Environmental Factors that Influence Learning

Our ability to learn can be enhanced or stunted depending on the environment in which we develop.

Poverty and violence, for example, can have a negative impact on a student’s ability to learn, while supportive family and knowledgeable teachers can help students reach their full academic potential.

This post is meant to give you some pointers on how to foster your kids’ healthy mental growth by designing their home and school environments in particular ways. So, what do we need to know about our home and our school to be successful in both environments?

To what extent are the following parts important to us? Is there anything absolutely off-limits? Never stop reading!

Quite a few external elements can influence the learning process. Some of these are within the student’s control, while others are beyond it. This article will discuss some of these influences and offer advice on how students can adopt a greener way of life to improve their health while they are still in school.

A person can make positive changes in their environment that are good for themselves and their neighbours by doing things like reducing the amount of meat they eat, recycling plastics, installing solar panels on their rooftops, and buying locally grown produce from farmer’s markets.

The quality of the air one breathes, the level of noise pollution one is subjected to, and the amount of light one is exposed to all have an impact on a person’s ability to learn.

In the following paragraphs, I’d like to examine these external factors in greater depth.

Because of its influence on humans’ information-gathering, processing, and application processes, context is an indispensable part of education.

As a result, the context in which a person learns can have a considerable effect on the quality of that learning.

For instance, studies have shown that pre-schoolers who listen to specific types of music develop superior spatial reasoning abilities compared to their peers who don’t.

This is in contrast to kids who didn’t grow up hearing similar tunes.

This holds true not only in the real world, but also in virtual ones; for example, adults tend to do better on tasks when they are collaborating with other people as opposed to doing them alone.

In Dr Study, we want your child to succeed, and our tutoring programs have been proven to help students reach their full potential.

With over 30,000 happy students, you can trust that we know what we’re doing.

Environmental Factors that Influence Learning

Nature versus nurture? Which of these factors is more important in determining a child’s eventual level of success?

This debate has raged on for decades, but recent studies have convinced scientists that environmental factors, rather than genes, are more important in determining academic success.

This is OUTSTANDING NEWS for the teaching community, as it proves that each and every day, our efforts are not in vain.

If a teacher is exceptionally good, they can usually make up for the weaknesses of their less-than-stellar students. Ferguson (1998)

One of my mentors once told me that it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to be an effective teacher.

I agree that there is much more complexity involved.

There’s no denying the effect the environment has on a child’s maturing brain.

Many aspects of a school’s environment can affect students’ ability to learn and their overall success, so it’s crucial to identify those that matter most.

Relationships

In the first place, education is a social process. Teacher-student dynamics, introductory and advanced material, as well as the relevance of theoretical concepts to practical situations.

Students do better academically when they are in the company of a teacher who takes the time to get to know them and establishes rapport with them.

Similarly, students who have teachers who can help them make sense of the differences between classical and modern knowledge and show them how they can be used in the real world tend to do better in school.

Stress

A small amount of stress can be beneficial because it prompts the release of adrenaline to deal with the threat, which in turn causes our brain to function more efficiently.

Student performance suffers across the board when they are exposed to chronic stress, including in areas like intelligence, immunity, focus, and comprehension. Why? Due to an overactive amygdala, the young brain (around 3-20 years old) is particularly vulnerable to stress and has extreme reactions to it.

When students are under pressure, they tend to react one of two ways: by acting out or by tuning out.

Consider the following strategies to kerb such disruptive conduct and reduce anxiety in the classroom:

• Create predictable schedules for students to follow throughout the day
• Students’ ability to learn and apply new skills is enhanced by the use of visuals, project-based learning, discussion, and pre-during-post comprehension strategies.
• Establish trusting connections with your students and let them know you’re on their side.
• Students can learn how to achieve success in a course by providing them with rubrics, assignment samples, and opportunities for continuous feedback.
• It is important to give students time to reflect on their performance and to retake any significant tests or assignments they may have failed to show improvement on.

Sleep

College students should sleep between 9 and 13 hours nightly. Period. On the whole, they take 6 hours. Getting enough shut-eye improves your brain’s ability to retain and process information.

