Technical Papers
Dec 8, 2021

Faculty Perceptions of Interactive Learning Spaces within Construction Programs

Publication: Journal of Civil Engineering Education
Volume 148, Issue 2

Abstract

To date, research conducted on interactive learning spaces (ILSs) has focused on the student learning experience, with limited focus on faculty perceptions. In this study, construction management faculty were surveyed about the availability of interactive learning spaces, the impact of teaching in a space designed for active learning, and the challenges associated with an active learning classroom. The survey was distributed to approximately 960 faculty members at 170 universities with 4-year construction management programs in North America and Europe. Approximately 65 faculty members responded from 55 universities. While a significant number of programs have access to at least one ILS and the general consensus is positive for these types of spaces, programs with fewer students continue to rely heavily on traditional classrooms. For those programs with active learning classrooms (a type of ILS), responses indicate that room design, technology, pairing classes with the appropriate classroom, and lack of training are challenges to full active learning implementation. While this study explored education within the construction management sector of the built environment, the authors suggest that the findings could be extrapolated and further explored within other Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) disciplines.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

Data Availability Statement

Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are proprietary or confidential in nature and may only be provided with restrictions (e.g., anonymized data). The data that are confidential are only the latitude and longitudinal coordinates of the respondents. The balance of the data can be available upon request.

