| 1. |
- Eftring, Håkan, et al.
(författare)
-
Tips for creating inclusive classrooms at LTH
- 2023
-
Ingår i: LTH:s 12:e Pedagogiska inspirationskonferens. - 2003-3761 .- 2003-377X. ; , s. 45-47
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- All people are different. All teachers are different. All students are different. They have different life situations, different study situations, and different preferences, conditions, and abilities. How can we take this diversity into account when we plan our teaching and exams? What situations should we prepare for? How can we help students focus on their learning and not on unnecessary obstacles we unconsciously introduce? If we make small efforts upfront, this lets us avoid much larger efforts later on when we are confronted with the reality of students in our class and their different needs.At this round table, let us discuss diversity in teaching and learning. During fall 2023, a pilot of the course “The Inclusive Classroom” was run at LTH, the Faculty of Engineering at Lund University. We present the compiled, most important take-aways of participants and instructors, in addition to individual case-studies. In a nutshell: There are a lot of easy things you can do that can already have large effects, and you are not alone: LTH has many resources to support you. Please join a supportive, engaged community and learn from and with us!
|
|
| 2. |
- Gerhardsson, Kiran Maini
(författare)
-
Benefits and challenges of adding participant photography to qualitative residential research
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Approaches and Methods in Architectural Research. - 2535-4523. - 9789198379754 ; 2021:1, s. 45-76
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article discusses the benefits and challenges of adding participant-producedphotographs to qualitative interviewing. The analysis is based on twoqualitative studies aimed at improving the understanding of how residentsexperience and use their a) luminaires and b) window openings. A conveniencesample (N = 12) was asked to take photographs of all luminaires intheir apartments. Facilitated by the photo albums, semi-structured interviewswere then held in the participants’ homes and the researcher madeobserver-based environmental assessments of the apartments. The sameprocedure was used in the second study investigating window openings, witha new convenience sample (N = 20). Here, participants were asked to includebetween one to three keywords for each image when submitting the imagesprior to the home visit.The reseracher experienced several benefits when combining verbal methodswith imagery: discussion of the photos created more relaxed and focusedconversations, enabling time-efficient interviews with improved data quality.Adding keywords to the images prompted further discussion and therebyadditional information. It is suggested that the identified benefits outweighthe disadvantages, such as more time needed for data collection. This articlesupports findings in recent literature on qualitative research that addingparticipant-produced photographs to interviews has multiple benefits inknowledge production, from the perspectives of both the researcher and theparticipant.
|
|
| 3. |
- Gerhardsson, Kiran Maini
(författare)
-
Benefits of bringing the real world to the lab: investigating lighting behaviour in homes using a full-scale model
- 2018
-
Ingår i: ; , s. 40-41
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- 1. Motivation, specific objectiveTo evaluate the first prototype of a home lighting system, we used a full-scale model of a studio apartment in the laboratory of the School of Architecture at Lund University. The personalised home lighting system is based on LEDs, wearable sensors and a mobile phone app to produce lighting tailored to the individual’s needs. Drawing on participant interviews (n = 28), which were held in the full-scale model, this paper seeks to highlight the benefits of using a three-dimensional representation at full-scale.Studying real-world problems that involve people’s behaviour do not always allow research in their natural environment. Investigators must therefore choose other methods. One option is to use a two-dimensional visual representation of the real-world environment, e.g. photography prints or static or dynamic visual simulations on a flat screen. A second option is a 3D-simulation with special glasses. A third is to create the desired environment using either small-scale or full-scale models. Each approach has merits and limitations but, in lighting research, the effects produced by lighting, such as visual comfort, must be considered. The lighting situation is always influenced by the light source and the luminaire, the surfaces of the space reflecting the light, and the observer perceiving the light (individual characteristics and previous experiences). Neuroimaging studies have found that sensorimotor systems are engaged when humans experience the environment