Sustainability Journal (MDPI)

2009 | 1,010,498,008 words

Sustainability is an international, open-access, peer-reviewed journal focused on all aspects of sustainability—environmental, social, economic, technical, and cultural. Publishing semimonthly, it welcomes research from natural and applied sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities, encouraging detailed experimental and methodological r...

Architectural Indoor Analysis

Author(s):

Vicente López-Chao
Department of Education, Universidad de Almería, 04120 La Cañada Almería, Spain
Antonio Amado Lorenzo
Department of Architectural Graphic Expression, Universidade da Coruña, 15001 A Coruña, Spain
Jorge Martin-Gutiérrez
Techniques and Projects in Engineering and Architecture, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain


Year: 2019 | Doi: 10.3390/su11236558

Copyright (license): Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.


[Full title: Architectural Indoor Analysis: A Holistic Approach to Understand the Relation of Higher Education Classrooms and Academic Performance]

[[[ p. 1 ]]]

[Summary: This page introduces a study on the influence of learning spaces on academic performance in higher education. It highlights the shift towards holistic approaches, using the iPEP scale to measure indoor environment perception. Results show iPEP measures 63% of the construct, with linear regression supporting the influence of physical environment on performance. The study emphasizes the need to diagnose learning environments before educational building design.]

sustainability Article Architectural Indoor Analysis: A Holistic Approach to Understand the Relation of Higher Education Classrooms and Academic Performance Vicente L ó pez-Chao 1, * , Antonio Amado Lorenzo 2 and Jorge Martin-Guti é rrez 3 1 Department of Education, Universidad de Almer í a, 04120 La Cañada Almer í a, Spain 2 Department of Architectural Graphic Expression, Universidade da Coruña, 15001 A Coruña, Spain; antonio.amado@udc.es 3 Techniques and Projects in Engineering and Architecture, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 San Crist ó bal de La Laguna, Spain; jmargu@ull.edu.es * Correspondence: valchao@ual.es Received: 22 October 2019; Accepted: 19 November 2019; Published: 20 November 2019 Abstract: The influence of learning space on users has been broadly accepted and tested. However, the literature has focused on single factor research, instead of holistic approaches. Additionally, lower educational levels have been the focus of interest, while higher education is moving towards multi-method teaching. This paper focuses on how learning spaces for di ff erent purposes (practice and lecture rooms) may influence academic performance from a holistic approach of learning physical environment perception. For this, the iPEP scale (Indoor physical environment perception) is used and validated through Cronbach Alpha and Exploratory Factorial Analysis. Then, multiple linear regression is conducted. The results indicate that iPEP measures near to 63 percent of the construct, which is structured in six factors. Moreover, linear regression analyses support previous literature concerning the influence of learning physical environment on academic performance (R 2 = 0.154) The di ff erences obtained between practice and lecture room in terms of predictor variables bring to the light the need to diagnose learning environments before designing changes in educational buildings. This research provides a self-reported way to measure indoor environments, as well as evidence concerning the modern university, which desires to combine several teaching methods Keywords: acoustics; architecture; visual comfort; environmental quality; higher education; learning space; learning physical environment; sustainable buildings; thermal comfort; ventilation comfort 1. Introduction Educational buildings are designed for learning and are home to students from all over the world for several years and many hours a day. In recent decades, researchers have attempted to understand whether it is a mere physical space, or if, on the contrary, it is related the pedagogical processes. Therefore, researchers have focused on investigating the influence on learning of a single factor of the physical learning environment (lighting [ 1 ], temperature [ 2 ], acoustics [ 3 ], etc.), or have combined two or three factors [ 4 – 6 ]. Acoustic design has been evidenced to be related to achievement and spatial cognition, which is more pronounced in children than in adults [ 7 ]. When this condition does not meet student needs, it might negatively influence their perception and social relationships, and increase their stress level [ 8 ]. An auditory feature, such as background music, has proved to promote collaborative behaviour and support good humour [ 9 ]. Also, noise, reverberation and distracting sounds interfere with communication, which may lead students to low information processing e ffi ciency [ 10 – 14 ]. Sustainability 2019 , 11 , 6558; doi:10.3390 / su 11236558 www.mdpi.com / journal / sustainability

[[[ p. 2 ]]]

[Summary: This page discusses the importance of acoustic and visual comfort in learning environments. It mentions how daylight helps students retain information while artificial lighting may cause stress. Nature's aesthetic value fosters concentration and reduces negative emotions. Thermal comfort and ventilation are crucial, as extreme temperatures and poor air quality can negatively impact performance. Ergonomic furniture and ICT facilities also play a role in student well-being and engagement.]

Sustainability 2019 , 11 , 6558 2 of 15 These studies provide evidence that acoustic comfort is fundamental to support sustainable learning environments, which implement active pedagogies [ 15 ]. Illumination combines artificial lighting and daylight to o ff er visual support and it influences visual perception, cognitive processing, behaviour, learning and academic performance [ 16 – 18 ]. Therefore, lighting design perspectives should be task-driven, as well as focusing on comfort to human health and perception [ 19 ]. Appropriate levels of visual comfort have been evidenced to improve social relations [ 20 ]. While daylight helps students to retain and learn information [ 21 ], long exposure to artificial lighting may cause stress and lead to irritability [ 22 ]. Buildings are highly artificial lighting dependent, as there was no concern about energy e ffi ciency when educational facilities were designed, and nowadays represent a major factor of energy consumption In traditional learning, the views through windows are considered as distractor, which may explain the lack of daylight through windows, despite its importance for children [ 23 ], who distinguish lighting requirements given the task performed. Nature inspires students through its aesthetic value and entails a restorative e ff ect on the mind, which fosters concentration [ 24 ]. It stabilizes students’ psychology and reduces their negative emotions [ 25 ], and leads to a proactive knowledge of the natural environment. This fact may foster a culture in which life-based learning is a must and encourage positive social interaction [ 26 ]. Landscape views and walls with living plants are correlated with better academic results [ 27 , 28 ] and may reduce stress [ 29 ], whilst increasing learners’ attention, interest and enjoyment in learning, and providing a more cooperative context for learning [ 30 ]. Thermal comfort is related to thermal level and ventilation. High levels of temperature are related to an alteration in wellbeing, social relations and performance [ 31 ], depending on the task type [ 32 , 33 ]. Adults are less sensitive to higher temperatures than children [ 34 ]; in this regard, low temperature levels distract students and lead them to a state of alert, which increases their nerve activity to prepare the mind for action. Working in warm environments led to a lower performance than in thermos-neutral rooms [ 35 , 36 ]. In addition to calibrating the temperature, ventilation involves oxygen renewal, and exposure to poor air quality decreases student attention and entails passive social behaviour [ 37 ]. Manual window-airing is the usual method of ventilation in most Spanish educational buildings, and, in Portugal, this method under monitoring has provided appropriate ventilation for a quarter of the academic year [ 38 ]. As shown by Heracleous and Michael [ 39 ], the evaluation of manual ventilation processes and generation of ventilation patterns helps to minimize heat loss in winter and achieve better air quality Students’ furniture normally consists of a desk and a chair, whose use generates postural habits that do not match their anthropometrics [ 40 , 41 ]. Likewise, sitting for a long period of time in educational centres [ 42 ] can lead to various health problems, such as head, neck and lumbar aches [ 43 , 44 ], musculoskeletal disorders and attention deficit [ 45 ]. These health problems may be related to the mismatch between measurements of students and school furniture [ 46 ]. Therefore, anthropometric data would be necessary when designing any kind of furniture equipment [ 47 ]; considering ergonomic furniture may reduce these symptoms [ 48 ]. Ergonomics issues are a must in sustainability assessment tools [ 49 ]. ICT facilities have become part of the physical learning environment, since elements such as computers or plugs are part of the design and operation of the classroom. In fact, their inclusion alters the classroom temperature and may require the use of artificial light instead of daylight, due to its reflection on the screens. They may promote student interaction and opportunities for motivating learning in collaborative environments [ 50 ]. Moreover, ICT is related with student participation through the use of social networks [ 51 ]. It is a factor that connects active teaching methods with the learning space, as it attracts students with a psychological demand that relates to being involved in a technological environment with a comfortable feeling [ 52 ], which may generate a positive predisposition towards learning [ 53 ]. Previous research has indicated the need for adequate furniture to perform active methodologies in the classroom, although with traditional furniture and ICT infrastructure, this can be

[[[ p. 3 ]]]

[Summary: This page argues for a global assessment of learning spaces, noting the lack of such studies at the university level. It emphasizes the importance of student perception in evaluating educational spaces. The study aims to analyze the influence of learning space on academic performance in higher education through a holistic approach, considering both practice and lecture spaces. It lists research questions related to indoor environment factors and their impact on academic outcomes.]

