1 Learning Studios: Engaging Millennial Students in a New Classroom Environment EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) Annual Meeting January 2008

2 Presenters Homero Lopez, Ph.D. Retired President, Estrella Mountain Community College (AZ) Linda L. García, Ph.D. Higher Education Consultant

3 A Vision of Today’s Students

4 The Millennial Generation

5 Characteristics of the Millennial Generation Gadget Fanatics Social Networkers Internet Enthusiasts Optimists Multitaskers Inductive Learners Team Oriented Visual Learners Source:

6 Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education Chronicle, Almanac So What?

7 The Collision: Millennials vs. Traditional Learning Environments Educational Delivery Challenges Faculty and Student Challenges Technology Infrastructure Challenges College Institutional Mindset on Facilities

8 Disengaging Students Through Space Source: Brown (2005) Memorization Recall One size fits all Repetition Acquisition of facts Transmission of knowledge Teacher = authoritative figure Fixed roles Fixed classrooms Single location

9 National Systems To Measure Student Engagement Benchmarks: Indicators of Effective Educational Practice Active and Collaborative Learning Student-Faculty Interaction Support for Learners Academic Challenge Student Effort Active and Collaborative Learning Student-Faculty Interaction Supportive Environment Level of Academic Challenge Enriching Educational Experiences

10 You can ignore this breaking Millennial wave, by treating today’s collegians as you did the last generation. You can resist it, by pursuing decades-old agendas. You can ride it, by adapting as fast as you can to new needs as they arise. Or you can lead this new youth wave, by preparing for Millennials before they arrive in full force. - Howe and Strauss, 2003, p. 5

11 Using Space as a Tool Three Principles in Developing Campus Spaces 1. Leverage physical space 2. Engagement of stakeholders 3. “Radical flexibility”

12 Learning Studios Source: Brown (2005) Understanding Discovery Tailored Construction Teacher = mentor Mobile roles Mobile, convertible, flexible classrooms

13 What Did Engagement Mean In The Learning Studio For Millennial Students and Faculty?

14 What Did They Talk About?

15 Millennial Students vs. Faculty

16 Active and Collaborative Learning A classroom with a purpose Team work Team work Ample amount of writing spaces Ample amount of writing spaces Conduct online research

17 Student-Faculty Interaction Nontraditional roles Nontraditional roles Teaching style modified Teaching style modified An increase access to students An increase access to students

18 Supportive Environment Technology is a must Color creates positive atmosphere Physical comfort

19 Concerns Constant lecture not favored Instructors not proficient with technology Technology safety Technology interruptions Social distractions

20 Moving From Disengagement To Engagement Through Space Disengagement   Instructor is dispenser of knowledge   Student is recipient of knowledge   Constant lecture   Technology not utilized   A less social environment   Fixed furniture   Instructor is a mentor   Increased student involvement   Technology inundated   Instructors technology proficient   An increased social environment   Flexible furniture Engagement

21 Creating Learning Studios Experimentation Seek Partnerships Create Prototypes Gather Research Develop Best Practices Replicate Student Engagement Student Success

22 Website: