Beyond the Classroom Designing Healthy Learning Environments

Most workplaces, educational buildings, healthcare facilities, etc. are investing in creating an outdoor space for the occupants of their buildings. Why? As school districts and pediatricians recognize the risk factors associated with sitting in desks all day long, as well as those added on by lack of access to sunlight and fresh air, designers in the education space have investigated alternative learning spaces that allow students to get out of their desks and into the great outdoors. Meeting and learning outdoors creates a people/student first environment. Creating intentional spaces for collaboration and learning has been shown to improve mental, physical, and emotional health. In this course, we will discuss the importance of including outdoor learning environments in educational facilities, risks of excluding these types of spaces, and the relationship to physical health, mental wellbeing, and academic performance.