Active learning spaces foster development of communication skills in senior undergraduate science students

Abstract

 The main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of  an active learning space (ALS) in supporting student development of effective communication as a transferable skill. A fourth-year medical science course was taught in two different settings, an ALS and a fixed-row classroom, by the same instructor.  Participants preferred the ALS for supporting communication skill development, despite it having no quantifiable effect on their communication apprehension. The ALS had a significantly higher impact than the fixed-row classroom on groupwork/collaboration and student-student interactions. This study highlights the importance of the physical classroom space for fostering students’ development of communication and collaborative skills.