(This paper was presented during 31st National Convention of Architectural engineers during

October 18-19, 2015 at IEI Kozhikode Local Centre and published in the proceedings.)

DESIGNING ROOM FOR OPEN LEARNING

Dr CKB Nair
www.bravee.net
Director, Bravee Multiskilling Academy,
301, SBI complex, Cholanagar, RT Nagar Po Bangalore 560032
Email: [email protected]

Open learning is acquiring a new status in society due to entrepreneurial and

innovation compulsions . Open learning can help to exploit skill and knowledge to fulfil
societal and personal needs . Best location to involve in open learning is at homes.
Researchers have already established that children will improve their cognition skills by
sharing learning with family members. Therefore a common e-learning room for all
members of the family can supplement the individual study rooms. This type of family e-
learning rooms will be a requirement of the homes in the days to come. Considering this
requirement, the characteristics of family e-learning room for a modern home are proposed
in this paper. Various aspects about the style, room location, room flooring, wall pattern,
room lighting and surroundings are discussed. Advancement in Information and
Communication technologies with dropping cost can have far reaching impact on e-learning
rooms in home in future to supplement activities of academic and research institutions.

Introduction to develop additional skills and

entrepreneurship. Job related learning may
Learning was mainly associated be possible at workplaces. But learning
with academic institutions and young for personal advancement may not be
students so far. Main intention of possible in workplaces. Not having free
learning was to obtain a certificate as a time is the main constraint for many
testimony of acquiring certain academic employed persons to attend classes in
degree preferably to get a superior life academic institutions. Learn from home is
time employment. With the compulsions the last way out. Arranging learning
of 21st century, such as frequent job facilities at home will be helpful in this
changes and faster demographic condition to pursue higher learning of a
relocations, perspective changes are subject of personal interest by each
evolved in learning needs. Especially individual of the home irrespective of that
when continuing learning is becoming the person’s age. All the elderly persons will
preliminary requirement of have many matters to learn from their
competitiveness, innovation and grand children through e-learning mode.
entrepreneurship. Considering these This paper is to support and encourage e-
aspects learning pursuits are undertaken by learners so as to improve the
underemployed and unemployed effectiveness, utility and reach of e-
persons to take up higher level learning or learning.

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 MOOCs
Family Learning
A massive open online
Researchers have established that course (MOOC) is an  online course at
family learning (1) has maximum influence
unlimited participation and open access via
on children and young people’s motivation.
But the conventional coaching by parents are the  internet. Developing nations like India
not very effective as reported by parents and can make maximum advantage of this
children. Most research in the field is facility when adequate infrastructure is
concerned with literacy development. The available for e-learning(2) (3) . To start
approach needs to consider the affordances with it can be from every home. There are
and constraints that operate in an interaction
many inadequacies in the present delivery
between home and school, between teachers,
parents and child. In many homes, parents are of MOOCs.
not able to teach their children, even if the
parents are well recognised professors. Firstly Collaboration and interdependence
that parents, particularly dads/ male are key assets in current complex and
guardians, are an untapped resource of multicultural society. The current
support for a child’s learning. Secondly, many affordances of ubiquitous global
parents do not understand the crucial role they connections, of a large number of open
have in a child’s learning, or even if they do, resources, and of social and professional
they do not know how to support their child networks have contributed to device a
effectively . model of increasingly more cooperative
community. Information and
communication technologies (ICT) have
OPEN LEARNING
enabled evolution and innovation: more
efficient, competitive and inclusive
Advent of proliferation of ICT gadgets solutions are possible in order to provide
have expanded the reach of open learning continuous improvement and sustainable
to all parts of the world. Especially in the development. Lifelong and ubiquitous
higher learning sphere the impact is learning, cloud computing and smart
substantial. Most of the underemployed working paradigms are the pillars that are
are having opportunities to scale up their enhancing individuals’ empowerment.
career by acquiring higher level Adult lifelong learners in particular are
qualification or by developing a aware of this evolution, since they are
supplementary skill. When life time proactive and self-regulated learners,
employment was guaranteed by the characterized as demonstrating
employer, human resource development perseverance, initiative, and adaptive
was employer’s responsibility. Employers abilities . In a lifelong learning vision, the
will not permit to enhance skills which are combination of pervading technological
not required for them. When turnover is progress and the focus on the individual
very high in the job market, more skills human resource’s potential needs to be
are to be developed at individual’s own harmonized and exploited. The paradigm
interest and aptitude to facilitate quick change driven by cloud computing is
change-over. Such activities are to be replacing the traditional work model and
carried out after normal working hours. transforming the way crowds of people
communicate, collaborate, teamwork,
produce value and growth for their entities.

