From tiers to tables – enhancing student experience through collaborative learning spaces

BACKGROUND Collaborative and active learning have been clearly identified as ways students can engage in learning with each other and the academic staff. Traditional tier based lecture theatres and the didactic style they engender are not popular with students today as evidenced by the low attendance rates for lectures. Many universities are installing spaces designed with tables for group interaction with evolutions on spaces such as the TEAL (Technology Enabled Active Learning) (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, n.d.) and SCALE-UP (Student-Centred Activities for Large-Enrolment Undergraduate Programs) (North Carolina State University, n.d.) models. Technology advances in large screen computers and applications have also aided the move to these collaborative spaces. How well have universities structured learning using these spaces and how have students engaged with the content, technology, space and each other? This paper investigates the application of collaborative learning in such spaces for a cohort of 800+ first year engineers in the context of learning about and developing professional skills representative of engineering practice. PURPOSE To determine whether moving from tiers to tables enhances the student experience. Does utilising technology rich, activity based, collaborative learning spaces lead to positive experiences and active engagement of first year undergraduate engineering students? In developing learning methodology and approach in new learning spaces, what needs to change from a more traditional lecture and tutorial configuration? DESIGN/METHOD A post delivery review and analysis of outcomes was undertaken to determine how well students and tutors engaged with learning in new collaborative learning spaces. Data was gathered via focus group and survey of tutors, students survey and attendance observations. The authors considered the unit delivery approach along with observed and surveyed outcomes then conducted further review to produce the reported results. RESULTS Results indicate high participation in the collaborative sessions while the accompanying lectures were poorly attended. Students reported a high degree of satisfaction with the learning experience; however more investigation is required to determine the degree of improvement in retained learning outcomes. Survey feedback from tutors found that students engaged well in the activities during tutorials and there was an observed improvement in the quality of professional practice modelled by students during sessions. Student feedback confirmed the positive experiences in these collaborative learning spaces with 30% improvement in satisfaction ratings from previous years. CONCLUSIONS It is concluded that the right mix of space, technology and appropriate activities does engage students, improve participation and create a rich experience to facilitate potential for improved learning outcomes. The new Collaborative Teaching Spaces, together with integrated technology and tailored activities, has transformed the delivery of this unit and improved student satisfaction in tutorials significantly.

Recueil tres-exact et curieux de tout ce qui s'est fait & passé de singulier & memorable en l'assemblée generale des Estats tenus à Paris en l'année 1614 . & particulierement en chacune seance du tiers ordre. Avec le cahier dudit ordre, & autres pieces concernans le mesme sujet. Par Me Florimond Rapine, seigneur de Foucherainne & Lathenon, conseiller & premier advocat du Roy au bailliage & siege presidial de St Pierre le Moustier, & l'un des deputez pour le tiers Estat dudit bailliage. Dedié a monseigneur le premier president, garde des sceaux de France...

[Acte. 1651]

Arrêt du grand conseil qui juge qu'un tiers détenteur, même de bonne foi, d'un héritage aliéné du domaine de l'église à titre d'emphithéose, ne peut prescrire contre le titre, et qui ordonne la réversion de l'héritage au domaine de l'église (Au sujet d' un pré dépendant du prieuré d'Happonvilliers.)

[Acte. 1734-08-21. Paris]

Arrêt du grand conseil qui ordonne que les charges claustrales seront payées par préférence à tous créanciers, même à un pensionnaire qui prétendait la préférence sur le premier et sur le tiers lot. (Abbaye de Royal-Pré)

[Acte. 1744-01-31. Paris]

Arrêt du grand conseil qui adjuge la double manse aux prieurs claustraux dans l'ordre de Cluny, payable par les prieurs titulaires sur le tiers-lot. (En faveur de P-Esbrayat, prieur claustral de Saint-Martin de la ville de Layrac.)

[Acte. 1744-02-06. Paris]

LE || TIERS LIVRE || Des Faicts et Dicts || Heroïques du bon Pantagruel : || Composé par M. Fran. || Rabelais docteur || en Medi- || cine. || Reueu, & corrigé par l'Autheur, sus || la censure antique. || L'Autheur susdict || supplie les Lecteurs beneuoles, soy || reseruer a rire au soixante || & dixhuytiesme || Liure. || A Paris, || De l'imprimerie de Michel Fezandat, au mont || S. Hilaire, a l'hostel d'Albret. || 1552. Il Auec priuilege du Roy. In-8 de 160 f. inexactement chiffr. (le dernier coté 170), 3 f. non chiffr. et 1 f. blanc. — LE || QVART LIVRE || des faicts et || dicts Heroiques du bon || Pantagruel. || Composé par M. François Rabelais || docteur en Medicine. || A Paris, || De l'imprimerie de Michel Fezandat, au mont || S. Hilaire, a l'hostel d'Albret. || 1552. || Auec priuilege du Roy. — [A la fin de la Table :] Acheué d'imprimer le XXVIII. de || Ianuier M.D.LII [1552]. In-8 de 19 f. non chiffr., 144 f. chiffr. et 14 f. non chiffr. — Ensemble 2 vol. in-8, mar. citr., fil., dos ornés, tr. dor. (Anc. rel.). Rothschild 1514 (2)

Rabelais (François). Tiers Livre (1552)

« Statuts des religieuses du Tiers-Ordre de St François, dites Soeurs Grises hospitalières, ... des convents de St Omer, Dunkerque, Boulogne, ... et autres, l'an 1483 à Wisbecq ».

Contient : « Constitutions des religieuses hospitalières de la Charité de Notre-Dame, approuvées l'an 1634 »

Fragment de la Relation du royaume d'Égypte, du P. François PAUMIER, religieux du Tiers-Ordre de Saint-François, de la province de Normandie. (1710-1712).

Contient : « De quelques choses remarquables dans la ville du Caire, de M. DE MAILLET »