It’s beneficial for regenerating cells, processing sugar, strengthening nerves and the immune system, thinking clearly and learning quickly, and developing dexterity in fine motor skills.

Instill in your children the importance of healthy sleep habits, such as avoiding caffeine and sugar after noon, dimming the lights and turning off electronics a few hours before bedtime.

Exercise

At least two hours of vigourous physical activity daily is recommended for optimal brain development in children and adolescents. Active play can boost kids’ brainpower in many ways.

You can help your students see and feel how increased oxygenated blood flow helps them concentrate and learn more by incorporating energising brain breaks into your lessons.

Nutrition

Consuming nutritious foods is essential for peak physical performance.

However, inflammation caused by processed and sugary foods leads to decreased blood flow and slowed body functions, reducing concentration and memory.

Students should be encouraged to drink half their body weight in ounces of water per day in addition to eating lean proteins, fibre, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

True enough, what we eat makes us what we are.

Laughter

It doesn’t matter to the brain whether or not the laughter is genuine. In both cases, four “happy” chemicals-serotonin, oxytocin, dopamine, and endorphins-will be released from the brain.

Blood flow, attention, engagement, memory, T-cell production, and immune function are all boosted by these chemicals.

Stress, anxiety, blood pressure, and muscle tension can all benefit from these chemicals.

Make your students laugh by sharing humorous anecdotes and jokes throughout the day, and remember to laugh, laugh, and laugh some more yourself.

Millions of students around the world struggle with academics. Dr. Study provides a variety of online learning and tutoring programs to assist your child to get ahead.

Creating Environments to Support Young Children’s Development

It is widely accepted that early childhood is a formative period for shaping a child’s development and future happiness.

Many adult societal outcomes (such as physical and mental health, criminality, and educational attainment) have been shown to have their origins in early childhood experiences.

This is why it is so important to put resources into this period of a child’s life.

In addition, the local government has a major impact on the process of creating kid-friendly public spaces.

This article provides the most convincing evidence to date on how children’s physical environments affect their growth and development.

This has the potential to assist municipal governments in meeting their obligation to shape the form of their cities.

What Physical Environmental Factors Affect Early Childhood Development?

Evidence on the effects of early childhood environments on development ranges from high-quality meta-analyses and systematic reviews to low-quality single-study and case-study evidence.

Some of the physical environmental factors that affect a child’s growth and development in the first few years of life have been suggested by the current best available evidence.

According to global standards, this article focuses on infants, toddlers, and children up to the age of eight.

The Built Environment

An extensive review of Australian evidence suggests that environmental toxins (such as fine particles from traffic) negatively impact children’s neurological development. The effects of even mild exposure to environmental toxins on infant and child brain development are profound.

When children don’t have to worry as much about being hit by a car, they are free to explore their surroundings at will.

As a result, young children benefit from more chances to engage in play, spontaneously interact with others, and use physical activity as a means of transportation.

For the same reasons, it’s thought that having access to child-friendly public spaces (like health and social services, kindergartens, and schools) close to the child’s home is good for their development in the early years.

However, more study is needed to determine how the built environment influences children’s growth and development.

Nature and Open Public Spaces

Early childhood development, particularly in terms of physical and mental health, has been found to benefit from exposure to green spaces in several systematic reviews. Nature and public open spaces (like playgrounds, school grounds, club/pay facilities) can also aid in the growth and development of young children, so increasing their availability is important.

Outdoor settings and public parks are ideal places to engage in risky and creative forms of play, as well as to meet new people and get some exercise.

More privileged children often have backyards with benefits that are comparable to what less privileged backyards offer, so this may be of even greater significance for children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Climate and The Physical Environment

Extreme heat and warmer temperatures have been linked to negative effects on children’s growth and development.

And because they rely on their carers for basic necessities like moving to a warmer/cooler area, donning a coat, and consuming liquids, young children are especially vulnerable to weather extremes.

