Space for Personalised Learning

There is another FutureLab project that is examining the necessity to re-design schools on the basis of a solid understanding of how learning can be supported.

This project is the Space for Personalised Learning (Space4PL). Space4PL is set within the UK.

"Space4PL is an ambitious project funded by the DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families) that will provide schools with tools and support to re-design their spaces according to a clear educational vision, rather than following the superficial appeal of new buildings and resources which court the risk of being disconnected from effective learning."

"They will be talking to pupils, teachers and parents, identifying possibilities and testing actual design solutions to personalise learning. The findings and the tools that will emerge from this project will be communicated to all schools in the country, providing them with help and advice as they are approaching the most delicate phases of their renovation and re-building programmes."

http://www.futurelab.org.uk/projects/space4pl/

Designing Learning Spaces

It's funny how things sort of converge! Today I was in a meeting discussing the design of staff spaces to support teacher learning and collaboration. The regulations seemed to dominate the thinking as to why things couldn't be done differently.

Upon getting home I opened up my email to find an email from Futurelab, a UK non-profit organisation that explores innovation in education. The email indicated that in January 2008 Futurelab conducted a workshop in which particpants explored personalising learning and school design.

CARTOON PASTED FROM <http://flux.futurelab.org.uk/>

The workshop explored

• The biggest barriers
• Principles of personalisation
• Technologies and future learning opportunities
• Student voice
• Generated a set of outcomes of the workshop.

The summary document of the workshop, Learning spaces and personalisation workshop outcomes, makes for an interesting read.

Further information about this workshop can be found at the Themes section on learning spaces http://www.futurelab.org.uk/themes/learning_spaces at Futurelab.

Futurelab has also produced a more comprehensive report on learning spaces, Opening education: What if … re-imagining learning spaces.

In addition, the blog FLUX is running a themed week this week (9-16 May 2008) on Learning Spaces. Entries include:

• Tomorrow's schools more than just learning spaces
• Personalising space and school redesign
• A 'practical tool' for redesigning learning spaces?