Fostering Quality Learning Environments: An Administrative Perspective
Mary Moore, Vice President of Research, Planning, & International Partnerships, President's Office, University of Indianapolis

Process education is at once a methodology for teaching/learning,an engine for developing a community of scholars, and a value-added component in institutional strategic planning. The most pressing role of the academic administrator is artciulating the inter-relationship of the three dimensions and developing environments that can sustain the dialectic that allows process education to be more than the sum of its parts. This talk will reflect on the speakers leadership experience at the University of Indianapolis, appropriate roles for individuals at different levels of the academic organization, and the pressures on higher education that can help/hinder implementation of quality learning environments.

Experiential learning fosters learner development and self-growth in a superior manner. Students learn through the process of preparing, applying, discovering, and reflecting. Through experiential learning activities, especially those involving everyday examples and real world problems, students also learn from consequences which provides substantial opportunity for growth. Experiential learning not only develops the student's knowledge of topics but also develops students' ability to formulate models for inquiry, which also builds their decision making skills and confidence. Technical, interpersonal, and professional learning outcomes can best be achieved by providing a well-designed program of experiential learning activities integrated vertically and horizontally throughout the curriculum, both in the classroom and in immersion learning practicums. Consequently, academic infrastructure and resources should be aligned to guide and support experiential learning inside and outside the classroom for faculty and students success. Several examples of how this integration and alignment can be achieved will be drawn from Dr. El-Sayed's administrative experience at Kettering University.

The LearnLab Environment actively supports the many ways that students learn today. The LearnLab grew out of a user-centered design process developed by Steelcase Education Solutions to fully understand the needs of today’s students and faculty. LearnLabs focus on improving the classroom experience. Key findings from our research include the following: classrooms more than ever need to support multiple teaching and learning styles; the application of products and tools in the classroom is critical to how well students and teachers use them; and better display of information is translated into better retention for students. This interactive session will explore ideas of how active learning spaces can be designed to support new pedagogies and instructional technologies.