Characteristics of Innovative Physical Learning Spaces at the Four Corner Institutions of the University System of Ohio

Traditional undergraduate institutions are challenged with many learning spaces that were designed with traditional educational methods in mind and before the advent of modern portable technical devices. New learning space design should include characteristics that make a learning space innovative and more effective for today’s student. The purpose of the study was to explore the characteristics of innovative physical learning spaces at traditional undergraduate institutions.

In order to determine what was innovative published case studies were researched and the innovative characteristics were identified. As representatives of traditional undergraduate institutions, the four corner institutions in Ohio identified innovative learning spaces on their campuses for case studies. The innovative learning spaces were visited and data was collected on their characteristics, and pictures were taken of the spaces. The data collected at the four corner institutions was compared to the published case studies and to each other, and significant observations were documented.