Goal

Promoting inclusive and technologically enhanced informal and non-conventional learning environments in Higher Education conducive to learners’ wellbeing

Background

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has forced and accelerated the development and use of digital technologies for digitally supported teaching and learning activities outside of formal institutional learning spaces such as seminar rooms and lecture halls. Informal and non-conventional learning environments, like the home environment, but also other spaces used for learning activities like public space, cultural/educational public buildings, outdoor spaces, public transport, cafés etc., are thus taking on a new relevance. These changes bring new opportunities and challenges on educational systems, teachers and learners regarding social implications, teaching and learning strategies, hybrid learning environments, inequalities in access to technical equipment and internet (“digital divide”) as well as to physical-spatial environments conducive to learning.

Scope

• Addressing informal and non-conventional learning spaces provided by university, by third party or personally provided (e.g. informal campus spaces, home learning environments, public spaces, learning cafés, public transport, outdoor spaces, natural landscapes, … )
• physical (and hybrid) learning spaces
• Inequalities: poverty, disabilities, gender, age and geographical barriers
• Chances and challenges of current and future digital and technological developments and their influence on informal and non-conventional learning spaces

Project Results

• Country context analysis on availability and infrastructure of informal learning spaces
• Users’ perspective analysis on usage, perception and impact on their well-being
• Development of a mapping platform for informal learning spaces
• Creating learning communities for students’, lecturers and university administration
• Development of guidelines for users and stakeholders

• Prof. Dr. Susanne Geister (Projektleitung)
• Prof. Dr. Katja Ninnemann (Projektleitung)

• Jennifer Schneidt (Projektmitarbeiter_in)

NA Erasmus+ Agency Austria

• Akdeniz University Antalia (Turkey)
• Danube University Krems (Austria)
• La Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)
• Mykolas Romeris University (Litauen)

ERASMUS+ Cooperative Patnerships

https://www.donau-uni.ac.at/en/university/faculties/education-arts-architecture/departments/building-environment/research/niils/about-niils.html