Principles and Standards for Designing Teaching and Learning Spaces
Recent Learning Spaces Improvements
Teaching and Learning Spaces Working Group
University Teaching Labs Working Group
Active Learning Classrooms
Since 2005, there has been increased focus on the design of teaching and learning spaces that better support students’ active engagement in their own learning. A key result has been the creation of the Teaching and Learning Spaces Working Group (TLSWG) by the Provost in 2006. Intended to create a vision for teaching and learning space development aligned with University directions, the working group establishes teaching and learning space principles and standards, identifies teaching and learning space needs, sets priorities and recommends funding for improvements to teaching and learning spaces at McGill. As of 2011, the University Teaching Labs Working Group (UTLWG) has also begun funding improvements to teaching laboratory spaces across campus.
These working groups have recommended funding for nearly $20M of renovations and IT improvements to classrooms and teaching laboratories across campus since 2006. These projects have included multiple new Active Learning Classrooms (ALCs) designed for active and collaborative learning. The ALCs were highlighted in the September 2013 publication of a book by the Danish Agency for Universities and Internationalization that highlights innovative international campus spaces (see pp. 120-123, PDF pp. 62-63). The ALCs and the design principles that informed these rooms (and all other learning space renovations) have been included in the UK Higher Education Learning Space Toolkit (2016).
Further details and photos of a number of recently improved learning spaces are available here. Such renovations support the increasing development and application of Active Learning practices.
Learn more about the research behind teaching and learning spaces by accessing the resources here.