Introduction

Over the past few years there has been considerable growth in the provision of open-plan technology-rich learning and teaching spaces (OPTRL&T), but while the development of these facilities has been enthusiastic, their successful operation has at best been mixed. The Joint Information Systems Committee commissioned this study to investigate issues that have been encountered in the use and management of such spaces and to identify how managers of these spaces have the dealt with the issues that have arisen.

These Guidelines for Managers are one outcome of the study. Other outcomes are a report on the Design and Management of open-plan Technology-Rich Learning and Teaching Spaces and a set of cases of a range of example spaces.

The guidelines below are in the form of a set of issues for exploration in the design and management of OPTRL&T spaces emerging from the report. The guidelines provided have been structured under strategic, design-related and operational issues and in most cases raise questions to be considered by those with responsibility for planning, designing and managing open-plan technology-rich learning spaces.