Brainstorming is an essential part of academic technology leadership. Whether it is coming up with ideas for a learning space or tackling and challenge presented by a faculty member, creativity is essential to success. Here are some quick brainstorming tips.
As part of the EDUCAUSE 2006 pre-conference seminar, “This is Not a Lab: Seminar on Developing Learning Environments,” the team created a set of fictional scenarios to support a workshop group exercise. Loosely based on actual experiences, the team thought these scenarios might be of interest others, so they have been republished here.
As part of the EDUCAUSE 2006 pre-conference seminar, “This is Not a Lab: Seminar on Developing Learning Environments,” the team developed fictional profiles of four different institutions to support a workshop group exercise. The four profiles describe a community college, a large state research university, a small liberal arts college, and a private research university. The team thought that these profiles might be of interest other institutions looking to build higher education team-building and role-playing exercises, so they have been published here for others to use.
The material below was associated with the EDUCAUSE 2006 half-day pre-conference workshop entitled “This is Not a Lab: Workshop on Developing Learning Environments.” The workshop was held on October 6, 2006, and featured Emily Baker, Director of Learning Environments at the University of Chicago, Mark Cheng, President of MDC Architects, Chicago, and Chad J. Kainz, Senior Director for Academic Technologies at the University of Chicago. This material has been reformatted and moved from the original workshop website.
Weve all been there. You know, in a learning environment that, well, wasnt quite right: maybe the air conditioning was terrible, the layout awful, or somehow the color was simply wrong. Take a moment to think about the learning environments youve been in (including this one) or that youre responsible for. Whats one thing you would change about that environment or, in case of your spaces back home, are too embarrassed to admit to your administration? The thing can be simple or wacky. Take a moment and write down one item that irks you.
The material below was associated with the EDUCAUSE 2006 half-day pre-conference workshop entitled “This is Not a Lab: Workshop on Developing Learning Environments.” The workshop was held on October 6, 2006, and featured Emily Baker, Director of Learning Environments at the University of Chicago, Mark Cheng, President of MDC Architects, Chicago, and Chad J. Kainz, Senior Director for Academic Technologies at the University of Chicago. This material has been reformatted and moved from the original workshop website.
The spaces around you are filled with details that can inform or inspire creative thinking on a learning environment project. Something as simple as the location of the light switch can make the experience within a space more successful. During the break, take a look around you and identify one detail that interests you or you feel is clever or successful.
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Sunday, September 20, 2009