Twalking back to happiness #twalk #spacetwalkLeeds

Join us for a Twalk , 27th March 2019

Theme: Doing, Being, Belonging, Becoming and Connecting – the role of learning space

I have posted on each of the theme keywords. The key question for us to explore is, how well do we understand our physical, digital and blended learning environment, especially in relation to our students’ actual experience of learning?

Venue: Your campus

When:  Wednesday 27th March 2019 between 1pm and 2pm (gather at 12.55 and allow time for post-twalk reflection ideally)

Benefit: a structured and connected conversational approach allows us to explore complex ideas about teaching and learning quickly and deeply in a convivial environment.

I am organising a Twalk for Norma Martin Clement and the LITE (Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence) Special Interest Group on Learning Spaces at the University of Leeds on Wednesday 27th March 2019 between 1pm and 2pm.

Please join us! You are invited, wherever you may be.

Read on to find out more.

What’s a twalk?

A twalk is a structured campus walk in which Twitter is used to share responses to a set of 5 questions on the theme. Just like a tweetchat – but walking in conversation from question to question. Because the focus of this twalk is learning spaces, it is likely that many of your responses will include photographs, ideas, examples of practice, further questions and links to follow-on information and research (beforehand, think about what you might share).

I have organised many Twalks. Using a short set of questions, a twalk connects geographically disparate walking groups and individuals who follow similar routes, albeit in different places. Think of it as a mobile situated tweetchat.

How do we walk together?

We will use the hashtag #spacetwalkLeeds for this twalk in all our tweets. We can use other social media too to post your responses, e.g. Instagram, Flick, Soundcloud, or wherever you like to connect with your network. Walkers will be located on several university campuses, some beyond the UK hopefully.

A new question will be posed every 10 minutes for walkers to discuss using the hashtag. It will take the format:

• Q1 Doing – what can students do to gain agency over their learning? #spacetwalkLeeds

You will respond,

• A1 my answer and photo here #spacetwalkLeeds

Like, reply, retweet in the usual way.

Note: it can be difficult to keep pace, but do keep in sync. See timings and questions below.

It is recommended that every walking group identifies at least one Twitter scribe to ensure your group manages to add to the conversation and its legacy. You are strongly encouraged to monitor and respond to the Twitter stream, e.g. to compare answers and pictures of spaces.

What do you have to do beforehand?

If you are reading this, assume the role of Twalk Leader and find one or more people to walk with. Share a link to this post.

Look at the suggestions for sites to visit below, and construct a realistic route for your specific location.

Construct a ‘map’ – this is the route you have decided. Include timings and location information (e.g. room numbers, building name, etc)

Share you map with your fellow twalkers online or via email, and bring printed copies (laminate maps or provide plastic sleeves if going outside in case it rains!)

Resource – The Twalk Toolkit

The MELSIG Twalk Toolkit has more information and resources on organising a Twalk including a template for your route map.

Warning

Please note, and warn co-walkers:

Walking and tweeting is potentially dangerous, especially when navigating pavements, roads, stairways, uneven ground. Pause to read and tweet.

It can be difficult to read screens in the sun or rain – have shelter in mind.

Don’t depend on maintaining connectivity – have a printed route map.

Timings, questions and ideas for sites to visit

12.55 – You are gathered at you start and ready to go

13.00 Q1 Doing – what can students do to gain agency over their learning? #spacetwalkLeeds

Site to consider – start the twalk at one of the following: a lab, studio, workshop, SCALE-UP room, Team-Based Learning room, Active Learning Classroom

13.10 Q2 Being – how can a learning space reflect and promote disciplinary identity? #spacetwalkLeeds

Site to consider: find a disciplinary ‘hub’ space, for example, where might a space communicate “We are scientists” or “We are artists”, “We are geologists”, etc, etc.

13.20 Q3 Belonging – can space foster a sense of belonging or ‘home’? How? #spacetwalkLeeds

Site to consider: do you have a disciplinary hub or places when certain students tend to hang out, formally or informally? Perhaps a cafe, a resource centre, common room, students union, or a just corridor in a particular building. Or digitally, a website, social media group.

13.30 ***Catch up time – buffer zone***

13.40 Q4 Becoming – how can space accommodate the changing ‘sense of self’ a student experiences as they develop? #spacetwalkLeeds

Site to consider: how do the spaces students use and gravitate to during their course change and become more important to them? Any space may do for this question (classrooms, libraries, etc) but your discussion and comments will reflect on the nature and versatility of spaces as they support the changing student identity. Where do post grads go, for example?

13.50 Q5 Connecting – what does a ‘connected learning space’ mean to you? What might it look like? #spacetwalkLeeds

Site to consider: spaces where people meet formally or informally. A space where people ‘bump into each other’ or simply catch sight of each other. Where do students know they are not alone and where do they feel the benefits of being in a network?

14.00 Breathe! Reflect! – if possible, stay back and discuss the range of conversations you have had and what they mean for you. You can,

• send a final summary tweet to #spacetwalkLeeds
• review the twitter stream for #spacetwalkLeeds
• arrange for people to blog on the discussions (incorporate #spacetwalkLeeds)
• capture a YouTube summary discussion
• plan what you individually, or as a group, would like to do next.

Finally, for the moment

I have posted on each of the theme keywords. The key question for us to explore is, how well do we understand our physical, digital and blended learning environment, especially in relation to our students’ actual experience of learning?