On the Rebound: Carrying Forward Innovations from Two Learning Sandboxes during the Pandemic

Bentley University’s Computer Information Systems (CIS) Sandbox opened as a technology social learning space for students in 2011, and University of Central Florida’s Sandbox opened as an active learning classroom in 2019. Both spaces provide resources for experiential learning for students through collaborative layouts, current technology, and innovative programming. Bentley’s facility proposes new models for operating a campus learning center in a post-pandemic era by providing peer tutoring in multiple modalities, and UCF’s sandbox is an experimental faculty-centered space for testing classroom technologies and pedagogies. In addition to sharing their individual unique features and offerings, the presenters will identify common themes (beyond the name) that both facilities offer to improve learning and teaching initiatives. During this session you will hear about best practices in operating student- and faculty-centered learning spaces and how they support collaboration, improve student outcomes, and create communities of learners. Share your own campus success stories of innovative technology-enabled student learning spaces.