The Art of the Possible – The Future of Education Spaces: The Events

Art of the Possible Week Line-Up

Monday 24th January ’22

Form, Function & Feeling in Teaching Spaces: Workshop, with Professor Prue Chiles, Professor of Architectural Design – 1 – 3pm

An interactive session with Professor Prue Chiles to discuss and debate what great teaching spaces could be and ways to achieve it. Through thoughtful design and understanding of both student and teacher, how can we design beautiful spaces which function for all and promote positive learning experiences.

In-Person Workshop: Location TBC

Tuesday 25th January ’22

Newcastle University Technology Enhanced Learning Advocates (NUTELA) Present: Enhancing Learning Spaces with Technology- 11am – 12

Hear ideas and current practice from colleagues across the University in this series of lightning talks exploring the innovative and future use of existing PiP teaching spaces on Campus for learning and assessment.

Presenters will discuss the future of spaces for digital exams with shifting assessment practices, how existing technology available to us all on campus can enhance education spaces for students and colleagues, and cutting-edge technology that could develop the blended learning experience. 

Via Zoom

Tuesday 25th January ’22

Hybrid Learning Rooms: A design for inclusive spaces, with Professor Paul Fleet – 12.30-1.30pm

Come along to this panel discussion hosted by Professor Paul Fleet on the opportunities for hybrid learning as distinct from technology enhanced learning. Done well, hybrid learning offers the possibility to maintain the guidance and comfort of traditional courses for both remote students and those attending face-to-face – this event will give attendees the chance to input into the design of a new space on campus.

Via Zoom

Wednesday 26th January ’22

Lightning Talk & Panel Session with GSS Architecture & NORR – 12 – 2pm

Join Jonathan Hunter and Simon Rennison-Rae, Partners at GSSArchitects, and Robin Stewart, Director at NORR, for a series of lighting talks followed by a panel session and Q&A about Newcastle University’s latest Capital projects – The Dame Margaret Barbour Building, The Catalyst and Stephenson Building Redevelopment. This will be a chance to discover the ideas behind the briefs for each building, learn about their successes and what each building has to offer.

Via Zoom

Thursday 27th January ’22

Making the Case, Making the Space: Creating valuable spaces for collaborative learning, with FaulknerBrowns Architects – 12 – 2pm

Drawing on the experience he has gained over fifteen years delivering inspiring learning spaces with Universities across the UK, and undertaking extensive research to explore the ways in which space can support the ways we work and learn, Ian Whittle, Associate Partner FaulknerBrowns Architects, will give a presenation exploring:

  • On-campus collaboration as a critical component of a blended learning experience.
  • Making the case for collaborative teaching: How can we articulate the benefits for learning, wellbeing and sustainability?
  • Making the space for collaborative teaching: delivering effective, flexible and sustainable spaces

Via Zoom

Friday 28th January ’22

NUTELA Presents: Augmented Reality in laboratories and teaching spaces, with Dr Aleksey Kozikov (Lecturer in Physics) – 10 – 11am

Join us for a live, in-person demonstration of using Augmented Reality within University teaching spaces, with lots of time for questions and discussion.

Laboratory skills courses are crucial in that they help students gain hands-on experience of doing experiments, better understand the theory behind them, see practical applications of their knowledge and skills, and provide a basis for future employment. These courses are part of professional accreditation for bodies such as the Institute of Physics and integral mode of delivery for many other programmes across the University.  
Aleksey will discuss his experience of using Augmented Reality (AR) within laboratories to allow students to see the real and virtual world overlaid with each other. Within the demonstration you will see how when using a personal device, virtual objects (buttons, switches, cables, etc.) overlay with the real scenes and are made available for students to manipulate. With a switch to online learning, or to facilitate students learning remotely, the use of AR can be extended by using webcams located at the University to stream videos of real hands-on experiments live into students’ computers or tablets. With AR, students can handle virtual tools and perform the required tasks of experiments without stepping foot in a lab. 

Herschel Annexe

About

The Estates & Facilities Team are continuously working to improve our teaching spaces for our students and colleagues. Our annual Teaching & Learning refurbishments budget allows us to invest in our teaching campus, with money allocated to spend on enhancing Audio & Visual technologies, creating innovative and well-functioning spaces and refreshing interior decoration; helping us to provide comfortable and inspiring spaces for our people to work and thrive in.

Each project is worked through extensively to create effective designs to best suit each unique space, relying heavily on information we gather through consultation and feedback. Furthermore, in line with the University’s Climate Action Plan and NET Zero Carbon targets the Estates Team use functional suitability assessments to determine prioritised spaces and highlight opportunities for partial refurbishments including reusing and restoring our teaching room furniture.

With this blog, we will keep you updated on our live and upcoming Teaching & Learning refurbishment projects. Also giving you the chance to have your say through our online consultation and feedback forms. The page will also be used to promote Estates-led teaching events and provide details of in-person consultation opportunities, as well as giving visitors to the page an insight into our project processes and construction progress. Remember to check back regularly to stay informed with our work and look out for our information posters popping up around the University campus.

The Estates and Facilities Team 2021