Do the resulting spaces reflect the sense of our community, the diversity of our community?
Have we capitalized on and enhanced institutional assets?
For more than two decades, the process of imagining and realizing spaces in which learning happens in our nation’s colleges and universities has begun with asking questions about the future—from the perspective of individual learners, the community of learners, and the institution. The AAC&U Friday Faculty Webinar (May 2020) explores what a new normal might be and how it might be realized. We now have the opportunity to redesign ourselves as institutions and as individuals. Their message is that this is a unique opportunity for higher education to reimagine how their students experience learning and, as a community, to embrace the shaping of environments in which learning is experienced. Can their message be translated into a set of questions for assessing an Agora?
Our students do not come from the same place—a challenge when thinking about identity, intercultural development, the values of diversity and inclusion, about human dignity. Is this a space/are these spaces, in which all students feel welcome? How do we know? What is the evidence?
How Can the Historic Sense of an Agora Be Captured in Virtual Learning Spaces?
For more than two decades, the process of imagining and realizing spaces in which learning happens in our nation’s colleges and universities has begun with asking questions, questions both about the future of those who will be learning in the new or repurposed spaces and about the institutional future, whether the resulting spaces will enhance institutional distinction over the long-term.
The AAC&U Friday Faculty Webinar (May 2020) asks questions about a new normal, imagining what a new normal might be. Their questions, and their sketchy images of a new normal, are a beginning point for thinking about assessment, about assessing if the resulting spaces, be they be virtual or physical, reflect the vision of those responsible for bringing them to life.
This is a unique opportunity for higher education to reimagine how their students experience learning and, as a community, embrace the shaping of environments in which learning is experienced. We now have the opportunity to redesign ourselves as institutions and as individuals. Can their message be translated into a set of questions for assessing an agora?
- Our students do not come from the same place—a challenge when thinking about identity, intercultural development, the values of diversity and inclusion, about human dignity. Is this a space/are these spaces, in which all students feel welcome? How do we know? What is the evidence?
- We have to remember that learning experiences are to be interconnected and integrated as we address challenges of inclusivity and equity. What is the evidence?
- We need to be thinking about how people have a sense of belonging in a virtual world. We need to know if virtual environments can be spontaneous. What is the evidence?
- What we are needing to do now needs to be done as a community. Do these spaces reflect who, what we are as a community? How do we know? What is the evidence?