In light of the growing negative effects that climate change is having on people’s health, new research suggests that the impact of climate change and weather extremes on children’s development should not be overlooked.

Given that future climate change impacts are projected to be even more severe, it’s crucial to keep this in mind.

It has been shown, for example, that pedestrians can benefit from the shade provided by street tree canopies and that parks and other natural areas provide a cooler space during warmer weather.

It has also been shown that street trees can reduce temperatures for pedestrians.

What Can Municipalities Do to Support Early Childhood Development?

In their capacity as custodians of the public’s trust, local governments have the power to shape the built environment and set standards for how it is used by families with young children.

The most recent and relevant studies suggest that there are a variety of adjustments that municipal governments can make to better facilitate early childhood development.

• Foster children’s natural curiosity and curiosity about the world around them. This could be achieved by increasing the accessibility and availability of green, open spaces and by creating safe, walkable neighbourhoods with reduced exposure to vehicular traffic.
• Prevent young children’s exposure to harmful substances in the environment. This could include providing optimal temperature control in indoor environments frequently frequented by young children and reducing high traffic exposure near child-relevant destinations (child care centres, libraries, swimming pools).
• Families and kids should be included in neighbourhood planning. This isn’t always simple, but there are guides(link is external) that can help you figure it out.

When designing environments to foster children’s early learning and development, local governments may need to collaborate with other child-focused groups in the area.

Preschool and the Transition to School 

In all five of the developmental domains measured by the AEDC, preschool attendance was associated with reduced vulnerability.

Children who participate in preschool programmes may benefit from the stimulating and structured learning opportunities that help them develop academically, socially, and emotionally.

On the other hand, children who were cared for in daycare but not in a preschool programme, as well as those who were cared for informally by non-parents or who were cared for solely by their parents, showed higher rates of developmental vulnerability.

In addition, children living in the poorest areas were less likely to enrol in preschool than their counterparts.

Both privileged and underprivileged children benefited from preschool, but those from underprivileged backgrounds were more likely to be vulnerable than their peers who did not participate in preschool.

Children living in low-income areas who did not attend preschool were at greatest risk. Attending preschool has been shown to improve a child’s chances of reaching their full potential and making a smooth transition into elementary school.

Consequently, it is possible that early developmental vulnerabilities and inequities are exacerbated by the lower rates of preschool attendance among children from low-income families.

To learn more about how early childhood education and care affects children as they get ready for school, check out the research snapshot.

You want the best for your children and that includes giving them a strong foundation in maths, english and early childhood learning.

With Dr Study, you can be sure that your child is getting the best possible early childhood education that is tailored to each their needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The conditions in which we grow can either foster or hinder our capacity for learning. Students’ academic success can be hindered by adverse environmental factors such as poverty and violence, but they can benefit from the guidance of knowledgeable educators and loving family members.

This article’s purpose is to offer advice on how to ensure your children have the best possible conditions at home and at school for their intellectual development. Air and noise pollution, as well as the intensity and duration of daylight, are just a few environmental factors that have been shown to have an impact on students’ ability to learn.

Due to its potential to significantly impact learning, context plays an essential role in the educational process.

Researchers have found that pre-schoolers who are exposed to particular types of music show significant improvement in spatial reasoning skills compared to their non-listening peers.

Adults, in particular, benefit from working with others as opposed to working alone on projects.

Genetics are less of a factor than previously thought in determining academic achievement, according to recent studies.

It’s crucial to zero in on the most significant aspects of a school’s setting, such as the quality of relationships, the level of stress, and the nature of the expectations placed upon students.

Establishing trusting connections with students, using visuals, project-based learning, discussion, and pre-during-post comprehension strategies, and providing rubrics, assignment samples, and opportunities for continuous feedback have all been shown to reduce disruptive conduct and anxiety in the classroom.

It’s crucial to provide students with ample time for self-reflection and additional attempts at high-stakes tests and assignments on which they may have underperformed.

If you want your brain to grow and develop at its full potential, you should get between 9 and 13 hours of sleep each night and engage in at least two hours of vigorous physical activity each day.

