Interviewing students on informal learning in library spaces
Date
2018-07
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Abstract
This presentation addresses the sub-theme of places and spaces of teaching and learning by investigating the nature of informal learning in an academic library from the students’ point of view. This qualitative study is an example of effective research practice using semi-structured interviews to discover what students think about their learning and spaces for learning in the library. Twenty-one interviews were analyzed using NVivo software to identify themes related to space, habits, beliefs, values, and thoughts on learning. While a survey, unobtrusive study, and mixed methods approaches are useful to discover habits, behaviour and thoughts, digging deeper in conversation is useful to uncover students’ thoughts. This study prompted students to think of something they never thought about before, specifically, the relationship between their learning preferences (space and activities) and the library. This small study shows that students definitely have space preferences and their preferences vary according to the way they learn, their goals of the day, and the nature of the spaces offered to them. As academics, we are aware that most student learning occurs outside the classroom, yet for the most part we are unaware how their learning happens. Students are introduced to content, context, and activities in the classroom and then they go to their spaces to learn. New considerations from the study speak to the value that students hold in relationship to the library and why those values serve to prompt students to come to the library to learn. The study illuminates the value of libraries as learning spaces, and the value of asking students to describe their learning. Understanding this complex matrix will serve higher educators well. Further consideration should be given to higher education learning spaces based on a deeper understanding of students as active, complex learners.
Description
Higher Education Research and Development Society (HERDSA) Conference, Adelaide, Australia, July 2-5, 2018, conference presentation
Keywords
Library spaces, Informal learning, academic libraries, student learning, informal learning spaces
Citation
Beatty, S. (2019). Interviewing students on informal learning in library spaces.