The High School Library Remodel Study

Researchers wanted to investigate the impact of changing a high school library's physical layout on collaborative student learning.

They visited a selective academy school that originally used individual high-walled study cubicles (quiet study zone) and observed student peer interactions. One term later, the school replaced all cubicles with large open-plan group tables and comfortable sofas to encourage a 'collaborative learning' hub. The researchers returned to observe peer interactions again.

Observations were conducted using existing, widely-disclosed school security cameras to monitor student study groups during study periods.

Two types of interaction were measured:

• Face-to-face academic discussion: Recorded by tallying each time students actively conversed or worked together on worksheets/devices.
• Digital peer-to-peer messaging: Recorded by using logs from the school's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) network to count messages sent between students during study periods.