Sustainability 2019 , 11 , 6558 3 of 15 carried out with highly motivated students. The authors call for the adaptation of furniture, to that which implies a motivational improvement and academic performance [ 54 ]. This literature’s tendency to focus on one learning space factor in the research has not allowed for a global assessment, or to assess whether classroom design influences the performance. However, there are theoretical holistic studies [ 55 ] and empirical studies [ 56 – 58 ], suggesting that the tools and procedures for measuring physical space variables carry a high cost. Primary education and childhood had been the academic level targets [ 59 – 61 ], and more information is lacking at university level The measurement procedures with technical devices (such as a thermometer) focus on a value of each variable in a classroom full of students who di ff erently perceive each factor. This is due to multiple reasons, such as the influence of metabolism in relation to gender in the case of temperature, [ 62 ] or a student’s location within the classroom in relation to natural or artificial lighting [ 63 ]. Therefore, measuring the educational space through the perception of students is a feasible opportunity to assess whether there are relationships that explain student performance, to detect problems and, accordingly, to solve them The author Andrew Cox has shown, in the theoretical framework of a study carried out on higher education, the influence of learning space on academic achievement [ 64 ], and other authors have aimed to prove the existence of a relationship between learning environment and teaching practice [ 65 , 66 ]. The main purpose of this study is to analyse the influence of learning space in academic performance in higher education through a holistic self-report approach, taking into consideration both practice and lecture spaces Several questions were formulated to answer this objective: • Which factors does indoor physical environment integrate and how are they structured? • Which learning space variables predict academic outcome in higher education? • Does learning space di ff erently influence academic outcome concerning the type of teaching methodology used? 2. Materials and Methods This research follows a multi-method design based on quantitative and qualitative methodology A cross-sectional design is used, because it is able to observe and describe variables as they are presented in their natural environment, and to investigate the incidence and the values of the variables The first step was to visit the faculties of the university to select classrooms with diverse learning space characteristics. Then, we contacted the professors who teach in those spaces to request the possibility of applying a questionnaire for this research. Consequently, the dates to apply it were agreed and the Indoor Physical Environment Perception scale (iPEP scale) was conducted Afterwards, the information was typed into a database and analysed. The first analyses were the mean comparisons and standard deviations to describe the sample. Then, Cronbach alpha statistic and the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) were calculated to check the reliability and the construct validity of the instrument, while detecting a factor structure. Then, the 3 mean value was calculated for all the variables of each classroom. So, each classroom is globally measured by their students Subsequently, to explain the relationship between academic performance from two or more independent variables of learning space, multiple linear regression analysis was conducted. Classical assumptions for regression analysis were also calculated or checked: the independent variables (predictors) are linearly independent and the variance of the error is constant across observations (homoscedasticity) Then, the interview was prepared, and the professors were selected. Afterwards, semi-structured interviews were conducted, recorded, and were transcribed. Subsequently, a traditional qualitative data analysis of the interviews was conducted by using deductive and inductive processes. The purpose of individual interviews is to obtain real experiences from professors. It used a meaning-centred analysis approach: content analysis, coding, grouping data, and interpretation of the meaning.

[[[ p. 4 ]]]

[Summary: This page details the materials and methods used in the research, including a multi-method design and a cross-sectional approach. It describes the selection of classrooms and professors, the application of the iPEP scale, and subsequent data analysis. The study involves one dependent variable (GPA) and twenty independent variables related to learning space factors like lighting, ventilation, ergonomics, and ICT. The sample consists of 796 undergraduate students and five professors.]

Sustainability 2019 , 11 , 6558 4 of 15 2.1. Variables This research involves one dependent variable and twenty independent variables. The Grade Point Average (GPA) measures academic performance (dependent variable). The independent variables refer to the learning space. In the Spanish university system, all subjects consist of theoretical and practical lessons. Accordingly, students have two di ff erent classrooms per course: a lecture room and a practice room. Moreover, each classroom type has similar characteristics, since they were not designed twenty-five years ago, when the main teaching method was lecture. Both classrooms will be measured to inquire whether learning space variables di ff er in their influence, depending on the teaching method (lecture or passive methods, and practice or active methods). Learning spaces are composed of the following factors: lighting, ventilation, thermal level, acoustics, chair and desk ergonomics, room size, ICT facilities, and nature 2.2. Sample The research sample consists of 796 undergraduate students and five professors in di ff erent faculties of the Universidade da Coruña (UDC). A scale is applied to the students’ sample and an interview with professors In the case of students, non-probability sampling by convenience and purposive has been conducted (concerning their use of the selected learning spaces). The final sample is formed of 796 undergraduate students (248 men and 548 women) from ten faculties and four High Schools of the UDC Regarding professors, the sample consists of five educational sta ff members. Representative teaching sta ff were chosen based on the following criteria: long academic career, belonging to di ff erent areas of knowledge, familiar with the functioning of the UDC, having a senior position, and a high level of knowledge about the European Higher Education Area 2.3. Data Collection Instruments Indoor Physical Environment Perception scale (iPEP scale), adapted from the Student Perception Questionnaire of Learning Space [ 67 ] was applied to measure the learning space construct. This scale is designed to measure indoor physical environments and consists of 20 variables measured on a Likert scale. This instrument is based on 94 literature studies, which are summarized in the Figure 1 . Sustainability 2019 , 11 , x FOR PEER REVIEW 4 of 15 a meaning-centred analysis approach: content analysis, coding, grouping data, and interpretation of the meaning. 2.1. Variables This research involves one dependent variable and twenty independent variables. The Grade Point Average (GPA) measures academic performance (dependent variable). The independent variables refer to the learning space. In the Spanish university system, all subjects consist of theoretical and practical lessons. Accordingly, students have two different classrooms per course: a lecture room and a practice room. Moreover, each classroom type has similar characteristics, since they were not designed twenty-five years ago, when the main teaching method was lecture. Both classrooms will be measured to inquire whether learning space variables differ in their influence, depending on the teaching method (lecture or passive methods, and practice or active methods). Learning spaces are composed of the following factors: lighting, ventilation, thermal level, acoustics, chair and desk ergonomics, room size, ICT facilities, and nature. 2.2. Sample The research sample consists of 796 undergraduate students and five professors in different faculties of the Universidade da Coruña (UDC). A scale is applied to the students’ sample and an interview with professors. In the case of students, non-probability sampling by convenience and purposive has been conducted (concerning their use of the selected learning spaces). The final sample is formed of 796 undergraduate students (248 men and 548 women) from ten faculties and four High Schools of the UDC. Regarding professors, the sample consists of five educational staff members. Representative teaching staff were chosen based on the following criteria: long academic career, belonging to different areas of knowledge, familiar with the functioning of the UDC, having a senior position, and a high level of knowledge about the European Higher Education Area. 2.3. Data Collection Instruments Indoor Physical Environment Perception scale (iPEP scale), adapted from the Student Perception Questionnaire of Learning Space [67] was applied to measure the learning space construct. This scale is designed to measure indoor physical environments and consists of 20 variables measured on a Likert scale. This instrument is based on 94 literature studies, which are summarized in the Figure 1. Figure 1. Learning space literature background which support the indoor physical environment perception (iPEP) scale design. Figure 1. Learning space literature background which support the indoor physical environment perception (iPEP) scale design Students had to anonymously rate the degree of the learning space variables (see Table 1 ) in their classroom from 1 (low degree) to 7 (high degree) and provide their GPA. In this study, iPEP was conducted twice, so students answered it regarding the lecture and the practice rooms.

