Edge Hill University, Ormskirk: Flexible Teaching Space (SOLSTICE CETL)

Background & Context

As one of the 74 national Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), SOLSTICE was established in April 2005 and is a method of programme delivery that uses supported online and blended learning designed on sound pedagogic principles and developed as a result of ongoing evaluative research.

The SOLSTICE approach involves the use of supported online learning or blended learning designed on sound pedagogic principles and seeks to capture the power of new technology to deliver programmes flexibly, using a VLE alongside other methods of support.

The project involved turning what was previously an IT room into a multiple-use room to provide a flexible teaching space, but also a place where staff development events and meetings could take place.

A new teaching and learning building is already under construction (which will include the permanent SOLSTICE Centre), but to make best use of the capital afforded through the CETL initiative the University utilised some of the capital to do a quick and reasonably cheap refurbishment on some existing space. This is helping to inform spaces in the new development.

The space is a teaching room that has standard audio visual technology (data projector, interactive whiteboard, PC with amplifier and DVD/VHS playback) but the room enables a more flexible way of working - instead of typical rectangular tables it has four large round tables that enable group work; it has 3 dry whiteboards (instead of the institutional standard of one) to encourage group work and the progression of workings out and ideas across boards; there is a set of 12 wireless laptops and the technology can come out and go back as required and can be integrated into teaching sessions.

The space is used for teaching and learning as an opportunity to explore a slightly different way of working and learning; the space is also staff development events and formal meetings.

The space isn't centrally timetabled within the University. Some existing taught programmes are taught there which allows SOLSTICE to evaluate both student and staff experience of being taught in that space.

Some tutors have had training and development in relation to the space, technology and equipment, but in a lot of cases staff are simply discovering the space for themselves, doing what they would have either liked to have done or may have tried to do in other spaces where it wasn't appropriate. It was noted that the staff who are keen to use the space tend to be the enthusiasts; as a result, more staff development on how you might want to teach and learn in the space may be needed in future.

The principles behind the design were to try and find something that aligned more with constructivist approaches to teaching and learning and the idea of personalisation of space for students. Also with the idea of integrating technology more into teaching spaces.

In the new building (under construction) we are creating a slightly larger version of this flexible teaching space and another slightly different space that will use a mixture of formal classroom and open access area to see how students utilise that space.

The only environmental issues considered were related to student reactions to how heating, lighting, sound and comfort are issues in terms of how user friendly a space is. However in terms of the new building, the University and architects are trying to create a much more environmentally friendly building generally.