Anticipation

University of Warwick, Learning Grid

Other Sections

Imagination

Implementation

Evaluation

Resource Collection
inc. case studies, flickr photo library, virtual campus and further resources

Student Expectations

'The freedom of use for students and lack of rules mean it is encouraging rather than prohibiting.'

Margaret Weaver, St. Martin's College¹⁶

Your students have an increasing variety of expectations, experiences, and learning styles and your technology-rich learning spaces can exploit this richness. There is also an increased use of social software and environments such as Second Life in learning and teaching. Your 'digital native' students expect this type of engagement and it is important that there is an intelligent approach adopted to their use without a blanket blocking of access to such sites.

Conversation is central to the collaborative model of learning and the redesign of your learning space is an ideal opportunity to provide resources that support and encourage active learning.

We have already mentioned the idea that building developments have to be closely aligned with technology developments and staff activities. Where this alignment occurs there will be greater synergistic benefit for the organisation. The natural extension of this synergy is to recognise that there are important strategic links between key policies and strategies of the institution. A fantastic 'learning' building speaks volumes about the approach that the institution takes to learning and teaching and should support the approach that is articulated in the learning and teaching Strategy, but it should also be part of the technology strategy of the institution, its recruitment and retention strategy, its marketing strategy and its strategy for engaging with the local community. A successful technology-rich learning space is a powerful vehicle for providing an holistic view of the institution that radiates and reflects its strategic stance. When planning their Learning Gateway, St Martin's College clearly articulated their vision and based this on their institutional strategies. Our resource collection includes a detailed case study from St Martin's.

There is more on identifying trends that might affect your particular build and opportunities that may be open to you in the section Imagination: Developing The Vision.

'The vision for the Learning Gateway is based on the College's Corporate Plan, its Learning and Teaching Strategy and a set of pedagogical principles that put learners and learning first. These recognise that learning is complex; it does not take place in a vacuum and that space combined with technology and appropriate support can provide the optimum conditions for active learning.'

Margaret Weaver, St. Martin's College¹⁶

When considering what is going on out there with learners, it is useful to hear (and listen) to what the students themselves say. As part of its e-Learning Programme, JISC commissioned a series of studies which give a voice to students. They demonstrate how technology has become an essential part of their learning lives and that they use different types of learning space as appropriate (not just the task in hand but how they feel). Here are some examples of video case studies from the Learner Experiences project:

videos and transcripts:
Laura Hotchkiss (use of technology and space at home and at Glasgow Caledonian University);
Paul, Simon and Beth (use of technology and space at University of Central England);
Jenny and Emma (University of Wolverhampton, use of different tools to produce e-portfolios);
Amanda (technology and group work at Strathclyde University)
Audio Logs show the daily use of technology by students in different subject areas