Add as a preferred source on Google

Many Aspects of the Educational Environment Can Have a Profound Impact on Teaching and Learning

  • 09/01/14

Quality of Lighting — Lighting has a demonstrable effect on student learning outcomes, with daylighting offering the most positive effect.

Acoustics/Ability to Hear — Chronic noise exposure hinders cognitive functioning and impairs pre-reading and reading skills.

Use of Color — Humans receive 80 percent of their information from the environment. The perception of color in the environment always carries with it visual, associative, synaesthetic, symbolic, emotional and physiological effects.

Air Quality — Scientific evidence has long demonstrated an association between poor IAQ and respiratory health effects, including asthma. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, asthma is one of the leading causes of absenteeism. Multiple studies have found that overall performance decreases with illnesses or absences.

Proper Maintenance/Green Cleaning — Maintenance issues in facilities, such as insufficient cleaning or excessive use of cleaning chemicals, have been show to trigger asthma and allergies.

Flexible Space/Flexible Furnishings — Classrooms with more functional flexibility allow instructors to vary their instructional methods to accommodate various learning styles. Flexible furniture and fixtures enable a space to be quickly reconfigured as activities change or to support a range of activities simultaneously.

Use of Technology — The National Education Technology Plan (NETP) recognizes that technology is at the core of virtually every aspect of our daily lives and work, and we must leverage it to provide engaging and powerful learning experiences.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • concentric silhouettes of a human head

    How Physical Space Shapes the Mind: Designing for Better Learning Outcomes

    Research in environmental psychology and neuroscience increasingly suggests that the way a room is designed can influence memory, focus, or even a student's sense of belonging.

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

  • Texas State University Completes Stadium Renovations

    Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, recently announced that it has completed a series of additions and renovations to its football stadium, according to a news release. Formerly known as the Bobcat Stadium End Zone Complex, the Johnny and Nathali Weisman Football Performance Center is an 85,000-square-foot expansion featuring hospitality spaces, banquet spaces, exterior concourses, and upgrades to the field house.

  • Illinois District Boosts Security at High-School Stadium

    Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, Ill., recently announced that it has completed the redesigned entrance to its high school stadium with a new focus on school security and community engagement, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects and Engineers on the project as part of District #157’s year-long facilities master plan.

Digital Edition