A Place of Their Own: Accessible learning and self-directed activities in the Learning Zones

Brief description of session and activities

Part One: Presentation The presenters will describe the journey of the Learning Zones using Pecha Kucha. They will review delivered and planned activities and provide anecdotal information about accessibility, assistive technologies and student autonomy that the resources promote. The presenters will draw on student feedback over the years and show examples of student use of the space.

Part Two: Workshop Participants will be asked to assume roles of various types of students to discover what they need from the Learning Zones to support them in their studies. Participants will then resume their own roles and discuss how the student needs can be met through course activities designed to enable students to exploit the resources currently available or could be available in the future in the Learning Zones.

How will students be involved in the session?

Part One: The presenters will draw on student feedback and observations about student use of the space.

Part Two: Assuming the roles of students, participants will ‘experience’ the Learning Zones through the students’ eyes, capturing impressions of how the students would use the space. The participants will then review these experiences to make recommendations on how course and Learning Zone teams can work collaboratively to develop sustainable programmes that support the needs of a variety of students.

What will participants take away from the session?

Participants can consider what activities they can develop to encourage student use of the Learning Zone spaces.