A studio-based teaching and learning model in IT: what do first year students think?

The change to a studio based teaching model in one core subject of a traditionally delivered IT degree has necessitated a complete redesign of the teaching space and a restructure of the teaching and learning approach. This paper reports on first year students' reactions to the new learning space, the IT tools and infrastructure, the change in teaching philosophy and a new method of assessment. A survey was used determine how the students used the new environment and their perceptions of its value to their learning compared to the traditional lecture-tutorial style approach.