2
Appendix ‘A’ shows the evolution of supporting multimedia materials are highly
MOOCs during the last three decades. demanded in e-Learning systems . E-
Learning cannot replace traditional
Collaboration technology classroom learning. Naturally, not every
student finds e-Learning to his or her
Academic institutions and research liking. For one thing, it may require
centres are the best locations for maturity and more discipline from students
continuing higher learning pursuits. For than conventional education. It is well
underemployed professionals, due to recognized that total preparation time for
financial constraints and paucity of time it an online course far exceeds the one for a
will not be possible to attend academic traditional classroom course. Quite
institutions regularly. The emergence of probably certain types of instruction may
multimedia technology presents an not be suitable to go online.
opportunity of both technological
breakthrough and theoretical advancement E-Learning will keep growing as
in e-Learning(4). an efficient and indispensable solution to
remote and lifelong learning. It is
especially beneficial when people cannot
A few learning theories emphasize leave the duty and come to the campus to
learning’s social genesis and suggest the have face-to-face learning. To advance e-
view that learning is a social process Learning, we also need to meet other
occurring more effectively through challenges. First, as the number of Internet
interpersonal interactions in a collaborative users increases, access time will increase
context. Collaborative learning can serve as well; Second, the voluminous email
as a way of creating a virtual class in messages or continuous online discussion
which a group of remote learners are can be overwhelming and cause
learning together. Substantial research has information overload to learners. It can be
shown that groupware supported alleviated by development of new software
collaborative learning leads to better tools for standardizing and coordinating
student involvement, better performance, interaction.
and higher participation and productivity
than individual learning. Furthermore, . The future e-Learning will be featured
individual learners’ exposure to alternative with broadband and more reliable
points of view can challenge their initial networks and high-quality multimedia
understanding. Incorporating a new learning materials. Constantly improved
generation of communication and technologies will significantly boost the
collaboration tools can enhance e-Learning capacities, robustness, and speed of
effectiveness. These tools and networks so that the transmission of
technologies gear toward knowledge multimedia-rich learning materials will be
sharing and group discussion, and bring much faster than today. Streaming audio
distinct benefits to both online instructors and video will be widely used. Knowledge
and learners. There are a variety of will be better managed and reused. In the
collaboration tools that are used on the meantime, the cost of e-Learning will be
Internet. Some of them are electronic reduced dramatically. As learning
bulletin boards, online chat rooms, “anytime, anywhere” changes expectations
newsgroups, Net-Meeting, and Web-based and assumptions of our economy and
Group Systems. Currently, text-based society, e-Learning will become more and
online collaboration tools are prevalent for more important and pervasive in our lives.
supporting e-Learning. However, it has
been well recognized that new tools

3
Need for E- Learning Room -The learning room should be well lit and
one should not face a blank wall or a 
The above factors necessitate a window while studying.
special type of E-Learning Room in all
futuristic homes. New houses will have -One should prefer not to have the  toilets
more than 50 years life. The trend of in the learning room, however  bathrooms
living in the home in the coming 50 years are fine.
is to be visualised while finalising the plan
of the new homes. -The book rack should be made on the
Southern or Western wall.

Office rooms and study rooms -The book shelf should never be planned
were provided in homes to cater officials above the study table.
needs of elders and academic needs of
children respectively. E-learning rooms -The size of the study table should not be
will supplement office and study rooms as too big or too small. The proportion of the
a place for family learning for length & width should not exceed more
collaborative learning. E-learning room than
design has to be planned carefully. Main
characteristics of the e-learning -The study table should not stick to the
room such as location of learning room, wall .It should be at least 3-4 inches away
styles and placement of learning room from it.
furniture, learning room ventilation,
learning room lighting, learning room -If the learner makes use of the Table lamp
flooring, learning room paint colors, then the lamp should be kept in the
learning room wall patterns and learning Southeast corner of the desk.
room surroundings are further discussed
briefly(5) . -A   pyramid can be kept near study table
as it balances the  energy and increase the
remembering power.
Location of a e-Learning room
-A pendulum watch should be put on the
E-Learning room should be located North wall of the room.
at a convenient place in the home.
Preferably it should be in the ground floor. -The   windows should be larger on the
Vastu principles suggest the following (6), eastern side and smaller on the western
(7): side of the room.