[[[ p. 5 ]]]

[Summary: This page focuses on the data collection instruments, specifically the iPEP scale adapted from a student perception questionnaire. The scale measures 20 variables related to indoor physical environments using a Likert scale. Students rate the degree of these variables in their classrooms and provide their GPA. The page also mentions the use of semi-structured interviews with professors to gather qualitative data related to the iPEP statements. It presents descriptive analysis of the collected data.]

Sustainability 2019 , 11 , 6558 5 of 15 This questionnaire was administered on paper and the response rate was 91.28 percent (796 / 872), since some of them had missing-rated items Table 1. iPEP scale items Item Variable Natural light quantity V 1 Natural light control (i.e., blinds) V 2 Artificial light quantity V 3 Artificial light control (i.e., light switch possibilities) V 4 Ventilation during lessons V 5 Ventilation after lessons V 6 Ventilation control (i.e., manual-window airing) V 7 Thermal level in cold seasons V 8 Thermal level in warm seasons V 9 Thermal level control V 10 Acoustic isolation from outdoor noise V 11 Indoor noise (i.e., coming from pc or people) V 12 Echo level V 13 Room size V 14 Wi-Fi coverage V 15 Plugs availability V 16 Computer availability V 17 Chair ergonomics V 18 Desk ergonomics V 19 Connection with nature (i.e., views, landscapes) V 20 Regarding qualitative data, the semi-structured interview followed the statements of iPEP The main purpose was to obtain personal data related to the principal variables and the findings of the statistical analysis of the test results 3. Results 3.1. Descriptive Analysis Mean statistics group up in four di ff erent values (see Table 2 ). Lighting items are the highest valued, with scores close to five; all the values are 0.30 lower in the practice room. Then, ventilation control, thermal level in cold and warm seasons, room size, Wi-Fi coverage and connection with nature are close to four points. In this case, most of the values are similar for both rooms, except for ventilation control and views, which are near to 0.30 points lower in the practice room. Subsequently, thermal level control, acoustic isolation, indoor noise, plug availability, and desk and chair ergonomics are close to 3.5 points. Students rated near 0.3 points higher the last three mentioned items in the practice room. The lowest values are near to three points, for ventilation during and after lessons, echo, and computer availability Table 2. Descriptive analysis: mean value and standard deviation Variable Lecture Room Practice Room Mean Std. Deviation Mean Std. Deviation V 1 4.83 1.656 4.43 1.866 V 2 4.91 1.799 4.44 1.961 V 3 5.36 1.445 5.08 1.582 V 4 5.47 1.621 5.05 1.755 V 5 3.03 1.920 3.24 1.940 V 6 2.97 1.857 3.13 1.908 V 7 4.11 1.921 3.78 2.017 V 8 4.48 1.897 4.36 1.897 V 9 4.30 1.864 4.26 1.862

[[[ p. 6 ]]]

[Summary: This page presents the reliability and sample adequacy analysis, including Cronbach's alpha, KMO test, and Bartlett's test, to validate the iPEP scale. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) reveals a six-factor structure explaining 63.53% of the construct: ventilation, IT set and room size, natural environment, building comfort, workspace, and acoustics. It lists the variables associated with each factor, showing how they contribute to the overall perception of the learning space.]

Sustainability 2019 , 11 , 6558 6 of 15 Table 2. Cont Variable Lecture Room Practice Room Mean Std. Deviation Mean Std. Deviation V 10 3.34 2.127 3.39 2.045 V 11 3.72 1.890 3.77 1.923 V 12 3.64 1.778 3.76 1.816 V 13 2.84 2.202 3.09 2.215 V 14 4.43 1.930 4.20 1.918 V 15 4.19 2.183 4.16 2.165 V 16 3.73 2.029 3.95 2.080 V 17 2.80 2.218 3.25 2.297 V 18 3.37 1.889 3.64 1.939 V 19 3.69 1.776 3.91 1.841 V 20 4.09 1.854 3.84 1.906 3.2. Reliability, Sample Adequacy Cronbach alfa was conducted with the purpose of checking the reliability of the instrument (internal consistency). The inter-correlations among test items resulted in a high value (alpha = 0.836), which indicates that the variables are appropriate to measure the construct of the learning space In order to know whether the data is suited for Factor Analysis, Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin test (KMO) and Barlett’s test were conducted (see Table 3 ). On the one hand, KMO test achieved a high value (KMO = 0.802), which indicates that the proportion of variance in the variables should not be caused by underlying factors. On the other hand, Barlett’s Test of Sphericity was 10,459.273 (p 190 < 0.001), meaning that the test items are unrelated. Therefore, both tests evidence that a factor analysis may be useful Table 3. Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) and Bartlett’s Test Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy 0.803 Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity Approx. Chi-Square 10459.273 df 190 Sig < 0.001 Subsequently, the EFA with the extraction method of Principal Component Analysis was conducted, and the varimax rotation method was applied. The construct resulted in a structure of six factors (F 1–F 6) which account for the 63.53 per cent of the construct (see Table 4 ). • Ventilation (F 1): the ventilation during classes (V 5), the ventilation after classes (V 6), the ventilation control (V 7) and the thermal control (V 10) • IT set and room size (F 2): the Wi-Fi coverage (V 15), plugs availability (V 16), computers availability (V 17) and the room size (V 14) • Natural environment (F 3): natural light quantity (V 1), natural light control (V 2) and connection with nature (V 20) • Building comfort (F 4): artificial light control (V 4), artificial light quantity (V 3), thermal level in cold seasons (V 8) and thermal level in warm seasons (V 9) • Workspace (F 5): desk ergonomics (V 19) and chair ergonomics (V 18) • Acoustics (F 6): indoor noise (V 12), echo level (V 13) and acoustic isolation (V 11).

[[[ p. 7 ]]]

[Summary: This page continues the presentation of Exploratory Factor Analysis results, showing the variance explained by each factor. It then discusses the Multiple Linear Regression Analysis used to predict academic performance (GPA) based on learning space variables. The models for the global sample, lecture room, and practice room are analyzed, with variables like ventilation, room size, and acoustics identified as significant predictors. The Durbin-Watson test and homoscedasticity are also examined.]

