An Initial Approach using Audience Response Systems as a Strategy for Improving the Learning Process

Abstract

The current downturn in the Spanish construction sector has indirectly and negatively affected motivation levels of Technical Architecture Degree students. This has resulted in a reluctance among students to study technical degrees in this sector. Faced with this predicament, the question arises as to the relevance of the traditional model of university teaching. Traditionally, the process of teaching and learning in subjects related to building systems has been carried out following a theoretical and practical framework. This teaching methodology is based on a traditional learning model, with theoretical and practical classes, where tasks related to the theoretical contents are solved. A new methodology based on dynamic strategies, promoting discussion, reflection, teamwork, and collaborative decision-making is proposed. Professors were asked what and how they want their students to learn, and considering the generally positive student attitudes towards the use of new technologies, they were implemented in the new learning method. The goal is to recover lost motivation, encourage self-learning as well as a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach using new technologies, and last but not least, break the participation barrier that normally exists in lectures which typically deal with completely new subjects. Completing an individual post-lecture test followed by a class debate on the results enables each student to build a sense of self-confidence in the knowledge area. The tests include questions that simulate everyday scenarios, such as the management of a building. This encourages a highly dynamic and interactive lecture, which in turn stimulates confidence and motivation. Each student accesses the test via the Socrative mobile application where short tests become available at the end of each lecture. This paper presents a new methodology based on active learning using the Audience Responce Systems (ARS), in several modules of the Architectural Technology Degree.