around them, and when viewing images or other people. Both mind and body can be activated, e.g. emotions and facial expressions. However, images have several limitations. Firstly, images projected on modern screens cannot produce glare, which makes evaluating simulated lighting situations difficult. Secondly, flat images cannot capture well enough how lighting is influenced by spatial and surface characteristics. Thirdly, 2D-simulations or photographs on a flat screen do not enable a full mind-body experience since physical movement within the space is not possible.2. MethodsBoth quantitative and qualitative data were collected during April and May 2016 using a convenience sample (n = 28, 50% female, median 41 yr). Each participant was engaged for a 24-hour trial in the field and for one hour in the lab. On the first day, the participant received the wearable sensors, which measured light exposure and rest and activity patterns. After 24 hours the participant returned to the lab and was given a demonstration of the new home lighting system in a full-scale model of a studio apartment (floor area 38 m2). A small self-service breakfast buffet was included in the ‘kitchen’. The participant completed a questionnaire addressing the comfort of wearing the sensors and the participant’s willingness to use the home lighting system in the future. To cross-check the assessment and to provide supplementary information, the trial ended with a structured interview with open-ended questions, lasting 10-30 minutes. The interview questions addressed lighting behaviour in the participant’s home: which lights were turned on in the morning and evening (including digital screens), the use of daylight and shades, and the darkening of the bedroom at night. The interview involved the participant giving a detailed description of the home environment. The interviews were analysed thematically to provide a deeper understanding of factors influencing their willingness to use the home lighting system or not. Additional themes were the lighting vocabulary used by participants, the effect of available daylight on participants’ use of electric light, and methodological insights. 3. ResultsThe results relevant to this paper concern the methodological insights. The physical setting, where the interview took place, enabled participants to describe better their home environment. Eleven participants made comments comparing their own home characteristics and those of the full-scale model in terms of: •room layout and furnishing,•size of window openings, •participant-designed blackout screens in the bedroom,•thickness, transparency or colour of curtain fabrics,•type of luminaire: floor-standing or ceiling mounted,•size of luminaires,•placement of floor-standing luminaires,•design of floor-standing luminaires,•colour tone of lamps (cooler or warmer, bluish or yellowish).Participants who gave poor descriptions of their home environment were encouraged to compare to the objects and materials in the full-scale setting. An unexpected benefit of the physical setting was the less formal atmosphere created by the homelike appearance of the full-scale model. It is reasonable to assume that interviews conducted in a homelike environment, seated on a sofa or in an armchair, might make participants more relaxed. Participants were surprisingly open about their everyday behaviours, e.g. sleep habits, clothing or no clothing at night. 4. Discussion and conclusionsAs several participants, unrequested, used objects or materials in the full-scale model for comparison when describing features of their own home, it is suggested that a three-dimensional representation at full-scale might elicit more information from the participants. Even though the setting does not fully correspond to a residential environment, there are differences between looking at a place and being in a place. In participants’ appraisal of a place, lack of colours and textures, on the walls and the ceiling, is not necessarily a problem.Previous research studies used systematic evaluations of 2D- and 3D-simulations, and real settings. A Swedish study investigated participants’ assessment of four different car interiors, both real cars and photographs on a computer screen using the Semantic Environment Description method. Results showed that the evaluation between the real situation and the visual representation differed in terms of ‘unity’, ‘complexity’, and ‘enclosedness’. A more recent Swedish study, exploring the reliability of colour and light appearance in 3D-models, showed that colour variations and shadows in renderings have improved, but contrast effects and inter-reflections between angled surfaces are still incorrectly represented. To illustrate the limitations of images on a flat screen, watching a movie at the cinema may serve as an example. Movie scenes on a large screen can evoke strong sensations, for example, sudden noises. But have you ever been blinded by, for example, the sun in a science-fiction movie?