Sustainability 2019 , 11 , 6558 7 of 15 Table 4. Exploratory Factorial Analysis results Factor No. Variables Communalities Total Variance Explained Variance (%) Cumulative (%) 1 V 5 0.854 12.535 12.535 V 6 0.853 V 7 0.600 V 10 0.504 2 V 15 0.826 11.463 23.998 V 16 0.817 V 17 0.730 V 18 0.455 3 V 1 0.794 10.810 34.808 V 2 0.787 V 20 0.595 4 V 4 0.696 10.142 44.950 V 3 0.658 V 8 0.640 V 9 0.605 5 V 19 0.853 9.365 54.315 V 18 0.837 6 V 12 0.783 9.213 63.528 V 13 0.776 V 11 0.557 3.3. Multiple Linear Regression Analysis In order to predict academic performance (GPA), the Multiple linear regression test was conducted for the global sample, and for both lecture room and practice room data (see the models in Table 5 ): V 5, V 13, V 15, V 14, V 19, V 12 V 7, V 4, V 3 and V 18. The lecture room model explains 22.1 percent of GPA, with 11 variables: V 5, V 13, V 18, V 19, V 7, V 12, V 17, V 20, V 9, V 14 and V 2. The practice room model explains the 22.0 percent of GPA, with nine variables: V 19, V 4, V 14, V 15, V 17, V 6, V 5, V 12 and V 20 All the models are statistically meaningful ( p g = 0.001; p lr = 0.002; p pr = 0.010). The Durbin–Watson test scored values among 0 and 2, which indicates positive autocorrelation in the sample (D-W g = 1.627; D-W lr = 1.793; D-W pr = 1.774) Table 5. Multiple linear regression results (dependent variable: grade point average (GPA)) Model Adjusted R 2 Std. Error F df 1 df 2 Sig. F Durbin–Watson Global 0.154 0.931 11.884 1 1575 0.001 1.627 Lecture 0.221 0.894 5.851 1 781 0.016 1.793 Practice 0.220 0.895 6.642 1 783 0.010 1.774 The homoscedasticity of the residues was also examined. Figure 2 represents the values that will predict our estimate concerning the regression residuals. This visual representation a ffi rms the assumption of homoscedasticity, based on the fact that the variance is the same for the entire range of predicted values. Also, the same figure verifies the assumption of linearity, due to the linear pattern of the point cloud.

[[[ p. 8 ]]]

[Summary: This page presents visual representations affirming the assumption of homoscedasticity, based on the fact that the variance is the same for the entire range of predicted values. Also, the same figure verifies the assumption of linearity, due to the linear pattern of the point cloud. It also indicates how much each variable contributes to the model and the symbol indicates whether it is a direct or inverse relationship with the dependent variable.]

Sustainability 2019 , 11 , 6558 8 of 15 Sustainability 2019 , 11 , x FOR PEER REVIEW 8 of 15 ( a ) ( b ) ( c ) Figure 2. Cloud points of standardized predicted values vs. standardized residuals ( a ) Global model graph; ( b ) Lecture room model graph; ( c ) Practice room model graph. Standardized coefficients indicate how much each variable contributes to the model and the symbol indicates whether it is a direct or inverse relationship with the dependent variable (see Table 6). Ventilation during lessons (V 5) contributes more to the model, because it has a larger absolute standardized coefficient. Moreover, ventilation during lessons, room size, indoor noise and artificial lighting control, are directly correlated with GPA. Chair ergonomics, echo, Wi-Fi coverage, desk ergonomics, ventilation control and artificial lighting quantity, are inverse correlated with the dependent variable. The amount of multicollinearity is calculated through Variance Inflation Factors (VIF), in order to check whether the input variables are correlated. Most VIF values are among 1 and 5, which indicate that the variables are moderately correlated, so the variance of the estimated regression coefficients is low inflated. Table 6. Global regression model for GPA prediction. Variable Beta t Sig. Tolerance VIF V 5 0.521 11.245 <0.001 0.249 4.015 V 18 −0.168 −3.447 0.001 0.226 4.433 V 13 −0.341 −8.256 <0.001 0.313 3.193 V 15 −0.189 −4.706 <0.001 0.331 3.018 V 14 0.229 5.855 <0.001 0.350 2.853 V 19 −0.173 −3.970 <0.001 0.280 3.568 V 12 −0.343 7.846 <0.001 0.280 3.575 V 7 −0.322 −6.705 <0.001 0.232 4.319 V 4 0.273 5.377 <0.001 0.207 4.827 V 3 −0.197 −3.641 <0.001 0.183 5.460 Regarding the practice and lecture room models, Beta values have been compared (see Table 7). VIF values for both models were moderated, except for ventilation items, which obtained values higher than five. Two variables influence both lecture and practice room in the same way: ventilation during lessons (V 4) and indoor noise (V 12). Moreover, four variables showed opposite relations concerning both classrooms: room size (V 14), computer availability (V 17), desk ergonomics (V 19) and connection with nature (V 20). V 14 and V 20 showed inverse correlations with GPA in lecture classroom and V 17 and V 19 a direct correlation, while the four variables obtained the opposite correlation for the same dependent variable. Five other items indicate significant inverse correlations with GPA only for the lecture room: natural light control (V 2), ventilation control (V 7), thermal level in warm seasons (V 9), echo level (V 13) and chair ergonomics. Meanwhile, two items showed inverse correlations with GPA in the practice room—ventilation after lessons (V 6) and Wi-Fi coverage (V 15)—and one indicated direct correlation—artificial light control (V 4). Figure 2. Cloud points of standardized predicted values vs. standardized residuals ( a ) Global model graph; ( b ) Lecture room model graph; ( c ) Practice room model graph Standardized coe ffi cients indicate how much each variable contributes to the model and the symbol indicates whether it is a direct or inverse relationship with the dependent variable (see Table 6 ). Ventilation during lessons (V 5) contributes more to the model, because it has a larger absolute standardized coe ffi cient. Moreover, ventilation during lessons, room size, indoor noise and artificial lighting control, are directly correlated with GPA. Chair ergonomics, echo, Wi-Fi coverage, desk ergonomics, ventilation control and artificial lighting quantity, are inverse correlated with the dependent variable. The amount of multicollinearity is calculated through Variance Inflation Factors (VIF), in order to check whether the input variables are correlated. Most VIF values are among 1 and 5, which indicate that the variables are moderately correlated, so the variance of the estimated regression coe ffi cients is low inflated Table 6. Global regression model for GPA prediction Variable Beta t Sig. Tolerance VIF V 5 0.521 11.245 < 0.001 0.249 4.015 V 18 − 0.168 − 3.447 0.001 0.226 4.433 V 13 − 0.341 − 8.256 < 0.001 0.313 3.193 V 15 − 0.189 − 4.706 < 0.001 0.331 3.018 V 14 0.229 5.855 < 0.001 0.350 2.853 V 19 − 0.173 − 3.970 < 0.001 0.280 3.568 V 12 − 0.343 7.846 < 0.001 0.280 3.575 V 7 − 0.322 − 6.705 < 0.001 0.232 4.319 V 4 0.273 5.377 < 0.001 0.207 4.827 V 3 − 0.197 − 3.641 < 0.001 0.183 5.460 Regarding the practice and lecture room models, Beta values have been compared (see Table 7 ). VIF values for both models were moderated, except for ventilation items, which obtained values higher than five. Two variables influence both lecture and practice room in the same way: ventilation during lessons (V 4) and indoor noise (V 12). Moreover, four variables showed opposite relations concerning both classrooms: room size (V 14), computer availability (V 17), desk ergonomics (V 19) and connection with nature (V 20). V 14 and V 20 showed inverse correlations with GPA in lecture classroom and V 17 and V 19 a direct correlation, while the four variables obtained the opposite correlation for the same dependent variable. Five other items indicate significant inverse correlations with GPA only for the lecture room: natural light control (V 2), ventilation control (V 7), thermal level in warm seasons (V 9), echo level (V 13) and chair ergonomics. Meanwhile, two items showed inverse correlations with GPA in the practice room—ventilation after lessons (V 6) and Wi-Fi coverage (V 15)—and one indicated direct correlation—artificial light control (V 4).

[[[ p. 9 ]]]

[Summary: This page presents beta values for lecture and practice room regression models, showing the standardized coefficients for each variable. It then transitions to qualitative analysis, focusing on meaning extracted from professor interviews. Room size, furniture, and lighting are discussed as important elements influencing academic performance. Professors highlight the negative impact of large classrooms and uncomfortable furniture, while emphasizing the importance of daylight and lighting control.]

