Submissions close this week! (For real)

There is still time - Weds 25th September 11:59 PM (AEST)

Hello third space colleagues, this is actually starting to look like it might come off. We have a healthy set of proposals that have come in for both the free online Slowposium (Fri 15 - Sat 30 November) and the in-person Symposium (Sun 1 December).

The beauty of the online nature of the Slowposium particularly is that there is virtually limitless space remaining for you to join in. If you have been holding off, now is the time. If you have a topic for a discussion about living and working in the third space, fantastic. Want to share something you’ve been working on about this world for feedback or to start a conversation? Excellent. Time to get cracking. You can submit your proposal for both the Slowposium and the Symposium here.

And if you are happy to simply be part of the conversations and the learning, that’s great too. Here is a sample of some of the discussions, events and activities that you can expect at the Third Space Symposium 2024.

I am not a chicken farmer: A learning designer’s reflections on co-designing with academics
This presentation reflects on the unseen labour of learning designers and technologists as they co-design educational resources with academics and subject matter experts. Explore how crucial professional interactions often remain invisible when courses are delivered to learners.

From Third Space to Shared Space: A speculative renovation of university role architecture
What if we moved beyond the binary division between academic and professional roles in universities? This collaborative mural will explore speculative futures, challenging participants to rethink the structure of university roles and consider what new possibilities emerge when we share just one space.

(Re)Imaging the future of Faculty professional development
How can Centres for Teaching and Learning (CTLs) and educational technology teams collaborate to improve faculty development? This workshop invites participants to explore models that enhance coherence and teaching quality across functional boundaries.

(De)constructing the Professional Identities of Third Space Practitioners through Zine Making
This session invites participants to reflect on and express their professional identity through the medium of zine-making, blending creativity with critical reflection on their roles as third space practitioners.

Enhancing wellbeing and preventing burnout in the third space
Explore practical strategies for preventing burnout in third space roles, with an emphasis on the importance of purpose-driven work. This video draws from over 20 years of experience in learning design and management.

What does the Third Space look like?
This short video, blending AI-generated imagery and poetry, offers a visual exploration of the struggles and complexities faced by Third Space professionals.

Framework for the evolution of professional interaction
In this interactive session, participants will explore a four-phase framework for evolving professional interaction in the third space, from Contestation to Transformation.

The (in)visibility of librarians in the third space
Reflect on the often-overlooked role of librarians in third space work. This blog post explores how librarians blend academic and professional roles, yet remain invisible in many discussions.

Weeding through data: A tool to cultivate dynamic learning environments
This session introduces a digital tool designed to help faculties manage data and enhance learning environments, enabling them to identify challenges, successes, and potentials.

The seven-year itch: Are Directors' and Learning Designers' perceptions aligned?
This forum will revisit research conducted seven years ago on learning design practices, exploring how the role of Learning Designers is viewed by Directors and how this has evolved, especially in the post-pandemic context.

Proposing a Third Space Practitioner Contract
Join the discussion on Padlet as we explore the idea of creating a Third Space contract that unites academic and professional services staff into one distinct category. Reflect on how this might increase visibility for Third Space practitioners.

2040 - Speculative future university
Imagine what a university might look like in 2040. In this activity, participants will create future scenarios for third space practitioners, visualising their roles in higher education.

Honestly, this is just scratching the surface - so let your imagination run wild. The main part of the Slowposium will occur in our Moodle environment but we are keen to support the creativity and inventiveness of our sector.

Don’t forget to register too. The Slowposium (15-30 Nov) is free for all and the Symposium (1 Dec, University of Melbourne, Australia) is $56 (covering all catering and costs for the day)

We look forward to hearing from you soon

Colin Simpson

Third Space Symposium organising committee