Back to Speakers
Dr Robert Dillon

Dr Robert Dillon

US Co-OrdinatorPlanning Learning Spaces in Practice/ Rogers Elementary School

Dr. Robert Dillon has served as a designer, educator and leader for over thirty years. His work focuses on solutions and supporting change in organizations to maximize learning. Dr. Dillon works with schools and districts in collaborative partnership to shift thinking and break the inertia of traditional school. Dr. Dillon supports school design in a number of areas including: learning environments, technology integration, and instructional design. The core purpose of the work continues to flow through an empathy lens that considers what the optimal design would be for students. Dr. Dillon has been involved with design projects around the globe that have included solutions for higher education pre-k classrooms; public libraries; urban, rural, suburban schools, and a number of charter and independent schools.

Thu Oct 299:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Beyond the Ribbon: Evaluating the Performance of Learning Ecosystems

Most school projects are celebrated at ribbon cutting, yet few teams evaluate whether learning environments truly support learning once occupied. This…Most school projects are celebrated at ribbon cutting, yet few teams evaluate whether learning environments truly support learning once occupied. This session explores how learning ecosystems influence engagement, wellbeing, and performance over time…Most school projects are celebrated at ribbon cutting, yet few teams evaluate whether learning environments truly support learning once occupied. This session explores how learning ecosystems influence engagement, wellbeing, and performance over time. Through a narrative of ten chapters, participants will examine how environments evolve in new and existing spaces. Using the COURSE framework and a small-group scorecard activity, attendees will eva…Most school projects are celebrated at ribbon cutting, yet few teams evaluate whether learning environments truly support learning once occupied. This session explores how learning ecosystems influence engagement, wellbeing, and performance over time. Through a narrative of ten chapters, participants will examine how environments evolve in new and existing spaces. Using the COURSE framework and a small-group scorecard activity, attendees will evaluate environments and identify practical strategies they can apply immediately.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More

EDsession (60 minutes in classrooms)Session TypeTRACK 4: Evidence, Impact & the Future of Practice — Research, systems, sustainability, and accountabilitySession Track
Brian Proctor
Brian ProctorK-12 Education Leader/Education Specialist, RATIO Design
Dr Robert Dillon
Dr Robert DillonUS Co-Ordinator, Planning Learning Spaces in Practice/ Rogers Elementary School
Tags:Group C
Allow Registration:No
Capacity Unlimited:No
Indicate how the topic is applicable to Health, Safety, Welfare (HSW) Design credits.:This session qualifies for Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) credit as it focuses on how learning environments influence occupant wellbeing, behavior, and performance after occupancy. Participants will examine how environmental conditions such as lighting, acoustics, spatial layout, and furniture impact comfort, engagement, and safe use of space. Using the C.O.U.R.S.E. framework, participants will evaluate how design decisions and operational systems support healthy, safe, and effective learning environments over time.
Learner Engagement:This session is intentionally designed around adult learning principles that emphasize relevance, reflection, collaboration, and immediate application. Rather than a lecture-style format, participants are actively engaged through a combination of storytelling, guided reflection, small-group discussion, and hands-on evaluation exercise. The session is structured as a narrative of ten “chapters” in the life of a learning environment, allowing participants to connect new ideas to their own experiences as educators, designers, and leaders. Throughout the session, participants are prompted to reflect on their own learning environments and consider how space, culture, and systems influence teaching and learning. Engagement is deepened through structured peer-to-peer interaction. Participants will engage in small-group discussions at key points in the session to share observations, challenge assumptions, and connect the content to their own contexts. The session culminates in a collaborative evaluation activity where participants use the C.O.U.R.S.E. framework and a structured scorecard to assess a learning environment scenario. This hands-on exercise allows participants to apply concepts in real time, analyze environmental performance, and identify practical strategies they can use in their own schools or projects. By combining storytelling, reflection, discussion, and application, the session ensures participants are not only learning new concepts, but actively engaging with them and leaving with tools they can immediately apply in their own learning environments.
Learning Objective 1:Evaluate how learning environments influence student engagement, wellbeing, and instructional practices over time using a post-occupancy lens.
Wed Oct 2812:30 PM – 2:00 PM

Transforming Elementary Classroom Spaces into Early Childhood Places

Today, over 1.75 million 3- and 4-year-old children are enrolled in state-funded pre-kindergarten programs.  Most of these programs are in elementary …Today, over 1.75 million 3- and 4-year-old children are enrolled in state-funded pre-kindergarten programs.  Most of these programs are in elementary school buildings using classrooms built for older children of different physical sizes and developme…Today, over 1.75 million 3- and 4-year-old children are enrolled in state-funded pre-kindergarten programs.  Most of these programs are in elementary school buildings using classrooms built for older children of different physical sizes and developmental needs.  Some children — barely potty trained and only 36 months old — are entering a world designed for significantly older students. Join us to discuss and design early childood PLACES that meet…Today, over 1.75 million 3- and 4-year-old children are enrolled in state-funded pre-kindergarten programs.  Most of these programs are in elementary school buildings using classrooms built for older children of different physical sizes and developmental needs.  Some children — barely potty trained and only 36 months old — are entering a world designed for significantly older students. Join us to discuss and design early childood PLACES that meet the needs of our youngest learners.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More

Workshop (90 minutes)Session TypeTRACK 1: Learning Spaces, Reimagined — Evolving physical spaces shaping the future of learningSession Track
Rebecca Berlin
Sandra Duncan
Afua Adutwumwaa Ameley-Quaye
Dr Robert Dillon
Rebecca Berlin
Rebecca BerlinPresident, Gryphon House Publishing
Sandra Duncan
Sandra DuncanAuthor and Design Consultant, Nova Southeastern University
Afua Adutwumwaa Ameley-Quaye
Afua Adutwumwaa Ameley-QuayeScientist, The Children’s Equity Project, Arizona State University
Dr Robert Dillon
Dr Robert DillonUS Co-Ordinator, Planning Learning Spaces in Practice/ Rogers Elementary School
Rebecca Berlin
Rebecca BerlinPresident, Gryphon House Publishing
Sandra Duncan
Sandra DuncanAuthor and Design Consultant, Nova Southeastern University
Afua Adutwumwaa Ameley-Quaye
Afua Adutwumwaa Ameley-QuayeScientist, The Children’s Equity Project, Arizona State University
Dr Robert Dillon
Dr Robert DillonUS Co-Ordinator, Planning Learning Spaces in Practice/ Rogers Elementary School
Tags:Group B
Allow Registration:No
Capacity Unlimited:No
Indicate how the topic is applicable to Health, Safety, Welfare (HSW) Design credits.:n/a
Learner Engagement:Learners will be actively engaged throughout the presentation by: 1) Watching and reflecting on a video that defines places. 2) Sharing places they remember and come back to throughout their life, and reflecting on why that is. 3) Examine what in an elementary classroom and building might not be size and developmentally appropriate for a preschooler, and share examples. 4) Brainstorm short, medium, and long-term updates needed for their elementary schools
Learning Objective 1:Investigate the movement and trend of three- and four-year-old preschoolers entering elementary school buildings, and determine the root cause of this placement.