Classroom Collaboration:Putting Design into Action

Mike Reid

Interests

Interests

Interests

We are still learning (from mistakes?)

We are still learning (from mistakes?)

Driving Question

What are the benefits of and barriers to creating collaborative learning spaces?

Goals

• Discuss challenges and opportunities of creating collaborative learning spaces on college campuses through the review of several case studies.

• Model experience of transforming a (somewhat) traditional classroom into a collaborative space.

Format

1. Discuss pre-questions to guide our thinking

2. Present case studies

3. Review in groups and then report out

4. Write a paper for conference proceedings

Disclaimer

• Experts• Focus on Physical (not Virtual)

Introductions

• Name• School• Address one of following

– Celebration of a unique/successful collaborative learning space on your campus.

– What is a current need on campus that is not addressed by existing learning spaces?

Types of Spaces

• New buildings

• New spaces within buildings

• Adapted spaces

• Informal learning spaces

Types of Spaces: New Buildings

Types of Spaces: New Rooms

Types of Spaces: Adapted Spaces

Types of Spaces: Informal Spaces

Question

What is the primary challenge on your campus to developing or maintaining collaborative learning spaces?

• Technology obsolescence• Static buildings• Resources ($$, staff)• Adoption by users/demand• Others???

Technology – Broadly Defined

• Personal Response Systems (clickers)

• Social media integration (blogs, wikis, etc.)

• Collaborative software availability (Tidebreak, Google Docs)

• Furniture setup/mobility

• Group writing spaces (whiteboards, blackboards)

• Presentation technology

• Media portal (to access external content)

Case Study

• University of Dayton Marianist Hall

• University of MN Active Learning Classroom

Case Study

• What are the benefits of this space that you think would be realized by your school?

• What challenges would be involved in adopting this space at your school?

• How would you see this space being adapted/improved at your institution?

Conclusion(s)

• Summarizing conversation

• Writing paper for proceedings

Parting Question

The reality is that collaboration is about pedagogy more than technology, however, the facilitation of a particular teaching approach is often dependent on technology to some degree.

Based on our conversation, how dependent are we on technology to create engaging, collaborative learning spaces?

Thank…

• You for joining us

• And TideBreak and Andrew Milne for supporting us with their software.