Explore how the design of Architecture Schools influence students
Discussion
The most important indicator of success are students’ outcomes, for people in the academic field. The relationship between architecture and academic success is mutual because each of the aspect inspires the other. Recently, studies have documented the significance of well-designed built environment on students’ general academic performance though the data is still limited. Does designing of a classroom have an impact on students’ performance? Yes! There is a connection between the learning outcomes and classroom design (Tanner, 2010).
The design of schools has influenced more research and how it can be improved to achieve more and better results. It has been discovered that change of certain elements in class has improved learning outcome by 16% (Higgins, 2015). More emphasis in the education system that we should uphold are high standards in the way schools are designed, planned and built. Many factors are put into consideration before architects design schools. They take a look at the climate of the institution, the soils which have a great impact on a structure and the building regulations in the region.
I have always believed that the presence of a visual stimulus in our environment is significant. It is so unfortunate that classroom design which has always had a positive impact on students’ performance is always an afterthought. It is encouraging that educators and other people in the academic field are trying to design shifts on people’s attitude on how classrooms should look like. They are making great efforts of creating ideal learning environments for students.
Personally, if I am entering school, I always want to see a heterogeneous mix of structures that I find appealing to look at, rather than walking only seeing uniform buildings. This is where design of schools influence on students success. They will start by developing positive attitude that schools are better places. It is all in an individual’s mind.
From a personal point of view, architecture fascinates me, and I believe that any student at school is also fascinated. Creation of something good is a powerful skill, a student would want to be in good learning environments. Good classrooms give students a sense of ownership, with quality air and sufficient air.
I desire to explore how technology and science have been incorporated to improve the appearance of structures as well its eventual significance as far as students’ academic performance is concerned. The design of schools should be unique with a mixture of eclectic buildings equipped with required facilities to bring about a dichotomy of students personalities that will allow them to engage both scientific and creative with their class knowledge (Cotterell, 2014). Research has shown that a child who studies in a classroom which is less modernized with actuarial designs is more likely to gain less academically as compared to the one who is in a well-furnished structure.
A student will always have a considerable passion in academics after studying in an institution of good architectural design. Students will often be comfortable while sitting in class because the floor space is wide and incidences like fire outbreak won’t be an issue because there will be no stampede. The classrooms fitted with fire extinguishers help to reduce fire damages in case of it.
For a long period of time, educational methods have transformed in bid to improve how a student performs. Architecture is not an exception, it has undergone transformation to accommodate different learning techniques which have been proven to have a significance in the general students’ performance (Tanner, 2010). Creating a learning environment for a student takes into account all the aspects of student’s environment; natural lighting, levels of lighting, thermal comfort, volumes, acoustics, scales, and materials are some of the architectural aspects that can affect how a student performs.
Learning can be undermined by long term exposure to noise, poor acoustics, poor ventilation, and inadequate lighting. This is a result of poor architectural design. Company’s main focus should be on creating conducive learning environments in architectural institutions by use of best practices in architecture. The buildings should be made of durable materials to avoid incidences of collapsing.
Poor architecture can result in building a structure with poor natural lighting or insufficient lighting. Fluorescent lighting is unattractive and worse and so it is not ideal for classrooms because of their buzzing nature that can greatly distract students. If any of these buildings are in any school, the designers should take it as a challenge and find out more of how they can mitigate such a problem in future (Frerichs, 2015). They can start by creating more and big windows in the building which will also improve on ventilation in the event of poor or lack of it. They can also use lamp lighting because it is similar to natural lighting in classes where there is no natural lighting. The windows could also help in thermal comfort. It is educationally unsound to build a structure of learning institution in a market place where learners would be constantly affected by chronic exposure to noise.
By incorporating all aspects of good building skills, the learning environment will be conducive for learners. If all schools were built with great architectural design then there would be improved basic health and safety standards (Higgins, 2015). This will ensure smooth progress in academic journey unlike being distracted with issues like risky buildings. More focus on academics will in turn help to improve academic standards.
A study was done at the University of Salford in UK where students whose class had issues such as poor ventilation, excess heat and noise among other factors were compared to the ones whose learning environment was conducive, revealed that the academic performance of the students in the poor buildings performed poorly as compared to the ones in the conducive environment by the end of the year
Good architectural school designs have great importance. First, there would be technology for teachers because the buildings are made in a manner that any current innovation can be installed in the building (Tanner, 2010). An example is computer installation which forms an integral part of teaching career. The internet should also be fitted to allow them do plenty of research during lass and free time. Computers create an active learning environment in the school. They not only engage students’ participation but also curiosity.
When using other high-tech devices, the teachers should ensure that the batteries are fully charged and that they are functioning properly. People are aware of how mechanical breakdown of learning devices can consume a lot of time affecting students’ performance. Other high tech learning equipment like smart boards and wall writings create a functioning and active learning environment to the students.
The second is pathway; architectural schools with high grades have spacious pathways in their school buildings. My study has discovered that significant patterns of design in a school is freedom of movement within the learning environment (Uline, 2019). Poor task performance, behavioral issues, and social withdrawals is mostly associated with crowding due to limited space for movement. Close monitoring of students from the pathways and corridors by the teachers can a better way to ensure they are doing what is expected of them.
Furniture within the school should be flexible to allow accommodation of a number of uses. The students can freely move when they are asked to without any noise of pulling, pushing and lifting of chairs and desks. It is also a facilitator of active learning technique. This is more interactive because the teacher can freely move to see individual students as the work is being done in class (Uline, 2019). The old way of arranging classroom desk in rows is on its way out. Learning environment can be expanded through integration of indoor and outdoor space. Watching other learn is an infectious thing that will automatically make a student to also want to study.
Rearranging of furniture from the old traditional way to the modern has enabled the development of various factors. It has brought about active learning, student to student collaboration, ability to engage in teachers preferred learning methods, creation of a growth experience in school work, focus and repetitive exposure to certain concepts that enables the learner to grasp.
New classroom design has been embraced by educators to ensure teacher-student contact. Classroom design has an impact on student motivation and his general wellbeing. It can either be for better or for worse. The new classroom will also see to it that special needs students are considered. This will facilitate their learning experience, make them comfortable and realize good grades.
Students are not the same, therefore educator can arrange them in order of their classroom potential. A library can be formed in one section of the classroom with tables and seats, another end with a wide table or a huge rug for classroom discussions, a research center equipped with computers, and a private study area to focus on personal tasks.
Young students do not see the world as adults do. They are small and tend to experience more space around them unlike other grown-ups. Educators should therefore take a look at each type of classroom design from the student point of view, like how it feels for a student who sits there for an extended time period, if they are able to see what they need from their position, and the destructions that surround them (Cotterell, 2014). It will be of great importance if the students would be involved by asking for their opinion in making classroom designs because they know their needs more.
