(ARA) – This fall, as children head back to school, parents and teachers should ask themselves: “Does my school make the grade?” According to a recent national survey of 1,050 public school teachers at all grade levels, many schools are not up to par because of the manner in which their buildings and facilities are designed.
Only 18 percent of the teachers surveyed by marketing research firm Beth Schapiro & Associates last fall gave their classroom an ''A'' for design. However, 92 percent said classroom design has a strong impact on students' learning and achievement, 89 percent said it is important for teacher retention, and 79 percent believe it affects student attendance.
“Good design is fundamental to learning,” says Gay Elliott, interior design coordinator for Fanning/Howey Associates Inc., the nation's largest school design firm. “Children respond differently to various classroom settings, which is why it is so important to ensure their classrooms are designed to stimulate them in a positive way.”
The Ideal Learning Environment survey examined teachers' opinions regarding the relationship between classroom interior design and academic performance. The survey, commissioned by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), also found that 99 percent of respondents believe that school design is important for creating a good learning environment in their classrooms, further demonstrating that teachers realize a well-designed classroom enhances their ability to teach and their students' ability to learn.
Design Features That Count
The survey found that safety, comfort, lighting and acoustics top the list of design features that teachers believe affect the learning environment of their classrooms. In addition, 88 percent of the teachers surveyed believed that attractive colors, textures and patterns on the floors and walls further affect students' learning and achievement.
“When designing a classroom, one must consider color psychology, flexibility of space, comfort, and student and teacher input to create a balanced learning environment,” Elliot says.
A classroom that minimizes the risk of accidents is essential for the safety of students. For example, carpet in the classroom helps prevent slips and falls, and protects students from injuries.
Comfortable seating and workspaces allow teachers to expand the learning area and be more creative in their approach to teaching. It also gives the students more flexibility around the room and a higher level of comfort.
Natural light combined with artificial light can brighten a room and stimulate teachers and students, whereas windowless classrooms that have only artificial light can make students feel tense and cause eyestrain.
Carpet can create a quiet environment with good acoustics, which helps students concentrate on what they are learning. Teachers and students can be distracted if outside noise filters into the classroom from the halls or activities in other rooms.
“Carpet is a sound-absorber, ten times more efficient in noise reduction than any other floor covering,” says Kathryn Sellers of the CRI. “It also benefits learning environments because it improves safety from slips and falls, provides thermal insulation and adds comfort by providing softness on the floor to expand the learning space. For teachers, working and standing on carpet provides less leg fatigue as compared to hard-surface flooring.” The Future of School Design
According to a November 2000 Newsweek article, more than $500 billion in taxpayers' money will be spent over the next 10 years on renovating and constructing schools in the United States. The CRI and IIDA hope the survey will help guide school construction projects.
To contact the Carpet and Rug Institute's Consumer Information hotline, call (800) 882-8846.
Courtesy of ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com,
e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com