References

American Council for Construction Education. 2018. “Document 103B: Standards and criteria for accreditation of bachelor’s degree construction education programs.” Accessed July 15, 2020. https://www.acce-hq.org/images/uploads/Doc_103B_Final_Updated_0727181.pdf.
Brame, C. J. 2016. Active learning. Nashville, TN: Vanderbilt Univ.
Bransford, J. D., A. L. Brown, and R. R. Cocking. 1999. How people learn: Brain, mind, experience, and school: Expanded edition. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Brooks, D. 2011. “Space matters: The impact of formal learning environments on student learning.” Br. J. Educ. Technol. 42 (5): 719–726. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8535.2010.01098.x.
Brown, A. L., and R. R. Cocking. 2002. How people learn, edited by J. D. Bransford. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Casanova, D., I. Huet, F. Garcia, and T. Pessoa. 2020. “Role of technology in the design of learning environments.” Learning Environ. Res. 23: 413–427. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-020-09314-1.
Cheryan, S., S. Ziegler, V. Plaut, and A. Meltzoff. 2014. “Designing classrooms to maximize student achievement.” Policy Insights Behav. Brain Sci. 1 (1): 4–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/2372732214548677.
Cleary, J. 2020. “Using the flipped classroom model in a junior level course to increase student learning and success.” J. Civ. Eng. Educ. 146 (3): 05020003. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EI.2643-9115.0000015.
Clinton-Lisell, V., and N. Wilson. 2019. “More than chalkboards: Classroom spaces and collaborative learning attitudes.” Learn. Environ. Res. 22 (3): 325–344. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-019-09287-w.
Cooper, M., S. Sandi-Urena, and R. Stevens. 2008. “Reliable multi method assessment of metacognition use in chemistry problem solving.” Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. 9 (1): 18–24. https://doi.org/10.1039/B801287N.
Crouch, C., and E. Mazura. 2001. “Peer instruction: Ten years of experience and results.” Am. J. Phys. 69 (9): 970–977. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1374249.
Deslauriers, L., E. Schelew, and C. Wieman. 2011. “Improved learning in a large-enrollment physics class.” Science 332 (6031): 862–864. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1201783.
Dewey, J. 1963. Experience and education. New York: Macmillan.
Dori, Y. J., and J. Belcher. 2005. “How does technology-enabled active learning affect undergraduate students’ understanding of electromagnetism concepts?” J. Learn. Sci. 14 (2): 243–279. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327809jls1402_3.
Erzerberger, C., and G. Prein. 1997. “Triangulation: Validity and empirically based hypothesis construction.” Qual. Quantity Int. J. Methodol. 31 (2): 141–154. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004249313062.
Farrow, C. B., and E. Wetzel. 2020. “An active learning classroom in construction management education: Student perceptions of engagement and learning.” Int. J. Constr. Educ. Res. 2020 (May): 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/15578771.2020.1757536.
Foster, R. L. 1997. “Addressing the epistemology and practical issues in multi method research: A procedure for conceptual triangulation.” Adv. Nurs. Sci. 20 (2): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1097/00012272-199712000-00002.
Freeman, S., S. Eddy, M. McDonough, M. Smith, N. Okoroafor, H. Jordt, and M. Wenderoth. 2014. “Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics.” Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 111 (23): 8410–8415. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1319030111.
Gaffney, J. D., E. Richards, M. B. Kustusch, L. Ding, and R. J. Beichner. 2008. “Scaling up education reform.” J. Coll. Sci. Teach. 37 (5): 48–53.
Gislason, N. 2010. “Architectural design and the learning environment: A framework for school design research.” Learn. Environ. Res. 13 (2): 127–145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-010-9071-x.
Grabinger, R., and J. Dunlap. 1998. “Rich environments for active learning: A definition.” Assoc. Learn. Technol. J. 3 (2): 5–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/0968776950030202.
Hao, Q., B. Barnes, and M. Jing. 2020. “Quantifying the effects of active learning environments: Separating physical learning classrooms from pedagogical approaches.” Learn. Environ. Res. 24 (1): 109–122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-020-09320-3.
Mahasneh, J., and W. Thabet. 2015. Rethinking construction curriculum: A descriptive cause analysis for the soft skills gap among construction graduates. Washington, DC: Associated Schools of Construction.
Mei, B., and L. May. 2018. “Reflective renovation: Insights from a collaborative and active learning space project evaluation.” Australas. J. Educ. Technol. 34 (6): 18. https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.4476.
Michael, J. 2007. “Faculty perceptions about barriers to active learning.” Coll. Teaching 55 (2): 42–47. https://doi.org/10.3200/CTCH.55.2.42-47.
Mojtahedi, M., I. Kamardeen, H. Rahmat, and C. Ryan. 2020. “Flipped classroom model for enhancing student learning in construction education.” J. Civ. Eng. Educ. 146 (2): 05019001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EI.2643-9115.0000004.
Oblinger, D. 2005. “Leading the transition from classrooms to learning spaces.” Accessed July 15, 2020. https://er.educause.edu/articles/2005/1/leading-the-transition-from-classrooms-to-learning-spaces.
O’Cathain, A., E. Murphy, and J. Nicholl. 2010. “Three techniques for integrating data in mixed methods studies.” Br. Med. J. 341 (Sep): 17. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmi.c4587.
O’Neal, C., and T. Pender-Grover. n.d. “Active learning techniques [Center for Research on Learning and Teaching document].” Accessed April 16, 2020. http://crlt.umich.edu/sites/default/files/resource_files/Active%20Learning%20Continuum.pdf.
Orr, D. W. 1993. “Architecture as pedagogy.” Conserv. Biol. 7 (2): 226–228. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.1993.07020226.x.
Park, E. L., and B. K. Choi. 2014. “Transformation of classroom spaces: Traditional versus active learning classroom in colleges.” Higher Educ. 68 (5): 749–771. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-014-9742-0.
Patton, M. Q. 1999. “Enhancing the quality and credibility of qualitative analysis.” Health Serv. Res. 34 (5): 1189–1208.
Piaget, J. 1973. To understand is to invent: The future of education. New York: Grossman Publishers.
Prince, M. 2004. “Does active learning work? A review of the research.” J. Eng. Educ. 93 (3): 223–231. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2004.tb00809.x.
Talbert, R., and A. Mor-Avi. 2019. “A space for learning: A review of research on active learning spaces.” Heliyon 5 (12): e02967. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02967.
Thomas, C., G. Pavlechko, and J. Cassady. 2018. “An examination of the mediating role of learning space design on the relation between instructor effectiveness and student engagement.” Learn. Environ. Res. 22 (1): 117–131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-018-9270-4.
University of Minnesota Center for Educational Innovation. n.d. “Teaching in an active learning classroom (ALC).” Accessed March 3, 2021. https://cei.umn.edu/teaching-active-learning-classroom-alc.
Van Merrienboer, J. J. G., S. Mckenney, D. Cullinan, and J. Heuer. 2017. “Aligning pedagogy with physical learning spaces.” Eur. J. Educ. 52 (3): 253–267. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12225.
Vigotsky, L. 1971. Mind and society. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Watkins, J., and E. Mazur. 2013. “Retaining students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors.” J. Coll. Sci. Teach. 42 (5): 36–41.
Weinstein, C. S. 1979. “The physical environment of the school: A review of the research.” Rev. Educ. Res. 49 (4): 577–610. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543049004577.
Wetzel, E. M., and C. Farrow. 2021. “Active learning in construction management education: Faculty perceptions of engagement and learning.” Int. J. Constr. Manage. 2021 (Sep): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2021.1974684.
Whiteside, A., D. C. Brooks, and J. D. Walker. 2010. “Making the case for space: Three years of empirical research on learning environments.” Educ. Q. 33 (3): 11.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Civil Engineering Education
Journal of Civil Engineering Education
Volume 148Issue 2April 2022

History

Received: Jan 18, 2021
Accepted: Oct 22, 2021
Published online: Dec 8, 2021
Published in print: Apr 1, 2022
Discussion open until: May 8, 2022

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

Associate Dean and Associate Professor, College of Architecture, Design and Construction, Auburn Univ., 201 Dudley Commons, Auburn, AL 36849 (corresponding author). ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0071-3997. Email: [email protected]
Assistant Professor, McWhorter School of Building Science, Auburn Univ., 120 M. Miller Gorrie Center, Auburn, AL 36849. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8692-6685. Email: [email protected]

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share