Optimize Learning Outcomes

There is a great obstacle for children of all abilities reaching their objective of engaged play.  It is an element within the playground under the exclusive control of adults – surfacing!

Museums, and particularly science museums, are continuing to investigate the ways in which places themselves, rather than individuals, facilitate learning. Many of the museum findings are applicable wherever informal learning takes place—schools, playgrounds and children’s gardens, training centers, and potentially even dementia care facilities.

The passage of an ANSI standard for classroom acoustics makes setting school acoustic standards easier, but who is listening? If the intention is to modify classrooms, what factors should be considered?

Evidence has shown that ergonomic interventions can decrease worker discomfort, but can they increase productivity? Are ergonomic guidelines being ignored in schools?

What are the most important benefits sought by zoo visitors? What can surveys and a post-occupancy evalutation reveal about zoo design?

A recent article reviews a number of ways that architects designing school buildings are improving the acoustics in classrooms which are applicable to office and hospital conference rooms and any other environments where proper acoustics can improve experience.

In this article, we will focus on the final principle of the Play Behavior Framework, the Play Environment Design Criteria.

School and training room environments have a significant influence on student experience. This topic has received a significant amount of attention recently, with several articles and a book exploring how different aspects of the physical environment can enhance learning.

To create a environment for children of all abilities that is fully integrated and universally accessible, then approaching, entering, and using a play area should be a starting point for design—not the end result.

Although much is known about park-user demographics, this research investigates visitors by determining their underlying motivations.