The active learning is specially promoted in Japanese universities to sift traditional teacher oriented to student oriented education.The active learning is an approach for instructional methods to enhance learning outcomes for college learners.It is promoted both formally integrated into the college curriculums and conducted informally.In this research,the authors focus how we are able to engage the students to informal active learning activities because the various educational models for active learning suggested for the formal settings.And we show the design principles of the learning environments for educators who promote active learning.The data will be collected from the students who are engaged in the activities at the learning commons,an open learning space,in Kwansei Gakuin University.In this space,the students organize various projects to tackle the social issues or needs,and they work independently for resolving them.We interview them how they were engaged and pick up the requirements to design the learning environments to promote these spaces.