BUILDINGS, MAINTENANCE & REFURBISHMENT
How you can create world class learning environments Discover how flooring, lighting, furniture and technology all play their part.
coloured carpet tiles with a high LRV difference, to create way-finding lines without the use of signage is also very popular. Universities are increasingly using flooring as a method of reducing signage and creating a more inclusive and friendly atmosphere as well as promoting their brand through logo mats as flooring allows in general an exact match of colour with the added bonus of blending the logo into existing flooring arrangements.
Flexible Learning Spaces Classrooms have come a long way from what they once were. The modern-day classrooms is a more relaxed and collaborative environment, with flexible seating arrangements replacing the traditional forward-facing individual desks. To ensure that your learning spaces work there are several things to bear in mind.
Know what you’re looking for.When designing a classroom you have a bewildering array of choice so consider what your vision and budget are and how flexible a learning space does the room need to be ?
Make a classroom able to adapt. Flexibility is key to creating multiple spaces allowing them to transition between presentation room, to work group to study area.
T
he classroom has evolved from the basic learning envionrment it once was and today is
a flexible, changeable, multifunctional space that can adapt easily to the needs of the lessons. The modern-day classroom is a room that transforms smoothly from a quiet study room to a collaborative working space, from an assessment to a presentation room.
The Impact of the classroom design on learning Many factors affect learning: teaching style, personal motivation, socioeconomic background, to name just a few. But the impact of the classroom on a student’s learning has long been underestimated. The classroom affects a learner’s health, wellbeing and performance. Educators are now more aware of how much environment affects learning and the modern-day classroom is being more carefully to reflect this. A 2015 study by the University of Salford
School of the Built Environment, ‘Clever Classrooms’ researched the impact of the environment on primary school pupils and found that classroom design has a huge effect on students’ learning. The study found an entire year’s worth of academic progress difference between the best and worst designed classrooms they looked at. All kinds of factors impact upon a student’s academic progress: heating and insulation, lighting, air quality and ventilation, acoustics and interior design and aesthetics all need to be taken into consideration. According to the study, classroom design has the potential to impact, positively or negatively,
up to 25% on a learner’s academic progress. It’s worth investing in. However, a review commissioned by New Zealand’s ministry of Education says that ‘A holistic approach is essential, when it comes to classroom
design.Achieving good natural lighting must be balanced against possible uncomfortable heat gain from the sun and the need for natural ventilation can clash with outside noise control efforts. No single factor should be altered without assessing its effect on all others.” A feature of classroom design that is often
overlooked is flooring. As well as affecting acoustics and temperature when using a Komfort Bac to dampen decibel. The colour of flooring is key to modifying the mindset of pupils. Bright colourways teamed with innovative flooring patterns and shapes can increase student motivation and sharpness when learning, placing them in an active state. On the flip side of this view calming neutral tones of flooring colour teamed with very even patterns or solid colours can induce a calmed state or atmosphere, ideal for when a student doesn’t require distractions and needs to operate effectively, calmly and quietly, according to Andy Potts Group Marketing for flooring company Paragon Carpets. “The [Clever Classrooms] report looked at how
colour impacts student progress and a very cost effective and design led way to incorporate colour whether calming or brights for an active nature is through flooring design” he continues. Bright and fluorescent colours are on trend at
the moment as found in Paragon ranges such as Codec, Phase and Vapour and using differently
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www.education-today.co.uk
uFor more information on carpet for schools and public buildings contact Paragon Carpets on:
marketing@paragon-carpets.co.uk or T: 01709 763 839
January 2019
Make comfort and wellbeing a priority. If students feel good in a space they will inevitably achieve more than a space they feel uncomfortable in. Adding in flooring schemes with colour provide an interesting and decibel reducing environment to feel productive in.
Create moodboards. Paragon can create moodboards to provide colour and 2D render ideas to generate ideas that sparks conversation in classroom design. Contact Paragon to receive a free moodboard for your classroom.
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