Student Growth and Development in New Higher Education Learning Spaces: Student-centred Learning in Singapore

133 Pages·2022·4.699 MB·English

by  Siok Kuan Tambyah

Student Growth and
Development in New Higher
Education Learning Spaces
Learning spaces are an increasing area of debate in higher education studies, as
universities attempt to develop holistic forms of education that connect epis-
temological areas. Focusing on faculty–student collaborative learning in resi-
dential colleges in Singapore, this book carefully examines how we can enable
students to grow and develop, not just as workers for the global marketplace but
also as unique individuals.
Showcasing the diversity of programmes and initiatives that contribute to stu-
dent learning outcomes, the volume draws upon the real-world experiences of
educators and students. Contributors examine the benefits and challenges of
crafting and implementing innovative programmes and activities focused on the
technologies of learning, interdisciplinary thinking, experiential learning, com-
munity engagement and authenticity. Students, working with one another, their
teachers and community partners, also play a pivotal role in co-creating their
learning journeys. The chapter authors provide their critical reflections on how
the experiences and lessons learnt may apply to other learning spaces in higher
education (including online and blended spaces).
This edited volume will be relevant to any educator, researcher or student
interested in creative learning spaces, and innovative programmes and activities
that bring together students, educators and community partners.
Siok Kuan Tambyah is an Associate Professor at the NUS Business School,
National University of Singapore and a Fellow at the College of Alice & Peter
Tan. Her research and teaching interests include consumption and identity, con-
sumer culture, happiness and cross-cultural consumer behaviour. She has pub-
lished numerous articles, books and monographs in these areas. In addition to
disciplinary research, she is involved in pedagogical research on the learning pro-
cesses and outcomes in residential colleges. Related publications have appeared
in The Asian Journal of Scholarship of Teaching & Learning, Journal of Higher
Education Research and Development and Transform Engagement Australia.
Routledge Research in Higher Education
Enhancing Values of Dignity, Democracy, and Diversity in Higher
Education
Comparative Insights for Challenging Times
Edited by Tamar Ketko, Hana Bor, and Khalid Arar
Student Growth and Development in New Higher Education
Learning Spaces
Student-centred Learning in Singapore
Edited by Siok Kuan Tambyah
Cultures and Languages across the Curriculum in Higher Education
Harnessing the Transformative Potentials of CLAC across Disciplines
Edited by India C. Plough and Weloré Tamboura
Queerness as Being in Higher Education
Narrating the Insider/Outsider Paradox as LGBTQ+ Scholars and Practitioners
Antonio Duran, Ryan A. Miller, T.J. Jourian and Jesus Cisneros
Queerness as Doing in Higher Education
Narrating the Insider/Outsider Paradox as LGBTQ+ Scholars and Practitioners
Jesus Cisneros, T.J. Jourian, Ryan A. Miller and Antonio Duran
Supporting Student and Faculty Wellbeing in Graduate Education
Teaching, Learning, Policy, and Praxis
Snežana Obradović-Ratković, Mirjana Bajovic, Ayse Pinar Sen, Vera Woloshyn,
Michael Savage
Optimising the Third Space in Higher Education
Case Studies of Intercultural and Cross-Boundary Collaboration
Natalia Veles
For more information about this series, please visit: www.routledge.com/
Routledge-Research-in-Higher-Education/book-series/RRHE
Student Growth and
Development in New Higher
Education Learning Spaces
Student-centred Learning in Singapore
Edited by
Siok Kuan Tambyah
First published 2023
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa
business
© 2023 selection and editorial matter, Siok Kuan Tambyah; individual
chapters, the contributors
The right of Siok Kuan Tambyah to be identified as the author of the
editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has
been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Tambyah, Siok Kuan, editor.
Title: Student growth and development in new higher education
learning spaces : student-centred learning in Singapore / [edited by]
Siok Kuan Tambyah.
Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2023. |
Series: Routledge research in higher education | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022022197 (print) | LCCN 2022022198
(ebook) | ISBN 9781032080772 (hardback) | ISBN 9781032080789
(paperback) | ISBN 9781003212843 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Education, Higher--Aims and objectives--Singapore. |
Education, Higher--Curricula--Singapore. | Holistic education--
Singapore. | Interdisciplinary approach in education--Singapore. |
Student-centered learning--Singapore. | Experiential
learning--Singapore.
Classification: LCC LA1239.5 .S88 2023 (print) | LCC LA1239.5
(ebook) | DDC 378.5957--dc23/eng/20220824
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022022197
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022022198
ISBN: 978-1-032-08077-2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-08078-9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-21284-3 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003212843
Typeset in Galliard
by KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd.
BK-TandF-TAMBYAH_9781032080772-220522-FM.indd 4 28/09/22 5:46 PM
To the students who have lived and learned
with us

