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Learning Spaces

Learning Spaces
Space, whether physical or virtual, can have a significant impact on learning. Learning Spaces focuses on how learner expectations influence such spaces, the principles and activities that facilitate learning, and the role of technology from the perspective of those who create learning environments: faculty, learning technologists, librarians, and administrators. Information technology has brought unique capabilities to learning spaces, whether stimulating greater interaction through the use of collaborative tools, videoconferencing with international experts, or opening virtual worlds for exploration. This e-book represents an ongoing exploration as we bring together space, technology, and pedagogy to ensure learner success. Please note: In addition to the e-book's core chapters on learning space design principles (chapters 1-13) , this site also offers case studies illustrating those principles (chapters 14-43), including links to examples of innovative learning spaces. Diana G.

Top 5 Workplace Trends for 2017 2016 was a big year for workplace design. From the large influential companies across the world to the smaller businesses, workspace design was at the forefront of CEO’s minds, as an extension of their brand’s ethos and culture. Many companies have re-designed their workspaces in response to the work of incredibly successful companies such as Google and Apple who have been creating workspaces that are not only cool, collaborative and full of tech, but future-proof. For them, the proof of the power that an innovative working space has on an organisation is in their staff’s happiness, loyalty and their profit margins, which continue to boom. So what are the biggest workspace trends of 2017 looking like? 1. The biggest trend to follow on from 2016 is the employee and candidate experience leading to talent attraction and retention. In a recent candidate experience study by workplacetrends.com nearly “60% of Job seekers have had a poor candidate experience and 72% talk about it”. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Learning commons Learning commons, also known as scholars' commons, information commons or digital commons, are educational spaces, similar to libraries and classrooms that share space for information technology, remote or online education, tutoring, collaboration, content creation, meetings and reading or study.[1][2] Learning commons are increasingly popular in academic and research libraries, and some public and school libraries have now adopted the model.[3] Architecture, furnishings and physical organization are particularly important the character of a learning commons, as spaces are often designed to be rearranged by users according to their needs. Learning commons may also have tools, equipment, makerspaces, and/or publishing services available for borrowing or use. Along with the so-called "bookstore model," which is focused on customer service, bookless or digital libraries, the learning commons or digital commons is frequently cited as a model for the "library of the future."[4]

Teaching the Facebook Generation Our goal as college professors is to open students’ minds to new experiences so they can grow intellectually while they mature through the traditional four-year process. But we are also challenged to give students the immediate skills they will need once they graduate so that they can begin their professional careers and move away from the fry-o-later to the cubicle and beyond. Over the past decade, there has been a sea change in the marketplace demands for graduates. Whereas broad skills used to be sufficient, now our students must demonstrate a set of concrete skills that not long ago were required only of those in highly technical majors. When I began teaching nearly 10 years ago, marketing and PR majors were expected to be stellar communicators, know the Four P's (Product, Promotion, Price, Place), have a good head on their shoulders, and have passion. Our traditional curriculum emphasized marketing, advertising, sales, research, and consumer behavior for the marketing major.

Healthy Classrooms Need Daylight and Fresh Air [Infographic] Healthy classrooms are environments in which young minds can flourish. It’s a little room in which teachers and learners spend much of their days, so it’s crucial that the physical environment is made as conducive to wellness and progress as the mental and emotional environments are. Treated as a rich and fertile soil, a healthy classroom can give rise to some great moments in teaching and learning. After all, there’s nothing like a dark and stuffy classroom to stifle productivity. This infographic from Whitesales has got it right. Here’s what the post on eLearning Infographics had to say about the necessities of making natural light and clean fresh air a regular part of the school day regimen: “A comfortable workplace makes for a happier, more productive workforce. We couldn’t agree more. Find more education infographics on e-Learning Infographics

Wanna Improve Education? Demolish the Classrooms "Education is experience, and the essence of experience is self-reliance." —T.H. White, The Once and Future King Who removed the classrooms? Apparently, the Danish government did. 3XN, an architectural firm based in Copenhagen, responded to the government's vision by creating a radically different learning environment for Ørestad College. 3XN's design for Ørestad College is a novel interpretation of agility and openness where the architecture complies with the pedagogy of individualized and interdisciplinary learning. In designing for teaching and learning, I am continually asking myself the following questions: 1. Well, I've found the answer—Ørestad College. For more of our coverage of 3XN's work, click here. For more images of the school, check out Dezeen. [All images © Adam Mørk / 3XN]

7 Outstanding K–8 Flexible Classrooms In March, with the end of the school year rounding into view, we asked our Facebook community to show us their flexible seating arrangements. Photos and comments poured in from hundreds of teachers across the country. We sifted through the submissions, identified educators with outstanding flexible classrooms from kindergarten through eighth grade, and asked for tips, classroom features, and plenty of visuals. We feature seven of those classrooms below. A few clear trends emerged. Funding came from a wide variety of sources; most teachers mixed friend and family requests with visits to garage sales and thrift shops, low-price retailers like Walmart and Amazon, and online crowdfunding campaigns on sites like DonorsChoose. Almost all of our K–8 teachers have dropped seating charts but devote time to modeling appropriate behaviors in their new classrooms. We’ve organized our classrooms sequentially, from kindergarten to eighth grade. Benita Kay Moyers Ashley Rice Broomfield Jessica Dudley

September | 2011 | kingsquadrangle It’s been a wonderfully fascinating three days observing you all here at the Strand Campus of King’s College London. You are a terribly interesting bunch.As our 3 days of intensive on site research draws to a close we’d like to open some discussion on the blog about some of the learning trends we’ve noticed. The campus seems to have an extremely social atmosphere and we’ve seen a great deal of students studying and socialising at the same time. Is this important to you? Jenny It’s been a good first day in the Kings Building foyer (above a photo of my location) – we’ve had some excellent feed back and insights so far and some truly fascinating insights from freshers too. Antonio p.s we had a lot of people yesterday reluctant to take part as it was only their first week. A learning commons is a student centered flexible learning space located on campus. The Nomad team will be on site on the 27th, 28th and 29th of September. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts Nomad Team

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