Instructional Technology
Conference 2007

Title: Learning from your Learners: Designing Formal and Informal Learning Spaces

Name: Barbara Brandt, Kim Braxton, Alan Cattier

Audience Level: beginning to intermediate

Audience: faculty, librarians, facilities specialists, av specialists, lab directors, provosts, and deans.

Length: 1 hour

Abstract:
Over the last seven years, Emory University has renovated close to two hundred classrooms and all of its major computer labs. Hear from the leaders of these renovations what students say about Emory’s formal and informal learning spaces, and how they perceive engagement being shaped across the spectrum of campus facilities.

Description:
Beginning in 1999, Emory University committed to a review of all formal undergraduate learning spaces. In assessing the condition of the classrooms and teaching labs, it became clear that a major renovation would be needed to address failing infrastructure, shabby facilities, and out of date technology. What ensued from the review was an ongoing conversation with faculty, AV staff, and students about what our formal spaces should contain, or better yet, should connote, to be truly “engaging” spaces.

From the energy and success of renovating Emory’s formal learning spaces grew the interest to approach the informal learning spaces. The first to be renovated was the Computing Center at Cox Hall, then Emory’s Center for Interactive Teaching, and most recently, the Social Sciences Research Center at Tarbutton Hall. All these re-visionings incorporated “learner” input to shape the environment that would ultimately be created.

“Learning from your Learners: Designing Formal and Informal Learning Spaces,” will present what Emory has learned from our “learners” (and their teachers) and will focus on three discrete areas. First Barbara Brandt, Manager of Classroom Technologies, will focus on what our students tell us about “engagement” in our formal learning spaces. Then Kim Braxton, Manager of the Centers for Educational Technology, will highlight what she has learned from students as she has directed the Computing Center at Cox Hall and other informal learning spaces. Finally, Alan Cattier, Director of Academic Technology Services, will look across the spectrum of campus space to project how students could see the campus better “activated” for their learning, based on their comments about Emory’s formal and informal spaces.

The presentation will feature video and photos captured by students assessing Emory’s learning spaces, successes and failures, which should allow the “learner” an active place at the presenter’s podium. The audience will see and hear not only what our learners have to say, but also why it’s so important to listen to them as our facilities struggle to be more flexible and adaptable in their rapidly changing, technologically infused world.

Session Type: Lecture/Presentation

Contact information/affiliation:
Barbara Brandt
Manager, Classroom Technologies
Academic and Administrative Information Technology
Emory University
540 Asbury Drive, Room 208
Woodruff Library
Atlanta, GA 30322
(404) 727-0422
Barbara.brandt@emory.edu

Kim Braxton
Manager, Centers for Educational Technology
Academic and Administrative Information Technology
Emory University
540 Asbury Drive, Room 208
Woodruff Library
Atlanta, GA 30322
(404) 909-9559
Kim.braxton@emory.edu

Alan Cattier
Director, Academic Technology Services
Academic and Administrative Information Technology
Emory University
540 Asbury Drive, Room 208
Woodruff Library
Atlanta, GA 30322
(404) 727-0515
Alan.cattier@emory.edu