Education is a key priority for the socio-economic development of any nation. From ancient universities like Nalanda and Taxila to today’s education system, learning has come a long way. The aim, however, remains to inspire millions of people to get educated and ensure a prosperous future for themselves and the nation at large. In that context, the physical and mental state of students, their comfort, and the overall condition of the learning environments hold immense importance towards contributing to the learning of students.
In the early 90s, education meant a small classroom crammed with desks that restricted movement and a bunch of students studying in discomfort. This scenario still exists in some corners of the country but largely we have come a long way from that, thanks to greater vision, commitment, and investment in education, both by the government as well as private bodies. The appreciation of the vital role of such spaces in influencing the learning climate is only growing.
The ergonomic research cell at Interio by Godrej surveyed close to 1800 students in several urban and semi-urban centres in India. We asked them about their needs and expectations from the learning spaces, issues they faced regarding the infrastructure of the classrooms, and their idea of an ideal learning space. All this with the objective of helping educators create healthy and engaging learning spaces.
Learning environments in India are changing, influenced by the need to have new skills, ever-improving technology as well as access to new tools of learning. The digital age demands more than just textbooks and teachers to promote learning. In that context, learning space design is gaining importance, and rightly so, because of the potential such spaces hold to impact learning in general.
A variety of factors need to be considered in the creation of these learning spaces and environments. Some general structural characteristics influence the motivation of students to learn by impacting emotional and physical well-being and a sense of security. Other characteristics of these learning environments like lighting and temperature impact cognitive processes like comprehension and reflection. Giving students some control over their surroundings, like tech-integrated flexible furniture settings, adds to their sense of wellbeing. When given ergonomically designed furniture and work areas, their ability to stay focused and on-task is improved. Integrating natural light into the learning spaces enriches the student experience.
Conducive and comfortable learning environment that meets the needs of students can help promote learning, which eventually enhances their conceptual understanding. Hence, it is suggested that systematic assessment of the learning environments is considered vital because the information obtained thereby can be used as a basis to improve the quality and effectiveness of the learning environment.
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By Ergonomics and Research Cell - Interio by Godrej