Education Community Meeting: Focus on the Physical Learning Environment Dr Sarah Williamson eLearning Change Champion

Review of Educational Requirements Physical teaching space requirements are not being met. Greater flexibility in the layout of rooms (to help enable different learning styles) Better range (and more reliable) AV equipment in pool rooms Issues around class sizes

Group discussion On your tables: Discuss your thoughts on physical space at Cardiff Identify the Groups 3 main points to feed back to the room

Main points Very large lecture theatre (400+) Accessibility issues, business spin-offs Issues of block bookings-use more efficiently Large lecture theatre Conference centre facility for University as a whole Flexible space for group teaching Large IT rooms for summative e-assessment (170)

Main points Flexible spaces for seminars etc Large IT room Reliability, equipment replaced regularly Higher spec in high profile rooms Good communication between Schools/ ESTAT to decide needs Block bookings (safety bookings) how to prevent? Fines/webcams?

Main points Flexibility of furniture use Purpose-built combined library, re-purpose old library space University conference facility needed with high spec kit-look at existing facility Flexible space for students to use laptops in groups-informal learning space. Engineering flexible working space ready soon.

Recommendations from the Review of Educational Requirement at Cardiff An Academic Pool Room User Group should be established to provide more input into the development of the physical education environment to ensure the requirements of Schools are being met. When planning the refurbishment of pool rooms, a team approach to the design of spaces should be taken to ensure there is input from Estates, IT, Educational Specialist and Academic Staff, which will assist in making the space meet the requirements of all stakeholders.

Main points Membership: include students; timetabling officers; teaching academics; nominated contact for each School; SU sabbatical officer; PVC for Education and Students; Estates, Finance and INSRV (IT support) reps; chaired by teaching academic; PCUTL/REGOS rep; room management rep; academic IT support.

Main points Evidence sources: APRE; NSS; Estates Access Consultation Group; HelpDesk room data; Room Utilisation and Condition Surveys

Main points Agenda: Requirements gathering-survey work Examine current facilities Feedback from Pool Room Support including major incidents due to equipment failure Case Studies of good practice here at Cardiff/beyond? Budget and financial implications

Main points School plans-impact on resources Frequency-meet once a term-use of MWE tools/sub groups set up Remit to ensure a strategic role as well as problem-solving Pool rooms NOT departmental rooms