Exploring Student Perspectives on a Learner-Centered School Environment

• In Event: Advances in Learning Environments Research

Abstract

In this study, we employed an ecological approach to explore the factors that shape how 19 elementary school students perceive their learning environment. We conducted a photovoice activity as well as post-activity interviews to collect data and subsequently applied grounded theory and spatial discourse analysis for interpretation. Our results suggest that students' perceptions of the learning environment are shaped by their interactions with its distinct features, as well as individual external factors. Furthermore, we discovered a potential discrepancy between the intended design features of the learning space and the actual pedagogical dynamics. Our findings emphasize the need for further exploration of how students and teachers interact with their learning environment and the underlying reasons for this.

Authors

• Bregje van Geffen, Arizona State University

• Steven J. Zuiker, Arizona State University