Collaborative Learning Spaces

1. Collaborative Learning Spaces • Project Leads: Bill Carswell,Kent Miller • Members: Dan Bernstein, Susan Craig, Lea Currie, Linda Dixon, Reva Friedman-Nimz, Sarah Kanning, Chris Martin, Jim Neeley, Tom Roderick, Rachel Rumple-Comerford,Tom Waechter, Susan Zvacek • Facilitators: Carmen Orth-Alfie,Terry Proctor • Consultants: Joan Lippincott, Karen Williams • Sponsor: Stella Bentley

2. The Charge Evaluate the needs of faculty and students for learning spaces that bring together print/electronic resources with learning tools that assist in collaborative learning.

3. The Nature of Collaborative Learning . . . collaborative learning fosters the development of critical thinking through discussion, clarification of ideas, and evaluation of others' ideas. . . . Gokhale (1996)

4. Collaborative LearningActivity Types Tasks that are implementable within a collaborative learning environment • Collaborative concept-learning tasks • Collaborative problem-solving tasks • Collaborative designing tasks • (Kumar,1996)

5. Pilot Project Proposal • Collaborative Initiative • CTE, Library, IDS, ACS • Encourage, Support, and Promote Collaborative Instructional Models • Experimental small spaces • Watson Library • Anschutz Library

6. Why the Library? • Historical role of library as resource center • Existing space and sponsorship • Centrally located, increased traffic • Academic focus of activities • Reservable, not “schedulable”

7. Learning Spaces Amenities • High Tech Needs • Low Tech Needs • Physical Environment • Support Staff

8. Who Will Use It and How? • Student Groups -- Formal (Thematic Learning Communities or Classes) and Informal • Cooperating on assignments and projects • Studying in groups of 2-6 persons • Faculty and Graduate Teaching Assistants • Teaching collaborative work skills (in class or out) • Leading groups focused on “researchable” issues or project-based learning • Engaging students in collaborative projects

9. User Activities • Collective student work and information exchange • Seminar style research and reporting • Resource discovery and data mining • Multimedia reporting, idea organizing, and presentation construction • Local and remote collaborative exchange • Collaboration activities

10. Proto-Collaborative Learning Environments at KU:Thematic Learning Communities (TLCs) 20 students, who • Take two core courses and a seminar with a given theme together • Participate in study groups, discussions, and other related out-of-class activities together • Participate in out-of-class activities and study groups organized by a Peer Educator • Live on a specific floor of a residence hall, OR • Have undesignated housing and can live on or off-campus

11. Proto-Collaborative Learning Environments at KU:Thematic Learning Communities (TLCs) • Residential TLCs work together on the floor lobbies • convenient but distracting • Need a central location for collaborative work, for • Non-residential TLCs • When the program expands beyond the freshman year • Growth of the program; goal is 2000 participants by 2008

12. Proto-Collaborative Learning Environments at KU KUBlackboard Usage Feedback Spring 2003 Survey : • Of the faculty using Blackboard, • 21% reported using Small Group Communication Tools and • 23% reported using the Discussion Board. When asked what activities they'd like to incorporate into their Blackboard usage, but haven't yet, • 33% selected Discussion Board and • 25% chose Group Projects

13. Proto-Collaborative Learning Environments at KU KUBlackboard Usage Feedback Received many comments regarding the ease with which Blackboard facilitated student-to-student. Example: "The Discussion Board is helpful for students to learn from one another. The problem is that it is not real time…." Could indicate that although we provide asynchronous collaboration for students, we're lacking in real-time collaborative facilities/opportunities

14. Proto-Collaborative Learning Environments at KUTeam Learning: Dan Spencer, Business SUCCESSFUL TEAM LEARNING REQUIRES: • Careful composition of teams • Use of meaningful, reciprocally interdependent tasks • Delegate authority to teams to govern themselves • Create a supportive physical environment • Establishing mechanisms to drive continuous learning (more…)

