Abstract:

The paper aims to examine the interrelation and intersection of essential factors that contribute to teaching and learning processes, namely: Curriculum, Pedagogy, Technology and Space. The research tackles challenges and obstacles facing teaching staff and students at educational institutions in planning and implementation of an integrated teaching and learning scenarios. Such scenarios shall encourage students to take an active role in their education within formal and informal learning settings and applying up to date technologies. Nevertheless, this approach needs comprehensive awareness, wide range of tools and ongoing collaboration among stakeholders who are involved in the educational processes.

Within this framework, Gulf University in Bahrain has organized a staff development workshop in collaboration with Higher Education Academy in the UK to introduce innovative teaching and learning methods with focus on digital and web based applications. Meanwhile, Gulf University launched a project to restyle and enhance its formal and informal learning spaces to provide supportive and stimulating environments to both students and staff. The developments in the teaching and learning methods and the educational environments are mapped to the latest revision and improvement of curriculum and pedagogy of the offered academic program at Gulf University.
Accordingly, Survey forms have been developed to investigate the responses of Gulf University staff and students towards the newly introduced teaching and learning methods as well as the enhancement of the formal and informal learning environments. The surveys examine also the impact of changing the exciting teaching and learning methods and educational spaces in light of the awareness, desires and capabilities of students and staff which cause challenges in applying technology based education and creative design of learning space.

The results and the discussion of the study provide evidences to the stakeholders of educational processes to move out from conventional teaching and learning methods towards the adaptation of integrated teaching and learning approach and advanced practices which are based on up-to-date technologies, supportive educational spaces, and latest development in curriculum design and pedagogy. The paper introduces a framework that leads stakeholders of teaching and learning processes to change their current practices and sail through to the 21th century educational environment. This framework considers the integration of range of factors and inputs observed in the surveys as well as the backgrounds and perspectives of the authors in both fields of education and interior design.

Keywords:

Space, Pedagogy, Technology, Curriculum, Teaching & Learning Scenarios, Formal and Informal Learning Environments.