Sustainability 2019 , 11 , 6558 9 of 15 Table 7. Beta values for lecture and practice room regression models Abbrev. Variable Beta (Lecture Room) Beta (Practice Room) V 2 Natural light control − 0.151 - V 4 Artificial light control - 0.311 V 5 Ventilation during lessons 1.079 0.738 V 6 Ventilation after lessons − 0.854 V 7 Ventilation control − 0.639 - V 9 Thermal level in warm seasons − 0.132 V 12 Indoor noise − 0.536 − 0.122 V 13 Echo level − 0.652 - V 14 Room size − 0.196 0.308 V 15 Wi-Fi coverage - − 0.244 V 17 Computer availability 0.437 − 0.447 V 18 Chair ergonomics − 0.635 - V 19 Desk ergonomics 0.355 − 0.314 V 20 Connection with nature − 0.079 0.144 3.4. Qualitative Analysis Three elements were used in the data analysis focused on meaning: data reduction, disposal, and processing of information and extraction of conclusions. The analysis was performed through codes by extracting the voiced opinions of professors 3.4.1. Room Size In this case, professors highlighted their own experiences and a general belief was presented: a larger size classroom has a negative influence on academic performance, although some professors also expressed that this e ff ect may depend on subject, professor and student attitude. Interviewee 2 explained that the traditional lecture method, based on a large audience and room size, had a negative influence on learning. Interviewee 3 indicated that active lessons were designed as a formula to improve academic performance 3.4.2. Furniture The comfort of working area is presented as an important issue. When students are not physically comfortable, it will negative a ff ect their concentration and performance (Interviewee 4). This discomfort occurs mainly in the case of fixed tables and chairs (Interviewees 3, 4 and 5). Professors indicated that most classrooms (both lecture and practice rooms) had the same furniture. However, Interviewee 2 focused on functionality, both because of the extra cost that comes with the excess of “ergonomics”, and because of the mismatch of excess comfort in an environment that must be proactive 3.4.3. Lighting Daylight and lighting control are accepted as essential elements by the interviewees. They indicated that daylight generates a positive mood and predisposition to the classes (Interviewee 4), but the use of audio–visual media requires a better possibility of controlling both artificial and natural light in the classroom (Interviewee 3) Moreover, the professors indicated the orientation of the facades as a major issue, due to the fact that sun exposure generates overheating inside the building. Therefore, in some cases, dark crystals or vinyl windows have been added, which permanently reduce the entry of natural light (Interviewee 2). On other occasions, this design promotes the use of blinds during daylight hours, promoting the unnecessary use of artificial light (Interviewee 5). Moreover, window height did not let students see the view when they are sat, so that they do not entertain themselves by looking out the windows (Interviewee 2).

[[[ p. 10 ]]]

[Summary: This page continues the qualitative analysis, focusing on ventilation, thermal level, acoustics, and ICT design. Professors agree on thermal differences due to facade orientation and the limitations of centralized heating. Acoustic issues are noted in large classrooms, and ICT problems include poor Wi-Fi coverage and inadequate electrical facilities. Nature connection is seen as a positive element promoting concentration and relaxation.]

Sustainability 2019 , 11 , 6558 10 of 15 3.4.4. Ventilation and Thermal Level The interviewees agreed that the buildings have large thermal di ff erences due to the orientation of the facades. They also state that this factor negatively a ff ects the learning process, with interviewee 5 specifying that heat excess inhibits student concentration These buildings have a facade with full exposure to the sun and another facing the mountain That is why, in some places, the temperature is ideal, and in others it is too cold (Interviewee 2) In addition, the location of the reading rooms on the west façade leads to excessive heat; in winter, this is due to central heating and in summer due to sun exposure (Interviewee 5) Furthermore, they state that the centralized heating system does not allow the control of thermal levels in the classrooms. Its management is easier in small buildings. However, interviewee 2 states that it would be essential to sectorize heating, both for energy savings and for user comfort, and he add that windows are the mechanism they use to refrigerate the rooms (Interviewee 2 and 5) 3.4.5. Acoustics This element is essential for knowledge communication among students and professors. In general, there are no acoustic problems. However, in large classrooms it is sometimes necessary to use support devices such as microphones, despite the fact that some professors are not comfortable with them (Interviewees 1 and 3). Otherwise, teachers develop vocal stress (Interviewee 5). This acoustic problem is also due to the noise caused by ‘student behavior’ (Interviewee 2) 3.4.6. ICT Design Interviewees agree that there is a global problem, due to the lack of Wi-Fi coverage. Students move through the classroom and corridor to find internet access to download files or upload tasks. Interviewee 3 explains that, when the Faculty is full of users, this situation worsens, due to the multiplicity of devices (Tablets, laptops, mobile phones), since the Wi-Fi network has not been adapted to support this number of machines (Interviewee 4) Concerning sockets, electrical facilities have not adapted to the audio–visual needs of the 21 st century. Faced with this situation, teachers have generated the solution of introducing power strips in classrooms (Interviewees 1 and 4). This solution facilitates the loading of the devices, but does not eliminate the problem and converts some classroom into a jungle of wires (Interviewees 2 and 4) One of the professors expressed concern regarding the negative connotations of ICT, saying that it can generate distractions (Interviewee 5). He explained that social networks are distractors for students, but they pay attention when they a specific software is used and they do not have access to Wi-Fi 3.4.7. Nature Interviewees state the connection of the interior of the class with nature as an element of quality, that helps concentration and relaxation, especially during breaks between lessons (Interviewees 1, 2 and 4). Interviewees 3 and 5 state that connection with nature is also due to the location of the university campus in a natural environment, a permanent factor of student enjoyment, which promotes sustainability values (Interviewee 2) 4. Discussion and Conclusions The research goal was to generate a holistic learning space assessment method, to inquire whether it predicts academic outcome, considering both lecture and practice environments. For this, a holistic review of the factors of learning space was conducted, combining knowledge from the fields of Psychology, Education and Architecture. Consequently, an iPEP scale was designed, based on previous holistic approaches [ 55 – 58 ]. This measurement instrument was validated through Cronbach alpha and Exploratory Factor Analyses (EFA). The learning space resulted in a six-factors structure, with a high percentage of the construct explanation: ventilation, IT set and room size, natural environment,

[[[ p. 11 ]]]

[Summary: This page discusses the research goal of generating a holistic learning space assessment method. It highlights the six-factors structure identified through EFA: ventilation, IT set and room size, natural environment, building comfort, workspace and acoustics. It notes that ten variables of learning space predict 15% of GPA and that practical and theoretical classrooms correlate differently with variables, which supports previous literature.]

