Emotion Design Probe Improving learning experience in Lecture Theatres Koh Swee Leng Lau Pui Wah Pham Thi Phoung Thao

Objective Improve learning experience in LT culturally and technologically by targeting at existing problems. Methodologies: Ethnography , Cultural probe & Laddering

Improve learning experience in LT culturally and technologically by targeting at existing problems.

Methodologies:

Ethnography , Cultural probe & Laddering

Ethnography Observed 3 lecture lessons :- LT32 , 4-6pm, 120 – 140 students LT8 , 12 – 2 pm, 70-100 students LT11 2- 4 pm, 120 – 140 students Key observation points : 1) Environment and ergonomics of LT design Eg. Tight space between rows  immobility (LT3 2) Students’ behavior since start of lecture Eg. Late-coming habits  class disturbance

Observed 3 lecture lessons :-

LT32 , 4-6pm, 120 – 140 students

LT8 , 12 – 2 pm, 70-100 students

LT11 2- 4 pm, 120 – 140 students

Key observation points :

1) Environment and ergonomics of LT design

Eg. Tight space between rows  immobility (LT3

2) Students’ behavior since start of lecture

Eg. Late-coming habits  class disturbance

Ethnography 3) Lecturer’s performance Eg. Read from slides  Boring, unable to engage students.

3) Lecturer’s performance

Eg. Read from slides  Boring, unable to engage students.

Cultural Probe Why cultural probe ? People usually say one thing and mean another Give respondents their own privacy space  record down their true feelings in a less pressurizing context Discover their inner real time thoughts

Why cultural probe ?

People usually say one thing and mean another

Give respondents their own privacy space  record down their true feelings in a less pressurizing context

Discover their inner real time thoughts

Cultural Probe 15 respondents  3 yr ones , 6 yr twos, 6 yr threes 1) Diary Study (using postcards) : Record 3 different LT learning experience over 5 days Guidelines : - What you did before the lecture - Time you entered lessons - Where you sit & why - Other students behavior - Any thoughts about the LT - Emotions from start to end of lecture - Specific incidents/ good or bad experience during lessons

15 respondents  3 yr ones , 6 yr twos, 6 yr threes

1) Diary Study (using postcards) :

Record 3 different LT learning experience over 5 days

Guidelines :

- What you did before the lecture

- Time you entered lessons

- Where you sit & why

- Other students behavior

- Any thoughts about the LT

- Emotions from start to end of lecture

- Specific incidents/ good or bad experience during lessons

Cultural Probe Photo taking : - What you hate/love about anything in this LT / lesson - Moments in lecture

Photo taking :

- What you hate/love about anything in this LT / lesson

- Moments in lecture

Laddering An extension to cultural probe In-depth understanding of viewpoints in diary/photos Example : Qn: In your diary, you wrote that you cant hear the lecturer clearly. Why is not being able to listen to lecture properly a bad thing? Ans: ‘cos I wont be able to understand what he is teaching Qn: Why is not being able to hear him bad? Ans: ‘cos I wont be able to understand what he is teaching

An extension to cultural probe

In-depth understanding of viewpoints in diary/photos

Example :

Qn: In your diary, you wrote that you cant hear the lecturer clearly. Why is not being able to listen to lecture properly a bad thing?

Ans: ‘cos I wont be able to understand what he is teaching

Qn: Why is not being able to hear him bad?

Ans: ‘cos I wont be able to understand what he is teaching

Laddering Qn: why is not understanding the lecture a bad thing? Ans: then I wont score well for the exam ma! Qn: why is not scoring well in your exam a bad thing? Ans: ‘cos I want to get a good job Qn: Why do you need to get a good job? Ans: ‘cos I want to enjoy life Qn: Why is getting a good job going to let you enjoy life? Ans: ‘Cos I’ve have a lot of money to get things I wan Qn: why would you want to get things that you want? Ans: ‘Cos I want!!

Qn: why is not understanding the lecture a bad thing?

Ans: then I wont score well for the exam ma!

Qn: why is not scoring well in your exam a bad thing?

Ans: ‘cos I want to get a good job

Qn: Why do you need to get a good job?

Ans: ‘cos I want to enjoy life

Qn: Why is getting a good job going to let you enjoy life?

Ans: ‘Cos I’ve have a lot of money to get things I wan

Qn: why would you want to get things that you want?

Ans: ‘Cos I want!!

