We're fighting a case to re-locate our open learning centre into the basement but need more than our instinct that it will not be popular or conducive to learning. Thanks.
Peter Dunn
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We're fighting a case to re-locate our open learning centre into the basement but need more than our instinct that it will not be popular or conducive to learning. Thanks.
Peter Dunn
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6 Responses
We always insist on daylight!
As a commercial training provider we do not hire any rooms without natural light. We have apprisals for all our courses and attendees will always make a point of complaining if a room has no daylight. Not conclusive but it is our standard policy!
Advice
I would suggest that you look at the http://www.enviro-learn.com site. Envirolearn is the system that underpins the new design manual for learndirect: and the manual has a section on lighting.
Make the best of it!
Well, we don’t always get a choice about where we get a training room… Make the most of it by having cheerful colours, the right lighting, and good colourful posters/pictures etc. You could always resort to pretending there is a window there with a blind covering it! I always feel that fresh air is more important…
Light
I did research into how colour effects communication and learning and found some very interesting information about how colours and light affect learning. The conclusion is basically that we should make the most of natural light where ever possible so that it does not interfere with our body clock and therefore learning. We are stimulated by natural light.
Conducive Learning Environments
I can’t provide you with any data, as I am no longer with the company in question, but when we expanded the network of OLCs from 120 to 250-odd, we tried, as far as possible, to insist on natural light, as examination of the usage data from the existing underperforming centres highlighted that the location was a contributory factor. We therefore ensured that new centres were only sanctioned after an examination of the proposed room by a member of the training team and steps taken to rectify any environmental factors. Basement learning centres were never successful, I’m afraid. You need natural light and ways then to keep out direct sunlight and keep the room cool.
In the Dark Learning
Just to say we did the opposite. We had our LRC in a basement and have recently moved it to well-lit environment that is further away for most people. It is now getting significantly higher numbers of people.