Record Detail

To promote student learning and bolster student success, higher education
institutions are increasingly creating large active learning classrooms to replace traditional
lecture halls. Although there have been many efforts to examine the effects of those
classrooms on learning outcomes, there is paucity of research that can inform the design
and implementation process. This study investigates how spatial and technological features
of a large collaborative classroom support active learning based on the Pedagogy-Space-
Technology framework. The findings from our study suggest short lecture and class-wide
discussion are essential in framing learning content before group activities, and connecting
group outputs to the learning content after group activities. Through interviews, surveys,
and focus groups, we found that-while small group activities are generally well-supported
in large active learning classroomsfacilitating short lecture and class-wide discussion is
key to the success of active learning in large classrooms. Technology should be carefully
laid out in the space to accommodate those activities. Specific design and implementation
suggestions and implications are provided.