Curating Hybrid-Style University Experiences: Framework Development for Student Social Connectedness Using Interaction Design and Placemaking

Communication technologies offer new opportunities for building and maintaining social connections at university. However, these technologies need to be better understood for their influence on student experiences in hybrid-style classrooms and guided more effectively. This study identified qualitie...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Theresa Wheele, Carmel Lindkvist, Tore Haugen, Clara Weber, Lukas Windlinger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Education Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/9/1004
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850261118495227904
author Theresa Wheele
Carmel Lindkvist
Tore Haugen
Clara Weber
Lukas Windlinger
author_facet Theresa Wheele
Carmel Lindkvist
Tore Haugen
Clara Weber
Lukas Windlinger
author_sort Theresa Wheele
collection DOAJ
description Communication technologies offer new opportunities for building and maintaining social connections at university. However, these technologies need to be better understood for their influence on student experiences in hybrid-style classrooms and guided more effectively. This study identified qualities of social connection to understand how students built/maintained social connection. The study was conducted over two autumn semesters in three hybrid-style classes in Switzerland and Norway. Qualitative methods included observations, interviews, and auto-photography. Approximately 150 h of observational data were gained, including auto-photography of 17 students’ physical online learning spaces, and four interviews with class lecturers. The findings indicated that informal/private spaces, crucial for building/maintaining social connection, were hard to access in hybrid-style learning environments. Communication cultures and social structures offered limited support for accessing these spaces for building/maintaining social connection. Addressing this issue required a processual effort across user-levels to support social connection within a hybrid-style university culture. This effort involved opening access to informal/private spaces by applying the concept of affective atmospheres within placemaking and interaction-design theories. A dimensions of affect framework is developed to help curate learning environments towards social connection. For university campus development, addressing these people–place relations with communication technology could foster technology more effectively to support connection.
format Article
id doaj-art-2d1693bb4e4a4fcd9357b785890c975d
institution OA Journals
issn 2227-7102
language English
publishDate 2024-09-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Education Sciences
spelling doaj-art-2d1693bb4e4a4fcd9357b785890c975d2025-08-20T01:55:30ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022024-09-01149100410.3390/educsci14091004Curating Hybrid-Style University Experiences: Framework Development for Student Social Connectedness Using Interaction Design and PlacemakingTheresa Wheele0Carmel Lindkvist1Tore Haugen2Clara Weber3Lukas Windlinger4Workplace Management, Institute of Life Sciences and Facility Management, ZHAW (Zürich University of Applied Sciences), 8820 Zurich, SwitzerlandFaculty of Architecture and Planning, NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology), 7491 Trondheim, NorwayFaculty of Architecture and Planning, NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology), 7491 Trondheim, NorwayWorkplace Management, Institute of Life Sciences and Facility Management, ZHAW (Zürich University of Applied Sciences), 8820 Zurich, SwitzerlandWorkplace Management, Institute of Life Sciences and Facility Management, ZHAW (Zürich University of Applied Sciences), 8820 Zurich, SwitzerlandCommunication technologies offer new opportunities for building and maintaining social connections at university. However, these technologies need to be better understood for their influence on student experiences in hybrid-style classrooms and guided more effectively. This study identified qualities of social connection to understand how students built/maintained social connection. The study was conducted over two autumn semesters in three hybrid-style classes in Switzerland and Norway. Qualitative methods included observations, interviews, and auto-photography. Approximately 150 h of observational data were gained, including auto-photography of 17 students’ physical online learning spaces, and four interviews with class lecturers. The findings indicated that informal/private spaces, crucial for building/maintaining social connection, were hard to access in hybrid-style learning environments. Communication cultures and social structures offered limited support for accessing these spaces for building/maintaining social connection. Addressing this issue required a processual effort across user-levels to support social connection within a hybrid-style university culture. This effort involved opening access to informal/private spaces by applying the concept of affective atmospheres within placemaking and interaction-design theories. A dimensions of affect framework is developed to help curate learning environments towards social connection. For university campus development, addressing these people–place relations with communication technology could foster technology more effectively to support connection.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/9/1004learning environmenthybrid-style universitystudent social connectednessuniversity experienceframework developmentaffective atmospheres
spellingShingle Theresa Wheele
Carmel Lindkvist
Tore Haugen
Clara Weber
Lukas Windlinger
Curating Hybrid-Style University Experiences: Framework Development for Student Social Connectedness Using Interaction Design and Placemaking
Education Sciences
learning environment
hybrid-style university
student social connectedness
university experience
framework development
affective atmospheres
title Curating Hybrid-Style University Experiences: Framework Development for Student Social Connectedness Using Interaction Design and Placemaking
title_full Curating Hybrid-Style University Experiences: Framework Development for Student Social Connectedness Using Interaction Design and Placemaking
title_fullStr Curating Hybrid-Style University Experiences: Framework Development for Student Social Connectedness Using Interaction Design and Placemaking
title_full_unstemmed Curating Hybrid-Style University Experiences: Framework Development for Student Social Connectedness Using Interaction Design and Placemaking
title_short Curating Hybrid-Style University Experiences: Framework Development for Student Social Connectedness Using Interaction Design and Placemaking
title_sort curating hybrid style university experiences framework development for student social connectedness using interaction design and placemaking
topic learning environment
hybrid-style university
student social connectedness
university experience
framework development
affective atmospheres
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/9/1004
work_keys_str_mv AT theresawheele curatinghybridstyleuniversityexperiencesframeworkdevelopmentforstudentsocialconnectednessusinginteractiondesignandplacemaking
AT carmellindkvist curatinghybridstyleuniversityexperiencesframeworkdevelopmentforstudentsocialconnectednessusinginteractiondesignandplacemaking
AT torehaugen curatinghybridstyleuniversityexperiencesframeworkdevelopmentforstudentsocialconnectednessusinginteractiondesignandplacemaking
AT claraweber curatinghybridstyleuniversityexperiencesframeworkdevelopmentforstudentsocialconnectednessusinginteractiondesignandplacemaking
AT lukaswindlinger curatinghybridstyleuniversityexperiencesframeworkdevelopmentforstudentsocialconnectednessusinginteractiondesignandplacemaking