2023 Conference – Christchurch, re:Activate

2023 re:Activate – generating a city of learning

Learning Environments Australasia recognises that New Zealand has a proud heritage and unique cultural identity, these two aspects are embodied within recently constructed learning spaces.

The relation to the land, and the acknowledgement of the people, the kaitiaki (the guardians) is evident in so many of our Christchurch/Ōtautahi learning spaces and we were so excited to share them with you. This strong focus has become the new standard when designing and constructing learning environments across New Zealand and this conference was a a chance to see it all.

At the re:Activate – generating a city of learning conference 2023 we saw a vast array of learning environments from early childhood, primary and secondary schools to universities, as well as the urban fabric required to re:Activate a city.

Delegates experienced school tours, keynote speakers and smaller workshops throughout the three day event. The smaller workshops are called re:Activate Sessions were dynamic and engaging presentations, which enhanced the keynote speakers and built on the school tours.

We are grateful for our gifted whakataukī:Tūngia te ururoa, kia tupu whakaritorito te tupu o te harakeke. Clear away the old and redundant plants so the good may grow vigorously.

Our conference themes were: Connecting, Developing and Designing

As designers of educational experiences and learning spaces we are always altering our expectations and practice to reflect how education has shifted to respond to our ever-changing world. We are all aiming to enhance the educational experience for learners, teachers, leaders, and the associated communities and to improve outcomes for our learners by creating learning opportunities never thought possible in the past.

This conference set a goal of reactivating people, to push the boundaries of improving design to expand learning opportunities, to think beyond the norms we have created over the last hundred plus years in education. Our school communities wanted educators and designers to create learning opportunities and learning spaces that enable people to grow and learn in the best way possible for them and we needed to be brave in our thinking and achieve this as a collective if we are to meet these expectations. And, yes, we certainly did achieve this!

We know that this conference challenged ideas of the past and extended thinking for a more diverse, culturally aware, inclusive, and engaging future for all. As Conference Chair I was delighted that delegates:

• Connected with the variety of contexts available in Christchurch and experienced the shift in recent history in our New Zealand education. By connecting with the strong cultural narrative that has informed the reactivation of learning environments and pedagogy in Ōtautahi/Christchurch.
  
• Developed their knowledge of how to improve existing spaces, or build new spaces, while extending pedagogy and practice to reach better outcomes for all, whilst considering the need for diversity, cultural responsiveness, and inclusion of all learners.
  
• Designed learning environments and educational experiences that contextualise the culturally significant aspects of the learning community they are serving, to enable us all to create better outcomes for all.  

Our New Zealand conference committee invited leading thinkers, designers, educators, strategists, and academics from across various sectors, countries, disciplines, and professional backgrounds to share with delegates their knowledge, skills and experience. Together we envisioned the conference would provide a diversity of perspectives and generate conversations that will last beyond 2023.

The Learning Environments New Zealand (LENZ) team also put together a pre-conference tour for delegates which was held in Queenstown Schools’ LENZ Tour 2023, on Monday 15th May. The tour included a winery lunch and a tour of three different schools in the region. This tour was separate to  the re:Activate – generating a city of change conference.  

We are all part of a community of professionals working together to enhance the educational experience, to improve outcomes for learners through quality learning environments. As part of that community, we, the people of New Zealand, hosted a unique opportunity to see the widest range of recently built learning environments in Australasia and possibly the world.

After attending the 21 Annual Conference, we hope you are reactivated in your own profession, opened your mind and extended your thinking about what spaces and learning looks like in 2023. We thank you for attending re:Activate 2023.

Nga mihi nui

Jacque Allen
Past Chair Learning Environments New Zealand
2023 Conference Chair re:Activate – generating a city of change