title: "Designing the Future of Experiential Learning Environments for a Post-COVID World: A Preliminary Case Study"
authors: Julia M. Markel and Philip J. Guo
venue: Symposium on the New Future of Work
year: 2020
links:
- <a href="https://cacm.acm.org/blogs/blog-cacm/248046-the-pros-and-cons-of-online-lab-classes-for-computer-science-2020-pandemic-edition/fulltext">Blog post</a>
- <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/publication/designing-the-future-of-experiential-learning-environments-for-a-post-covid-world-a-preliminary-case-study/">Video summary</a>

abstract: >
  Experiential learning environments such as computer labs and design
  studios are critical for learning hands-on skills like programming,
  design, and data science. However, during and even after a global
  pandemic many people will not be willing to congregate in such
  high-density physical spaces due to safety concerns. How can we design
  experiential learning environments of the future to make them broadly
  accessible regardless of whether students can be physically present?
  To spur discussion about this question, we performed a preliminary
  case study where we compared in-person and online versions of
  software-based design courses created before and during the early-2020
  COVID pandemic, respectively. We found that online tools such as
  videoconferencing, chat, and screensharing worked better than their
  in-person counterparts for certain user needs, but they cannot foster
  as much ambient awareness or spontaneous interaction. We then offer
  design recommendations for how to improve remote learning tools to
  potentially match or exceed face-to-face interactions. We hope our
  work can inspire discussion at this symposium about how we can design
  better learning environments to prepare people for the new future of
  work in a post-COVID world.

bibtex: >
  @inproceedings{MarkelNFW2020,
    author = {Markel, Julia M. and Guo, Philip J.},
    title={Designing the Future of Experiential Learning Environments for a Post-COVID World: A Preliminary Case Study},
    booktitle = {Symposium on the New Future of Work},
    series = {NFW '20},
    year={2020},
    month={Aug}
  }