How to teach primary school children

What Is Classroom Design?
Classroom design consists of many things, but I’ll be focusing on the layout, color scheme, and quality of light in a classroom. Modern classroom design is straying away from rows of desks and bland color choices to flexible seating options and vibrant color schemes. Modern classroom design also focuses on warm lighting to keep students calm and focused. The classroom design of today features a layout, color scheme, and vibrant light that supplements creativity and learning. In this article, I’d like to take a closer look at the layout, color schemes, and light quality and provide advice on excellent classroom design.
Lighting:
The first thing you should do when designing your classroom is to consider the quality of natural and artificial light. The assessment of light in your classroom must come first before you pick out a color scheme or layout your classroom. You want to assess light prior to picking a color scheme because the amount of natural light and quality of artificial light will affect whether you pick warm or cool colors for your color scheme. Lighting comes prior to layout because you want to be able to position your classroom around the areas with the highest quality of light.
Most educators strive to create an effective learning environment for their students. However, light and the quality of light is something that is usually not considered when designing a classroom. Similar to many government buildings and private businesses alike, schools often opt for fluorescent lighting in their hallways and classrooms. Fluorescent bulbs are dim and droning. These fluorescent bulbs seldom emit enough adequate light to properly light a classroom. Not only do these fluorescent bulbs fall short in adequate lighting, but they also can lead to health issues. In an article published on Psychology Today’s website, Dr. Victoria L. Dunckley had much to say about the negative health effects of fluorescent lighting. Dr. Dunckley wrote about the health effects emitted from flickering fluorescent lights, “Any fluorescent bulb (tubes or CFLs) will emit a “flicker,” which can trigger nervous system events like migraines, tics, or seizures in sensitive individuals” (Dunckley).

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In her article, Dr. Dunckley also highlighted how fluorescent bulbs can elicit stress responses in people. Regarding the stress responses due to exposure to fluorescent lighting, Dr. Dunckley writes, “The high color (colder/bluer) temperature of fluorescent light stimulates the non-visual pathways from the eye to various parts of the brain that involve biorhythms (e.g. “the body clock”), stress hormones, emotions, arousal levels, and muscle tension” (Dunckley). This article shows the negative effects that fluorescent lighting can have on people. Exposure to fluorescent bulbs and the pulsating blue light they emit can lead to migraines, tics, muscle tension, seizures, and stress. All of these negative health effects are certainly something educators want to avoid in their classrooms.

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So what can we do to combat the negative health effects of ever-present fluorescent light? Educators can provide warm, soft light to offset the hazardous fluorescent lighting that is standard in most classrooms. Educators can do this via lamps or glow globes that emit soothing and comfortable lighting necessary for a productive learning environment with incandescent light bulbs. Incandescent bulbs offer a warm light that brightens a room and does not emit the unhealthy flickering blue light that fluorescent bulbs do. Incandescent light also offers a sense of calm leading to students feeling safer. After all, learning is quite difficult when you don’t feel like you’re in a calm or safe space.
The addition of warm artificial light can greatly enhance a classroom’s level of comfort. However, consideration must also be given to an even better form of light, natural light. Many teachers believe that keeping the blinds on their windows open can be a distraction for their students. However, natural light can provide students with energy and creativity. Teacher’s need to keep the blinds open and optimize the natural light at their disposal.

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