Learning spaces for a competency-based model: Post-occupancy evaluation

Abstract

Competency-based education is increasingly demanded in higher education institutions. Tecnologico de Monterrey (TEC, Mexico) implemented a new educational model based on competencies (TEC21), thus, innovative spaces were designed to ensure versatile and flexible learning. This research is a post-occupancy evaluation and aims at exploring the extent to which classroom design can boost a competency-based model learning in engineering students (n = 122) in different campuses throughout the country. A mixed research method based on data collected from a satisfaction and compatibility questionnaire and classroom observations was utilized. Main results indicate that, generally speaking, students were more satisfied with the learning spaces than teachers were. We discuss the importance of the tables, chairs, and electric outlets in the classroom. Secondly, the innovate spaces highly promoted collaborative work but they were not enough to support prototype designing lessons in engineering. Overall, the innovative spaces are designed to cover different discipline contents so that, not all of them meet the learning needs of all the subjects taught in the higher education institution.