The LearnHigher CETLManchester Metropolitan University MMU

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The LearnHigher CETL_at_Manchester Metropolitan
University (MMU)
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Centre for Excellence in Teaching Learning
Background - Centre for Excellence in Teaching
Learning (CETL)

• One of 74 (7) CETLs created by HEFCE in 2005
• Lead Higher Education Institution(HEI) is Hope
  University, Liverpool
• A collaborative CETL of 16 HEI members
• Twenty areas of Learner Development
  identified
• Some partners oversee more than on learning area
  (and indeed CETL)
• Managed with support from Regular Steering Group
  Research meetings

Department of Information Communications
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Learning Areas Verbal Communication Listening Gro
up Work Time and Project Management Information
Technology and Online Learning Numeracy Reading
and Note-Making Information Literacy Research
Methods Essay Writing Dissertations / Final Year
Projects Referencing and Plagiarism Reports and
Scientific Writing Learning for All Visual
Analysis Assessment Personal Development Thinking
Independent Learning Orientation to Higher
Education
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MMU CETL Learning Area
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Our Learning Area is Information Literacy
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Centre for Excellence in Teaching Learning
LearnHigher at MMU Location - Information
Communications Team Members -
Academics Library Practitioners Learning
Support Tutors External - CERLIM External -
Manchester University External - Tallinn
University
Department of Information Communications
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Centre for Excellence in Teaching Learning

• Capital Recurrent Funding - What weve done
  with the money
• Capital
• 90, 000 spent on the LearnHigher Suite
  Equipment (Opened Oct 2006)
• Recurrent
• 15000 each year for five years
• Buy out and buy in researchers
• Resources and Research
• Conference participation and travel
• Co-operative ventures (e.g.The Internet
  Detective)

Department of Information Communications
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Centre for Excellence in Teaching Learning

Converting an existing area to create a Multi
Activity Learning Space Key Questions
Asked 1. What activities are we creating the
spaces for? 2. Who are we creating the spaces
for? 3. What are the current demands and what
might the future demands be on the
spaces? 4. What ideas and examples of good
practice can we draw on to help create the
new spaces? 5. How will we manage, monitor and
develop the spaces when they are completed?
Department of Information Communications
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Centre for Excellence in Teaching Learning

• Certain things became clear early from the
  outset
• The existing area should be zoned to cater for
  differing activities formal, semi formal,
  informal, large group, small group and solo,
  teaching and non-teaching
• There was a need for flexibility in layout,
  furnishing and communicationsin order to cater
  for differing use potential
• The Look and feel, (or personality), of each
  zone would have a major impact on its
  effectiveness
• Prior, ongoing and post-completion reviews were
  essential to the success and development of the
  project

Department of Information Communications
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Centre for Excellence in Teaching Learning

• Outcome
• An Area comprising six zones (plus existing
  labs)
• Open Social Learning Space
• Three Fixed Computer Islands (12 people each
  Island)
• Internet Bar
• Large Work Table (8 people)
• Small work Tables (2/ 3 people)
• Low level sofa type seating area
• Formal Teaching Space (40 people)
• Small Seminar/ Presentation Room (6 people)
• Large Flexible Committee Room (25 people)
• All areas are Wireless with linked Plasma
  Screen Vision

Department of Information Communications
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Centre for Excellence in Teaching Learning

• Process - advice
• Know what you want and when you want it
• Know what you dont want
• Find out others what they have done (and how)
• Find out whats possible within the budget
  constraints
• Find out whats possible within Institutional
  constraints
• Involve as many players as reasonably possible
• Keep them involved
• Ask questions often
• Dont assume outcomes
• Be flexible but assertive
• At the end be prepared for a little more..

Department of Information Communications
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Centre for Excellence in Teaching Learning
The Learnhigher Suite
Committee Room
Department of Information Communications
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Centre for Excellence in Teaching Learning
The Learnhigher Suite
Flexible Learning Space
Department of Information Communications
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Centre for Excellence in Teaching Learning
The Learnhigher Suite
Syndicate Room
Department of Information Communications
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Centre for Excellence in Teaching Learning
The Learnhigher Suite
Formal Teaching Space
Department of Information Communications
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Centre for Excellence in Teaching Learning
Information Literacy Website Launch
Department of Information Communications
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Centre for Excellence in Teaching Learning
Website address
www.mmu.ac.uk/learnhigher
Contributions comments very welcome
Thanks for listening.
Bob Glass
Department of Information Communications