Research Proposal on Building Interactive Study Spaces in Kamloops Campus

The research proposal aims to identify physical spaces on the Kamloops campus that can be utilized for students for multiple activities. The research will focus on identifying the usability and benefits of such spaces that includes studying as well as recreational activities. The existence of student interactive spaces in college campuses are very important nowadays since it helps students to gather, interact and socialize.

Running head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL 1
Research Proposal on building of interactive study spaces in Kamloops Campus

RESEARCH PROPOSAL 2
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Background......................................................................................................................................3
Findings...........................................................................................................................................4
Conclusions......................................................................................................................................5
Recommendations............................................................................................................................5
References........................................................................................................................................7

RESEARCH PROPOSAL 3
Introduction
The research proposal aims to identify physical spaces on the Kamloops campus that can be
utilized for students for multiple activities. The research will focus on identifying the usability
and benefits of such spaces that includes studying as well as recreational activities. The existence
of student interactive spaces in college campuses are very important nowadays since it helps
students to gather, interact and socialize. An interactive environment has been recognized as a
positive driver for student motivation and wellbeing. Such social interaction spaces allows
students to connect with other students, interact, and share opinions which not only creates a
healthy and positive environment but tries shaping the overall personality of students. Spaces
like these are hard to find within college campuses since the focus lies on building academic
excellence of students. It is nothing wrong to say that lack of interactive spaces gets reflected in
student lifestyles. On the other hand, it has an impact on student wellbeing (Dogra et al. 2018).
Thompson River University in Kamloops, has been serving the students since 1970 and the
environment prevailing in the university has been quite in favor of the students (Dogra et al.
2018). The university has been known for transforming itself with the changing world and the
new developments which have helped students in building their career and overall personality.
On building the physical space for learning and interaction at the Kamloops campus could
provide students with a broad scope of creating a healthy and interactive environment.
Background
Thompson Rivers University has been acknowledging the need and demand of study space by
students. This acknowledgement has helped the university to gain multiple positive results as the
demand was fulfilled by way of minor projects in the Arts and Education Building as well as in
the International Buildings. Building up of stress is an additional factor impacting student
performance which needs to be addressed (Writers, 2019). Since such purpose-based spaces are
in demand by students, therefore, there can be dedicated spaces built for group activities
specifically related to studying. The concern has been acknowledged by the TRU Student Union.
Some of the students have been seeking the Union’s assistance in order to gain some solution
which could actually help them in creating more of a learning environment in the campus. The
university could be provided with multiple recommendations as per the research of the TRU

RESEARCH PROPOSAL 4
Student Unions, which could help in combining interactive sessions in group activities. Statistics
reveal that the overall development of student is contributed by various factors and improves the
student outcomes.
Figure 1: Student Outcomes
Source: (Jisc, 2019)
The current generation has been facing the threshold of the competitive environment around
them accompanied by demands of being efficient and productive. This needs to be addressed by
assessing the background or the historical facts and working behaviors of the humans.
Findings
On exploring the reasons behind lack of such interactive spaces, inadequate funding, lack of
initiation by students and colleges, and more investment beautifying infrastructure. Although
improving infrastructure and changes in course materials can be useful for students, but these
interactive spaces provide something more than just classroom teaching. The scope lies in
building purpose-based interactive spaces which can be an open forum for students to discuss on
matters related to studies and community. Even when the college supports the proposal, initiation

RESEARCH PROPOSAL 5
from students is highly appreciated for the successful implementation of an interactive and
creative environment. Socializing can have great impact on the personality of students. It has
been identified that the college welcomes international applicants which brings great opportunity
for the college as well the students. This fosters diversity and students will benefit by interacting
with students from other cultures and share each other’s viewpoints. It positively impacts
students by bringing success and achievements in their academic front thereby reducing stress
(Ribeiro et al. 2018). The college could actually be the supporting pillar for students by
facilitating them with interactive spaces and freedom of building interactive sessions to relax
after their daily routine. There have been many studies suggesting the negative impact on
students of not being interactive and participating into extracurricular activities. Some manage
their time but majority of them focus on improving their excellence in academics.
Conclusions
The report has rightly acknowledged all the impacts and the ways through which such interactive
spaces can be provided to students in the Thompson River University. The Student Union of
TRU has observed the need for providing some solutions to the issue of non-availability of
interactive spaces. This has been accompanied by the demand for building overall personality
students which has covered the TRU students mainly. The initiative needs to be taken by the
concerned university. This would actually help the university in improvising and enhancing their
capability as well as the capacity of the students to provide with fruitful and some attractive
results, without impacting their health in any way. The students should also be provided with
some counseling and interactive sessions to understand the importance of interacting and
working in a group which could actually help in their career ahead.
Recommendations
The TRU Student Union has explored various terms and conditions and scenarios which could
actually provide the University with some effective results on application. The considerations
have been made through regressive research on the students and their development. The
recommendations for TRU could be explained through the following suggestions:

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 The first and foremost recommendation is that the campus should provide a study space
for the students which would actually help students in interacting with each other which
would help to improve through interaction (American Psychological Association, 2015).
The study space should be available for 24 hour services as this would provide the
students with flexible timing which would actually make the student’s perception of
learning quite easy and thus, the impact of learning would also be quite intensive.
 The second recommendation is that the university should provide the students with an
environment where they could actually state their mind set and the capability of
understanding or learning. This could actually provide the students with proper and
channelized path which would lead them to the stage where they become comfortable in
sharing their pros and cons and thus, the required and effective steps could be taken in
concern of the student.
 The third recommendation is that university should plan and provide seminars and
counseling of students as well as of parents on understanding the capability of an
individual and not run behind competition. The balance that is required in competition
needs to be explained and structured to the parents and the students as this would help in
their career to the correct path and the parents could actually help the child in doing so
(Felton et al. 2015). As it has been observed that the student gets mostly impacted by the
words of the teachers and their parents that’s why transforming their minds would
provide the best result and the effective ones too.
 The last but not the least recommendation is that the University needs to work on its
grading criteria too, which should include the grading of other capabilities too. This
requires including the educational capability, such as character, helping nature,
curriculum activities, etc.

RESEARCH PROPOSAL 7
References
American Psychological Association. 2015 Stress in America Snapshot: (2019). Retrieved from
Dogra, S., MacIntosh, L., O'Neill, C., D'Silva, C., Shearer, H., Smith, K., & Côté, P. (2018). The
association of physical activity with depression and stress among post-secondary school
students: A systematic review. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 14, 146-156.
Felton, T. M., Coates, L., & Christopher, J. C. (2015). Impact of mindfulness training on
counseling students' perceptions of stress. Mindfulness, 6(2), 159-169.
https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2015/snapshot
Jisc. (2019). Designing learning and assessment in a digital age. Retrieved from
https://www.jisc.ac.uk/full-guide/designing-learning-and-assessment-in-a-digital-age
Ribeiro, Í. J., Pereira, R., Freire, I. V., de Oliveira, B. G., Casotti, C. A., & Boery, E. N. (2018).
Stress and quality of life among university students: A systematic literature review. Health
Professions Education, 4(2), 70-77.
Writers, S. (2019). Stress Management in School: Tips for Parents, Teachers, & Students.
Retrieved from https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/student-stress/