Evaluating Learning Spaces Study - Final Report Available

This JISC funded study aimed to identify and review the tools, methods and frameworks used to evaluate technology supported or enhanced physical learning spaces. A key objective was to develop the sector knowledgebase on emerging practice in the evaluation of learning spaces, identifying innovative methods and approaches beyond traditional post-occupancy evaluations and surveys that have dominated this area to date.

The study found that less than a third of evaluations studied made use of any sort of baseline data, therefore limiting the extent to which impact could be fully assessed. It also found that a tension existed between evaluation studies and research into student learning. However it did find pockets of good practice, and these are detailed in the report.

The study also proposes a conceptual Framework for Evaluating Learning Spaces (FELS), which builds upon the input gathered through study interviews and project workshops.

The report can be downloaded at www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/projects/learningspaces08.aspx

iCamp handbook: How to Use Social Software in Higher Education

Just stumbled across this publication - not had chance to read it yet, but it looks like it should be an interesting read. The handbook is a result of the iCamp project, a three-year EC-funded research project that set out to encourage innovative educational practices within European higher education. According to its authors, iCamp promotes the eff ective integration of emerging Social Software technologies within the changing landscapes of European higher education, and this handbook illustrates possible strategies for making good use of these technologies, guided by a constructivist pedagogical vision.

You can download the handbook here as PDF or get in contact with any of the iCamp partners for a printed version.

EQ Magazine - special issue on learning spaces

The latest edition of EDUCAUSE Quarterly Magazine focusses on learning spaces covering a wide range of approaches. To view the issue, follow this link: http://www.educause.edu/library/EQM091W

Call for posters - 3rd Annual Conference of Technology Supported Learning in the 21st Century

Are you using Web 2.0 tools to support student learning in post-16 education or have you done exciting work in any of the following areas at the cutting edge of technology supported learning?

• Sustaining creative cultures
• Learner-led models of technology supported learning
• Changing academic identity and practice

If so, the 3rd Annual Conference of Technology Supported Learning in the 21st Century is looking for practitioners to present posters. The conference takes place at Staffordshire University on 1st June 2009.

If you would like to present a poster, please submit an abstract of no more than 250 words to Christa Appleton (contact details c.appleton@staffs.ac.uk) by noon on 6th May 2009. Please note that a reduced conference rate is offered to poster presenters.

See http://www.staffs.ac.uk/tsl09conference for full details of the conference themes and programme.

effective use of social software report & case studies now available

This JISC funded report, and collection of 26 case studies, which examined the effective use of social software in the UK further and higher education sectors in enhancing student learning and engagement is now available for download at www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/projects/socialsoftware08.aspx.

This very readable report provides insights about the:

• educational goals of using social software tools;
• enablers or drivers within the institution, or from external sources which positively influence the adoption of social software;
• benefits to the students, educators and institutions;
• challenges that may influence a social software initiative;
• issues that need to be considered in a social software initiative.

It also includes a very useful 'recommendations' section aimed towards anyone considering implementing a social software initiative to support student learning and engagement.

I'd like to end this blog post with a quote taken from the study:

"When I thanked an educator, associated with one of the initiatives investigated in this study, at the end of a long day of interviews with her and her students, she said: ‘my heart is with the learners; if I know that something works for them, I want to share it with others so that other learners can also benefit; that is what we are here for - to help our learners’. This statement embodies the spirit of this study: the willingness of colleagues to share their experiences with the wider community."

Quote from study author

Evaluating Learning Spaces Newsletter

Following the first JELS (JISC Evaluating Learning Spaces) Study Workshop, the first JELS newsletter has been published and is available for download from the project website at http://www.lsri.nottingham.ac.uk/jels/news.php. The newsletter provides a review of the activities of the first workshop, along with an overview of the aims of the project itself. The follow-up Learning Spaces Workshop is due to take place on 24 February. If you are interested in taking part in the study, or final workshop the team would be interested to hear from you- www.lsri.nottingham.ac.uk/jels/contact.php

Maximising the effectiveness of virtual worlds - presentations available online in real-time

The 'Maximising the effectiveness of virtual worlds in teaching and learning' event in Glasgow (jointly organised by Eduserv and CETIS) this week has been fully subscribed for some time, however for those still wishing to attend (if only virtually) may be interested to know that Andy Powell from Eduserv is planning to make the audio and slides of all the presentations available in real time on Eduserv Island in Second Life.

Audio will be made available using the SL voice chat facility and copies of all the speakers' slides will be visible in-world. Andy is also going to try and allow for questions to speakers from virtual delegates via text chat.

Virtual delegates should make their way to the Virtual Congress Centre on Eduserv Island:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eduserv%20Island/155/33/32

Presentations start at 10.30am (2.30am SL time) though Andy suggests getting there a little earlier to test out audio, etc. Delegates are welcome to drop in for only those presentations that interest them. The full programme is available at http://wiki.cetis.ac.uk/CETIS-Eduserv-VW2009.