Laddering Spending power to enjoy life Achieve good career Scoring well for exams Understanding lecture Audibility

Spending power to enjoy life

Achieve good career

Scoring well for exams

Understanding lecture

Audibility

Problems Seating & capacity Narrow spaces between rows of seats hinder physical movement  sit at the aisle seats  leaving empty seats in the middle Students refuse to sit at the front  hinders interaction Back of seat too short (plastic)  back backache Reservation of seats

Seating & capacity

Narrow spaces between rows of

seats hinder physical movement 

sit at the aisle seats 

leaving empty seats in the middle

Students refuse to sit at the front  hinders interaction

Back of seat too short (plastic)  back backache

Reservation of seats

Seating & capacity (Cont’d) Huge lecture size  not enough seats, high noise level, not paying attention Lecture hall too big  lack of interactivity/cannot see the lecturer from the back 2) Visibility Screen too small & not clear enough  especially if seating at the sides columns Can’t see writings on whiteboard First 2 rows too near to the screen Problems

Seating & capacity (Cont’d)

Huge lecture size  not enough seats, high noise level, not paying attention

Lecture hall too big  lack of interactivity/cannot see the lecturer from the back

2) Visibility

Screen too small & not clear enough

 especially if seating at the sides columns

Can’t see writings on whiteboard

First 2 rows too near to the screen

Problems 4) Acoustic & Noise Noisy students Doors can be quite noisy when pushing in and out Lack of clarity  muffling / lecturer mumbling  cannot hear properly 3) Table Table too small Table not user friendly for left handers Cumbersome flipping table  need to take down things before can proceed to toilet

4) Acoustic & Noise

Noisy students

Doors can be quite noisy when pushing in and out

Lack of clarity  muffling / lecturer mumbling  cannot hear properly

3) Table

Table too small

Table not user friendly for left handers

Cumbersome flipping table  need to take down things before can proceed to toilet

Problems 5) Interactivity / Lecturer’s presentation Lack of student’s participation  dare not ask questions Boring & rigid lecturing style discourage interactivity Monotonous lecturing skills (*Yawn Zzzz)  Skip lecture

5) Interactivity / Lecturer’s presentation

Lack of student’s participation  dare not ask questions

Boring & rigid lecturing style discourage interactivity

Monotonous lecturing skills (*Yawn Zzzz)  Skip lecture

Problems Interactivity / Lecturer’s presentation (Cont’d) Lack of multi-media teaching format. Eg. Videos Notes too general  difficult to follow progress Students unable to link the concepts taught by lecturer Lecturers do not know how to use the various media controls. Eg. Turning up the volume  Inefficiency

Interactivity / Lecturer’s presentation (Cont’d)

Lack of multi-media teaching format. Eg. Videos

Notes too general  difficult to follow progress

Students unable to link the concepts taught by lecturer

Lecturers do not know how to use the various media controls. Eg. Turning up the volume  Inefficiency

Problems 6) Learning environment & ambience too dull 7) Accessibility of certain lecture halls 8) Lectures before 10am too early  sleepy mode/ unable to concentrate 9) Punctuality problem 10) Temperature too cold at times 11) Not Enough electric plugs for laptops.

6) Learning environment & ambience too dull

7) Accessibility of certain lecture halls

8) Lectures before 10am too early  sleepy mode/ unable to concentrate

9) Punctuality problem

10) Temperature too cold at times

11) Not Enough electric plugs for laptops.

Technological Solutions Longer back rest with head rest for tired necks and backs from lowering heads copying notes Sliding track with spring which pushes chair under the tables automatically so as not to obstruct the path A locking mechanism to lock the sliding chair accordingly to the user's preferences To solve problems of seating & capacity ….

Longer back rest with head rest for tired necks and backs from lowering heads copying notes

Sliding track with spring which pushes chair under the tables automatically so as not to obstruct the path

A locking mechanism to lock the sliding chair accordingly to the user's preferences

Ideal Seats

Technological Solutions To solve problems of seating & capacity (cont’d)…. Decrease no. of sitting rows (size of lecture)  encourage interaction Slightly increase spaces between rows to allow walking space Build entrance at the centre-sides of LTs (Rather then the back)  direct more students to sit at the front

To solve problems of seating & capacity (cont’d)….

Decrease no. of sitting rows (size of lecture)  encourage interaction

Slightly increase spaces between rows to allow

walking space

Build entrance at the centre-sides of LTs (Rather then the back)  direct more students to sit at the front

Technological Solutions To solve problems of interactivity & acoustic noise … A earphone inlet to plug in the earphone  Enhance acoustic sounds , Enhance concentration, prevent neighboring students disturbing and talking to you A microphone connected to their table to facilitate students raise questions

To solve problems of interactivity & acoustic noise …

A earphone inlet to plug in the earphone  Enhance acoustic sounds , Enhance concentration, prevent neighboring students disturbing and talking to you

A microphone connected to their table to facilitate students raise questions

Technological Solutions To solve problems of interactivity & acoustic noise (cont’d) A wireless/bluetooth system which allow students to log in via handphone/laptop & send real-time questions to the lecturer at the front  good for those who are afraid to speak out their queries  direct interaction Configure wall surface, and ceiling pane to enhance acoustic sounds Install automatic slider doors  prevent noise distraction from pushing of doors

