ILLUMINATING THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT

by John McCreery and Timothy Hill

Lighting needs to be carefully addressed in new construction and modernization projects because controlled daylight and appropriate artificial illumination are critical to the quality of student performance.

What can we do to help teachers teach and help students learn? One critical area that deserves the attention of educators, administrators, designers and maintenance teams is illumination. A term that describes aspects much broader than the standard overhead electric lighting system, illumination also includes direct natural light, indirect natural light, indirect artificial light and reflected light, as well as the control of all light sources.

There is a distinct and proven link between illumination and student achievement, as indicated in the National Clearinghouse for Education (NCEF) study,“Do School Facilities Affect Academic Outcomes?” NCEF’s report states that, in terms of lighting, there are seven independent studies indicating that classroom lighting affects student performance. These reports also document that there are optimal lighting levels for learning, that appropriate lighting improves test scores and reduces poor behavior, and that daylight fosters higher student achievement. Clearly, correct illumination is a critical component of teaching and learning.

Excerpt from School Planning & Management, February 2005
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