|
|
| 4. |
- Gerhardsson, Kiran Maini
(författare)
-
Getting the picture of home lighting: Adding participant photography to the interview
- 2016
-
Ingår i: ; , s. 41-42
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper draws attention to the potential benefits of using photographs in combination with interviews, that is to say photo elicitation. As defined by Harper (2002), photo elicitation is “based on the simple idea of inserting a photograph into a research interview” (p. 13). The photographs can be taken by the researcher or the participant to evoke comments. If participants are asked to produce the photos themselves, the images will hopefully encourage participants to talk and reflect. The objective of this paper is to report on the benefits and the disadvantages of the method deployed in the collaborative interview study, My home lighting. Daylight plays a vital role for human wellbeing; for example, daylight affects visibility and regulates the biological rhythm. In the Northern Hemisphere, where daylight is limited from October to March, most people spend their days indoors. Fortunately, to some extent, artificial light can make up for lack of natural light indoors. In addition, new lighting technology has the potential to improve physical and mental wellbeing. A deeper understanding of residents’ current lighting preferences and practices was therefore a good starting point. Since depth and detail was the purpose of the investigation, a qualitative interview study was considered to be the most appropriate strategy. Adding photos to the interviews was assumed to help people talk about everyday objects and habits, such as lamps and the use of light. The sample consisted of six female and six male residents, 26–76 years. Prior to the interviews conducted at home, participants were asked to take a series of photographs of their indoor lighting with a total limit of 25 photos. All photographs were assembled by the interviewer in an album. The subsequent interview occasion included a walk-through of the apartment for a quick observer-based environmental assessment (OBEA) and an interview which was recorded with a digital audio recorder. The interview was structured with open-ended questions and the photo album was used as an interview guide. When interviewed, the participants were asked to consider each photo at a time and talk about the lamp in the photo—why it had been chosen and how it was used. The data produced—images, OBEA, recorded interviews and notes after the interview—is currently being analysed. The analysis focuses on the comments the photos evoked and the meaning of the lamps represented by the images. According to a number of studies, making photographs as part of the research method has several benefits, such as the possibility to obtain more information and a different kind of information (Harper, 2002). Photos can be especially effective when they involve something that is visual (Rose, 2007). This could explain why the photos of the residents’ lamps in the current study seemed to work so well. Drawing upon the experience of My home lighting and literature about previous photo interviews, the impression is that photo elicitation, if appropriate to the research question and the objects or practices investigated, can provide more information, a less restrained interview situation and a valuable aid for memory.
|
|
| 5. |
- Gerhardsson, Kiran Maini
(författare)
-
Light, Comfort and Joy : User experience of light and darkness in Swedish homes
- 2020
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The thesis examines user experience and behaviour relating to lighting, luminaires and window openings during day and night, in Swedish homes. Applying a mixed methods strategy of inquiry, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected in the field and in a full-scale model of an apartment. The thesis has identified multiple motivations behind residents’ lighting behaviour and choices, enablers and inhibitors to the desired conditions of light and darkness. The findings suggest that researchers and practitioners must consider the following key points, of which the first might seem obvious but still is not: • user needs and experiences when developing new lighting technologies,• wearable comfort when lighting systems involve body-worn devices,• window openings need multiple layers for shading, daylight distribution and privacy control,• rethinking what is looked upon as wasted light in the home.The main conclusion is that the physical environment can be more supportive of residents’ need for a regular 24-hour exposure to light and darkness, and dwelling comfort. In Swedish homes, where residents choose and mount most of their luminaires, responsibility for home lighting also lies with housing developers and lighting producers. In future research, the scope of indoor residential lighting should be expanded to include its effect on the outdoor environment after daylight hours.
|
|
| 6. |
- Gerhardsson, Kiran Maini
(författare)
-
Ljusets påverkan på vår dygnsrytm
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Palliativ Vård. - 2001-841X. ; Nr 3 2016, s. 22-23
-
Tidskriftsartikel (populärvet., debatt m.m.)
