Optimize Learning Outcomes

Appropriate school design has a significant influence on learning and the satisfaction of teachers and students with educational environments.

Baron examines “the interpretive processes historians engage in when ‘reading’ historic buildings,” “examines what qualifies as historical thinking about historic buildings and sites,” and ponders using historic buildings as an educational tool. 

Singh and colleagues reviewed the existing research on adolescent physical activity and academic performance. 

Well-informed designers know that children do not respond to spaces simply as short adults, and researchers have been carefully investigating walking to school, daylight preferences, and traffic crossing dangers for children.

Novotney reviews recent research on the psychological experience of noise.

Miss the conference? Here are some highlights.

Several recent studies have assessed best practices for school design, particularly design that encourages students to exercise.

School quality is especially important for mobile student populations.

Adding white noise to school environments enhances performance of some students, but harms that of others. 

Regular readers to this blog are familiar with a number of ways that the physical environment can be used to enhance mood.