Chapter 4: Implementing High-Impact Practices in Higher Education: The Experience of the Architecture Program at Keene State College

A significant percentage of professors at the undergraduate level follow the standard practice of their predecessors. Unfortunately, unless the instructor can work up highly efficient presentations, this topic-oriented approach to course structure often results in low student engagement and poor performance on assignments. High-impact practices are teaching strategies that lead students to a successful learning experience and increase student attention. Increasing high-impact practices could help higher education institutions elevate academic performance and increase their reputation. Faculty Survey of Student Engagement (FSSE) and National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) provide guidelines to assess the impact of those practices in higher education. This chapter shows the experience of instructors and students in the Architecture program of Keene State College in implementing high-impact practices, such as community learning, hands-on and project-based activities, and undergraduate research. Community and collaborative learning teach students how to operate in current workplaces. In these courses, students work as a team with peers and educators to drive change or generate new solutions. Undergraduate research engages students in activities focused on applying scientific methods. It is the best practice for students planning to continue their education in a graduate program. Implementing any of these practices can improve almost anyone’s teaching; implementing two or three will provide a fantastic experience as exciting for the professor as it will be for the students. Learning to use any of these high impact teaching practices will positively impact higher education.