Learning Space Research

Last Updated: September 2011

Table of Contents

• Learning Space Research at Ryerson
• Additional Learning Space Resources

Learning Space Research at Ryerson

The Committee for Effective Teaching and Learning Environments (CETLE) was responsible for the development of guidelines related to the design and/or re-design of new and/or existing teaching and learning facilities and for making recommendations regarding the technological needs in learning spaces.

In September 2006, Dr. Linda Grayson, Vice President of Administration and Finance, commissioned CETLE to re-design an existing multi-purpose classroom. Over 2 years the committee, made up of a cross section of faculty, students and staff, met to plan and discuss how this space could be redesigned to support some of the best existing teaching and learning practices. The result of this work was POD 372, a classroom that integrates the concepts of flexible teaching space, integrated technology, complete accessibility, natural aesthetics, and environmental friendliness. For more information on the redesign, see:

• 2006-2008 CETLE Report [pdf]
• Video of a Re-Designed Classroom at Ryerson University
  Low Bandwidth (512 kb)
  High Bandwidth (1000 kb)

For more information on the classroom design, please contact the following individuals:
- Materials:  Simon Divincenzo sdivince@ryerson.ca  (Architect for the Classroom Re-Design project)
- Technology: Sean Kearns sean.kearns@ryerson.ca (Media & Instructional Technology)

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Additional Learning Space Resources

• Learning Space Design
  EDUCAUSE has published multiple books, studies, and papers on learning space design, much of which is available online.
  • Learning Spaces: An EDUCAUSE e-book
    Edited by Diana G. Oblinger. 2006.
  • The Space Is the Message: First Assessment of a Learning Studio
    By Jim S. C. Tom, Kenneth Voss, and Christopher Scheetz. EDUCAUSE Quarterly, vol. 31, no. 2. April/June 2008.
  • Learning Space Design in Action [pdf]
    By Phillip D. Long. EDUCAUSE Review, July/August 2005.
• Designing Spaces for Active Learning [pdf]
  By Aimee Whiteside and Steve Fitzgerald. Implications, a newsletter by InformeDesign, University of Minnesota. Volume 7, Issue 1.
• Forming Places That Form Ideas: Creating Informal Learning Spaces [pdf]
  The Herman Miller Corporation wrote this paper after designing informal learning spaces for Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ferris State University in Big Rapids, and Ohio State University in Columbus.
• Learning Styles and Learning Spaces: Enhancing Experiential Learning in Higher Education [pdf]
  By Alice Y. Kolb and David A. Kolb. Academy of Management Learning & Education. 2005, Vol. 4, No. 2, 193-212.
• Celebrating Leeds Met Writers: Technology Enhanced Learning & Learning Spaces [pdf]
  The Assessment, Learning and Teaching Journal. Number 7, Winter 2009. Leeds Metropolitan University.
• Learning, Lighting, and Color [pdf]
  Lighting Design for Schools and Universities in the 21st Century. By Randall Fielding, AIA. Design Share.

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