Aalto Leadership Lab®Idea Development for the New Learning EnvironmentProposal by Aino Nishihama (Aalto University, aino.nishihama@aalto.fi)

18.4.2011 Version 2

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Project Description

Tila Project

Research Question

Case Study : Learning Environment

The Tila project, which is led by Prof. Liisa Välikangas at Aalto University School of Economics and funded by the Finnish National Technology Agency – Tekes, seeks to uncover the dynamics of mental, physical and vir-tual space in order to understand their impact on engagement in collaboration. According to our past studies, physical spatial environments are possible factors that have an impact on individuals’ feelings and behaviors in various ways.

As a part of the Tila project, the purpose of the research is to advance theory of engagement and space, by examining for example; How do participants engage in learning? What characteristics of physical space motivate students to attend discussion actively? How do the spatial environments lead to people´s creative moment? The case study presented below aims to enrich our understanding of the impact of the physical environment on individuals’ learning and creativity.

“In what way can the learning environment have an impact on the feeling and activities in executive education?”

The aim of this case study is that designers and educators rethink the traditional classroom and develop new learning environments that are conducive to creativity and innovation. Moreover this will be continued in the next step; implementing the concept design and evaluating its impacts on students’ feelings and behaviors during their learning process.

Aim

Trend of new leadership It is frequently reported and discussed how, in the era of globalization that has witnessed rapid changes to workforces and markets, there is an increased need for collaborative innova-tion and distributed decision making both within organizations and with their wider spectrum of stakeholder interests

Aalto Leadership Lab Aalto University Executive Education Oy (AEE) is an international organization offering executive education and leadership development, which is a part of Aalto University. AEE offers, for example, MBA programs, EMBA, open programs and company- tailored programs.As a latest module which AEE is offering for their customers, Aalto Leadership Lab was started from October 2011. Its participants are aiming at acquiring a breakthrough in the ability to lead people in their organiza-tions. In order to look for a breakthrough in the approach to learn about a new leadership, Aalto Leader-ship Lab is pursuing appropriate learning methods and environments which can enhance participants to get insight and to become innovative through combining academic researches, experimental lectures and pedagogical methods.For realizing the impactful education at the laboratory, the learning environment is part of the process of forming an inspiring environment for visioning, knowledge creation, experiments, strategy implementation and leadership development. Yet the classrooms and lecture halls that AEE have now are set up for “lectures” but it is urgently required to offer a stimulating environment in which creativity and innovation are expected to flourish.

Background

This proposal will explain the design concept which is developed based on the analysis of user study.

Process 2008 - 20102010 - 20112010 - 2011

20112012 -2012 -

Step0: Spaces affect peopleStep1: User Research Step2: AnalysisStep3: Design space Step4: ImplementationStep5: Evaluation

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Design Concept

1. SEE ONE, DO ONE, TEACH ONE

SEE ONE Provoke Renewing Mind-set

DO ONE Encourage “Take Action”

TEACH ONE Learn From Fellows

Free Advertisement Space

Available for Any Type of Events

Medical students typically first see someone ap-ply a splint, they then apply the splint themselves, and finally teach someone else to apply a splint. The greatest learning takes place when the learner engages in all three activities

One approach to learning reflects the notion that learning by observing, then through application, and then by teach-ing – SEE ONE, DO ONE, TEACH ONE – provides a useful strategy that combines the benefits of different learning styles. This notion has been frequently been de-scribed in healthcare and nursing, using as an example the application of a medi-cal splint.

From the perspective of facility manage-ment at AEE, rethinking the learning envi-ronment is not only urgently required for the context of the Leadership Lab but also for all kinds of other lectures and presenta-tions.In this regard, the building and lecture hall have the potential to offer better quality service to clients. For example, the location is very convenient to the city center, the building is new and has a striking design both from the outside and the inside, and it faces a busy road on which many busi-ness people travel every day.

SHOW CASE

FLEXIBILITY

2. Facility Management

When one starts to learn something new, one needs to open one’s mind, be brave to engage in trial and error and become excited about what the outcome. A dynamic, welcoming and playful atmosphere can inspire one to jump in to a curious mood.

A “digitally equipped” group work setting encourages participants to take action without the barriers of technology. Various types of work space support optimization of the ability of indi-vidual and teams. The environments need to have a role in supporting their activities.

Leaning does not only come from lectures wherein a teacher communicates in front of the audience but also from discussions and sharing ideas with fellows. Providing an environment for an interactive lecture style and better communication opportunities within that environ-ment is urgently called for.

When people see the building from the outside, the blinds of the main hall are always closed. Developing the environment on the ground floor and projecting the space and atmo-sphere towards the outside will serve as a display case for AEE and their products.

This proposal is flexible in order to make the most of the limited space. Ways to adapt a space, for example, be set up for a lecture to some twenty-five people to a conference event with over 250 people are considered. Adapting a space to various events effectively and appropriately would lead to higher quality and more pleasing services.

Current Plan This Proposal

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New Learning Environment

Entrance Reception

Sharing hall

Waiting hall

Locker Closet

Cafe

Discussion field

Open wallGroup Work

Meeting room

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Flexible Furnishing

Example of the other Layouts

Movable Furniture

For a big event

Hanging curtains enable the big hall to be divided into smaller spaces depending on the size of the event and number of the people.

Hanging fabric dividers create different sized and numbers of meeting spaces

For a middle size eventEmpty hall

A shipping container used here is easily movable on rails. The big box creates a hidden corner within the big hall. It makes the space more comfortable for small numbers of the people.

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Experience scenario in Aalto Leadership Lab

08:30 - 09:00 Morning Coffee

09:00 - 10:00 Introduction

10:00 - 11:00 Lecture

11:00 - 11:30 Group discussion

11: 30 - 12:15 Lunch break

12:15 - 13:00 Presentation and feedback

13:00 - 14:00 Lecture

14:00 - 14:30 Group discussion 14:30 - 14:45 Coffee break

14:45 - 15:30 Presentation and feedback

15:30 - 16: 00 Closing

Sex

Age

Job

Work Experience

Male

35

Product Development

6 yearsJussi

Program

The scenario presented below------is developed from observation of participants toof leadership devel-opment events and MBA lectures--- Jussi is a typical participant of such courses

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Proposal

8:20 Soon after Jussi entered the building, he noticed the Leadership Lab hall through the big glass window. He became excited and curious about what was going to happen during today’s workshop in this space.

Entrance

Replace the white wall with a glass wall in the entrance so that clients can already see the entire space and the atmosphere of the environment from the entrance when they enter the building. This is likely to develop their curiosity.Build a high counter table at the entrance so that guests are able to use a computer, their own laptop, or examine documents or other papers.

a. MBA students frequently arrive from their workplaces with big bags.

b. Participants are not ready for the lecture when the teacher started presenting in the class-room. c. A participant brought a basket for her belongings during the Leadership Lab day.

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Research 2

d,e. Participants prepare for the presentation before the lecture starts. The stacked table became a high counter for the quick work.

ed

c

baProposalResearch 1

8:20 At first, Jussi decided to leave his jacket and other possessions in the locker so he was ready for the day’s events. But, he remembered that he needed to send an e-mail to his colleague by noon. He opened his laptop to write it at the desk located by the lockers.

Waiting hall

There are lockers on the shipping container closet so that participants can deposit their posses-sions there, sit down and have a quick meeting.

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The cafe acquired library shelves to share new books, magazines, news papers and CDs be-tween everybody. A high counter enables people to stay and read the books and listen to CDs

b

d

a

c

ProposalResearch 1

Research 2

a. The MBA students stayed around coffee machine before the lecture started and at break times

c, The Aalto Design Factory has a breakfast day every Wednesday to give researches and students who are working in Design Factory a chance to network with friends and new people and to exchange ideas and news.

b. The Leadership lab participants congregated in front of the class-room door.

d. A Finnish telecommunications company’s office has book shelves that provide the latest books and magazines in an open place.

8:30 Jussi is now ready for the program. He moved to the cafe space to join the other participants and grabbed a cup of coffee and some breakfast. They dis-cussed an article in a business magazine. He found the magazine on a shelf and read the article quickly.

Cafe

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baResearch Proposal

8:50 After reading the article, Jussi joined the discussion around the kitchen. Two people were explaining the article using mapping on the writable wall. When he noticed that his colleague had arrived, he moved to the lecture space which was divided by a transparent curtain.

Remove the wall in the hall and the glass wall which separates the cafe from the hall. An island kitchen counter supports people’s informal communication around the kitchen. There is also a whiteboard wall near to the kitchen module.

b. The big wall hides the kitchen.a. The kitchen space is not very visible and open since the kitchen has a glass wall and cabinets inside.

There are whiteboard walls next to the tables to support people’s informal communication.

c. The current plan of the Big Semi-nar Hall does not make the space comfortable for a small group event.d. A traditional layout for a MBA lecture with desks and chairs in lines. Participants tend to have their seats on the at the end of the row and they also have tendency to sit somewhat apart from the other participants.e. A layout with only chairs in a circle for Leadership Lab.

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Proposal

e

d

b

c

aResearch 1

Research 2

Discussion Field 9:00 Jussi found it a very different atmosphere from that found in usual classrooms in a school. The teacher looks relaxed and speaks from a swing. It´s also good to have no desks to enable the participants to have seats close to each other and can easily discuss things with each other.

A transparent curtain creates a smaller organic shaped lecture spaces for small group events in the big hall. The colorful furniture, tree object, and wooden floor make the place playful and encourage the participants to enjoy the activities. A swing hangs from the ceiling and is used by the teacher. It shows a new learning approach and encourages greater communication with the teacher and with other participants in the lecture.

Teacher is speaking from a swing.

a, b. I n an interactive lecture, a teacher´s role is guiding students to an active discussion but not only giving them a speech. When the participants can see each other´s faces (See image b), they become more involved in the lecture and discussion are often more activate than when they are only facing the classroom teacher.

a. A group in the Leadership Lab present their ideas in a quiz show style. Three persons were chosen and participated in the presentation.

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Proposalb

e

a

c

d

b. In the afternoon, one group move the chairs away and create a bigger space in order to engage in small activities, and to stand up and walk around in the room

c, d. It is not only teacher who is teaching the students, they are also learning from the communi-cation within the team.

e. The participants organize the layout themselves, depending on the activity in the lecture.

Research 2

Research 1

Sharing Hall

A relaxing presentation space that encourages people to share their ideas with others, and to communicate in interactive ways. In order to create a relaxing atmosphere, there are circle shaped panels suspended from the ceiling, plants, low coffee tables, and table lamps. Light furniture, which is easy to carry, has been chosen.

12:15 After lunch, the participants present the results of the discussion from the morning. Chairs in a small circle and low coffee tables create a relaxing atmo-sphere within the space and bring the audience closer together.

The partitions dividing space and whitewall are movable in order to create different sized and numbers of meeting space.

a. In the group discussion, the par¬ticipants are making notes on their own papers and showing the note each other to communicate.

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c

ba

b. A speaker uses the paper flip board to explain his ideas better.

ProposalResearch

14:00 When another team discussion started, Jussi suggested the team member moving to the open wall space. It might be good space for a brainstorming ses¬sion because there is a wall that they can use as a big white board.

When you are confined to the space of a typical white board, your ideas are destined to be small.

Open Wall

c. IdeaPaint is a single-coat, roller-applied paint that turns any smooth surface into a high-performance dry-erase writing surface. IdeaPaint creates dynamic environments. (From ideapaint’s HP)

a, b. There is limited workspace in the lecture room. The room was too noisy to have many groups in such a confined space.

c, d. The space near by the window could be more open and active in order to show the active environment to the outside world.

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b

d

d

a

c

c

Research

Fully equipped group workspace with a monitor screen, plugs, wifi connection and whiteboards in order to assist spontaneous activities and ideas which could be varnished in a matter of seconds.

16:00 After the workshop had ended, his team feels like staying a while longer to continue discussing the topic they worked on in the workshop. He found the group workspace was fully equipped with devices for group work, such as a white board, internet connection, and electricity plugs.

Meeting space by the window. The meeting space has a higher floor level, so that participants are not be dis-turbed by pedestrians on the outside.

Group Work

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a

b

a. The building is located next to the Aalto University School of Eco-nomics library building entrance. Many students passing by have future potential to learn in AEE.b. The building faces on to Mechelininkatu; a big road. There is a traffic light at front of the big windows, which holds up traffic directly outside the building.

Proposal

One evening, Jussi happened to drive at the front of the building with his col¬leagues. He noticed that the light in the Leadership Lab kept turning on, and the space was used as a showcase. His colleague was intrigued and asked him about the last workshop at the Leadership Lab.

Research

Outside

There are many cars driven by business people from surrounding districts (e.g. Espoo or Ruoholahti) that pass the AEE building. The building is new and of a recognizable design, which provides great potential as an advertisement for AEE. The big windows that face on to Mech-elininkatu can be used as a free advertisement showcase.

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