Understanding the psychological implications of changing the architecture of knowledge delivery in classroomsA theoretical model

Our classrooms today...Students occupy one end of the classroom while the teacher occupies the otherA cubical framework which has been followed for more than a century

(Source: Global Hands of Hope)

Advantages of the current model

Effective functional separation of classes in order to provide separate contextual and acoustic modalities

Different age-groups and subjects covered in parallel within the same duration

Ease of management of student records, testing and step-wise ascension through the hierarchy of academic excellence

The benefit of being able to teach and promote a large number of students within the given academic year

In the Indian context, this framework entails an economic benefit to the school administration

The challenges

what we have now is a RIGID SYSTEM

possibility of little modification with needs of changing times

does not cater to all levels of mental capacities of students

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST - especially for those within the system

Need for a more flexible psychological-architectural-managerial model of knowledge deliveryThe impact of the school environment on its students has to be analyzed in a scientific manner

What is known so far?

Impact of environment on learning has been studied for the past two decades

University of Newcastle's in-depth literature review and academic seminars have identified that studies pertaining to the effect of environmental variables on learning is highly negligible [1]

In planning a learning program, the impact of the immediate surrounding is often largely neglected

Psychological implications of space on the learning process is the least studied impact so far

Effect of windows in classroom learning

High levels of morning cortisol were associated with sociability, while moderate or low levels seemed to promote individual concentration

The production of cortisol had some influence on sick leave

It is also warned that windowless classes should be avoided for permanent use [2]

Effect of noise on classroom learning

Classroom acoustics and speech intelligibility in children have gained renewed interest in research

Effect of noise on speech comprehension has an impact on concentration as well as on learning

It has also been observed that auditory, cognitive and social factors interplay in determining effective speech communication and social participation [3]

Effect of space on classroom learning

All factors other than spatial characteristics were kept constant

Students taking a course in a technologically enhanced environment outperformed those taking the same course in a traditional classroom

Spatial characteristics thus have an impact on learning [4]

Objectives

to propose a new theoretical model of classroom re-design and knowledge delivery for better learning

to add or eliminate effective or detrimental environmental variables respectively for improvement in student learning

to assess the psychological implications of newer classroom designs on students and teachers

to assess the improvements in student learning with changing environmental variables

to adjust systemic changes in a manner that sustains and promotes improvements in student learning

Framework for the ModelThe areas of influence are addressed in this model in the following descending order of their priority:1. Environment2. Communication3. Products and Services4. Systems and Processes