in the classroom
The learning environment
The benefits of bringing nature into schools for students and teachers .
Dianne Vella-Brodrick interviewed by Emilie Lauer
Students are often subject to stress that can prevent them from staying focused in class and impact on their learning .
However , by spending time in nature , students can restore their mind , increase their mood , boost their social skills and improve their general wellbeing , says University of Melbourne Professor Dianne Vella-Brodrick .
“ It ’ s pretty easy to incorporate nature in school settings in term of design – natural light , green walls , herb gardens – simply put some plants around the schools ,” said Vella-Brodrick .
In addition , the benefits of nature are the same for students and teachers .
“ Schools are really well placed to be able to expose kids to nature and there is an opportunity to educate young people about the importance and benefits of nature .”
Vella-Brodrick joined Education Review to discuss the benefits of bringing nature into the classroom and how it can boost students ’ learning abilities .
ER : How important is it to be in nature ? DVB : Being in nature is very important because of today ’ s really hectic lifestyle , where we ’ re very much immersed in a built environment . Our children have grown up mostly in an urban environment . They ’ re digital natives . They ’ re consumed by social media , and technology , and they basically have cognitive overload .
Nature is meant to be soothing and calming . It ’ s our natural state . We have this innate need to be out and to connect with natural environments and living things . And that indeed is what biophilia refers to : this attraction to being out in nature , because it feels so good to be in nature .
How does being in nature improve learning abilities ? Being in nature has the ability to restore this cognitive overload . It releases a whole range of really important feel-good chemicals , like endorphins and serotonin , that help to increase positive moods and your general level of wellbeing .
It even has been found to help make individuals more cooperative , to behave in more prosocial , kind , and generous ways , and to think about the environment and how their attitudes towards the environment and their behaviours might change .
It ’ s a great way of thinking more broadly about the world and being a bit less selfish . And when it has capacity to make you feel more calm and less stressed , then you can think more rationally . So , it gives you the ability to recharge , if you like , especially psychologically recharge .
Often when you ’ re in a built-up urban environment , it ’ s not good for decision making , for being able to think quickly , for being able to remember things . These are all important functions for learning . And so being out in nature helps to declutter the brain .
You ’ ve just conducted research on how nature can improve kids ’ learning abilities . What are some of your findings ? We found experimental studies with control groups that were very well designed , that were looking at how nature interventions might be helpful in school settings to help young people improve their learning , and more specifically their cognitive function . We found that some of the studies had a range of different approaches to nature activities . They could be things like gardening , or green walls , learning in outdoor green spaces , playing in green playgrounds , going on nature walks , and even things like having plants in classrooms , or watching a natural environment from a classroom window .
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