{"id":2576,"date":"2018-11-07T23:34:59","date_gmt":"2018-11-08T04:34:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/innovationhub\/?p=2576"},"modified":"2024-06-20T16:57:26","modified_gmt":"2024-06-20T20:57:26","slug":"designing-classrooms-with-and-not-for-the-university-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/innovationhub\/designing-classrooms-with-and-not-for-the-university-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Designing Classrooms \u201cwith\u201d and not \u201cfor\u201d the University Community"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Julia\u00a0Smeed, Innovation Projects Officer<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

A world-class institution deserves world-class spaces for learning and instruction. That\u2019s why we think that Academic and Campus Events (ACE) landmark renovation project \u2013\u00a0Transforming the Instructional Landscape<\/i>\u00a0(TIL) \u2013 will be such an exciting and impactful project at U of T. The instructional space on campus plays an essential role in fulfilling the university\u2019s mandate to provide an unparalleled learning experience and impacts every student here. As the steward of these important facilities, ACE is committed to developing accessible, innovative, and purpose-built classrooms that address the needs of instructors\u00a0and<\/i>\u00a0students. We can\u2019t help but be inspired by their ambitious new vision for U of T.<\/p>\n

To achieve this vision, ACE has partnered with us to take\u00a0taking an innovative approach to the re-design of instructional space. Using human-centred methodologies, we seek to deeply understand the user experience to ensure that user needs, desires, and perspectives are at the core of the re-design process. With ACE\u2019s sights set to renovate 174 classrooms across 23 buildings on campus, we are working hard to gather data through observation, interviews and pop-up style events to test and get feedback on potential designs. Rather than a linear process, design thinking is an iterative process of prototyping and testing, continually engaging and drawing upon user experience. Through this process, ACE aims to embrace the idea of providing a better experience to\u00a0every<\/i>\u00a0community member who uses academic spaces. Getting early and constant feedback makes the ideation process more efficient and assures the best fit with what stakeholders are looking for. Furthermore, it provides students and faculty a stake in the design process.<\/p>\n

What additionally makes this project so impactful, is the unique role that ACE has in the postsecondary sector as a dedicated space management team for such a large percentage of campus space.\u00a0 Few other universities consolidate classroom and shared space allocation across departments and buildings into one dedicated, multi-faceted team, allowing for more flexible and efficient processes. The traditional method of space allocation in academic institutions assigns rooms based on department and building, leaving rooms unused or poorly allocated in reference to instructional needs. By consolidating the space management of both classrooms and shared space under one umbrella, ACE\u00a0is able to\u00a0recognize and respond to the changing needs of students and instructors.\u00a0 Classroom spaces are assigned based on efficiency and pedagogical considerations allowing for better support of instructors and students.\u00a0 ACE\u2019s approach allows the instructional landscape to keep pace with evolving technologies and emerging teaching pedagogies.<\/p>\n

With an eye to improving the learning experience in\u00a0almost 6000 courses across campus<\/b>,\u00a0Transforming the Instructional Landscape<\/i>\u00a0is no small feat. Working in collaboration, not just with the Innovation Hub, but the very students and faculty that instruct and learn in these spaces is crucial to ensuring the most impactful re-design possible. And engaging in the ongoing iterative process of prototyping and refining designs ensures that ACE will be well positioned to effectively maintain transformative spaces on campus for many years to come. Stay tuned for further updates on this project by subscribing to our blog<\/a> and faculty and student who would like to contribute to this research are encouraged to reach out to us at\u00a0innovationhub@utoronto.ca<\/a><\/p>\n

Meet<\/b>\u00a0the Team<\/b><\/p>\n

The Innovation Hub team working in partnership with ACE on\u00a0Transforming the Instructional Landscape\u00a0<\/i>brings together students from both undergraduate and graduate disciplines in business, anthropology, religion, and user experience design.\u00a0Innovation Hub team members include:<\/p>\n