Colouring Between the Lines, Paper Presentation at 'Storyville: Exploring narratives of learning and teaching', The 2nd Annual HEA Arts & Humanities Conference, 29th-30th May 2013, Brighton

Current approaches to learning within art and design tertiary education have evolved as a result of a changing sector, economy and diverse student population. Traditional learning and teaching methods have been increasingly complemented with flexible learning spaces that enhance the learners experience both inside and outside the classroom. The opportunity they provide allows self-directed exploration by the student and aims to be both motivational and informative. The Higher Education Academy Individual Teaching Development Scheme has awarded funding for this project entitled ‘Colouring Between the Lines: The Impact of Flexible Learning Spaces on First Year Art & Design Students Attitudes to their Learning Experience within Higher Education’. This project aims to evaluate the impact of flexible learning spaces on student attitudes to their learning experience.Does the use of flexible learning spaces promote confidence and ultimately competence?How much has this change, if any, been facilitated by embedding technologies into the curriculum design to enhance learning?As educators what do we need to hear that will inform our future approaches to and implementation of flexible learning strategies?