|
|
| 7. |
- Gerhardsson, Kiran Maini
(författare)
-
Moving from energy-saving to mindful lighting behaviour in homes
- 2018
-
Ingår i: ; , s. 132-133
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- 1.INTRODUCTIONBefore the phase-out of incandescent lamps in the EU, interior lighting was responsible for approximately 20% of average household electricity use in Sweden. To save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a major societal goal is to switch from light sources with low lm/W to ones with higher luminous efficacy and to reduce wasteful energy behaviour, while still meeting end user needs. A recurrent recommendation in energy conservation campaigns is to turn off lighting in non-occupied rooms. According to the PremiumLight market survey carried out in 2012 in 12 EU countries, approximately 30% of Swedish residents always turn off the lights when nobody is in the room which was well below average (65%). Why is the figure so low in Sweden? One explanation is habitual behaviour, i.e. when the intended goals of an action are reached, and the behaviour leads to the intended outcomes, the behaviour will probably be automatically repeated in the next similar situation [1]. What are the intended goals guiding this lighting behaviour in home environments? The objective of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the reasons behind the cultural practice among Swedish residents to leave the light on in empty rooms—something to consider in energy conservation campaigns directed at residents. 2.MATERIALS AND METHODSTo investigate the current lighting situation in Swedish homes, a mixed-methods research study was carried out in October-November 2015 in Lund and Malmö, Sweden. A questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 2000 residents drawn by the State Personal Address Registry from the adult population in Lund (18-80 yr); the response rate was 27% (n=536, female 51%). Semi-structured interviews (n=12) were held in parallel. Respondents compared well to the national population in terms of dwelling type. The paper-and-pencil questionnaire (11 pages, 35 questions) was adapted from the PremiumLight market survey (2014) addressing, e.g., reasons for buying a particular lamp technology, lighting behaviour at home, and placement of lamps. The interviews were held in the homes of a sample of 12 volunteers living in multi-dwelling buildings, recruited through personal networks (26-76 yr, female 50%). The interview was guided by the following question: ‘How are luminaires used in homes and what are the residents’ needs and wants with regard to home lighting?’ 3.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONMore than half of the respondents (57%, n=301) reported that they sometimes turn off lights when nobody is in the room, 26% (n=140) always turn off lights, and 17% (n=90) seldom or never turn off lights, which is in line with the PremiumLight survey results.A qualitative thematic analysis based on the interviews produced five key factors influencing residents’ illumination choices—time, the physical setting, activities, the social situation and individual characteristics. Three are described here as only these are relevant to this paper. The first is the temporal dimension, i.e. time of year or time of day. A female participant, 53 yr, reported that when she comes home during the dark season she turns on luminaires even before taking off her shoes. As the Swedish practice is to remove shoes at the entrance, her behaviour emphasises the importance of lighting: “It creates a feeling of comfort to turn on some of the lights.” Low outdoor illuminance can therefore explain why residents choose not to turn off the light in a room despite no occupancy. A second factor is linked to individual needs and wants, such as visual comfort, safety, and creating a cosy atmosphere. Avoiding dark spaces was mentioned by several participants and keeping luminaires lit in the windows was a recurring practice. Some people are sensitive to the high contrast between bright and dark areas which can produce visual discomfort. One male participant, 53 yr, and his wife turned on a table lamp in a window “as soon as we come home even if we aren’t in here. It looks so dull when it’s gloomy or dark.” He never leaves lights on when he leaves home, but his wife thinks that “it's cosy when you come home and lights are on.” A male participant, 26 yr, leaves the small lights on in the window most of the time even when he is not at home. "It's because it’s nice when you come home and something is lit. Leaving the big lights on would be a bit too much /.../”. Another reason can be emotional. A male participant, 76 yr, reported a friend’s thrifty practice of turning off all lights in the home except for the one where he was seated. Unlike his friend, this participant wanted more lights on because it made the dwelling more homelike, easier to move around in without having to turn on more lights, and to avoid tumbling. A third factor involves social needs—the lights are kept on for people outside the home to make visitors feel welcome or to make people outside feel secure. It can be reassuring to know that there are people inside the buildings. The outdoor environment was a reason given by a female participant, 69 yr: “[The window light] in the kitchen is often lit when I’m not at home to give some light outside. There are mostly office spaces facing the yard so in the evenings it’s unlit.” 4.CONCLUSIONSThe interview comments illustrating the temporal, individual and social factors show examples of reasons for leaving the lights on in empty rooms. Light in empty rooms can be meaningful to residents, so a shift in mindset and communication is proposed from ‘energy-saving’ to ‘mindful’ lighting behaviour, which implies being kind to oneself, people and the planet. ‘Mindful’, or being aware, is linked to mindfulness, which is rooted in Buddhist teachings and entails respect for the needs of others and oneself. ‘Sustainable’ lighting behaviour is another option but may be too broad a term; ‘mindful’ sends the message that we have to pay attention to what we need in the present moment, avoid automatic behaviour, and also reflect on the environmental and ethical consequences of our behaviour. In other words, shift from habits to intentional behaviour. Future energy conservation campaigns directed at residents could include ‘turn off the light when it’s not needed’ rather than ‘turn off the light in empty rooms’, because lighting does more than facilitate visual tasks.REFERENCES[1]K. Klöckner and B. Verplanken, Yesterday’s habits preventing change for tomorrow? The influence of automaticity on environmental behaviour. In L. Steg, A.E. van den Berg and J. I. M. de Groot eds. Environmental Psychology: An Introduction. Chichester: BPS Blackwell, (2013), pp. 197-209.
|
|
| 8. |
- Gerhardsson, Kiran Maini, et al.