15. Proto-Collaborative Learning Environments at KUTeam Learning: Dan Spencer, Business SUCCESSFUL TEAM LEARNING REQUIRES: • Establishing classroom interactions that support individual and team learning • Evaluating behaviors pertinent to team success • Educating students about the pedagogical approach • Providing educational material (readings, videos) about teams • Team building prior to assignment of complex projects

16. Exploring Examples of Collaborative Learning Spaces What can we learn from the successes and setbacks of other institutions? • University of Georgia • Emory University • University of Oregon • University of Arizona

17. University of GeorgiaStudent Learning Center

18. University of GeorgiaStudent Learning Center • New building: 200,000 square feet.

19. University of GeorgiaStudent Learning Center • Library / Computer Center / Teaching Center.

20. Open Spaces, Windows, No Books. University of GeorgiaStudent Learning Center

21. University of GeorgiaStudent Learning Center Network Access – Wireless and Data Ports

22. University of GeorgiaStudent Learning Center • Collaboration • 96 Group Study Rooms • 1- and 2-person Carrels 1 2

23. University of GeorgiaStudent Learning Center Conveniences • Nearby Parking • 24 hour Access • Coffee Shop/Café

24. University of GeorgiaStudent Learning Center It’s popular and they plan to build another one!

25. Emory UniversityCox Hall Computer Lab • Basics: Small Lab (80 computers), Centrally located on campus. • Variety of spaces: Classrooms, workstations, meeting rooms, collaborative spaces. • Technology: Mac/PC, Wireless, Dual Monitor, Multimedia Workstations (Video/DVD), Plasma Smart Boards. • Aesthetics: Lighting, Carpet/Wall color palate, Art. • Furniture: Soft seating, low seating, movable tables, desks & partitions.

26. University of OregonProctor Classrooms, Knight Library • Large Public Institution, comparable to KU • Collaborative Teaching Space in Main Library

27. U of Oregon: Facilities • Large room ~ 60 seats • Small room ~ 25 seats • Can combine the rooms

28. U of Oregon: Technology • Tools available • Wireless laptops • Projectors • Video • Document cameras • Technologies as learning tools not just teaching tools • Hardware/Software should allow sharing/comparing of individual work.

29. U of Oregon: Technology Negatives: • Large Fixed Podium • No remotes • Hard to re-arrange (heavy tables, crowded space) • Need to recharge laptop batteries = downtime. • Instructors don’t fully use available technology

30. University of ArizonaIntegrated Learning Center (ILC) • Large public school, 34,000 students • Location: Central campus, lower level of Library • Integrated with other (non-library) units • Multi-Purpose: Freshman Orientation at ILC, students identify it as "place to go" for group work, tech assistance, study, etc. • Layout: Different spaces connected by ramp, Group study rooms • Technology: 250 computers, Wireless, 8 A/V Production Suites • Support: Research/Tech Assistance, Open & staffed 24 hours

31. Summing It Up … Ideal spaces support collaborative learning and support teaching people how to do collaborative learning Presentation, date

32. Flexible Physical Arrangements • Seating : • Lightweight stackable chairs on casters • Comfortable sitting chairs on casters University of Kansas

33. Flexible Physical Arrangements • Work surfaces : • Easily movable tables on lockable casters • Reconfigurable size and shape

34. Flexible Physical Arrangements • Walls: • Allow for combinations of space for breakouts • Simultaneous use for teaching and commons • Includes writable, tackable, magnetic wall surfaces

35. Flexible Supporting Technologies • Computing and Networking • Wireless access and laptops for checkout • Lab instruction software such as SynchronEyes • Distributed power and network connections (wall/floor) • Equipment is unobtrusive, ubiquitous • Remote controls; no fixed podium • Projector and interactive whiteboard in each subspace

36. Informal Atmosphere • Anti-lecture hall, with no fixed focal point • Non-institutional layout and furnishings • Shapes of spaces and subspaces are round/square, not rectangular • Spacious areas for groups • Comfortable, inviting, variable, appealing

37. Support and Consultation • Concierge Model • Tech Support • Research Consultation • Instructional Support • Student Services

38. Implementation • Identify Spaces • Specify Program Needs • Establish the Project Budget • Identify Sources of Money • Design!

39. Questions?