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The survey conducted in August of 2008 produced a snapshot of student learning activities for a period of 15 hours (7am-10pm). Key spaces were targeted to gather detailed information on how student usage correlated with intended uses incorporated into space designs.

Targeted were the Social Sciences and Humanities Library, the Dorothy Hill Physical Sciences and Engineering Library, the Biological Sciences Library, the First Year Engineering Learning Centre, the Science Learning Centre, and the Collaborative Teaching and Learning Centre, all at the St Lucia campus. The Ipswich campus Library was also included in the survey.  The results here are drawn from Learning Centre spaces. 

Students were asked to complete the survey while they were in a space and submit it as they left. No restriction was put on completing multiple surveys, providing each response was for a new visit to the space over the course of the day. 

Significantly, results confirmed that the design intent was supported by student activity in each space. Social and peer-to-peer learning was predominant in the first year learning centres, while most individual study occurred in the quieter CTLC and Library spaces.

Survey results for the Learning Centres (Engineering & Science) show the key reason for student visits was to socialise with others in their discipline cohort. Students also reported that visits to the Learning Centres were on a daily basis and usually between scheduled classes, with visits lasting on average one to two hours. A key aspect of the Learning Centres that led students to choose these spaces over others was the ‘home room’ atmosphere. This was one of the design intents; to create a space in which students felt comfortable and identified as their own.

 

The overall impression gained from the survey of the Learning Centres is that these spaces are providing first year students with stability and support, which in turn enables them to idenify with the University and encourages them to continue their academic experience.

 

The Collaborative Teaching & Learning Centre spaces were primarily chosen for their technology and a quieter atmosphere. These were the only spaces that students used for long-term individual study with an average time spent per visit of four hours. Visits to the CTLC spaces were usually weekly and were predominantly by higher level students.   Through the survey, it became apparent that the CTLC provides higher level students, especially in the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture & Information Technology, with quieter spaces fitted with the necessary technologies for student activities.

 

The information gathered through this survey was useful in confirming or redirecting our design direction for further UQ spaces. We have been able to sample current student responses to these spaces and include this feedback in the development of new spaces, and refurbishment of existing spaces.