Students' perception of informal learning spaces in an academic library; an investigation into the relationship between learning behaviours and space design

Abstract
Academic libraries, newly recreating themselves as centres for learning on campus, are providing expanded informal learning spaces for their students. We often judge the spaces as successful because students use them. But we do not know how students perceive these spaces as learning spaces. Students come to the library to conduct intentional or self-regulated learning. How do the spaces they use for learning activities support their learning? Do students just use the spaces because they have no choice, adapting their learning activity to their surroundings? These are some of the questions addressed by a study of student learning behaviours in informal learning spaces within an academic library. The study was conducted in early 2016. Students were interviewed regarding their perception of the spaces that they use, in relation to the learning activities they needed to undertake. The goal of the study was to determine the features in open learning spaces that assist students in their learning. This paper reviews the design of the particular academic library in the study, presenting an overview of the research and discussing preliminary results. The paper focuses on a discussion of the students’ perceptions of the relationship between their learning and design of the spaces they use.
Description
IATUL conference 2016, Dalhousie University, Halifax, June 5-10. Conference proceeding.
Keywords
learning behaviours, informal learning spaces, library space design, self-regulated learning
Citation