Creating a home for experiential learning – a case study of an interdisciplinary product development course

Abstract

This paper presents an action research-based study on how a new learning environment was co-created with its users to support an interdisciplinary product development course, and how the new space supported the experiential learning method used in the course. The data consists of field notes collected during a three-month intensive development phase and of nine semi-structured open interviews. The results reveal that the new learning environment became a home base for the students, and illustrate how informal events organized in the space increased the feeling of togetherness and decreased barriers for communication. The new learning environment became a comfortable place where the students were able to combine work and fun, interact with other students, learn from others and relax.