Published: 04 Nov 2018 under Pursuit
The next generation of Australian schools
With hundreds of new schools needed in Victoria in the coming decade, how will they meet future student and community needs?
LEaRN is a multidisciplinary forum, a portal and an international network bringing together academia and industry to research, imagine and discuss physical learning environments in school, vocational, university, medical and corporate contexts.
LEaRN is based on an understanding that the built environment critically impacts the educational experiences of teachers and learners and that applied research and design of innovative learning environments will bring community benefit.
Over the past decade, LEaRN has brought together business/ industry, teaching, research, consultancy, policy/ government and academia in dynamic partnerships. Partners contribute to setting innovative research agendas, the outcomes of which are shared across the network as research is developed for feedback, engagement and collaboration.
What we do
Link
Link national and international expertise in physical learning environments.
Connect
Develop multidisciplinary partnerships.
Bridge
Create a bridge between industry and academia.
Advocate
Maximise the impact of individual endeavours.
Generate
Support new knowledge development and respect its intellectual ownership.
Advise
Inform government, media and stakeholders as a peak body of expertise.
Communicate
Communicate cutting-edge research.
Rearranging the way we learn
Watch how researchers are seeking to improve the way children learn by changing the way school classrooms are structured. Proudly featured as part of the Made Possible by Melbourne campaign.
Upcoming Events
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Talking Spaces 9: The Decade Ahead
Talking Spaces 9: The Decade Ahead coincides with the ten-year anniversary of the Learning Environments Applied Research Network (LEaRN) being established. Over two days we will reflect on developments in learning environments over the past ten years, with a view to informing our thinking about the coming decade and what further developments that may bring.
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Transitions19
Transitions19 in Melbourne is a two day event showcasing research being done by selected Masters, PhD students and early career researchers and interrogating learning environment research projects being conducted worldwide.
Banner Image: Arnolds Creek Primary School, ClarkeHopkinsClarke. Photo by by Rhiannon Slatter.
Events Image: St Mary of the Cross Primary School, Baldasso Cortese Architects. Photo by Peter Clarke.
LEaRN invites multi disciplinary research collaborations to explore issues at the intersections of learning space and technology.
LEaRN Partners
LEaRN's partnerships have enabled applied research that has been informed by those working in the field. In turn, LEaRN's collaborative research projects have advanced new knowledge that has been embedded in the buildings and practices of our partners.
LEaRN's research has been funded through a number of streams in past years:
- Australian Research Council grants;
- Research contracts to address client specific research needs;
- Partner funded seed projects;
- Other Seed funding schemes.
LEaRN thanks our partners past and present
Enquiries
We welcome enquiries from those interested in learning environments research.
LEaRN and associated researchers have been successful in attracting four Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage grants since 2008. These have provided the backbone to our research program.
In addition, LEaRN has been engaged by multiple partners to address a range of research issues. Highlights of these projects are outlined below.
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Plans to Pedagogy (P2P)
A research and consultancy project funded for three years from 2018 to 2020 led by The University of Melbourne.
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Translational Briefing: Footscray Learning Precinct Case Study
Commissioned research project for the Department of Education and Training, State of Victoria to prepare a Translational Brief for the Footscray Learning Precinct in 2017.
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Innovative Learning Environments and Teacher Change (ILETC)
An Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project funded for four years from 2016 to 2019 led by The University of Melbourne.
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Review of Standard Entitlement Frameworks for Schools & School Site Size and Outdoor Space Requirements (including Special Schools & Special Developmental Schools)
Commissioned research project for the Department of Education and Training, State of Victoria from 2015 to 2016.
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Towards Effective Learning Environments in Catholic Schools (TELE)
A collaborative research initiative between Catholic Education Melbourne (CEM) and LEaRN at the University of Melbourne for three years from 2015 to 2017.
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Anglican Church Grammar School New Generation Learning Spaces (NGLS) Project
A collaborative research initiative between Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) and LEaRN at the University of Melbourne for seven years from 2010 to 2017.
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Evaluating 21st Century Learning Environments (E21LE)
An Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project funded for four years from 2013 to 2016 led by The University of Melbourne.
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Hospital Corridors: the value of informal learning spaces
A partner-informed project funded by LEaRN for one year from 2013 to 2014 led by the University of Melbourne.
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Future Proofing Schools
An Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project funded for three years from 2010 to 2012 led by the University of Melbourne.
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Post Occupancy Evaluation of Learning Environments
A partner-informed project funded by LEaRN from 2011 to 2012 before evolving into a commissioned project funded by the Catholic Education Office Melbourne from 2012 to 2013.
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Smart Green Schools
An Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project funded for three years from 2008 to 2011 led by the University of Melbourne.
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Homestead Regeneration Project (SSEI Module 3 – Woodleigh School)
LEaRN commissioned project to apply the SSEI Evaluation Model (developed by researchers in the faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning) at two 'homesteads' at the Woodleigh School in 2013.
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The Influence of Hospital Education Spaces on the Pedagogical Activities of Medical Students and Educators
LEaRN Commissioned Project funded by the University of Melbourne (Learning and Teaching Initiatives Grant) for one year from 2011 to 2012.
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From principles to practical application: Developing and sustaining innovative educational practices in innovative learning environments
A partner-informed project funded for one year from 2012 to 2013 by LEaRN to understand how schools and universities might better align practice and space.
Banner: St Mary of the Cross Primary School, Baldasso Cortese. Photo by Peter Clarke.
News
Published: 18 Jun 2018 under Community Hubs
LEaRN's ARC Linkage success
"Building Connections: Schools as Community Hubs"
This new ARC Linkage Project will generate new knowledge to plan, design, govern and manage school facilities and infrastructure, enabling schools to be maximised as ‘community hubs’.
Published: 23 May 2018 under Anglican Church Grammar School
The Finished Beginning
Learning Environments Applied Research Network (LEaRN) and the Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane (Churchie) have been in partnership on research initiatives over the last several years. In this new publication, The Finished Beginning, LEaRN team members Dr Terry Byers and A/Prof Wes Imms report on the logitudinal New Generation Learning Spaces (NGLS) project.
Published: 06 Mar 2018 under Talking Spaces
Talking Spaces 8: Event Highlights
On 22 and 23 February, 2018 LEaRN held their eighth Talking Spaces conference. The event was a huge success, attracting over 150 local and international designers, educators and policy makers passionate about learning spaces. Notably, the event was opened by The University of Melbourne's Vice Chancellor, Prof Glyn Davis.
Published: 29 Jan 2018 under Video Media
Transitions North America Video Release
Did you miss out on our Transitions North America Graduate Research Symposium? You can now view videos of the presentations here. The proceedings containing full papers is now also available.
Published: 01 Dec 2017 under Interview
LEaRN interview in Architect Victoria
LEaRN Associate Director, Dr Ben Cleveland and Research Coordination and Communication Officer, Bella Bower were interviewed by The Office of the Victorian Government Architect for the OVGA Message in the Spring 2017 edition 'Parallel Practices' of Architect Victoria magazine.
Published: 01 Nov 2017 under Pursuit
Designing Australia's largest school
What if we had kindergarten through to higher education in one single learning precinct?
Published: 01 Nov 2017
‘Carving up’ how to approach school planning
The Learning Environments Applied Research Network at the University of Melbourne has undertaken an eighteen-month research project on the allocation of space for new schools benchmarking Australian strategies against strategies from Europe, America and Canada. In this article, we playfully use the metaphor of a meal design to demonstrate key issues in space planning.
Published: 01 Nov 2017 under Pursuit
Rearranging the way we learn
Here's how researchers are set to improve the way children learn within innovative new classrooms.
Upcoming events
Past events
Latest Publications
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Learning Environment Design and Use. Towards Effective Learning Environments in Catholic Schools (TELE): An Evidence-based Approach (2015-2017)
Cleveland, B | Soccio, P | Mountain, R | Imms, W. (2018)
This report – Summary of Findings – is intended to support evidence-based decision making by those involved in the design and use of school learning environments. It summarises the findings of a three-year collaborative research initiative involving Catholic Education Melbourne (CEM), Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta (CEDP) and the Learning ...
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Innovative learning spaces: Catalysts/agents for change, or ‘just another fad’?
Imms, W. (2018)
Various announcements about the death of the traditional classroom are proving premature; first because research is not providing conclusive evidence that ‘non-traditional’ classroom spaces have advantages that warrant such pronouncements; and second, because traditional classrooms are needed in any school that seeks true spatial flexibility. The focus of mature debate ...
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Why Innovative Learning Environments? Stories from three schools that helped establish an ongoing space and pedagogy agenda
Cleveland, B. (2018)
The research reported in this chapter was conducted to address a seemingly simple question: How are contemporary middle years (Years 5-9) pedagogies influencing the design of physical learning environments? What the study uncovered was a deep spatio-pedagogical conversation about historical misalignments between middle years pedagogies and largely isolated and dissociated ...
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A Systematic Review of the Effects of Learning Environments on Student Learning Outcomes - Technical Report 4/2018
Byers, T | Mahat, M | Liu, K | Knock, A | Imms, W. (2018)
The systematic review identified evidence that different learning environments (blended, innovative learning environment (ILE), open-plan and traditional) have an impact on student learning outcomes. There are significant methodological questions around the availability and viability of empirical evidence. This systematic review investigated how researchers measure changes in academic outcomes attributed to ...
LEaRN's research has informed a number of courses directed at educators and designers working in the field of learning environments. These include both degree and professional education offerings.
Courses for Professionals
LEaRN holds regular and one-off events such as lectures, conferences, seminars and workshops for professionals. Some events are public whilst others are tailored towards specific research directions and partner requirements.
Courses for Students
LEaRN staff are regularly engaged with running subjects for post-graduate students at The University of Melbourne. These include cross-disciplinary electives for Masters of Architecture and Masters of Education.
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Human Environments Relations
This subject illustrates the research and body of work which links human behaviour to the design of the built environment. It explores the history of the body of work with a focus on the evidence of the interaction between humans and environment with a case study focus on education and health facilities.
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Building the Brief: People Process Place
The subject provides an insight into the design briefing process for a range of facilities, with the specific focus on learning and health environments. This subject examines the role of engaging with users/occupants of buildings and linking this to designers and other procurement consultants such as engineers, financial management and facility managers.
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Innovative Spaces and Pedagogy
An exciting collaboration between Architecture and Arts Education, this subject examines how we should design, inhabit and maximise the use of student-centred learning spaces in schools and other educational institutions. In finding ways of maximising use of flexible learning spaces, this interdisciplinary subject introduces students to the links that should exist between new pedagogies and space.
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Design Thesis: Learning Communities & Space
This studio explored the role of architectural design in creating, supporting and/or reinvigorating communities. This design studio was one of the outcomes from the Learning Communities & Space Research & Industry Forum hosted by LEaRN.
LEaRN have a limited amount of our hard copy publications available for purchase. Proceeds from hard copy sales contribute to funding open access of publications through our online repository.
All prices are in AUD and include GST and postage.
If you have a query about our publications for sale please get in touch:
T: +61 3 9035 9860
E: info-learnetwork@unimelb.edu.au
Banner Image: Coatesville Primary School, ClarkeHopkinsClarke. Photo by Rhiannon Slatter.