Abstract:

The purpose of this research was to develop a better understanding of the effects that light and color have on students and teachers in 21st century high school learning environments. The goal was to explore the impact of light and color in high school classrooms on students and teachers. These researchers wanted to understand current lighting conditions, current color integration, and how students and teachers are responding to these design details physically, emotionally, and psychologically in order to have a better understanding of how light and color are impacting their teaching and learning, and what can be improved to assist these students and teachers. Researchers used mixed method approach for this research. Their qualitative research included literature reviews, environmental, educational, and behavioral theories, precedent studies including furniture and spatial analysis to understand current research, as well as gaps in the existing research. Through an online survey, researchers gathered data on how students and teachers in current classrooms think and feel about the lighting and color schemes in the classrooms they are in, and impact of the lighting and color integration within in their classrooms. Researchers observed high school classrooms in order to understand the current lighting and color usage in local schools. These researchers finding indicate that teachers and students are in need of variable lighting solutions within classrooms, more natural light integration, and better knowledge of color implementation within a classroom. In this paper, these researchers share their research process and findings in detail in the hope that this data can inform education environment designers on how to design new classrooms and renovate existing ones to meet the students’ and teachers’ needs in high school classrooms and brings awareness to school administrations on the importance of good lighting solutions and color integration within high school classrooms.

Keywords:

21st Century Classrooms, Lighting, Color, Teaching and Learning Environments.