Learning Sciences Research
classroom will be conducive for focus
and learning. For example, exposure to
sunlight and views of nature from the
classroom have been shown to boost
student achievement, well-being, and
behavior.
Consider the Physical Space
Incorporating flexible furniture
— lightweight or on wheels — can
support flexible instructional goals and
gives students choice in where they
work to em-
power them
to take
responsibil-
ity for their
learning.
The best ar-
rangement
of furniture
depends on
the task at
hand: More
interac-
tive tasks
benefit
more from
interactive
arrangements (semicircle and clusters),
and independent tasks from indepen-
dent arrangements (rows).
TEACHER STRATEGIES:
• Try to keep the temperature
between 68- and 74-degrees Fahren-
heit so students are comfortable and
able to focus. No thermostat? Have
blankets and small fans for students
to use.
• If your classroom has less natural
light than you’d like, replacing lighting
with blue-enriched or full-spectrum
bulbs may improve students’ cognitive
performance.
• No windows with views of na-
ture? Take your class for walks outside
and have plants in the classroom to
get some of the benefits of nature.
Discover the rest of the 10
LEARNING SCIENCES INSIGHTS
from the Institute for Applied Neuro-
science and Digital Promise
To learn more about the learn-
ing sciences, check out the follow-
ing resources:
• The Science of Learning - Deans
for Impact
• Six Strategies for Effective Learn-
ing - Learning Scientists
• The Brain Basis for Integrated
Social, Emotional, and Academic
evelopment - Aspen Institute
MELINA UNCAPHER is
Assistant Professor at UCSF
and CEO & Co-founder
at Institute for Applied
Neuroscience
• Unpacking Collaboration - CIRCL
Educators
• Culturally Responsive Teaching
Blog - Hammond
• e-Learning and the Science of
Instruction - Clark and Mayer
• The ABCs of How We Learn -
Schwartz
• Visible Learning- Hattie and Yates
• Developing Minds in the Digital Age
- Kuhl et al.
BABE LIBERMAN is the
Project Director, Research
Communications at Digital
Promise.
DR. JUDI FUSCO is a
Senior Research Scientist,
focusing on STEM Teach-
ing and Learning, at Digital
Promise.
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