The Community College CLassroom Environment: Student Perceptions

I. Title - The Community College Classroom Environment: Student Perceptions

II. Author - Sandra Veltri, James H. Banning, Timothy Gray Davies

III. Author's Purpose for Writing - To identify specific classroom attributes that contribute to
or hinder learning

IV. What are the points made in the review of the literature? Classroom arrangement can affect student interaction. Poor visiblity can be caused by poor lighting ad distance from tech equipment. Poor visibility can hinder questionning. Low lights and warm temps can lead to lethargy. Distracting noises can drown out lecture and discussion.

Do they support the need for the study? Yes.

VI. Author's Methodology - inquiry, discussion, dream drawings

A. Who is being studied? Students at an an old (1935) community college which has been periodically updated.

B. Over what length of time? That information was not given, but I would guess 1 day.

C. What data is being collected? Opinions about learning facilities and features that hinder or enhance learning.

D. How is it being analyzed? This information was not given

E. Any other interesting or pertinent data - The participants included distance learners

who cited problems seeing the tech equipment, and obstructions to their views of the class.

VII. How the author collected information - Authors met with students who participated in inquiry and discussion and submitted drawings of the ideal classroom

VIII. What the author discovered or conclusions/implications - Furnishings should facilitate a non-restrictive environment where students and instructors can freely interact. Most students showed a circular arrangement in their dream drawings which facilitated visibility of the instructor, the students, and the visuals. Light, bright colors keep students awake. Adjustable light settings are important so that students can have bright light to see, but which can be dimmed for power point presentations.