Dear all, 

This is my humble contribution to this display of wonderful spaces created to support language learning. My center is not fancy as you can see, the conversation tables were dumped at the Recycling center, were I salvaged them. But, it has amazing light, the space is inviting, and I have great plans to improve and enhance it. Sadly, last semester I received the order from the school administration to close the center by the end of this semester. I'm going to do anything that is in my power to reverse that decision. Just looking at your centers inspires me even more to do that. I know how important it is for language learning to have lab support, and the sky's the limit for the amount of resources out there. We need to support each other to keep doing what we are doing. 

Best, 

Veronica

Veronica Feliu, PhD

Foreign Languages

Language Center Coordinator

Office: R403E  Phone: (415)452-5558

City College of San Francisco

---

From: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Klaus Schwienhorst <[log in to unmask]HANNOVER.DE>
Sent: Wednesday, February 1, 2017 12:25:58 PM

To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: space usage patterns in your learning spaces

 

Dear all,

a big thank you from Germany for all the amazing contributions. Our language centre here at the University of Hannover, Germany, will probably move to a new location in 2020, so these ideas are really helpful as the idea of learning spaces becomes more widespread.

There are many furniture companies providing solutions for combining individual workspaces with pair workspaces (tandem learning!), group workspaces all very flexible (I am not advertising these, but these provide useful ideas):

http://buzzi.space/category/products/
http://www.steelcase.com/
http://pro-einrichten.de/haeuser-des-wissens/lounge-und-aufenthalt-2/

http://bene.com/en/office-furniture-concepts/office-furniture/collaboration/lounge-meeting/
http://pro-einrichten.de/haeuser-des-wissens/ausstellung-praesentation-raumgliederung/

Some trends that I can identify in more recent learning spaces are (by recent I mean in Germany, from your pictures I can see that we are far behind):

• Integration and networking of mobile devices BYOD
  
• Large screens/ Whiteboards/ interactive Whiteboards, a lot of collaboration space
• mobile furniture that can be combined in various combinations; seating and tables at various heights (more important than some may think, very important in Montessori-pedagogy)
• "comfort factor": students should love to come and stay; i.e. they should be involved in the planning process
• in general: more careful planning (what is the space used for?)
  
• (maybe a German problem) because of more and more copyright issues almost no media rental (no books, no dvds, no blurays, no newspaper/ magazines)
• a presence of peer tutors, and learning counsellors, i.e. student trainers to help students learn
• closed-off spaces (room-in-room) and open exchange spaces

Best wishes,

Klaus

Dr. Klaus Schwienhorst
Geschäftsführender Leiter/ Director
Zentrale Einrichtung Fachsprachenzentrum
Leibniz Universität
Welfengarten 1
30167 Hannover
Tel. +49-511-762-5716
Fax +49-511-762-4008
www.fsz.uni-hannover.de

Am 01.02.2017 um 19:52 schrieb Andrew Ross:

Dear All,

This is amazingly helpful — thanks to everyone who’s posted.  Annelie, I’d love to see pics and spec of the web conference setup.  A quantitative look at our bookings here suggests that we need more informal learning and tutoring spaces.  How are institutions handling that blend of open area and visually/acoustically separate adjoining spaces?

Best,

a.

-- 

Andrew F. Ross, PhD

Clinical Associate Professor

Head, Learning Support Services

School of International Letters & Cultures

Arizona State University

PO Box 870202

Tempe, AZ 85287

(480) 965-1099

Skype: andrew.ross.8

From: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum on behalf of "Rugg, Annelie"
Reply-To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum
Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at 10:16 AM
To: "[log in to unmask]"
Subject: Re: space usage patterns in your learning spaces

Dear Hope and all,

At UCLA we don’t have dedicated space for language teaching/learning, but in the spaces we use and in response to new approaches to teaching, one “usage” pattern we are seeing more of is demand for the ability to connect with remote participants in language classes (as well as others). In several cases, we have opened up less-commonly-taught language (LCTL) courses to students at other UC campuses to attend during the regularly scheduled class time at UCLA by web conference. This means having a good room (lighting and sound management being critical), and a “turnkey” setup for connecting remotely so everyone can hear and see each other. 

