My inquiry arose from my observations in an elementary level classroom. I had the opportunity to observe the immense impacts that the physical environment has on students and their learning. In the article “The Classroom Physical Environment and Its Relation to Teaching and Learning Comfort Level” by Marzita Puteh, she focuses on an ideal environment for students to learn. “A conducive learning environment creates a comfortable teaching and learning environment while keeping the students focused and interested in the classroom” (Puteh, 237). Puteh looks at a study involving 916 students in which the relationship between the physical aspects of the classroom and the teaching and learning comfort level was assessed. Results from the study showed that the learning space, furniture, ventilation, and lighting have a direct relationship with the ways in which students are comfortable learning (Puteh, 240). It also recognizes that if the learning environment is managed well it enables the students to study comfortably, collect useful information actively, gain relevant experience, assess their own learning and provide feedback on their personal experience in various social contexts (Puteh, 237). After observing many elementary school classrooms, I have been able to distinguish the importance of these factors. Along with student comfort level, I have noticed that behavioral problems arise more often if the student is not familiar with an environment. The slightest changes have had immense impacts and have had negative effects on student learning in a classroom. The study done by Puteh shows that there is a highly positive relationship between the physical environment and teaching and learning comfort level (Puteh, 238). This study and others have made me realize that the classroom environment needs to be given due attention and planned carefully, as the right environment can affect the learning atmosphere, generation of ideas, and students values’, attitudes and behavior (Puteh, 237). This article relates directly to my inquiry question that a healthier physical environment will allow teaching and learning to occur comfortably, and this can help increase learning effectiveness (Puteh, 237).

Reference:
M, Puteh, et al. “The Classroom Physical Environment and its Relation to Teaching and
Learning Comfort Level.” International Journal of Social Science and Humanity 5.3 (2015): 237-40. Web.

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