Abstract:

The purpose of the project "LIEM: Innovation laboratory for environmental education" is to create an innovative learning environment. To this end, we propose designing, implementing and evaluating the organization and structure of a classroom model in which resources interact with the learning and knowledge technologies (LKT) so that users of the classroom acquire capabilities or competences efficiently and satisfactorily.
LIEM is a space that integrates technology so that users can respond to different learning activities. They will use LKT resources and interact with them within the framework of different learning systems and pedagogical strategies that support user dialogue on relevant topics, reflection, innovation, self-training and lifelong training and continuing self-organisation.
This classroom is an innovative environment in which technology, furniture and space are at the service of the teaching and learning process. It is designed so that users can move freely, use accessible technology tools and easily collaborate with others to acquire skills.
The classroom enables immersive technology to be used in a dynamic and flexible space of educational innovation designed for teachers and future teachers, which encourages its users to be autonomous, creative and more digitally competent.

The LIEM at the Campus Terres de l’Ebre (CTE) of the Universitat Rovira i Virgili can be used for various purposes:
• Teachers and students on the degrees in Pre-school and Primary-school Education of the CTE can engage in teaching and learning activities, design educational innovation activities and carry them out.
• Educational projects can be designed for local schools.
• Teaching sequences and projects can be generated by the students of the CTE and made available on the various degree courses, so that CTE students can use them in schools, or pupils from local schools can be invited to come to the LIEM and be taught by the students in the early stages of the degrees in Pre-school and Primary-school Education at the CTE with the support and supervision of lecturers.

All the students from the CTE’s Faculty of Education have been informed about and trained in the potential of the LIEM as an innovative learning environment and shown its teaching and methodological possibilities. The classroom has been visited by 69 teachers from local schools, who have discussed various forms of collaboration. Between November 2021 and March 2022, 1250 students from 13 schools accompanied by 147 teachers have carried out various teaching sequences in the CTE’s Idees classroom. The lecturers and students from the Campus Terres de l’Ebre and the local schools all agree that the innovative learning environment is an excellent resource.

Keywords:

Learning environment, innovation, teaching digital competence, immersive technology.