-The learning room should be placed -Use light/neutral  colour scheme for

either in the  Northeast/East or West side better learning power.
of the house.

-Learner must face East/North while In addition to the above the following
studying. aspects also to be considered:.

-A beam should never run above your head -Proper location of the bedroom in the
while studying. house

-The direction of the Entrance

4
 -The direction and placement of the placed with benches or chairs on sides.
windows Benches are cheaper and can remind
elderly people about their earlier
-The direction and placement of the childhood student days. The e-learning
learning table room is to be furnished to express definite
idea or theme about the learning subjects.
-The direction to face while learning Formal furnishing and informal
furnishings are to be selected
-The direction and placement of the book accordingly(8). A sample rocking chair
shelf with provision for keeping book is shown
in Appendix B.
-The direction and placement of AC,
cooler, audio systems Learning Room flooring
-The things to be kept in the learning Many types of learning room flooring
room options are available. It should meet the
functional and personal requirements of
-The colour scheme of the room the individual learners. Marble flooring,
vinyl flooring, Laminate flooring or
wooden flooring can be selected as per
suitability of climatic conditions.
Learning Room Ceiling

Ceiling changes the decor of the learning

room. When the learner is having
difficulty in comprehending some subjects,
it is natural to look up to the ceiling for
clues. The ceiling can inspire the learner
with new visions.

Learning Room doors and

windows
Doors can be simple without much
ornamental decorations. Provision to be
provided for automatic closing of the
Learning room Furniture and doors always. Windows should be as
furnishing large as possible to have natural lighting
with glass window panes. Curtains to be
Conventional furniture for students of matching colour .
learning room are one study table near the
wall and an individual chair facing the Budget for e-learning room
wall and a bookshelf . In the family e-
learning room, the table can be in the In conventional Home designs, learning
centre of the room and chairs can be rooms were not given adequate financial
around the table. A round table is importance. Minimum one percentage of
preferable, which may provide a feeling of the total budget of the building to be
equality. As per Vastu principle rectangular allocated towards e-learning rooms to
tables are ideal. If round table is not demonstrate the importance to learning
affordable, rectangular table can be pursuits of all members in the home.

5
Modern furniture and latest technology the society’s resources and opportunities in
demonstrating gadgets are to be positioned achieving its goals .
in e-learning room . Such environment
nourish creativity and innovation.
Collective learning pursuits converts the When more persons are involved in
learning efforts to a mission mode for each continuing learning pursuits, innovation
member. As education is the best and creativity sprout everywhere. And
investment for youth for their future industry and entrepreneurship will
growth, it has also become an essential flourish. This is required for sustainable
ingredient for day to day survival for adults development. Future homes will evolve
in competitive professional field. A better and become more oriented on the
equipped learning room in the home, can development of knowledge and
ensure protection from technological innovation. While the components of high-
obsolescence. Considering this, in addition performance work systems understandably
to the initial capital investment, vary, the one common feature is whole
considerable yearly expenditure for all systems of leadership and learning.
consumables and maintenance also to be Families built on high-performance
planned . systems principles invest heavily in skills
. and knowledge development, and design
Conclusion work in a way that provides opportunity
for skills to be practiced. Personalisation
Over-importance of primary and becomes a crucial element, and the model
secondary education cannot be a hallmark of growth of individuals depends on their
of a literate society. What is required is empowerment and on their capability of
involvement of more persons in higher achieving results . At the same time, social
learning pursuits. Due to social networking and collaboration technologies
compulsions it was not possible till the end draw renewed attention on the evidence
of twentieth century. Advancement in ICT that families are social entities above all,
has enabled higher learning economically where leaders can make social learning
possible for the poorest of the poor. Still happen by supporting individuals to
a societal transformation is required to continue learning
accept continuing learning as a intellectual
trait. This will be achievable when the
higher echelons of society is References
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Open Learning”, Proceedings of v=R2U83SqssOY (video on modern
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conference on distance education , at for-study-room.html
IGNOU , New Delhi 19-23 November 7.https://www.youtube.com/watch?
2005. v=bcDT3zK0avY (Vastu principles for
4.https://www.youtube.com/watch? learning rooms)
v=LzyQy6cqVSs(designing collaborative 8. Jyoti Nair http://www.ceecc.co.in/?
class rooms) page_id=140APPENDIX - ‘A’

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Appendix B