Focus Area
Fiona’s research focuses on the affordances of innovative learning environments. Over the course of the project she will explore existing evidence around how affordances are understood and used by teachers to support student deep learning, and how teachers can be empowered to enhance the use of ILEs. The research will involve gaining an overall picture, gathering data and presenting case studies across a wide variety of schools.
This short video provides an overview of the project in October 2019.
Background
Fiona is a registered architect, exhibition designer, and PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne with a specialisation in learning environments. She has previously worked within leading cultural institutions including The Museum of Arts and Applied Sciences (MAAS), The Australian Museum and The Museum of Wellington City and Sea in New Zealand. She is a Studio Director at Hayball in Sydney where her focus is on schools and GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museum) sector projects. Core to her role is bridging understanding between clients, educators and design teams to enhance learning opportunities through design.
Publications
Young, F., Cleveland, B. & Imms, W. Aust. Educ. Res. (2019). The affordances of innovative learning environments for deep learning: educators’ and architects’ perceptions. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-019-00354-y
Bhim S, Sobel L and Young F. 2015. Evolving Learning Space Typologies: In learning, workplace and other contexts.
Young, Fiona and Murray, Genevieve, 2015, “The Architecture of Play” in Sandra Lynch, Deborah Pike and Cynthia à Beckett (eds.), Multi-disciplinary Perspectives of Play, Springer (forthcoming).
Presentations: Fiona has presented at a range of education conferences on learning space design from school to tertiary focus, in Australia and internationally.
Membership: Fiona is actively involved in Learning Environments Australasia (A4LE) NSW Chapter.