Project Methodology

An initial literature and practice review will be used to identify existing evaluation models and issues.Using a participatory action research approach, the project team will work with stakeholders in learning space design at their respective institutions. Case studies will provide further narrative detail on the implementation of evaluation in specific contexts.

Several distinct objectives can be identified as stages in the project:

1. Identify various stakeholders recognised by universities in the planning and evaluation phases;
2. Examine the social, cultural and pedagogical function of learning spaces;
3. Investigate the perspectives of various stakeholders in relation to evaluation requirements;
4. Undertake a gap analysis in relation to stakeholder requirements and existing practices;
5. Consider domains of evaluation focus as they are relevant to specific stakeholder groups;
6. Investigate evaluation needs during concept, design, implementation, post-occupancy and policy review;
7. Establish differing evaluation needs for variations of learning space usage;
8. Trial multiple methods in differing institutional contexts;
9. Suggest integrated and inclusive approaches to ongoing design and evaluation processes;