Sustainability 2019 , 11 , 6558 11 of 15 building comfort, workspace and acoustics. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis indicated that ten variables of the learning space predict close to fifteen percent of the Grade Point Average (GPA) of undergraduate students at the Universidade da Coruña: ventilation during lessons, chair ergonomics, echo level, Wi-Fi coverage, room size, desk ergonomics, indoor noise, ventilation control, artificial light control and artificial light quantity. Likewise, the GPA prediction analyses showed that practical and theoretical classrooms correlate di ff erently with the classroom variables, which support the previous literature that indicates a relationship between teaching methods and learning space [ 65 , 66 ]. Ventilation variables evidenced the major influence in academic performance at Universidade daCoruña. Concerning manual windows-airing during lessons, a direct correlation with GPA is indicated, supporting previous results suggesting that proper ventilation habits achieve better air quality [ 39 ]. However, when this action is performed at the end of the lesson, classrooms are empty, because of the breaks between di ff erent courses. Considering this mechanism is not automatized, windows are open until the next group accesses the classroom, and the extreme cold can have a negative influence in the practice room, where students need to be prepared for active methodologies. In the lecture room, where passive actions are a must, the results evidence that the lack of thermal control is inversely correlated with academic performance. Moreover, the presence of the variable thermal control in this factor is supported by interview analyses, which always refer to manual-window airing as the mechanism used to control the temperature Concerning the building comfort factor, the primary influences consist of thermal comfort and artificial lighting variables. Previous research measured thermal level with Celsius or Kelvin degrees The self-report scale takes into consideration user perceptions of their own thermal comfort, which di ff er depending on the individual [ 62 ]. Furthermore, the building’s orientation generate great temperature di ff erences between some classrooms. They also have central heating without a regulator inside the classrooms. In this sense, thermal comfort in warm seasons showed an inverse correlation with GPA in lecture rooms, similar to previous results, which correlate warmer temperatures with lower performance [ 35 , 36 ]. Moreover, lecture rooms have at least double the number of students, which increases the thermal level. Artificial lighting control indicated a direct relation with GPA in the practice room. In these lessons, students normally work in small groups, so the ability to focus the light in their workspace improves their performance Concerning IT set and room size, on the one hand, room size and students number ratio indicated a global direct correlation with academic performance. However, this is due to the fact that its positive e ff ect in the practice room is higher than its negative e ff ect in the lecture room. For these, professors indicated that they try to move to smaller classrooms, where the ratio between the room size and the attendance of students is more consistent and e ffi cient. In contrast, professors indicated that previous years’ lecture lessons, with larger student audiences, implied a negative influence on performance On the other hand, Wi-Fi coverage evidenced an inverse correlation with academic performance, and computers’ availability di ff ers in correlation, depending on whether they are in the lecture or the practice room. This was supported by the interviews, since professors believe that the use of such technologies generates distractions among students. Moreover, Wi-Fi coverage causes a waste of time, due to an out-dated infrastructure which collapses with a multiplicity of electronic devices These results bring to light a di ff erent ICT reality to the positive approach in the literature [ 50 – 53 ]. ICT research applied in education normally focuses on control groups, while, in this case, a population in its natural state is studied, in which there seems to be a lack of use of ICT methodology, which may explain the inverse correlations with GPA The natural environment consists of the connection with nature, daylight and daylight control Both connections with nature and daylight control evidenced an inverse correlation with GPA in the lecture room. This may be related to the fact that students control daylight through blinds, which increases their landscape views, and they get distracted from the professor’s speech. This fact is supported by previous research [ 23 ] and interview results. However, nature connection in the practice room is directly correlated with academic performance. In these lessons, students have their own tasks

[[[ p. 12 ]]]

[Summary: This page delves deeper into the discussion of the findings. It discusses the influence of ventilation variables on academic performance. It discusses the self-report scale, the influence of thermal comfort and artificial lighting variables. The page goes on to discuss IT set and room size.]

Sustainability 2019 , 11 , 6558 12 of 15 and are not disconnected from the learning process if they need to rest and observe the landscape This is consistent with previous results that evidenced this action mitigates concentration fatigue in the classroom [ 24 , 27 , 28 ]. Workspace furniture is measured through desk and chair ergonomics. Students scored both variables with a medium value. However, they evidenced di ff erent results in terms of GPA prediction in the lecture room, where there was positive influence concerning the desk and a negative one in the case of the chair. This di ff erence might be related to the students’ passive action in massive rooms, in which they have to hold their sitting position for hours [ 40 , 41 ] and the desk is just need the space to take notes in a laptop. However, desk ergonomics evidenced an inverse correlation in the practice room, where they are not suitable for collaborative work. So, in addition to a mismatch between anthropometric measurements and furniture ergonomics [ 46 ], there seems to be a mismatch concerning teaching method Indoor noise and echo level evidenced an inverse relation between acoustic factor and academic performance, which confirms previous research [ 10 – 14 ]. However, its influence is lower in the practice room, where students work in small groups and communication does not need to reach a big audience To conclude, learning space influences the performance of undergraduate students at UDC, and it is related to teaching approaches, based on the di ff erence reported in lecture and practice room results. The iPEP scale serves to evaluate any particular learning space, to detect which factors have a positive or negative influence in performance and actuate in the architectural design This self-reported approach involves a more personalized diagnosis of indoor environments than traditional measurement instruments. A holistic model of the relationship between space learning and student performance is established, which diverges from the individualist point that literature has carried over the years, with certain exceptions Finally, we encourage further research in an indoor environment, considering how it influences the way we live, study and work. We recommend correlating self-reported perceptions with traditional measures, in order to fulfil human needs concerning architectural design Author Contributions: Conceptualization, V.L.-C.; Formal analysis, V.L.-C.; Methodology, V.L.-C.; Supervision, A.A.L. and J.M.-G.; Validation, V.L.-C.; Writing—original draft, V.L.-C.; Writing—review and editing, A.A.L and J.M.-G Funding: This research received no external funding Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest References 1 Leccese, F.; Salvadori, G.; Rocca, M.; Buratti, C.; Belloni, E. A method to assess lighting quality in educational rooms using analytic hierarchy process Build. Environ 2019 . [ CrossRef ] 2 Wang, D.; Xu, Y.; Liu, Y.; Wang, Y.; Jiang, J.; Wang, X.; Liu, J. Experimental investigation of the e ff ect of indoor air temperature on students’ learning performance under the summer conditions in China Build. Environ 2018 , 140 , 140–152. [ CrossRef ] 3 Leccese, F.; Rocca, M.; Salvadori, G. Fast estimation of Speech Transmission Index using the Reverberation Time: Comparison between predictive equations for educational rooms of di ff erent sizes Appl. Acoust 2018 , 140 , 143–149. [ CrossRef ] 4 Lee, M.C.; Mui, K.W.; Wong, L.T.; Chan, W.Y.; Lee, E.W.M.; Cheung, C.T. Student learning performance and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in air-conditioned university teaching rooms Build. Environ 2012 , 49 , 238–244. [ CrossRef ] 5 De Giuli, V.; Da Pos, O.; De Carli, M. Indoor environmental quality and pupil perception in Italian primary schools Build. Environ 2012 , 56 , 335–345. [ CrossRef ] 6 Xiong, L.; Huang, X.; Li, J.; Mao, P.; Wang, X.; Wang, R.; Tang, M. Impact of Indoor Physical Environment on Learning E ffi ciency in Di ff erent Types of Tasks: A 3 × 4 × 3 Full Factorial Design Analysis Int. J. Environ. Res Public Health 2018 , 15 , 1256. [ CrossRef ]

[[[ p. 13 ]]]

[Summary: This page discusses the influence of acoustic factor and academic performance. It references research and discusses the natural environment consisting of the connection with nature, daylight and daylight control. Workspace furniture is measured through desk and chair ergonomics.]