If anyone is interested in our version of the turnkey setup, please reach out. Also, simple best practices on lighting and sound management, though it depends on the space you have in mind or have available.

Best regards to all,

Annelie

Annelie Rugg, Ph.D  <|> Humanities CIO

UCLA Center for Digital Humanities

[log in to unmask] <|> 310-903-7691

From: "Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]>" on behalf of "Fitzgerald, Hope (hf6v)"
Reply-To: "Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]>"
Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at 10:04 AM
To: "Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]>"
Subject: space usage patterns in your learning spaces

Hello all!

 

I’m so thankful for the recent thread re: pictures of great learning spaces. Thank you, Andrew Ross, for starting the thread! I’m working on a new language learning space at the University of Virginia (The Language Commons), and am hoping to benefit from your collective wisdom.

 

Do you have any observations re: space usage patterns in the common spaces of your centers? What are some of the most prevalent (or surprising?) uses you’re observing? Independent study? Group projects? Events? How about monitors for screen-sharing—are students making good use of those? Are there any usage needs you’re wishing you’d planned for?

A bit about our project; The Language Commons is planned to include three spaces:

*an open-concept learning space, with various types of flexible seating, a projector & screen, a few PC and Mac stations for student/faculty projects, movable whiteboards, sound system, and a supply of chairs for larger events (event capacity around 75 people)

* a smaller (15-20 person) Group Workspace that includes two work tables with monitors for screen sharing, additional flexible seating, and wall-mounted glassboards.

* a separate language lab facility (24 stations, already open and running well)

 

I’m new to my position, and much of the design for our learning spaces is already in place. That said, we have some flexibility, and I want to gather as much information as I can to make this a wonderful space for collaboration and communication as possible.

 

Any notes would be appreciated! Thank you,

 

Hope Fitzgerald

 

 

From: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]DARTMOUTH.EDU] On Behalf Of Work
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2017 10:16 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Pictures of your amazing language resource center spaces

 

Andrew,

That picture shows 1 of the 5 modules in the room. In addition, there is a central podium, from which the instructor can send an image (from computer, DVD drive, doc camera) to either of the two monitors at the station, or the instructor can release both monitors, in which case students can project from their laptop or mobile device. Structure of the room emphasizes each of the five groups (of up to 5). 

HTH,

Mark

On Jan 24, 2017, at 4:06 PM, Rick Kern <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Hi Andrew,

Here's an image of one of our BLC rooms that Mark Kaiser designed as a "flex room" to provide maximum flexibility for language classes. It has proven to be very popular. Mark may have more images, but this is what we have on our website: http://blc.berkeley.edu/room_reservations/b-3/

Best,

Rick

 

 

On 1/24/17 3:30 PM, Andrew Ross wrote:

Dear All:

 

Arizona State University is embarking on a complete gut and redesign of our Languages & Literatures Building, which houses Learning Support Services (LSS).  LSS is a priority for expanded and redesigned space, which is very good news.  Once upon a time, there was a page on the earlier version of the IALLT website linked from the Language Center Design Manual ( http://www.iallt.org/lcd) that offered amazing images of the very best of the spaces that we’ve designed at our respective institutions.  That seems no longer to be a valid link, so I’m reaching out to all of you for advice and pics.

 

Here’s what we’re looking at in terms of space “typologies”:

• collaboratory/active learning classroom expansion (we already have one, but it’d be useful to see spaces with more capacity (+/- 30))
• drop-in learning facilities, with computers and BYOD capability
• online teaching studios for synchronous activities and simple materials development
• telecollaboration/telepresence space
• testing facilities/quiet spaces
• computer classrooms
• tutoring/small group spaces
• circulation/information space
• CALL research laboratory (eye-tracking lab, observable teaching/learning spaces, media/coding/learning object development space)

If you have center pages with images of the spaces you’ve designed (particularly successful ones), would you please respond to this thread with links?  If you don’t already have them up on the Web, I’d be happy to help figure out a place for them, even temporarily, if others would find that of use.  

 

Many, many thanks in advance!

 

a.

-- 

Andrew F. Ross, PhD

Clinical Associate Professor

Head, Learning Support Services

School of International Letters & Cultures

Arizona State University

PO Box 870202

Tempe, AZ 85287

(480) 965-1099

Skype: andrew.ross.8