EDF4249 - Space, design, community and learning

Leader: Dr M-L Rasmussen

Offered

Clayton First semester 2007 (Day)
Clayton Second semester 2007 (Flexible)

Synopsis

In this elective participants consider the construction of learning spaces within and outside the classroom. This unit will be organized around three four week modules. In the first module we will look at exemplary school designs and consider the relationship between space, place and learning. The second module focuses on how teachers might draw on physical, virtual and human resources within the local community to enhance the space of the school and the community. The third module looks at exemplary educational spaces outside the school. Participants will consider the criteria they might use in designing quality learning experiences in non-school based learning spaces.

Objectives

It is anticipated that by the end of this unit students will have developed the ability to critically interrogate the relationship between space, design, community and learning; to understand the role that different spaces and places can have on learning; will better understand how communities and schools might come together to enhance learning spaces; will have the ability to critically analyze alternative spaces of learning that they might utilize outside the space of the school.

Assessment

A visual case study (equivalent to 1000 words): 30%; An Essay (1500 words): 40%; and Design of a Learning Space (1500 words equivalent): 30%

Contact hours

2 hours per week