Abstract / Description of output
The present study adopted a quasi-experimental mixed method approach to investigate the influence of an improved school ground on children’s academic performance. In total, 123 children from two (intervention and control) primary schools in Bangladesh participated. In the intervention school, a barren school ground was redesigned with several behaviour settings (e.g., gardens and amphitheatre) for teaching and learning. Treatment group children (n=29) received math and science classes outdoors, while a comparison group (n=32) received usual indoor classes. A control school with no changes to the outdoor environment was included (n=62). The redesigned school ground was associated with higher levels of academic attainment. Furthermore, all intervention schoolchildren perceived more opportunities to explore in the redesigned school ground. Qualitative insights suggest the diverse settings provided more opportunities to explore, experiment and work collaboratively. These results highlight the potential for school ground design to contribute to improvement of children’s academic attainment in developing countries
Original language | English |
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Article number | 001391651986086 |
Pages (from-to) | 1079-1104 |
Journal | Environment & Behavior |
Volume | 52 |
Issue number | 10 |
Early online date | 11 Jul 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 11 Jul 2019 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- outdoor learning
- primary school ground
- quasi-experiment
- behavior settings
- academic attainment
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Dive into the research topics of 'Can an outdoor learning environment improve children’s academic attainment? A quasi-experimental mixed methods study in Bangladesh'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Profiles
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Simon Bell
- Edinburgh College of Art - Personal Chair of Landscape and Wellbeing
- Global Environment and Society Academy
- OPENspace
- Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
Person: Academic: Research Active
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Sarah McGeown
- Moray House School of Education and Sport - Personal Chair of Literacy (Psychology & Education)
- Institute for Education, Community & Society
Person: Academic: Research Active