While fueling your body with the nutrients it needs to perform at its best is essential, the inflammation caused by processed and sugary foods can impair your ability to focus and remember things.

All students, in addition to eating lean proteins, fibre, and fresh fruits and vegetables, should consume half their body weight in ounces of water daily.

The local government can have a significant impact on the development and future happiness of children by making public spaces more child-friendly.

Meta-analyses and systematic reviews provide the highest quality evidence on the effects of early environments on development, while single studies and case studies provide the lowest.

This article presents the most compelling evidence to date on the ways in which children’s physical environments affect their growth and development, and it may help local governments fulfil their responsibility to shape the form of their cities.

Exposure to green spaces, such as playgrounds, school grounds, and club/pay facilities, has been found to be beneficial for early childhood development, particularly in terms of physical and mental health.

Parks and other outdoor spaces should be made more accessible because they are great places for people of all ages to socialise, get some exercise, and engage in risky and imaginative play.

It is essential to bear in mind the evidence linking climate change and weather extremes to detrimental effects on children’s growth and development.

This data suggests that bilingual children enter regular schools with a slight developmental head start.

Children from low-income families were more likely to be vulnerable than their more affluent peers who did not attend preschool, despite the fact that preschool participation was associated with reduced vulnerability across all five developmental domains measured by the AEDC.

A child’s developmental vulnerabilities and inequities may be exacerbated by the lower rates of preschool attendance among children from low-income families, despite the fact that research shows that preschool attendance increases a child’s chances of reaching their full potential and making a smooth transition into elementary school.

Reviewing the research synopsis, one can gain a better understanding of the effects of ECEC on young children.

The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of socioeconomic disadvantage on the relationship between AHDN and academic trajectories, as well as the academic trajectories of elementary school students with known and suspected health and developmental conditions.

Content Summary

• This post is meant to give you some pointers on how to foster your kids’ healthy mental growth by designing their home and school environments in particular ways.
• This article will discuss some of these influences and offer advice on how students can adopt a greener way of life to improve their health while they are still in school.
• Many aspects of a school’s environment can affect students’ ability to learn and their overall success, so it’s crucial to identify those that matter most.
• Instil in your children the importance of healthy sleep habits, such as avoiding caffeine and sugar after noon, dimming the lights and turning off electronics a few hours before bedtime.
• This article provides the most convincing evidence to date on how children’s physical environments affect their growth and development.
• Some of the physical environmental factors that affect a child’s growth and development in the first few years of life have been suggested by the current best available evidence.
• The effects of even mild exposure to environmental toxins on infant and child brain development are profound.
• However, more study is needed to determine how the built environment influences children’s growth and development.
• In light of the growing negative effects that climate change is having on people’s health, new research suggests that the impact of climate change and weather extremes on children’s development should not be overlooked.
• Important aspects of early childhood development, such as creativity, play, and a sense of ownership, can be fostered by involving children and families in urban planning.
• Consequently, it is possible that early developmental vulnerabilities and inequities are exacerbated by the lower rates of preschool attendance among children from low-income families.
• The purpose of this study was to describe the academic trajectories of elementary school students with known and suspected health and developmental conditions, as well as to examine the effect of socioeconomic disadvantage on the connection between AHDN and academic trajectories.
• Children with AHDN were not doomed to fail in school; in fact, a few of them were on the most successful learning paths.
• Children who are having difficulty making progress in school are more likely to benefit from early intervention if their trajectories are any indication.
• A larger portion of available resources should be earmarked for AHDN children who are also from low-income families.

Author

Dr. Olga Abeysekera

Dr Olga Abeysekera, founder of Dr Study Tutoring and the Dr Progress Group Pty Ltd, is passionate about transforming education through innovative and personalised tutoring. With a PhD in Management from Monash University and a background in both academic research and private tutoring, she has a deep commitment to helping students excel.
Her holistic approach at Dr Study Tutoring emphasises not only academic success but also the development of lifelong skills, ensuring that each student receives the best education and support possible. Dr Olga’s dedication to continuous improvement drives her mission to inspire a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.

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