Synthesizing cscl perspectives on the theory, methods, design, and implementation of future learning spaces

This pre-conference workshop brings together a number of leading learning scientists, as well as talented younger researchers, working in an emerging, but fragmented line of research focused on ‘Future Learning Spaces’ (FLSs). Significant advances in this area of scholarship have been made in recent years, spurred by billions of dollars of investments into building or re-designing educational spaces — both physical and digital, formal and informal — to accommodate learning in a networked society. To advance our theoretical understanding on the role of space in learning, vital work remains to be done to frame concepts, synthesize dispersed research agendas and share the results of work that is relevant to the broader FLSs project. To do this, this workshop is organized in four themes that address current challenges and opportunities for FLSs research: Theory, methods, design, and implementation. The workshop includes a combination of invited presenters and key contributors who have advanced research in this area; and active participants, who are interested in deepening their understanding through active participation in the workshop. The objectives of this symposium are to (1) deepen participants’ understandings of current FLSs research; (2) cross-fertilize related threads of inquiry for mutual gain; (3) rise above the individual threads to develop syntheses between them; and (4) build collaborative partnerships for future work.