Students' Perceptions of Different Tertiary Learning Environments

Abstract

In this study of students' perceptions of six different tertiary learning environments, 1,249 students indicated the behaviours and practices that helped or hindered their learning and why. Irrespective of the type of learning environment, students felt that their learning was helped when learning experiences were practical and experiential. Students also felt that their learning was helped when the presentation and explanation were clear. These learning conditions clarified their understanding and consolidated their learning. Learning was hindered when the pace of presentation was inappropriately fast or slow and the presentation was unclear. Learning in each particular type of environment was also helped or hindered by conditions and behaviours idiosyncratic to that environment. These conditions and the reason for their effects are identified and discussed. Although many are predictable, they reinforce the notions, first, that different learning environments are designed to, and in practice do, produce different learning outcomes and, second, that students are capable of discriminating between what they consider to be good and bad educational experiences. What students regard as “good”, however, provides a challenge for tertiary educators and staff developers.