Stimulating and enabling learning environment

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Inclusive learning environments

Strategic Objective Four:

To have inclusive physical and virtual learning environments that stimulate learner engagement

What are our aspirations?

• Our learning environments are modern, vibrant, creative and welcoming
  
• Our learning environments represent the cultural diversity of our learners, staff, schools and programmes
  
• Learning resources are accessible to learners from diverse locations and through a variety of mobile devices
  
• Our off-campus staff participate seamlessly in on-campus meetings and activities
  
• Leading edge technologies seamlessly support learning in both virtual and physical learning environments
• Our elearning platforms, tools and services support blended delivery, fully online and distance delivery and open educational resources
  
• Our learners receive proactive, personalised and individual learning experiences and support
  
• All staff recognise and enact their role in proactively supporting learners
• Social connections are promoted through social spaces both on and off campus
  
• Physical classrooms are designed for flexibility and collaborative and cross-disciplinary learning
  
• Work places are recognised as learning environments by employers, learners and staff
  
• Our learners and staff use online tools, applications and social networks consistently and creatively for public and professional communication
  
• Technology is used to create communities of learners across international boundaries and to foster collaboration across multiple time zones, borders and cultures
  
• Our virtual campus enables easy access to library resources, courses and programmes, learning support, learner communities, learner personal information and technology support
  
• Our learning environments are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable (see SD strategic framework)

What will we do to achieve our aspirations?

• Involve learners in the design and development of our learning environments
• Include imagery and language across the physical and virtual learning environs that reflect our diverse learner communities
• Technology 'works', is continually updated and new technologies are regularly introduced
• The information technology infrastructure supports increasing blended, online, distance and open models of delivery
• Videoconferencing is accessible from all staff and classroom computers
• Ensure equitable access to learning resources and support for all learners (on campus, off campus, distance and fully online)
• Puna Kawa and other training rooms enable easy communication with multiple off site and on-site users
• Development a set of good practice principles for space design to guide all redevelopments and refurbishments
  
• Utilise 'big data' systems to support proactive, personalised and individual learning experiences and support
  
• Extend learner analytics to ensure that strategic decisions are informed by high quality data
  
• Stream and record key research presentations, public lectures and seminars and international guests, and edit for re-use as online teaching resources
• Provide continuing education opportunities for all staff to develop their own cultural competence and apply this in practice to create a safe and inclusive learning environment
  
• Enable eSimulation, eAssessment and ePortfolio technologies to support authentic work-based learning
• Develop digital literacy resources as open educational resources for staff and students
• Develop an integrated system for learner feedback that feeds results back to learners
  

How will we know we have been successful?

• Our learners express that they feel safe at Otago Polytechnic
  
• All learners express that they feel connected to Otago Polytechnic
• The diversity of our learners and staff increases, especially increases in Maori and Pacifica
• Our off-site staff are fully engaged in on-site activities
• Our learners access learning anytime and anywhere
• Our learners express that they feel supported at Otago Polytechnic
• Otago Polytechnic leads the sector in the AUSSE survey results
• Social media integrated elearning increases
• Physical classrooms are flexible, modern, creative, learner-centred and reflective of learner and programme diversity and culture
• Our eCampus will work seamlessly to meet learner needs