Transitions18 – continuing the conversation
The Transitions18 events in USA and Europe in October brought together researchers and participants from over 20 countries and featured presentations, discussion and workshops exploring teachers’ use of innovative learning environments from a wide range of academic and professional perspectives.
Canyon View High School flexible learning space.
The number of participants at each event was intentionally kept to around 70 to enable effective discussions and interactions with presenters. Each event was held in quite different learning spaces and we were able to utilise the different affordances of each. The Phoenix event at the new Canyon View High School used different spaces for delivery of presentations (requiring quick adaptation from our presenters and audience – thank you!) and met the Principal, staff, architects and school board while receiving an in-depth tour of the campus. In Copenhagen, the University College Carlsberg provided a traditional lecture theatre space and the opportunity to explore the Future Classroom Lab (Denmark) with trainee teachers.
Touring Canyon View HS with Principal, Phil Nowlin.
Each year Transitions supports greater connection between researchers and professionals in the emerging field of learning environments and has led to new collaborations, international exchanges, greater access to new research and deeper understanding of international practices in school design, pedagogy, evaluation and teacher training. This year participant feedback indicated the range of research presented and the networking opportunities were the most valuable aspects of the event, with some asking for more time to discuss and workshop ideas in order to process the large amount of information delivered. To build on the rich connections and ideas generated at the events we will be continuing the conversation in coming months by sharing presentations, papers, blog posts and news of other related events/activities related.
Copenhagen event at University College Carlsberg.
Panel sessions generated great conversations, Copenhagen.
The ILETC project team have organised Transitions17 and 18 as a key element of our research strategy to engage with and understand current research and practice on teachers use of innovative learning spaces. We greatly appreciate the contributions of all presenters, participants, ILETC project partners, sponsors and hosts in making the events successful and valuable to all involved.
Next year we are planning Transitions19 as a 3 day event on 2nd -4th October, in Melbourne. We will incorporate the most effective elements of Transitions17 & 18 and encourage international participation. Further details will be available next year.
Transitions18 follow up….
Presentation slides are now available from many of the sessions at the recent Transitions18 events in Phoenix and Copenhagen. We will be adding further slides in the coming weeks and will feature guest blog posts by some of the presenters.
Workshops at each event explored the key issues involved in transition from traditional to innovative spaces.
Papers from Transitions18 will be published in a single volume proceedings. All presenters have been invited to submit a paper and will be available free on our site as a pdf early in 2019.
Findings from the rich discussion and audience input at the events, captured using online polling, will publish in a blog post in coming months.
Main photo features a resource about The model 1 + 4 educational spaces by INDIRE featured in presentation by Giuseppina Cannella, Samuele Borri & Stefania Chipa, A post occupancy evaluation attempt: The Italian way. Transitions18 Copenhagen. Slides and video available here.