To solve problems of interactivity & acoustic noise (cont’d)

A wireless/bluetooth system which allow students to log in via handphone/laptop & send real-time questions to the lecturer at the front  good for those who are afraid to speak out their queries  direct interaction

Configure wall surface, and ceiling pane to enhance acoustic sounds

Install automatic slider doors  prevent noise distraction from pushing of doors

Technological Solutions To solve table problems .. Adapt to the bench table sitting format  big surface area , for left + right handers , no need to take down things to move out (just slide back the chair) Bag compartment under table  prevent students from always putting their bags on the chairs beside them

To solve table problems ..

Adapt to the bench table sitting format  big surface area , for left + right handers , no need to take down things to move out (just slide back the chair)

Bag compartment under table  prevent students from always putting their bags on the chairs beside them

Ideal Tables The tables are featured individually but a linkage of tables is available also

The tables are featured individually but a linkage of tables is available also

Technological Solutions To solve visibility problems… Increase screen size by 0.5 times to enhance visibility Improved Multi-angle viewing screen Kill off white boards  use writing projectors instead To increase visceral appeal of LT (conducive environment) Use brighter colors for furniture & walls Hang a few art pieces

To solve visibility problems…

Increase screen size by 0.5 times to enhance visibility

Improved Multi-angle viewing screen

Kill off white boards  use writing projectors instead

To increase visceral appeal of LT (conducive environment)

Use brighter colors for furniture & walls

Hang a few art pieces

Technological Solutions To Simplify the central AV control system for the lecturer  increase efficiency .. A touch screen panel . EXAMPLE : CONTROLS VOLUME SCREEN LIGHTING TEMP PROJECTOR c NOTEBOOK AV INPUT VCD/DVD WRITING PROJECTOR BACK SHUT DOWN

To Simplify the central AV control system for the lecturer

 increase efficiency ..

A touch screen panel . EXAMPLE :

Technological Solutions Others .. Increase electric plugs at every row  for laptops Maintain temperature at 27 degrees  not too cold

Others ..

Increase electric plugs at every row  for laptops

Maintain temperature at 27 degrees  not too cold

Cultural Solutions To improve problem of punctuality & unresponsiveness  Push all lectures timing to after 10 am To gain attention & enhance motivation … Play videos/audio (related to module) at the start of the lecture to allow buffer time for late comers  also increase motivation Present a meaningful problem for students to think  present lecture as solution to problem

To improve problem of punctuality & unresponsiveness 

Push all lectures timing to after 10 am

To gain attention & enhance motivation …

Play videos/audio (related to module) at the start of the lecture to allow buffer time for late comers  also increase motivation

Present a meaningful problem for students to think  present lecture as solution to problem

Cultural Solutions To gain attention & enhance motivation (Cont’d) … Relate knowledge to interesting real life accounts  Laddering reveals some of the under lying motivations comes from inputting knowledge learnt into their future career. Add humor to the lecture Voice training !! : Speak clearly Not too fast Speak with strength & zest Non – monotonous : Stress, volume, pause

To gain attention & enhance motivation (Cont’d) …

Relate knowledge to interesting real life accounts  Laddering reveals some of the under lying motivations comes from inputting knowledge learnt into their future career.

Add humor to the lecture

Voice training !! :

Speak clearly

Not too fast

Speak with strength & zest

Non – monotonous : Stress, volume, pause

Cultural Solutions To increase interaction & attendance … Decrease class size intake Apply learning process theory, using rewards and punishments: Rewards: Encourage students to come to class by giving some information not included in the lecture notes. (Eg. Exam tips) Increase lecture participation points to 15%

To increase interaction & attendance …

Decrease class size intake

Apply learning process theory, using rewards and punishments:

Rewards:

Encourage students to come to class by giving some information not included in the lecture notes. (Eg. Exam tips)

Increase lecture participation points to 15%

Cultural Solutions To increase interaction & attendance (Cont’d)… Small in-class quizzes to mark attendance. Small prizes for students who participate in class’s activities. End lessons early for active participation Punishments: Students coming late are required to participate in class’s activities first.

To increase interaction & attendance (Cont’d)…

Small in-class quizzes to mark attendance.

Small prizes for students who participate in class’s activities.

End lessons early for active participation

Punishments:

Students coming late are required to participate in class’s activities first.

Limitations Cost of building / lecturer training Cost efficiency vs Functionality. Eg bigger individual table seat Characteristics of lecturer . Eg. Mundane personality

Cost of building / lecturer training

Cost efficiency vs Functionality. Eg bigger individual table seat

Characteristics of lecturer . Eg. Mundane personality

QUESTIONS ?