Assignment 4: Improving Learning Experience in Lecture Theatres

The objective of this assignment is to probe the various problems(if any) in lecture theatres that might hinder learning experience from user's perspective as well as other improvements that might enhance learning experience.

My team mate is Jeremiah and our powerpoint presentation is attached on the ivle.

Here is a brief outline of our findings. (For more information, please visit ivle for our full link)

Learning experience (as the "product" here) is influenced by the following factors:
1. Environment
2. Time

3. Place
4. Other people interpretation
5. Previous experience

We've used 2 of the methods taught in class to probe into the situation:

1) Ethnographic Study

2) Laddering

For our ethnographic study, we chose LT23 in an 8am class for the observation and our findings are:

1. Class started very late and ended late
2. Temperature was too cold
3. Chairs in this LT were uncomfortable
4. LT started to smell of food after the break
5. A lot of noise created as many students left early

Fig 1. Low back seat causes discomfort

Fig 2. Litter left behind after a lecture

The reason why we chose such a biased lecture class for a more "formal" study is because most of our lectures over the past years have been afternoon ones. We could get to observe the difference between an early class and those slightly later ones.

Some of these findings does not affect learning experience physiologically, rather it is psychologically. For example, starting lecture late may makes one come later (based on assumption that the class is gonna start late most of the time). Ending the lecture late may cause emotional displeasure as those who have class after might need to rush for next class.

For our laddering, we started with the question of "Do you like the learning experience in LTs?”. We have several findings and they are:

1. Dynamic lecture helps student understand better.
2. Comfort aids in concentration during lecture.
3. Temperature of LT affects concentration
4. Tables are not typically designed for left-handers
5. Big lectures are too distracting
6. Relevance of module to real-life aids in comprehension
7. Shorter lecture hours aid in concentration
8. Laptops (and therefore power points) aid comprehension
9. Creaky chairs affect concentration
10. Intrusive tables affect concentration (tables that swivel across neighbouring seats)

Fig 3. "Intrusive" tables that swivel across neighbouring seats

Fig 4. Chairs that are connected to a common "bar" rocks when one chair rock

We've identified the factors that influence learning experience:

1. Environment (architecture, temperature, furniture)
2. Time (duration, time of lecture)
3. Other people’s interpretation (reviews)
4. Conducting of Lectures (lecturer, methodology, size)

Some of the proposed changes are as follows (For more information, refer to powerpoint slides):

Fig 5. Semi-circular LT improves concentration

Fig 6. Chairs with higher seat back provides comfort which in turn improves concentration

Fig 7. Power points on every seat for everyone

Fig 8. Bad viewing angle (refer to picture) from the front row could be compensated by re-adjusting seats (not shown in picture)