THE MEANING OF PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND LEARNING

AUREO D. BAKING

Physical environment refers to the level of upkeep. It includes ambient noise, lighting, ventilation, air quality or thermal comfort of the school’s physical building and its location within the community.

The physical environment of the school speaks to the contribution that safe, clean, and comfortable surroundings make to a positive school climate in which students can learn.

A well-maintained and safe physical environment fosters positive attitudes and motivations related to students’ ability to learn, academic achievement, and prosocial behavior. A classroom which is untidy, cluttered, with topsy-turvy chairs is an eye sore. Learning cannot be internalized and not engaging having such place for learning.

Decent, safe, and secure facilities are essential to successful educational programs. Creating a positive environment is important to make teachers effective in teaching and for students to be well-engaged and receptive to learning. The presence of murals and visuals in the classroom impacted sense of belongingness among students. There must also be places for exclusivity of comfort rooms for all gender identities. If the school facilities are in good condition such as cleanliness and regular trash removals, high indoor air quality, appropriate ventilation, access to clean water, and absence of overcrowding, classroom instruction can be conducive to learning and contribute to the staff and students’ overall health and well-being.

Physical environment is also related to teachers’ levels of absenteeism, effort, effectiveness in the classroom, morale, and job satisfaction. Dilapidated school buildings and rooms contribute to teacher despair, frustration, and Ove staff physical health. Overcrowding and heavy teacher workloads create stressful working conditions for teachers that lead to frequent absenteeism. Crowded classrooms limit the teachers’ will to be innovative on teaching. Thus, teachers most likely suffer from burnout earlier than might otherwise be the case.

-oOoTHE AUTHOR IS MASTER TEACHER I AT ANGELES CITY NATIONAL TRADE SCHOOL