Sustainability 2019 , 11 , 6558 13 of 15 7 Klatte, M.; Bergström, K.; Lachmann, T. Does noise a ff ect learning? A short review on noise e ff ects on cognitive performance in children Front. Psychol 2013 , 4 , 578. [ CrossRef ] 8 Klatte, M.; Hellbruck, J.; Seidel, J.; Leistner, P. E ff ects of classroom acoustics on performance and well-being in elementary school children: A field study Environ. Behav 2010 , 42 , 659–692. [ CrossRef ] 9 Hallam, S.; Price, J.; Katsarou, G. The e ff ects of background music on primary school pupil’s task performance Educ. Stud 2002 , 21 , 111–122. [ CrossRef ] 10 Imhof, M.; Välikoski, T.R.; Laukkanen, A.M.; Kai, O. Cognition and interpersonal communication: The e ff ect of voice quality on information processing and person perception Stud. Commun. Sci 2014 , 14 , 37–44 [ CrossRef ] 11 Larsen, J.D.; Baddeley, A. Disruption of verbal STM by irrelevant speech, articulatory suppression, and manual tapping: Do they have a common source? Q. J. Exp. Psychol 2003 , 56 , 1249–1268. [ CrossRef ] [ PubMed ] 12 Klatte, M.; Meis, M.; Sukowski, H.; Schick, A. E ff ects of irrelevant speech and tra ffi c noise on speech perception and cognitive performance in elementary school children Noise Health 2007 , 9 , 64–74. [ CrossRef ] [ PubMed ] 13 Farley, L.A.; Neath, I.; Allbritton, D.W.; Surprenant, A.M. Irrelevant speech e ff ects and sequence learning Mem. Cogn 2007 , 35 , 156–165. [ CrossRef ] [ PubMed ] 14 Shield, B.; Conetta, R.; Dockrell, J.; Connolly, D.; Cox, T.; Mydlarz, C. A survey of acoustic conditions and noise levels in secondary school classrooms in England J. Acoust. Soc. Am 2015 , 137 , 177–188. [ CrossRef ] [ PubMed ] 15 Montiel, I.; Mayoral, A.M.; Navarro Pedreño, J.; Maiques, S. Acoustic Comfort in Learning Spaces: Moving Towards Sustainable Development Goals Sustainability 2019 , 11 , 3573. [ CrossRef ] 16 Nakamura, H.; Karasawa, Y. Relationship between illuminance / color temperature and preference of atmosphere J. Light Vis. Environ 1999 , 23 , 29–38. [ CrossRef ] 17 Noguchi, H.; Sakaguchi, T. E ff ect of illuminance and color temperature on lowering of physiological activity Appl. Hum. Sci 1999 , 18 , 117–123. [ CrossRef ] 18 Gilavand, A.; Gilavand, M.; Gilavand, S. Investigating the impact of lighting educational spaces on learning and academic achievement of elementary students Int. J. Pediatrics 2016 , 4 , 1819–1828. [ CrossRef ] 19 Andersen, M. Unweaving the human response in daylighting design Build. Environ 2015 , 9 , 101–117 [ CrossRef ] 20 Jusl é n, H.; Tenner, A. Mechanisms involved in enhancing human performance by changing the lighting in the industrial workplace Int. J. Ind. Ergon 2005 , 35 , 843–855. [ CrossRef ] 21 Rittner, H.; Robbin, M. Color and light in learning Sch. Plan. Manag 2002 , 41 , 57–58 22 Küller, R.; Wetterberg, L. Melatonin, cortisol, EEG, ECG and subjective comfort in healthy humans: Impact of two fluorescent lamp types at two light intensities Lighting Res. Technol 1993 , 25 , 71–80. [ CrossRef ] 23 V á squez, N.G.; Felippe, M.L.; Pereira, F.O.; Kuhnen, A. Luminous and visual preferences of young children in their classrooms: Curtain use, artificial lighting and window views Build. Environ 2019 , 152 , 59–73 [ CrossRef ] 24 Berman, M.; Jonides, J.; Kaplan, S. The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature Psychol. Sci 2008 , 19 , 1207–1212. [ CrossRef ] [ PubMed ] 25 Tsung, K. Influence of Limitedly Visible Leafy Indoor Plants on the Psychology, Behavior, and Health of Students at a Junior High School in Taiwan Environ. Behav 2009 , 41 , 658–692. [ CrossRef ] 26 Shamsuddin, S.; Bahauddin, H.; Abd-Aziz, N. Relationship between the outdoor physical environment and student’s social behaviour in Urban Secondary School Procedia Soc. Behav. Sci 2012 , 50 , 148–160. [ CrossRef ] 27 Benfield, J.A.; Rainbolt, G.N.; Bell, P.A.; Donovan, G.H. Classrooms with nature views: Evidence of di ff ering student perceptions and behaviors Environ. Behav 2015 , 47 , 140–157. [ CrossRef ] 28 van den Berg, A.E.; Wesselius, J.E.; Maas, J.; Tanja-Dijkstra, K. Green walls for a restorative classroom environment: A controlled evaluation study Environ. Behav 2016 , 49 , 791–813. [ CrossRef ] 29 Abkar, M.; Kamal, M.; Maulan, S.; Mariapan, M. Influences of viewing nature through windows Aust. Basic Appl Sci 2010 , 4 , 5346–5351 30 Kuo, M.; Browning, M.H.; Sachdeva, S.; Westphal, L.; Lee, K. Might school performance grow on trees? Examining the link between “greenness” and academic achievement in urban, high-poverty schools Front. Psychol 2018 , 9 , 1669. [ CrossRef ]

[[[ p. 14 ]]]

[Summary: This page continues to discuss desk and chair ergonomics, and the influence on students performance. It mentions student's passive action in massive rooms, in which they have to hold their sitting position for hours and the desk is just need the space to take notes in a laptop.]

Sustainability 2019 , 11 , 6558 14 of 15 31 Anderson, C.; Deuser, W.; DeNeve, K. Hot temperatures, hostile a ff ect, hostile cognition, and arousal: Tests of a general model of a ff ective aggression Personal. Soc. Psychol. Bull 1995 , 21 , 434–448. [ CrossRef ] 32 Jiang, J.; Wang, D.; Liu, Y.; Xu, Y.; Liu, J. A study on pupils’ learning performance and thermal comfort of primary schools in China Build. Environ 2018 , 134 , 102–113. [ CrossRef ] 33 Zomorodian, Z.S.; Tahsildoost, M.; Hafezi, M. Thermal comfort in educational buildings: A review article Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev 2016 , 59 , 895–906. [ CrossRef ] 34 Teli, D.; Jentsch, M.F.; James, P.A. Naturally ventilated classrooms: An assessment of existing comfort models for predicting the thermal sensation and preference of primary school children Energy Build 2012 , 53 , 166–182. [ CrossRef ] 35 Lan, L.; Wargocki, P.; Wyon, D.P.; Lian, Z. E ff ects of thermal discomfort in an o ffi ce on perceived air quality, SBS symptoms, physiological responses, and human performance Indoor Air 2011 , 21 , 376–390. [ CrossRef ] [ PubMed ] 36 Seppänen, O.; Fisk, W. Some quantitative relations between Indoor environmental quality and work performance or health HVAC R Res 2006 , 12 , 957–973. [ CrossRef ] 37 Cheryan, S.; Ziegler, S.; Plaut, V.; Meltzo ff , A.N. Designing Classrooms to Maximize Student Achievement Behav. Brain Sci 2014 , 1 , 4–12. [ CrossRef ] 38 Duarte, R.; da Gl ó ria Gomes, M.; Rodrigues, A.M. Classroom ventilation with manual opening of windows: Findings from a two-year-long experimental study of a Portuguese secondary school Build. Environ 2017 , 124 , 118–129. [ CrossRef ] 39 Heracleous, C.; Michael, A. Experimental assessment of the impact of natural ventilation on indoor air quality and thermal comfort conditions of educational buildings in the Eastern Mediterranean region during the heating period J. Build. Eng 2019 . [ CrossRef ] 40 Savanur, C.; Altekar, C.; De, A. Lack of conformity between Indian classroom furniture and student dimensions: Proposed future seat / table dimensions Ergonomics 2007 , 50 , 1612–1625. [ CrossRef ] 41 Castellucci, H.; Arezes, P.; Viviani, C. Mismatch between classroom furniture and anthropometric measures in Chilean schools Appl. Ergon 2010 , 41 , 563–568. [ CrossRef ] [ PubMed ] 42 Agha, S.R. School furniture match to students’ anthropometry in the Gaza Strip Ergonomics 2010 , 53 , 344–354 [ CrossRef ] [ PubMed ] 43 Molenbroek, J.; Kroon-Ramaekers, N.; Snidjers, C. Revision of the design of a standard for the dimensions of school furniture Ergonomics 2003 , 46 , 681–694. [ CrossRef ] [ PubMed ] 44 Assiri, A.; Mahfouz, A.A.; Awadalla, N.J.; Abolyazid, A.Y.; Shalaby, M.; Abogamal, A.; Riaz, F. Classroom Furniture Mismatch and Back Pain Among Adolescent School-Children in Abha City, Southwestern Saudi Arabia Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019 , 16 , 1395. [ CrossRef ] 45 Bendix, T. Adjustment of the seated work place with special reference to heights and inclinations of seat and table Dan. Med. Bull 1987 , 34 , 125–139 46 Parcells, C.; Stommel, M.; Hubbard, R. Mismatch of classroom furniture and student body dimensions J. Adolesc. Health 1999 , 24 , 265–273. [ CrossRef ] 47 Mirmohammadi, S.; Houshang, M.; Somayyeh, J.; Mostaghaci, M. An assessment of the anhropometric data of iranian university students Int. J. Occup. Hyg 2011 , 3 , 85–89 48 Brewer, J.; Davis, K.; Dunning, K.; Succop, P. Does ergonomic mismatch at school impact pain in school children? Work 2009 , 34 , 455–464 49 Saraiva, T.; De Almeida, M.; Bragança, L.; Barbosa, M. Environmental comfort indicators for school buildings in sustainability assessment tools Sustainability 2018 , 10 , 1849. [ CrossRef ] 50 Duta, N.; Mart í nez-Rivera, O. Between theory and practice: The importance of ICT in Higher Education as a tool for collaborative learning Porc. Soc. Behav. Sci 2015 , 180 , 1466–1473. [ CrossRef ] 51 Junco, R.; Elavsky, C.; Heiberger, G. Putting twitter to the test: Assessing outcomes for student collaboration, engagement and success Br. J. Educ. Technol 2013 , 44 , 273–287. [ CrossRef ] 52 Whiteside, A.; Brooks, D.; Walker, J. Making the Case for Space: Three Years of Empirical Research on Learning Environments Educ. Q 2010 , 33 , 11.

