Does the classroom space and design have an importance to teachers and affect how students learn? Of course it does, and we heard direct from teachers on what they think.
Discussions about school environments and how space affects the learning process are happening nationwide: at conventions, school board meetings, and in the classroom. Modern design concepts about flexible work spaces, standing versus seated desks, and a relaxed classroom structure have inspired teachers to make changes that can make a difference – creating a more inviting atmosphere where students are ready to learn. In an ideal world, what would teachers do, today, that would improve their teaching experience? We asked, and teachers answered. In our latest report, The Impact of Learning Spaces on Student Success, teachers provided us with their feedback on the changes to make the ideal classroom. We’d like to share some of those results with you:
If educators could create their ideal classroom, they would make improvements or upgrades to their overall space above all else (45%), as well as create bigger classrooms (31%), add more open space (24%), and upgrade technology (21%). When working with schools, awareness of teachers’ struggles and the reality of the environments they work in will help position you as a partner working toward student success. Do you aim to improve learning spaces? Simple upgrades are in demand! Does your product directly interact with the environment in a way that is impacted by the class size? Many teachers need larger classrooms to begin with. These environmental factors we may take for granted must be considered when working with school environments.
We also asked for teachers’ opinions about their classroom spaces for our study, and have their comments to share:
Research about the interaction with the work environment is not a new concept. Studies have shown in recent years that the work spaces can impact certain factors like stress levels. (1) Similar studies have looked at educational environments, and some specifically at the classroom space, illustrating that features like natural light can aid in achievement. (2)
Looking for more insights into space and pedagogy? Check out our blog post about the report. Feel free to reach out about any of the data in this article at mdrinfo@dnb.com.
