2 Personalized Learning, Personalized Space Upali Nanda, Phd, Assoc
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PROJECT TITLE Personalized learning, personalized space CONTACT Upali Nanda, PhD, Assoc. AIA, EDAC, ACHE Associate Principal and Senior Vice President Director of Research, HKS Architects Executive Director, Center for Advanced Design Research and Evaluation 712 Main Street Suite 1200 Houston TX 77002 +1 832 729 7652, [email protected] RESEARCH TEAM Giyoung Park, PhD, AIA Angela Ramer Jon Bailey Tim Logan Jonathan Essary INSTITUTION HKS Architects SPONSORS Herman Miller USG 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SUMMARY Objective This study aims to develop a sensory design lab (SDL) that measures human response (heart rate, anxiety, behavior) to interior design elements in real time. This study also intends to pilot-test the SDL in a local high school to measure the effects of furniture choice and arrangement and environmental conditions (sound, temperature, light) on heart rate, self-reported anxiety and achievement, and movement. Methodology The design team developed a manufacturer agnostic prototype for a portable, flexible and trackable lab – or the Sensory Design Lab (SDL). This prototype was installed in the DISD high School that supports Personalized Learning. A total of 30 students (up to three high school students at a time) participated in the experiment and performed a 30-minute independent work session in the 10’x10’x8’ SDL installed in the school. Students were instructed to set up the SDL using given four chairs, four stools, a table and a mobile whiteboard provided by Herman Miller. The chairs and the stools were located outside the SDL, and the table was folded at the beginning of each work session. Environmental sensors were used to capture sound, light, temperature and humidity. Thermal cameras were used to capture movement while maintaining privacy. Wristband fitness devices were used to capture heartrate and movement. A brief pre- and a post-experiment survey measured anxiety levels and self-reported achievement. Behaviors were coded manually. A personalization index was developed to assess the degrees of personalizing the space. Data was analyzed using SPSS for quantitative data and thematic content analysis for qualitative data. Findings Students in groups of three personalized the space more than smaller groups. Students who faced the entrance reported higher self-achievement than students facing the back wall. Chairs were preferred to stools, and stools were used as an additional surface for belongings. Participants often leaned back while seated. Among the environmental variables documented, sound levels were most salient. Overall anxiety levels reduced after spending the time in the SDL. Higher mean sound levels were correlated with less reduction in anxiety levels and lower achievement. Higher temperature and higher mean sound levels were associated with higher heart rate; yet, heart rate was not related to anxiety levels, self-reported achievement or behavioral measures. Greater fidgeting was associated with low minimum sound levels and with greater reduction in anxiety levels, but not with greater achievement. Implications Having visual prospect can contribute to cognitive performance; therefore, sufficient space allowing seating orientation change and a view can be beneficial. Larger groups’ greater degrees of personalization suggest that personalizable space may be more desired when in groups. There may be an 3 optimal range of sound levels in cognitive performance- not too loud which can cause anxiety, but also not too low that can cause students to feel restless. In this study, only furniture was changed as an independent variable. Sound level changed mainly due to conversations and ambient noise. But lighting and temperature stayed relatively constant. The success of the pilot shows the potential of systematically controlling light and temperature, finishes and colors, views and openings, proportions and many other interior design variables in future studies to assess the impact of interior design on human response. Originality and Limitations The SDL is a flexible, portable and trackable spatial system that aids design process. Its structure consists of brand-agnostic wooden beams with in- house 3D printed brackets and clips. Real-time measurement of environmental and human response in a set up that can be nimbly moved to project sites is original. The experimental protocol using a mixed method approach is replicable and can be significant for the field. Findings around optimal sound, and critical mass of students for personalization are also strong concepts that warrant further investigation. The student was a pilot prototype- and because of the lack of brand agnostic materials had to remain a rough prototype. Higher fidelity prototypes with more industry partners are warranted. Due to the constraints of time and budget ceiling and flooring were not included in the prototype and the volume could not be sealed. This could be remedied in the next version. Finally, the experiment produced vast amounts of data in different modalities. More efficient data collection and management are remaining challenges. It is important to remember that the sample size for the experiment was small, and the experiment should be replicated to be considered generalizable. IMPLICATION Participants reported they appreciated the chairs provided because they HIGHLIGHTS could lean back. Casters not only allow students to move when needed more easily but also potentially reduce noise eliminating furniture dragging sound. Ergonomic aspects in furniture selection should be considered by schools. When sound levels were higher, reduction in anxiety levels was smaller during the work session, and self-reported achievement decreased. At the same time when it was too quiet students displayed more restless behavior. Acoustic design should be carefully considered to be “optimal” avoiding too loud or too quiet. Students in a group of three showed higher personalization index scores than the ones in a group of two or by themselves- this suggests that personalization may lend itself to a group dynamic more than individual 4 task work. Interior designers should consider larger level of personalization in areas where students will work in groups. Higher anxiety levels at the beginning of the experiment were associated with lower scores in personalization index. This implies that students who are anxious tend to personalize less. Students who faced the entrance wall reported higher self-achievement implying that elements of “prospect” may in fact help students feel a sense of achievement. Students reached for their backpacks during the work session or placed their belongings on a secondary seating. Space to locate belongings can help students’ immediate learning environment more organized. RESEARCH BIO Upali Nanda, PhD, Assoc.AIA, EDAC, ACHE, Director of Research, HKS Architects (Principal Investigator) Dr. Upali Nanda is Director of Research for HKS, responsible for spearheading and implementing research projects globally. She also serves as the Executive Director for the non-profit Center for Advanced Design Research and Education. She is a member of the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture (ANFA) Advisory Council, the AIA Research Advisory for Design& Health, and the AAH research council. Her doctoral work on “Sensthetics” has been published as a book available on Amazon.com, and she has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and main stream media. Her research has been awarded the European Healthcare Design Research Award and two EDRA CORE awards. In 2015 Dr. Nanda was recognized as one of the top 10 most influential people in Healthcare Design for research, by the Healthcare Design Magazine. Giyoung Park, PhD, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Fitwel Ambassador, Senior Design Researcher (lead researcher), HKS Architects Dr. Giyoung Park is an environmental psychologist and registered architect focused on built environment, social capital, communication technologies, and human well-being. She has conducted both qualitative and quantitative research methods encompassing focus groups, interviews, online ethnography, virtual environment, experiments, structured and unstructured field observations, and surveys. Prior to her graduate training in human behavior and design at Cornell, she practiced architecture focusing on large commercial and healthcare projects in Bay Area. Angela Ramer, Design Anthropologist/ Research Analyst, HKS Architects Angela’s background in anthropology brings a unique, humanistic and holistic research approach HKS design projects that highlight understanding the realities of human experience in built environments. Her consistent focus is on an engaged and empathetic understanding of user experience and expectations, helping to translate those insights into actionable interventions and accurate assessment of design. Angela graduated from the University of North Texas with a Master’s of Science in Applied Anthropology with a 5 concentration in business, technology and design. Her undergraduate education was completed at Elon University with a double major in Anthropology and International Studies. Jon Bailey, Associate, Laboratory for Intensive Exploration (LINE), HKS Architects Jon has five years of experience in the architectural field, mostly in aspects of conceptual design. During his educational development, he was primarily focused on advanced digital modeling techniques, parametric and algorithmic modeling, and a focus on digital fabrication (primarily through the use of 6-axos robotic arms). The impetus for much of