Contents
List of Figures xi
List of Tables xii
List of Contributors xiii
Preface xvi
1 The Impact and Potential of Residential Colleges:
An Overview 1
SIOK KUAN TAMBYAH
Introduction 1
The Uniqueness of Asian Residential Colleges 2
Benefits of Residential Colleges 3
Help for Transitioning Students and Marginalised Students 4
Academic and Social Support 4
Enabling Factors and High-Impact Practices 5
Intentional Design 5
Opportunities and Resources for Involvement 6
Social Interactions 6
Road Map of Book Chapters 7
Acknowledgements 10
References 10
2 Knowing and Doing: Making Learning Spaces
in a Residential College 14
ERIC KERR
Introduction: The Technology of Learning Spaces 14
Research Context: Learning Spaces in Residential Colleges 15
An Example: Sitting in a Residential College 17
Chairs as Technologies 17
Reconfiguring Spaces during COVID-19 18
Technologies of Learning 20
viii Contents
A Formal Setting: Learning in a Module 21
An Informal Setting: Making a Makerspace 21
Reconsidering Making during COVID-19 22
Epistemic Aims 23
Conclusion 25
Acknowledgements 26
Notes 26
References 27
3 Opportunities and Challenges in Developing
Interdisciplinary Thinking in Undergraduate Education 30
TAI CHONG TOH AND SIOK KUAN TAMBYAH
Interdisciplinary Thinking in Higher Education 30
CAPSTONE as a Unique Learning Space 32
Methodology 34
Findings 34
Evidence of Higher-Order Skills 35
Student Conditions in Enabling IDT 36
Curiosity and Openness 36
Respect and Humility 37
Self-Awareness of Disciplinary Identities 38
Discussion 39
Implications 40
Student Conditions 40
Learning Environment and Process 40
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
on the CAPSTONE 41
Conclusion 43
Acknowledgements 44
Notes 44
References 44
4 A Hybrid Model of Students-as-Partners: A Systematic
Exploration of Co-created Experiential Learning
in Higher Education 47
KANKANA MUKHOPADHYAY AND WONG SOON FEN
Introduction 47
Background and Context 49
The Case Study 49
Participants, Data and Measures 50
Contents ix
Findings (Part 1) 51
The Two Phases and SaP Theme 51
Ideation and Negotiation 51
Collaboration and Execution 52
SaP Theme: Equalising Power and Creating Agency 53
Findings (Part 2) 55
Survey Results and Findings from the Reflective Essays 55
Affective Learning Outcome 57
Cognitive Learning Outcome 59
Discussion and Implications 60
SaP in the Times of COVID-19 62
Acknowledgements 62
Notes 62
References 63
5 Facilitating Student Learning in the Informal Curriculum:
Community Engagement Festival as a Case Study 65
LAVANYA BALACHANDRAN, SUE CHANG-KOH AND SHANTHNI SELVARAJAN
Evaluating Student-Led Community Engagement
in a Residential College in Singapore 65
Research Context 66
Sense of Belonging as an Outcome 67
Prior Attitudes towards Community Engagement 68
History of CE Fest 68
Structure of CE Fest 70
Research Question and Methodology 71
Pre- and Post-Surveys 71
Participants 72
Empirical Data 73
Pre-existing Civic Consciousness 73
Learning Outcomes Pre- and Post-intervention 73
Diversity in ILO Scores across
Community Trails 74
Discussion 76
Increased Understanding and Sense of Belonging 76
Differences across Trails 77
Conclusion: Creating Impactful Learning through the
Informal Curriculum 78
Acknowledgements 80
Notes 80
References 80