Oh my, the nightmare assignment…
Task: Improving learning experience in lecture theatres
We used the techniques of technological probing, laddering and ethnography as our research methods.
For technological probing, we interviewed students before and after their lectures with the help of a questionnaire we created based on the Mac PowerBook experience illustrated in the lecture slides.
In our laddering studies, we fared not-so-well at first since our technique of asking questions was not refined and often led to short terminating answers. As we progressed and got better in our interrogation, some of the conclusive answers we gathered as to what “hampers learning experience in LTs” are as follows:
- Distracting eye-candy,
- Disruptive topic brought up by neighbouring students,
- Short attention span of students, etc.
For ethnography studies, Zhenfeng sat in for a lecture in LT33 and took note of the temperature, the lecturer’s teaching style through her visual aids, the students, etc.
To improve the learning experience, we have to consider on improving both the physical aspects and the cultural aspects (i.e. the people who use the LT), and not just solely one of the aspects. Well, one group mentioned ‘fengshui’ which was pretty hilarious and unique though how true that may be to improving our learning experience, I have no idea…
One way: Do regular maintenence on LTs’ facilities! Better facilities, better learning experience. Well, we do admit locations of LTs matter, like the obscure LT32 but I don’t think it’s going to be possible to move it. Perhaps build any future LTs on level ground and not on the top of a hill, haha…
Maybe we could educate the students to be considerate to others, hence improving the cultural aspects, that is the learning and teaching body. A hard method to achieve, since tell me honestly, how many of us are actually not sick of propagandas and agendas that we see constantly?
This nifty link below gives you a direct download of our 6-7 minutes presentation on our findings and methods of study:
NM4210 Assignment 4 Powerpoint Presentation
