Healthy Environments and Learning Practices

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 40
  In Roundtable Session: Designing and Evaluating New Learning Spaces: Physical Versus Virtual

Abstract

This paper describes aspects of a collaborative between researchers and a Health Promotion Unit at a major university. The purpose of our project was to conduct research about how classroom environments within higher education can be harnessed for the enhancement of student well-being, engaged learning and civic engagement. One outcome of our collaboration was the validation of a robust learning environments instrument: the Healthy Environments and Learning Practices (HELP) survey: validated using a sample of 988 postsecondary students across subject disciplines. The findings also augmented a community of practice intended to provide instructors with strategies and tools to create classroom learning environments that further support student well-being.

Authors

• David B. Zandvliet, Simon Fraser University

• Alisa Stanton, Simon Fraser University