Lighting Design for Schools and Universities in the 21st Century

Lighting Design for Schools and Universities in the 21st Century

By Randall Fielding, Fielding is a partner with Fielding Nair International an educational planning facility, and founder and editorial director of DesignShare.com. This article touches on some of the 25 design patterns in The Language of School Design, by Nair and Fielding.

“Effective design is grounded in a firm knowledge of how we do learn, which involves both analysis and synthesis and is alternately sequential and simultaneous.”

“…we learn when we feel secure and cozy, and also when we feel challenged.”

“..an effective learning environment… has little in common with the rows of classrooms and desks…”

“Identifying patterns of learning activity and design prior to laying out a building is a good way to ensure an effective solution—one that takes advantage of the full range of human capabilities.

“Learners that feel a sense of connection and personal identification with a small learning community (150 students or less) attain higher test scores and have a significantly greater graduation rate.” This can be done by breaking down the environment into smaller buildings or clusters of spaces. Then have the entry to each community individualized with a signature element that is highlighted, reinforcing its unique identity.

“The lighting should vary to reflect the character of each space.”

“Myth #4: Neutral colors are best.”

Uniform lighting “…has nothing to do with how we learn…”

“…natural light is perhaps the single-most important element in the learning environment. Research shows that in daylighted classrooms math scores improve by 20% and verbal scores by 22%.”

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Reading these articles on flexible spaces to help in learning makes me wonder why the IP&T program doesn't have better furnishings. At the MTC we tested several chairs and tables to see what will work best for the missionaries. Everyone--missionaries, teachers, and staff--dislikes the tablet chairs. It's important that the furniture is easily moved. At the MTC we are going with comfortable chairs, probably with wheels, and tables that are about 5' x 20". That way the missionaries can put their books on the tables and spread them out. Two missionaries will be at each table. This will allow for individual, small group, and large group learning activities.

IP&T ought to look into some of these options for their classrooms.