Engaging Students' Learning in the Built Environment Through Active Learning

Engaging Students' Learning in the Built Environment Through Active Learning

Lloyd Martin Scott
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-8452-0.ch001
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Abstract

This chapter addresses the position of learning, teaching, and assessment in education with the particular emphasis on higher education (HE) in the built environment (BE) but also embeds the context of the contemporary approaches that have emerged in the BE which are built on a solid educational underpinning. The conceptions of “active learning” are addressed from the perspective of what the literature refers to but also some significant reference to action research adopted, rolled out, and evaluated in undergraduate built environment education by the author. The “learning by doing” mantra of among the BE educational community has begun to make inroads. There is a more engaging approach from academics to support learners. An identification of the areas where improvement may be achieved into the future and the possible areas where research might be explored to address and solve some of these pertinent issues.
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Introduction

I know I cannot teach anyone anything. I can only provide an environment in which we can learn -Carl Rogers

This chapter builds on the personal, educational and cultural contexts of the author. It addresses the position of learning, teaching and assessment in education with the particular emphasis on Higher Education (HE) in the Built Environment (BE) but also embeds the context of the contemporary approaches that have emerged in the BE which are built on a solid educational underpinning. The conceptions of ‘active learning’ are addressed from the perspective of what the literature refers to but also some significant reference to action research adopted, rolled out and evaluated in undergraduate built environment education by the author.

Since the early 1980’s numerous educational leaders in the field of HE made recommendations and urged academics to adopt more student centred learning approaches, including the adoption of more active learning methodologies. Bringing to the classroom ways to more actively involve and engage students in the process of learning. The ‘learning by doing’ mantra of among the BE educational community has begun to make inroads. There is a more engaging approach from academics to support learners. Although we consider the concept of student centered learning (SCL) to be a relatively new one, particularly in HE, interest in it has been long-standing among educators in all realms of education. In looking to characterise the various ways that SCL is defined, and how the learner experience might be enhanced through the use of methodologies that improve learning it is necessary to consider how academics approach learning and teaching. To contextualise student centered approaches, reflecting on some of the developments that have taken place in HE education is necessary. In particular, a focus on the BE, and how the experience of learners has been enhanced, through a variety of differing approaches to learning, teaching and assessment. An identification of the areas where improvement may be achieved into the future and the possible areas where research might be explored to address and solve some of these pertinent issues.

It looks at the pedagogic approach necessary for teacher/lecturers to consider, in the modern era of change in HE, in order that they can engage in practices that will foster and encourage deep and meaningful learning by students. The role of technology is briefly reflected upon and the contribution it can make to the learner experience identified. In particular, assessment for learning is investigated and defined, along with exploring teaching excellence as a concept to encourage and engaged academics in best practice through assessment as a theme while acknowledging the need to explore reflective practice in approaches by teachers/lecturers. To begin a speculative look back at the 12th Century HE educational experience of students and what they might have encountered back then is a good starting point. This is followed by a brief comparison with what one might expect to find in our modern 21st century educational establishments.

Assessment, which is considered an active learning methodology, has always been considered an important part of the educational process but it has rarely been discussed in the discipline or subject context with the exception of some of the more practical aspects. The work of Wright and Jones (2007) where case study examples of good practice in the BE are offered appears to be one of the few discipline resources that have been published in the BE area. The discipline research literature on the topic has been very thin on the ground although there is agreement that this is a very important aspect of the work of academics (Peel, 2010). Within the BE in Ireland there is very little research on assessment with respect to undergraduate programmes. A small amount of research has been produced with respect to postgraduate assessment and the work of the author addresses the judgmental aspects of assessment in respect of taught programmes and the embedding of formative assessment led learning strategies (FALLS) (Scott & Fortune, 2009, 2011 and 2012).

Key Terms in this Chapter

Summative Assessment: Accountability-oriented assessment. The use of data assembled at the end of a particular sequence of activities, to provide a macro view of teaching, learning, and institutional effectiveness.

Formative Assessment: Improvement-oriented assessment which is not marked for summative purposes.

Built Environment: The term refers to the human-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, ranging in scale from buildings to parks. In terms of built environment education it refers to the subject that define the built environment and include architecture, surveying, construction management and technology, urban planning, and so on.

Evaluation: The process of observing and measuring a thing for the purpose of judging it and of determining its “value,” either by comparison to similar things, or to a standard.

Diagnostic Assessment: Assessment designed to identify skills, knowledge and other attributes which can be used to decide on specific pathways of study, or difficulties in learning which require support.

Learning Outcomes: Observable behaviors or actions on the part of students that demonstrate that the intended learning objective has occurred. Used to express intended results in precise terms.

Assessment: Assessment can be defined as the systematic and ongoing method of gathering, analyzing, and using information from measured outcomes to improve student learning in terms of knowledge acquired, understanding developed, and skills and competencies gained.

Learning by Doing: Refers to a theory of education developed by American philosopher John Dewey. Dewey theorized that learning should be relevant and practical, not just passive and theoretical.

Collaborative Learning: Collaborative learning is a situation in which two or more people learn or attempt to learn something together. Unlike individual learning, people engaged in collaborative learning capitalize on one another's resources and skills.

Active Learning: Active learning refers to a form of learning in which the teaching approach strives to involve students in the learning process more directly than in other methods. In an active learning environment, the learners participate in the process and learn by doing.

Feedback: Information provided to learners about their work and progress.

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