The spaces in which we engage with each other have a significant impact on how we interact and the experiences we have during these interactions. Recently there has been increasing research in the design of spaces and the activities that are best aligned with the outcomes we are trying to achieve. RMIT University's Swanston Academic Building has been specifically designed for interactive learning, with a wide range of learning space designs to enable student-centred learning. This interactive event organised by the Melbourne Knowledge management Leadership Forum briefly introduced participants to the building in the "conversational space" and then asked to explore other spaces to see what they would do in them. A report is available on the outcomes on the KMLF Meetup site.

1. 1
Interactive Learning Spaces
for Knowledge Creation and Transfer
Dr Arthur Shelley
RMIT University
Materials courtesy of RMIT University
Academic Development and Facilities Management Teams
“Learning is not the product of teaching.
Learning is the product of the activity of learners”
John Holt

2. 2Building 80 Post Occupancy Evaluation
“SAB’s innovative design and leading use of technology will promote new ways
of learning, research and teaching. Professor Ian Palmer, Pro Vice-Chancellor & Vice-President, College of Business
BUILDING 80 SAB - COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
RMIT University’s Building 80 on the Melbourne City campus forms part of RMIT’s state-of-the-art
learning and teaching precinct that has been designed to high quality and sustainable standards.

3. 3
4.1 Overview of Building 80 – SAB (Cont’)
Building 80 Post Occupancy Evaluation
"What an amazing building. Just powerful and exciting, To learn there and study
there would be extraordinary.“ Dr Kevin McCloud , Grand Designs

4. KMLF...Connecting Melbourne's KM Community 4
Learning and
Teaching Spaces

5. 5
”Research conducted on how students learn these days is interesting. Twenty Years ago it was all
about listening to the lecturer, the research today says students actually learn better from
themselves in what’s referred to as peer-to-peer learning.” Carey Lyon, Director, Lyons Architects.

6. 6
DISCURSIVE
”Due to the design and configuration of the classrooms, it is more conducive to engage in student participation, hence it is much
easier to include activities during class time.” SAB Online Survey Respondent

7. 7
PROJECT BASED
“The design of teaching and learning spaces has an important role to play in enriching the student experience within
the learning environment, whilst also integrating it with new technologies,” Adrian Stanic, Director, Lyons Architects

8. 8
“The use of display screens in project rooms provides many options for student activities.”
“The interactive screens mean students can work together. Also the teacher is no longer hidden behind a computer desk.”
SAB Post Occupancy Survey Respondents
KMLF...Connecting Melbourne's KM Community

9. 9
ENHANCED LECTURE
”This is the biggest single-building project that RMIT has done in its history. It was RMIT's biggest ever investment in an academic building.”
“I’m ecstatic at the way this looks, I think this transforms learning and teaching and the student experience at RMIT”
Professor Margaret Gardner, RMIT Vice-Chancellor

10. 10
“The new theatres in the SAB are a dramatic improvement on the capital. The technology
in these theatres means we can have more confidence in walking into the room”
SAB Post Occupancy Survey Respondent

11. 11
One of the things I like most about the new building is “the new, large lecture theatres
are clean and the AV works” Online Survey Respondent

12. 12
“What I really like is “It looks great and feels very contemporary; the teaching spaces are wonderful;
the location and proximity to the rest of the city campus.”
SAB Post Occupancy Survey Respondent

13. 13
“In designing RMIT SAB, our prime focus was to create a flexible environment that could extend the teaching and learning
‘culture’, not only to provide for current needs but to facilitate the future evolution of pedagogical approaches. A broad
palette of teaching and learning spaces in the building reinforces this concept. Such spaces include curved, tiered format
lecture theatres with natural light and views to out to the street, through to interactive multimodal learning spaces and
conversational style learning areas.” Adrian Stanic, Director, Lyons

14. 14
INTERACTIVE LECTURE
“What I really like is “It looks great and feels very contemporary; the teaching spaces are wonderful; the location and
proximity to the rest of the city campus.” SAB Post Occupancy Survey Respondent

15. 15
“The light, space and the ventilation” are things I really like about the building. “The teaching spaces
can be great places to work when everything is working, and the sound proofing works well.”
SAB Post Occupancy Survey Respondent

16. 16
“The space, and the technology. cutting edge world class, high tech stuff. Where’s my jet pack!”
SAB Post Occupancy Survey Respondent

17. 17
LECTORIAL
“The new spaces definitely enable me to have more human contact with the students at a physical level which is to the
benefit of all.”
“The architecture supports what I was trying to do in Building 108. Now the building is working with me rather than
against me.” SAB Post Occupancy Survey Respondents

18. 18
INTERACTIVE TUTORIAL
The design and technology in the classroom has enabled positive modification to the curriculum by allowing us to be “closer to the students, so
there’s better eye contact and it’s easier for the students to ask questions.” SAB Post Occupancy Survey Respondent

19. 19
“Its a very modern and beautiful building. It has boldly incorporated features in L&T spaces that are still
highly controversial. But that's part of the fun - it's a grand experiment in itself.”
SAB Post Occupancy Survey Respondent

20. 20
“I don't have to move all the desks around for group work like I had to previously. I now can much more quickly get groups
to work on short exercises , for example, ask for a topic leader and have students move to that leaders table. Mature age
students feel more relaxed, and get up and move around more. I am much less the centre of attention. I find when
students talk about their workplace, they talk to all the other students, whereas previously they would more often direct
comments to me, even if I tried to shrink and hide somewhere in the class.” SAB Post Occupancy Survey Respondent

21. 21
WORKPLACE ENABLED
“True classroom flexibility is achieved through diversity in the learning and teaching spaces.”
James Wilson , Principle, Lyons Architects

22. Activity
Interactive conversations in interactive spaces
1. Walk though spaces with a “buddy” and discuss potential activities for each
2. Write notes on strengths and limitations of spaces on your scorecard
2. Return to this room by 7.00 PM, Collate comments
3. Reflect on others ideas – engage in conversations
4. Discuss our thoughts on how the spaces might be best used to
optimise knowledge creation and transfer
5. Enjoy the interactions and flow of ideas …
… and their impacts on the future of learning and education
Rooms available to view tonight: Building.Level.Room
80.10.6 80.10.7 & 80.10.18 80.10.11
Interactive lecture Conversational spaces Project Space
22KMLF...Connecting Melbourne's KM Community

23. Your Scorecard (we will collate and report back)
23
Room Optimal for what
activities?
Strengths Limitations
80.10.6
Interactive
Space
80.10.7
or
80.10.18
Conversational
80.10.11
Project
KMLF...Connecting Melbourne's KM Community

24. 24
Interactive Learning Spaces for Knowledge Creation
and Transfer
Want to know more?
RMIT Building 80
http://www.rmit.edu.au/bus/sab
Melbourne KMLF:
http://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-
KMLF/events/88484222/
A brief summary report on the event is
available on KMLF Meetup site
(Documents Tab).
KMLF...Connecting Melbourne's KM Community