[[[ p. 15 ]]]

[Summary: This page concludes that learning space influences student performance and relates to teaching approaches. The iPEP scale evaluates learning spaces and detects positive or negative factors. It encourages further research correlating self-reported perceptions with traditional measures. The authors declare no conflict of interest and list references.]

Sustainability 2019 , 11 , 6558 15 of 15 53 L ó pez-Chao, V.; Muñoz-Cantero, J.M.; L ó pez-Pena, V. Analysis of the relaton between it school design and the lack of teaching method based on digital competence. In Proceedings of the ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, 5 th International Conference on Technological Ecosystem for Enhancing Multiculturality, C á diz, Spain, 17 October 2017; Manuel Dodero, J., Ibarra S á iz, M.S., Ruiz Rube, I., Eds.; The Association for Computing Machinery: New York, NY, USA, 2017; Volume 79. [ CrossRef ] 54 Martin-Gutierrez, J.; Mora, C.E.; Añorbe-D í az, B.; Bendicho, M.P.F.; Manuel, A.; Marrero, G.; Rodr í guez, P.R Managing first PBL experiences: Cross competences in a traditional environment. In Proceedings of the 2015 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE), El Paso, TX, USA, 21–24 October 2015; IEEE: Piscataway, NJ, USA, 2015; pp. 1–8. [ CrossRef ] 55 Muñoz-Cantero, J.M.; Garc í a-Mira, J.M.; L ó pez-Chao, V. Influence of Physical Learning Environment in Student’s Behavior and Social Relations Anthropologist 2016 , 25 , 249–253. [ CrossRef ] 56 Barrett, P.; Zhang, Y.; Mo ff at, J.; Kobbacy, K. A holistic, multi-level analysis identifying the impact of classroom design on pupils’ learning Build. Environ 2013 , 59 , 678–689. [ CrossRef ] 57 Barrett, P.; Davies, F.; Zhang, Y.; Barrett, L. The impact of classroom design on pupils’ learning: Final results of a holistic, multi-level analysis Build. Environ 2015 , 89 , 118–133. [ CrossRef ] 58 Barrett, P.; Davies, F.; Zhang, Y.; Barrett, L. The holistic impact of classroom spaces on learning in specific subjects Environ. Behav 2017 , 49 , 425–451. [ CrossRef ] 59 Knauf, H. Visual Environmental Scale: Analysing the Early Childhood Education Environment Early Child. Educ. J 2019 , 47 , 43–51. [ CrossRef ] 60 Basi ´nska, M.; Michałkiewicz, M.; Ratajczak, K. Impact of physical and microbiological parameters on proper indoor air quality in nursery Environ. Int 2019 , 132 , 105098. [ CrossRef ] 61 Camacho-Montano, S.C.; Wagner, A.; Erhorn-Kluttig, H.; Mumovic, D.; Summerfield, A. Clearing the air on EU guidance projects for school buildings Build. Res. Inf 2019 , 47 , 624–634. [ CrossRef ] 62 Kingma, B.; van Marken, W. Energy consumption in buildings and female thermal demand Nat. Clim. Chang 2015 , 5 , 1054–1056. [ CrossRef ] 63 Lourenço, P.; Pinheiro, M.D.; Heitor, T. Light use patterns in Portuguese school buildings: User comfort perception, behaviour and impacts on energy consumption J. Clean. Prod 2019 , 228 , 990–1010. [ CrossRef ] 64 Cox, A. Students’ Experience of University Space: An Exploratory Study Int. J. Teach. Learn. High. Educ 2011 , 23 , 197–207 65 Daniels, H.L.; Leadbetter, J.; Wargminton, P.; Edwards, A.; Martin, D.; Popova, A.; Apostolov, A.; Middleton, D.; Brown, S. Learning in and for Multiagency Working Oxf. Rev. Educ 2007 , 34 , 521–538 [ CrossRef ] 66 Tse, H.; Learoyd-Smith, S.; Stables, A.; Daniels, H. Continuity and conflict to in school design: A case study from Building Schools for the Future Intell. Build. Int 2015 , 7 , 64–82. [ CrossRef ] 67 L ó pez-Chao, V. El Impacto del Diseño del Espacio y otras Variables Socio-f í sicas en el Proceso deEnseñanza-Aprendizaje. Ph.D. Thesis, Universidade da Coruña, A Coruña, Spain, 17 January 2017 © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http: // creativecommons.org / licenses / by / 4.0 / ).

Other Environmental Sciences Concepts:

[back to top]

Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘Architectural Indoor Analysis’. Further sources in the context of Environmental Sciences might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:

Furniture, Lighting, Daylight, Childhood, Holistic approach, Natural environment, Connection with nature, Primary education, Academic performance, Qualitative analysis, Non-probability sampling, Likert scale, Principal component analysis, Standard deviation, Thermal comfort, Environmental quality, Internal Consistency, Lecture room, Multiple linear regression, Multiple linear regression analysis, Cronbach alpha, Descriptive analysis, Inverse correlation, Data collection instrument, Cross-sectional design, Variance Inflation Factor, Mean comparison, Dependent variable, Independent variable, Visual support, Factor structure, Qualitative methodology, Grade point average, Semi-structured interview, Ventilation, Qualitative data analysis, GPA, Workspace, ICT, Predictor variable, Data reduction, Teaching practice, Direct correlation, Quantitative methodology, Visual comfort, Sample adequacy, Exploratory factorial analysis, Sustainable Building, Acoustic comfort, Indoor noise, Acoustic design, Learning Space, Acoustic, Active methodologies, Room size, Multi-method design, Higher education classroom, Ventilation control, Educational Building, Self-report approach, Lecture classroom.

Let's grow together!

I humbly request your help to keep doing what I do best: provide the world with unbiased sources, definitions and images. Your donation direclty influences the quality and quantity of knowledge, wisdom and spiritual insight the world is exposed to.

Let's make the world a better place together!

Like what you read? Help to become even better: