Presentation at PKAL 2011 Learning Spaces Collaboratory National Colloquium. Focused on how to make sense of and act on data gathering and assessment of learning spaces.

1. “What do you make of this?”
Making Assessment Actionable:
Some Techniques for Translating Research
Findings into Strategies for Learning Spaces
©brightspot strategy 2011 All Rights Reserved. November 5, 2011
PKAL Learning Space Collaboratory 1

2. what do you make of this?
✓ Interviews Now
what?
✓ Observations
✓ Shadowing
✓ Diaries
✓ Workshops
✓ Benchmarking
✓ Tours / Visits
✓ Surveys
✓ Trending
✓ Utilization
✓ Outcomes
flickr maartmeester
©brightspot strategy 2011 All Rights Reserved. PKAL Learning Space Collaboratory 2

3. process
©brightspot strategy 2011 All Rights Reserved. PKAL Learning Space Collaboratory 3

4. gathering the right information
To develop the right learning space strategy, you need the right
information, at the right time, reviewed by the right people.
1. Assess relative to a goal
2. Compare before and after
3. Balance breadth and depth
4. Don’t reinvent the wheel
5. Know what you’ll do with
the results
6. Accept limitations
Further reading: http://www.brightspotstrategy.com/2011/04/20/6-tips-on-
space-performance-assessment/
©brightspot strategy 2011 All Rights Reserved. PKAL Learning Space Collaboratory 4

5. learning space strategy process
VISIONING RESEARCH AND PROFILES and SPACE DESIGN
ANALYSIS SCENARIOS PROGRAMMING
Determining the Understanding Creating profiles & Quantifying, Translating the
goals & vision for patterns in space, accommodation qualifying space strategy into a
the future services, & culture scenarios needs design
Visioning Sessions Workshops Personas / Profiles Space programming Design concepts
Interviews Online Staff Surveys Program scenarios Room data sheets References
Benchmarking Utilization Studies Business Case Reviews Review workshops
Tours Observations Pilot Projects
©brightspot strategy 2011 All Rights Reserved. PKAL Learning Space Collaboratory 5

6. design strategy
Design strategy is a way
of focusing and guiding
the design process to
create value by balancing
user needs with
organizational goals.
©brightspot strategy 2011 All Rights Reserved. PKAL Learning Space Collaboratory 6

7. analysis and synthesis
Throughout the process, you’ll be comparing an analysis of the
current state with your future desired state (or current “ideal”
state) and synthesizing ways to address these “gaps.”
CONCEPTS
GAP
CURRENT FUTURE
ANALYSIS
FINDINGS
©brightspot strategy 2011 All Rights Reserved. PKAL Learning Space Collaboratory 7

8. 5 suggestions
©brightspot strategy 2011 All Rights Reserved. PKAL Learning Space Collaboratory 8

9. look for patterns 1
Look for patterns across different data/methods, user types,
locations, and times – what surprises you? what confirms or
questions your hypothesis? Use tools that force synthesis.
11% Core
Ad Hoc Mtg
27% 8% Campus
8% Building
ad hoc
F2F Mtg persona from
15% NC State
Tel/VC 6%
20% Allocation
Email & IM of space 73% Indiv
doesn’t
Indiv Work align with
32% time spent
TIME SPACE wordle from Carleton PBL
©brightspot strategy 2011 All Rights Reserved. PKAL Learning Space Collaboratory 9

10. synthesize with end users 2
Gather the data you’ve collected and review it with your users /
clients to create the findings together – they have the context
and can help with sense-making and prioritizing.
©brightspot strategy 2011 All Rights Reserved. PKAL Learning Space Collaboratory 10

11. don’t just focus on what’s missing 3
Avoid the temptation to see the present as all flaws and the
future as all rosy – find what’s working now and build on it.
Who are the lead users who you can support and scale up?
Future info
rmationist
office?
UMass Amherst Bio
tor?
’s Inven
Active Learning
Camelbak
©brightspot strategy 2011 All Rights Reserved. PKAL Learning Space Collaboratory 11

12. play “what if?” 4
As you’re reviewing different findings, assumptions may
constrain your thinking – play “what if?” to remove them
temporarily and see from a different perspective.
Subway Libraries
Concept (unbuilt)
NOT “HOW MANY
CAN FIT?” BUT
“WHAT’S THE
RIGHT NUMBER?”
©brightspot strategy 2011 All Rights Reserved. PKAL Learning Space Collaboratory 12

13. prioritize relative to goals/vision 5
When creating findings from research and assessment,
constantly checking back to goals and vision helps to prioritize
the results and find opportunities to make progress right away.
prioritized
Metrics?
Culture?
findings are
✗
Hard
tools for
decision
Difficulty*
making
Tech?
Spaces?
Pilots?
✓
Furniture?
Easy
Services?
Quick
Wins?
Low High
Impact* A “next day” pilot
*just a guess to demonstrate methodology
©brightspot strategy 2011 All Rights Reserved. PKAL Learning Space Collaboratory 13

14. recap
Moving from findings to recommendations is messy. You must
constantly analyze what is and conceive of what’s yet to be –
seeing things from different perspectives, embracing ambiguity,
and finding ways to communicate and get feedback on your ideas.
1. Look for patterns
2. Synthesize with your users
3. Don’t just focus on what’s
wrong / what’s missing?
4. Play “what if?”
5. Relentlessly prioritize
Also: Have fun!
©brightspot strategy 2011 All Rights Reserved. PKAL Learning Space Collaboratory 14

15. resource: www.learningspacetoolkit.com
A freely-available resource to help institutions plan informal,
technology-rich learning spaces, created by NC State, brightspot,
and DEGW and funded by IMLS. Uploads begin soon. Feedback?
©brightspot strategy 2011 All Rights Reserved. PKAL Learning Space Collaboratory 15

16. presentation link:
www.bit.ly/PKALaction
(case sensitive)
©brightspot strategy 2011 All Rights Reserved. PKAL Learning Space Collaboratory 16

17. thanks!
Elliot Felix
elliot@brightspotstrategy.com
www.brightspotstrategy.com
(347) 960-6365
@brightspotter
@elliotfelix
©brightspot strategy 2011 All Rights Reserved. PKAL Learning Space Collaboratory 17