Educating by Design: Creating Campus Learning Environments That Work

"A must read for anyone interested in creating educationally sound campus environments. This book provides both a comprehensive review of environmental theory and practical strategies for enhancing student learning." - Nancy J. Evans , associate professor and coordinator, Higher Education Program, Iowa State University "Practitioners and students of all ages will greatly benefit from reading this synthesis of learning environment research and theory. The book draws on an impressively broad array of literature, and yet is organized for practical use." - Will Barratt , associate professor of counseling, Indiana State University Many books explore the effects of environments on people, but there are few that examine the complexities of campus settings and how they contribute to student learning and success. Educating by Design fills the information gap by providing a comprehensive model for creating student-friendly and learning-supportive campus environments. Authors C. Carney Strange and James H. Banning draw from decades of research and experience to present an integrated framework for assessing and understanding academic environments. They describe the key concepts defining effective person-environment interactions and examine how these principles work through four different environmental components: physical, aggregate, organizational, and socially constructed. They also discuss the four conditions for successful learning: inclusion, safety, involvement, and community. Filled with engaging anecdotes and practical examples, this long-awaited volume helps academic administrators and student services professionals to plan effective programs and build supportive learning communities.