| With the increasing concern for sub par student performance in America, it has become more vital than ever for designers to create optimal learning environments. Student performance is significantly dependent on the quality of teaching as well as the pupil-instructor relationship. However, it is rare for even our best instructors to receive adequate performance from their students when teaching in poor environments. Research for more than 30 years has displayed explicit correlation between physical characteristics of school buildings and educational outcomes. These physical characteristics include lighting, acoustics, thermal control, indoor air quality, as well as class size. By taking each of these factors into consideration, architects can produce settings that do not hinder student performance. Better educated children today will make the world a smarter, improved, more sustainable environment tomorrow. |
