The term learning environment encompasses learning resources and technology, means of teaching, modes of learning, and connections to societal and global contexts. The term also includes human behavioral and cultural dimensions, including the vital role of emotion in learning, and it requires us to examine and sometimes rethink the roles of teachers and students. The learning environment is a composite of human practices and material systems, much as an ecology is the combination of living things and the physical environment.
This Showcase Shop Talk discusses a student-centered approach in higher education can be promoted through the cultivation of adaptable learning environments that grant students the freedom to decide when, where, and how they learn, along with the choice of their preferred technology tools.
The opportunities and needs for technology-enabled learning in higher education have changed drastically over the past three years, as have students’ learning preferences. Done well, a learning-first and multimodal strategy can make possible new, more flexible, and more relevant learning opportunities to attract an increasingly diverse student population.
In this report, we explore supporting students on and off campus, students as consumers in the educational marketplace and accessibility in teaching and learning.