(författare)
-
User acceptance of a personalised home lighting system based on wearable technology
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-6870. ; 96
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Light/dark cycles play an essential role in people's performance, mood and daily rhythm. This study aimed to evaluate an early prototype of a personalised home lighting system including body-worn loggers. A convenience sample (N = 28) wore the devices for 23 h in the field and were given a demonstration of the lighting system components. Participants reported on questionnaires their acceptance of the lighting system and experience of physical comfort and visual appearance of the body-worn loggers. Semi-structured interviews were also held. In a hierarchical linear regression, physical comfort of the loggers explained 35.8% of the variance of ‘the behavioural intention to use the system in the future’, and ‘performance expectancy’ explained 50.6%. The interview data helped understand the reasons for the physical and psychological discomfort of wearing the devices. Many participants reported they were not comfortable about using a mobile phone for presence detection in the home.
|
|
| 9. |
- Gerhardsson, Kiran Maini
(författare)
-
Wearable comfort and performance expectancy predict user acceptance of a sensor-based home lighting system
- 2018
-
Ingår i: ; , s. 6-6
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim was to evaluate an early prototype of a personalised home lighting system comprising body-worn loggers, a mobile phone, and LED-based lighting with variable intensity and colour temperature. A convenience sample (N = 28, 50% female) wore the devices for 24 hours in the field and were given a demonstration of the lighting system components in a full-scale model of a studio apartment. Participants then assessed their acceptance of the lighting system using a validated questionnaire. As user comfort and design were expected to influence the outcome, additional questions addressed the physical comfort and visual appearance of the body-worn loggers. To cross-check the quantitative findings and to address issues not included, semi-structured interviews were held in the full-scale model. In a hierarchical linear regression, physical comfort of the loggers explained 35.8% of the variance of ‘the behavioural intention to use the system in the future’. Adding ‘performance expectancy’ to the model accounted for 50.6% more variance in behavioural intention. The thematic analysis of the qualitative data provided more understanding of how physical, psychological and social comfort of wearing the devices and carrying the phone in the home, influenced participants’ willingness to use the home lighting system in the future.
|
|
| 10. |
- Maini Gerhardsson, Kiran
(författare)
-
A novel way of behaviour-change delivery: Using a learning management system to improve mood in older adults and light/dark conditions in their homes
- 2022
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- How can an online course be designed to promote better mood and improved lighting and darkness conditions in the home? Based on the Information-Motivation-Behaviour Skills Model, the online course comprises multiple components (light, activity and sleep) and various learning strategies. Factual information is provided about, e.g. light as the most potent external time cue for the internal body clock, characteristics of good indoor lighting, and the complex relationship between light, outdoor physical activity and sleep. Course content is adapted to the target users (aged 70–75) and includes practical exercises and skills training to make learning experiences interesting and enjoyable. Course participants are encouraged to use a test kit to identify individual lighting needs and preferences, practise sleep restriction based on daily sleep entries in a diary, and reflect on goal setting and implementation intention. Motivation is considered through information about the individual benefits of maintaining routines, the possibility of peer support, weekly encouragement from the course leader/interventionist and automatic feedback through text messages on the mobile phone on completion of each module. The online course will run for nine weeks and deliver a behaviour-intervention program as part of a pilot study. Mixed methods will be used in the design phase and evaluation phase. Expert and target users’ experiences with the learning management system and intervention content will be identified using questionnaires and interviews in a mock-up housing environment and real-world apartments. Comparisons of outcomes (duration and frequency of physical activity, patterns of rest and activity, sleep quality, mood, changes to the home environment) before and after the intervention will be made through technical measurements (e.g., wrist-worn actigraphy), questionnaires and interviews. Long-term goals are to improve the design of the home environment and promote changes to routines to enhance the health and wellbeing of the ageing population.
|
|
