Learning environment assessment

Abstract

This thesis introduces a rationale and a set of methods for assessing the performance of learning environments. The vehicle of this study is the assessment project of the new teaching laboratory of the MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Learning environments are settings that support teaching and learning activities. The objective of developing and managing learning environments is to achieve a dynamic coherence among space, equipment, tools, and operation of the learning environment so as to maximize the learning outcome. The method of learning environment assessment is to identify latent problems and explore opportunities and processes of improving its performance. To assess the performance of the learning environment, this thesis proposes that the learning environment should be examined through three lenses: teaching and learning activities, settings, and students' individual lives. Methods of examining learning environments through these three lenses are introduced in this thesis in the context of the MIT Aero/ Astro new teaching laboratory assessment.