Online Course | Making Learning Spaces Work: Designing a Comprehensive Support and Faculty Development Program for Active and Collaborative Learning Spaces

Part 1: November 28, 2018 | 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET
Part 2: December 5, 2018 | 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET
Part 3: December 12, 2018 | 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET

Overview

While new learning spaces like active learning classrooms (ALCs) create exciting new teaching and learning opportunities for instructors and students, they also create unique challenges. Successful teaching and learning in these new spaces necessitates that instructors rethink their approach to teaching and that students rethink their approach to learning. The structure of support and development work that takes place with instructors on how to effectively use these spaces is critical. This workshop series will focus on how to support instructors in new spaces. Examples of successful programs will provide a framework to help participants design their own program for their own campus context.

Learning Objectives

During this course, participants will:

  • Examine evidence of the importance of active and collaborative learning and how space can support learning
  • Explore a comprehensive support and faculty development framework for learning spaces
  • Examine lessons learned from implementing a comprehensive support and faculty development program for ALCs and how it has changed over time
  • Use a comprehensive framework to help develop ideas for your campus
  • Receive feedback on your ideas and integrate it into your own programs

NOTE: Participants will be asked to complete assignments in between the course segments that support the learning objectives stated below and will receive feedback and constructive critique from course facilitators on how to improve and shape their work.

Facilitator

Adam Finkelstein Adam Finkelstein, Associate Director, Learning Environments, McGill University

Adam Finkelstein is currently Associate Director, Learning Environments (Physical and Digital) at Teaching and Learning Services at McGill University. He develops university-wide initiatives to improve teaching and learning environments. In his tenure at McGill, he has managed a team of instructional designers and multimedia programmers. He has developed many different types of award winning technology-enhanced teaching and learning projects for McGill including multimedia CD-ROMs, learning objects, simulations, and other on-line environments—including multiple previous implementations of McGill's learning management systems.

His area of research interest includes the interrelationship of teaching and learning in physical (classroom, teaching and simulation labs) and digital (online learning) environments. He has also been very much involved in the implementation of technology in education and instructional/learning design for on-line and face-to-face learning. Over the last few years he has been focused on designing innovative physical and virtual learning spaces.

He is currently the Chair of two groups responsible for the selection, design and renovation of classrooms and teaching labs at McGill, including numerous new Active Learning Classrooms and Labs. He is also Team Lead for the design and delivery of McGill's first four Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). He is currently Co-Lead of the Learning Spaces Design Constituent Group for EDUCAUSE and is a member of core team for the development of the Learning Spaces Rating System (LSRS)