flexible spaces, we are better able to work with faculty and students to meet the needs that technology, new approaches to teaching and learning, and emerging curriculums bring to the daily life of our campus community.