Secondary school scientific understanding and learning require a dedicated environment, with facilities to help students progress their ability and examination results.

An intelligently designed classroom can help students fully understand the scientific principles and develop their own studies and investigations.

Encouraging Free-Thought

Rather than helping students remember and regurgitate facts, a well-designed science classroom should help them fully understand the reasons behind scientific developments. A classroom which supports independent study and practical research can build a broader and more robust knowledge of scientific principles.

Facilities which safely support practical learning can help students develop their own experiments and investigations without the fear of explosions or contamination by hazardous materials. This freedom to experiment can help build a true passion for science within students.

Combined Learning Methods

The Pyramid of Learning demonstrates the importance of exposing students to a variety of learning methods – helping them gain a greater understanding of the subject matter and the important principles. This is particularly pertinent in school science laboratories and classrooms where theoretical understanding is developed through practical experimentation.

The dual-approach to learning scientific curriculum can benefit from a versatile classroom which supports both practical experiments and theoretical learning. Education interior specialist Innova Design Solutions have dedicated significant time to building classrooms which offer support for both practical and theoretical learning: “It is becoming increasingly important that all forms of learning are supported so students can switch from one discipline to another with minimal fuss and wasted time.”

Beneficial Environmental Factors

This study by the University of Salford determined that the environmental factors of a classroom can improve a student’s academic progress by up to 16%. Factors such as lighting, acoustics, air quality and orientation could all have significant effect upon the students’ progress – helping improve their understanding of the curiculum and test results.

The study recognised that environmental factors affected a large number of students, with 77% of the 751 students involved in the year-long research recording progress caused by classroom design. This figure demonstrates the huge importance placed upon the environment, when creating a classroom interior in which the students can flourish.

Stress-Free Surroundings

An inviting and stress-free classroom can help students feel more comfortable in their surroundings and receptive to the education and information they are receiving. A classroom which is stimulating without being overbearing can help students get involved in the subject without feeling intense, overwhelming pressure.

Creating a classroom in which students have sufficient space to move around and share work with one another can help improve their relationships with teachers and fellow students. This is particularly beneficial during practical lessons and tests.

Focussed Learning

Teenagers in particular are prone to distraction, with many more concerned with their mobile phone or what their neighbour is doing. This makes it important to create a classroom which helps focus their attention to their teacher or the area where a practical presentation is taking place. A well-designed classroom will ensure that all students have a clear view of their teacher and the lessons they are imparting.