Is there an environment that is better for learning than others?
Can certain factors increase potential memory absorption. Are traditional
classrooms hindering learning?
When we think of a classroom with 20-30 students, the carbon dioxide they breathe out can create high levels, especially if the classroom is poorly ventilated. So the mid morning slump that you often hear teachers talk about is real! When the children arrive they have a good amount of oxygen in their bloodstream, this is why the best work is often done in the mornings. After a couple of hours the carbon dioxide levels in their bloodstream are increase considerably. Even with breaks for outside playtime, the air is the class is not being replaced so the same thing will happen when they return to the classroom.
According to medical research, increased levels of carbon dioxide
in the blood stream decreases the cerebral metabolism of oxygen and in turn has
an impact on thinking abilities. Put simply, the brain is deprived of
oxygen. Scientists at University College London found in studies that
higher levels of carbon dioxide reduces memory, impairs concentration and
lowers decision making capacities.
Classrooms often reach average carbon dioxide levels above
1000ppm, as observed across elementary classrooms in Texas, Michigan,
Washington, Sweden and England. In a 2002 study, 21% of classrooms in Texas had
carbon dioxide concentration over 3000ppm (Corsi, 2002).
One of the issues is that there are many schools still operating in
older building, where the classrooms are dark and have small windows that do
not allow efficient air circulation. When interviewing a state primary school
teacher from Cardiff,Wales recently, she told me how the windows in her
classroom did not open and at the beginning of the day the room is freezing and
by 11am it is too hot. This affects the children's behaviour and concentration
levels.
What is the answer? Oxygen levels need to be kept at certain
levels. There should be regulations to check the air quality in classrooms.
There should be opportunity for sufficient ventilation and the
children should be getting breaks outdoors once an hour, Finish schools often
do not have the children indoors for more than 45 minutes at a time. This gives them
opportunity to refresh the oxygen in their systems.
Somethings else I think would be beneficial to classrooms is
having plants in them. Plants as we know absorb carbon dioxide and release
oxygen. It has been shown that plants have a positive affect on brain
functions. Plants play a role in cleaning the air.
Scientists at NASA in the 1980s discovered that plants were adept
at removing chemical such as Benzene Trichloroethylene from the air making it
cleaner for humans. Plants can reduce carbon dioxide levels by 25% in
buildings. (Study by Dr Fraser Torpy - director of technology, Sydney - Plant
and indoor environmental quality research group.)
It has also been shown that plants can reduce noise levels - they
can absorb sound. This can only be a benefit in a bustling classroom. Plants
are also a great visual for increasing creativity.
As a start for this topic, plants and well oxygenated classroom would make a massive difference on thinking and learning ability in classrooms. The next thing I would like to research and look into is how colours can have an influence on mood and behaviour in the classrooms. Can some colours encourage better behaviour and creativity??
References:
Ciphr.com/benefitsofplants
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