3 - Towards Evaluating a Higher Education Residence Environment that is Conducive to Learning, Development and Success
Corresponding Author(s) : Willem Petrus Wahl
Journal of Higher Education in Africa,
Vol. 11 No. 1-2 (2013): Journal of Higher Education in Africa
Abstract
The higher education residence environment has traditionally been perceived as mere buildings that provide accommodation to students, especially in Africa. However, for more than a decade now, research on Living Learning programmes has shown how residence-based programmes can create inclusive communities where the academic project of institutions is successfully integrated with the living environment of students. This integration creates an environment that is conducive to learning, development, and success. The aim of this article is to analyse some of the latest empirical research on Living Learning programmes and then make a comparison with the theory on student learning and development, in order to enable practitioners to evaluate their own residence environments to become more conducive to learning, development, and success. Ten questions are generated through this comparative analysis and it is recommended that practitioners in Africa use it as an evaluative framework within their institution’s residence environment.
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- Biggs, J. and Tang, C., 2007, Teaching for Quality Learning at University: What the Student Does,(3rd edition), Berkshire, England: Open University.
- Chickering, A.W. and Reisser, L., 1993, Education and Identity, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
- De la Rey, C., 2010, ‘The Strategic Role of Student Housing in Advancing Student Development and Success’, Keynote address at the annual conference for the Association of College and University Housing Officers, South African Chapter in Durban, August 24-26, 2010.
- Department of Education, 2008, Report of the Ministerial Committee on Transformation and Social Cohesion and the Elimination of Discrimination in Public Higher Education Institutions, Department Education; South Africa, available at http://www.vut.ac.za/new/index.php/docman/doc_view/90ministerialreportontransformationandsocialcohesion?tmpl=component& format=raw, accessed 5 July 2012.
- Department of Higher Education and Training, 2011, Report on the Ministerial Committee for the Review of the Provision of Student Housing at South African Universities, available at http://www.dhet.gov.za/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=4VNwYJ%2BEwvA%3D&tabid=92&mid=495, accessed 5 July 2012.
- Inkelas, K.K., Soldner, M., Longerbeam, S.D. and Leonard, J.B., 2008, ‘Differences in Student Outcomes by Types of Living-Learning Programs: The Development of an Empirical Typology’, Res High Educ., 49:495-512.
- Inkelas, K.K., Zeller, W.J., Murphy, R.K. and Hummel, M.L., 2006, ‘Learning Moves Home’, About Campus, January-February 2006.
- Keeling, R.P., 2004, ‘Learning Reconsidered: A Campus-Wide Focus on the Student Experience’, available at www.learningreconsidered.org, accessed 12 April 2009.
- Laufgraben, J.L., and Shapiro, N.S., 2004, Sustaining and Improving Learning Communities, San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
- Lenning, O.T., and Ebbers, L.H., 1999, ‘The Powerful Potential of Learning Communities: Improving Education for the Future’, ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Report, 26(6), available at http://eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED428606.pdf, accessed 5 July 2012.
- Marmot, A., 2005, Spaces for Learning, London: Alex Marmot Associates. National Study of Living Learning Programs (NSLLP), 2004, ‘Report of Findings’,available at http://www.livelearnstudy.net, accessed 17 October 2006.
- National Study of Living Learning Programs (NSLLP), 2007, ‘Report of Findings’, available at http://www.livelearnstudy.net, accessed 3 April 2008.
- Oblinger, D.G., 2006, ‘Learning Spaces’, available at http://www.educause.edu/ learningspaces,accessed 10 October 2006.
- Schein, H.K., 2005, ‘The Zen of Unit One: Residential Learning Communities can Foster Liberal Learning at Large Universities’, University of Illinois.
- Shapiro, N.S. and Levine, J.H., 1999, Creating Learning Communities: A Practical Guide to Winning Support, Organizing of Change, and Implementing Programs, San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
- Swartz, D., 2010, ‘The Strategic Role of Student Housing in Advancing Student Development and Success’, Keynote address at the annual conference for the Association of College and University Housing Officers, South African Chapter in Durban, August 24-26, 2010.
- Zeller, W. J., James, P. and Klippenstein, S., 2002, ‘The Residential Nexus: A Focus on Student Learning’, available at http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED437883.pdf, accessed 5 July 2012.
References
Biggs, J. and Tang, C., 2007, Teaching for Quality Learning at University: What the Student Does,(3rd edition), Berkshire, England: Open University.
Chickering, A.W. and Reisser, L., 1993, Education and Identity, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
De la Rey, C., 2010, ‘The Strategic Role of Student Housing in Advancing Student Development and Success’, Keynote address at the annual conference for the Association of College and University Housing Officers, South African Chapter in Durban, August 24-26, 2010.
Department of Education, 2008, Report of the Ministerial Committee on Transformation and Social Cohesion and the Elimination of Discrimination in Public Higher Education Institutions, Department Education; South Africa, available at http://www.vut.ac.za/new/index.php/docman/doc_view/90ministerialreportontransformationandsocialcohesion?tmpl=component& format=raw, accessed 5 July 2012.
Department of Higher Education and Training, 2011, Report on the Ministerial Committee for the Review of the Provision of Student Housing at South African Universities, available at http://www.dhet.gov.za/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=4VNwYJ%2BEwvA%3D&tabid=92&mid=495, accessed 5 July 2012.
Inkelas, K.K., Soldner, M., Longerbeam, S.D. and Leonard, J.B., 2008, ‘Differences in Student Outcomes by Types of Living-Learning Programs: The Development of an Empirical Typology’, Res High Educ., 49:495-512.
Inkelas, K.K., Zeller, W.J., Murphy, R.K. and Hummel, M.L., 2006, ‘Learning Moves Home’, About Campus, January-February 2006.
Keeling, R.P., 2004, ‘Learning Reconsidered: A Campus-Wide Focus on the Student Experience’, available at www.learningreconsidered.org, accessed 12 April 2009.
Laufgraben, J.L., and Shapiro, N.S., 2004, Sustaining and Improving Learning Communities, San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Lenning, O.T., and Ebbers, L.H., 1999, ‘The Powerful Potential of Learning Communities: Improving Education for the Future’, ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Report, 26(6), available at http://eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED428606.pdf, accessed 5 July 2012.
Marmot, A., 2005, Spaces for Learning, London: Alex Marmot Associates. National Study of Living Learning Programs (NSLLP), 2004, ‘Report of Findings’,available at http://www.livelearnstudy.net, accessed 17 October 2006.
National Study of Living Learning Programs (NSLLP), 2007, ‘Report of Findings’, available at http://www.livelearnstudy.net, accessed 3 April 2008.
Oblinger, D.G., 2006, ‘Learning Spaces’, available at http://www.educause.edu/ learningspaces,accessed 10 October 2006.
Schein, H.K., 2005, ‘The Zen of Unit One: Residential Learning Communities can Foster Liberal Learning at Large Universities’, University of Illinois.
Shapiro, N.S. and Levine, J.H., 1999, Creating Learning Communities: A Practical Guide to Winning Support, Organizing of Change, and Implementing Programs, San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Swartz, D., 2010, ‘The Strategic Role of Student Housing in Advancing Student Development and Success’, Keynote address at the annual conference for the Association of College and University Housing Officers, South African Chapter in Durban, August 24-26, 2010.
Zeller, W. J., James, P. and Klippenstein, S., 2002, ‘The Residential Nexus: A Focus on Student Learning’, available at http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED437883.pdf, accessed 5 July 2012.