Project

Retrofitting university learning spaces: from teaching spaces to learning spaces

Project Information

Year Funded:: 2008
Grant (ex GST):: $212,000
Project Status:: Ongoing
Program:: Priority Projects
Project Keywords:: Learning and teaching spaces, Retrofitting university places
Project Discipline:: Non-disciplinary

Institutions

Queensland University of Technology (Lead)
Charles Darwin University
Edith Cowan University

Project Leader

Dr Geoffrey Mitchell
Queensland University of Technology
gc [dot] mitchell [at] qut [dot] edu [dot] au

Project Outcome

The project will develop guidelines, principles, exemplars and evaluation rubrics to guide the sustainable refurbishment of existing tertiary learning spaces to support a range of current and emerging pedagogical practices. Guidelines for academic staff development, facilities, AV and IT support, and for architects involved in institutional refurbishments are also included.

Project Methodology

The project will adopt a collaborative, case-based approach involving QUT, CDU, and ECU. The project will explore examples in which state of the art pedagogical models are united with the built environment and other physical assets, technology and social networks, to create practical and powerful spaces for student learning.

Following the development of general principles, each institution will conduct the project in a number of phases:

Phase 1:
Environmental scan of good practice models combined with formal consultations with key stakeholders (institutional facilities managers, academic staff, students, technology staff, architects and space designers).

Phase 2:
Planning the redevelopment:
Collaboration with institutional stakeholders at each site to transform principles into practice.

Phase 3:
Physical redevelopment of learning spaces by the participating institutions.

Phase 4:
Post occupancy evaluation of three spaces at each institution.

Phase 5:
Examination of implications for redeveloped spaces for academic staff development, support services, facilities managers and architects. Following this, key findings will be collated and then disseminated.