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Effect of Seating Arrangement on Class Engagement in Team-based Learning: a Quasi-Experimental Study
Hong An Andrew Seet1, Emmanuel Tan1, Preman Rajalingam1
1Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 11 Mandalay Road, Novena Campus, 308232 Singapore.
Medical Science Educator
|February 14, 2022
Summary
Seating arrangement in team-based learning (TBL) classrooms did not significantly impact student engagement. While novice learners showed decreased engagement when seated further from the tutor, overall engagement remained unaffected by distance or orientation.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Classroom Design
- Learning Engagement
Background:
- Investigated the impact of seating distance and orientation on student engagement in a purpose-built team-based learning (TBL) classroom.
- Examined differences between novice (first-year) and experienced (second-year) undergraduate medical students.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine how seating distance and orientation influence engagement in TBL.
- To provide insights for optimizing TBL classroom implementation and design.
Main Methods:
- Quasi-experimental study involving 160 undergraduate medical students in Singapore.
- Assessed engagement using the Situational Cognitive Engagement Measure and Classroom Engagement Survey across two TBL sessions.
- Manipulated seating distance from the tutor and student orientation (front/back facing tutor).
Main Results:
- Seating distance did not significantly affect engagement in experienced students.
- Novice students showed a significant decrease in engagement when seated further from the tutor.
- Seating orientation did not significantly impact engagement for either group.
- Students unaffected by seating praised the classroom's technology and design features.
Conclusions:
- Classroom seating distance and orientation had minimal impact on engagement in a technologically enhanced TBL environment.
- Novice students prefer closer proximity to the tutor, a preference that may evolve with experience.
- Well-designed, team-centric TBL spaces can foster engagement irrespective of minor seating adjustments.
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