What mistakes do teachers make when designing a classroom?

What is a learning environment? Is it the chairs? The air? The teachers and peers? All are correct answers, of course, and this is exactly what makes the research about the classroom so challenging. We’re going to expose some groundbreaking research and provide a helpful checklist for improving the functionality and design of classrooms.

"The impact of classroom design on pupils' learning: Final results of a holistic, multi-level analysis'' *LINK* led by Professor Peter Barrett from the University of Salford is one of the most important databases we currently have on the subject. The research team, backed by the British government, examined the learning environment and divided it up into three categories. Barrett and his team, defined three categories that manifested the learning environment:

Individualism: the personal aspect of the environment, materialized in ownership and flexibility.
Naturalism: natural elements in the learning environment, materialized in light, temperature, and air quality.
Stimulation: how to create stimulation among the pupils and identifying appropriate levels of stimulation, materialized in complexity and color.

In elementary school, the children spend most of their time in one space, which places significant importance on the classroom's physical environment.

The key performance indicator was chosen to be the progress of the students (aged 5-11) in the subjects of reading, writing, and mathematics over the course of a year (spoiler alert, mathematics is guessed to be even more positively impacted by using "flexible" approaches than the other subjects).

The research emphasizes the importance of “individualization” and “stimulation,” two categories that traditionally were left out by the academic world. However, they should not be taken lightly as they’re responsible for a significant increase in a child's achievements.

The reason these aspects are less studied in the past is simple: it is much easier to measure the temperature of the room, rather than trying to isolate how much stimulation is in the physical environment. But luckily, with enough data, it became possible.

It was essential for the researchers to state that although some of the elements seem obvious, from the fieldwork completed over 27 schools and 153 elementary classrooms, it is not always the case.

*LINK* Let's go through the checklist that proved to increase students' achievements by 16%.

Naturalism

Light- Natural light helps pupils feel comfortable in their space and is crucial for their learning experience. A good amount of natural light is essential, but glare needs to be reduced by blinds or external shading.
Avoid placing large objects in front of a window.

Avoid placing monitors on the same walls as the windows.

Keep the internal blinds accessible to address glare issues.

Air quality- The high-rate metabolism of young children makes them vulnerable to the exposure of pollutants, which makes the ventilation issue even more important. *LINK*
Knowing this, opening a window and learning in high volume spaces, is important. The stats state that on average, with no ventilation, the air quality in the classroom becomes poor after 30 min.
If an open window is not possible, due to noise or temperature, do try to open the window between lessons. If possible, user controlled ventilation is recommended, also CO2 meters can help push for improved ventilation.

Temperature- It is important to keep the classroom cool yet comfortable. Pupils tend to concentrate better in cooler environments.
Ideally, each room will have its own thermostat. If the classroom windows turn south (on the north hemisphere), try placing vegetation and planters in front of the windows.  

Sound (a secondary factor)- acoustic seems to have influence but not as strong as other aspects. It is recommended to use noise-absorbing items (such as carpets, cushions, and upholstery.) In addition, if kept in good condition, rubber feet on movable furniture can buffer the noise that is generated. If possible, acoustic ceiling tiles will have a positive impact.

Link to nature (a secondary factor)- Link to nature seems to have influence but not as strong as other aspects. The possibility of having a link to nature during the school day can enhance the students' learning experience. Why? Because it varies the "landscape" of the student, which opens possibilities of play, exploration, and empathy. Of course, windows directed to a play area and gardens are preferable. But what can be done if it’s not possible? Plants in the classroom can help, and a combination of wood in the classroom furniture.

Individualism-

Flexibility- individualism is an essential aspect of flexibility. By offering a variety of seating and learning options, space introduces a choice for each learner. Generally, young students are enhanced by more complex floor planning, which offers them various learning zones. For example, it is possible to determine a zone in space that will function as a Breakout space. Other Suggestions for different learning zones: carpet, reading corner, electronic devices, or 'messy' play area. Older students will enjoy a simpler floor plan that will offer them the opportunity to move freely in space.

Displaying the students' work can impact their connection to space and self-esteem; therefore, it's recommended to keep a wall area available to present their work. It is also recommended to combine low-height furniture in the class, making the wall area accessible while giving the children more learning options.

Ownership- personalization of space can benefit physiological and psychological aspects of the learning experience. We need to aspire to give the pupils a sense of self-worth and individual identity by using the classroom space as a tool. By presenting the student's work on the walls in a dignified way, we give them a sense of respect and personalize the space.

It is recommended to try and give the classroom a unique look, which will empower the student's connection to its specific appearance and make it recognizable. Furthermore, try and provide the children opportunities to personalize their space by adding name tags, choosing working areas and furniture. Good quality furniture, aesthetic and student-centric, will support the child's perception of his own value while supporting comfortable learning.

Connection – a secondary factor- It is important to keep open pathways between areas, in and outside the classroom. Free movement is important for providing students space. Additionally, it’s recommended to provide noticeable landmarks in the compound that will allow pupils to navigate easily. For example, it can be achieved by a display of the student's artwork on the walls outside the classrooms.

Stimulation

Complexity- the results indicated that the effect of complexity is curved; there is a balance between a chaotic look of space and ambient space. The desired result is a well-recognized *LINK* space that will stimulate the pupil without distracting their minds. On a general note, 20-50% of the wall area should be kept clear (less if the classroom is already complexity-driven by the ceiling or floor).

Color-generally, it's known that young children tend to prefer bright colors over dark ones. On the one end of the complexity range is the white wall, which provides no stimulation and is not recommended. Similarly, very bright colors were observed to provide the same results. On the other end of the range are overcrowded walls painted in saturated colors.

The most effective color balance is brightly colored walls, with one wall featuring a colorful bright display. It's also recommended to evaluate which colors within the classroom are not interchangeable, and after that, try to balance them respectfully. For instance, if the ceiling color is red, it might be that the furniture needs to be monochromatic. Yet, if the floor is bright, think of adding a colorful carpet or additional colorful furniture.

On a personal note, we would like to highlight the positive findings and hope that we will have more data on the influence of the learning environment on human connection and wellness, and better academic achievements. Stay tuned.

If you are interested in a great tool for the modern classroom, we suggest to look up for Didi desk, a portable and versatile desk which allows personal choice for the students, better time-on-task results and a sense of happiness for the children.