Physical and Psychosocial Environments Associated with Networked Classrooms

This article reports a study of the learning environments in computer networked classrooms. The study is unique in that it involved an evaluation of both the physical and psychosocial classroom environments in these computerised settings through the use of a combination of questionnaires and ergonom...

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Main Authors: Zandvliet, David, Fraser, Barry
Format: Journal Article
Published: Kluwer Academic Publishers 2005
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/31807
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author Zandvliet, David
Fraser, Barry
author_facet Zandvliet, David
Fraser, Barry
author_sort Zandvliet, David
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This article reports a study of the learning environments in computer networked classrooms. The study is unique in that it involved an evaluation of both the physical and psychosocial classroom environments in these computerised settings through the use of a combination of questionnaires and ergonomic evaluations. The study involved administering a student questionnaire designed to assess aspects of the psychosocial learning environment in these settings, and relating these factors to students’ satisfaction and to important aspects of the physical learning environment. The sample consisted of 1404 students in 81 classes in Australia and Canada. A questionnaire assessing five aspects of psychosocial environment exhibited good factorial validity and internal consistency reliability. When satisfaction was used as a dependent variable, classroom psychosocial environment (especially autonomy/independence and task orientation) was significantly and directly associated with students’ satisfaction with their learning. In contrast, no direct associations were found between student satisfaction and measures of the physical classroom environment, such as the workspace and visual environments. However statistically significant associations emerged between physical and psychosocial learning environment variables in classrooms using new information technologies. These associations suggest a model of educational productivity for learning environments in technology-rich classrooms. Qualitative case studies provided more detailed information about selected classrooms.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-318072017-09-13T15:19:34Z Physical and Psychosocial Environments Associated with Networked Classrooms Zandvliet, David Fraser, Barry educational productivity satisfaction psychosocial environment physical environment ergonomics educational technology internet This article reports a study of the learning environments in computer networked classrooms. The study is unique in that it involved an evaluation of both the physical and psychosocial classroom environments in these computerised settings through the use of a combination of questionnaires and ergonomic evaluations. The study involved administering a student questionnaire designed to assess aspects of the psychosocial learning environment in these settings, and relating these factors to students’ satisfaction and to important aspects of the physical learning environment. The sample consisted of 1404 students in 81 classes in Australia and Canada. A questionnaire assessing five aspects of psychosocial environment exhibited good factorial validity and internal consistency reliability. When satisfaction was used as a dependent variable, classroom psychosocial environment (especially autonomy/independence and task orientation) was significantly and directly associated with students’ satisfaction with their learning. In contrast, no direct associations were found between student satisfaction and measures of the physical classroom environment, such as the workspace and visual environments. However statistically significant associations emerged between physical and psychosocial learning environment variables in classrooms using new information technologies. These associations suggest a model of educational productivity for learning environments in technology-rich classrooms. Qualitative case studies provided more detailed information about selected classrooms. 2005 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/31807 10.1007/s10984-005-7951-2 Kluwer Academic Publishers restricted
spellingShingle educational productivity
satisfaction
psychosocial environment
physical environment
ergonomics
educational technology
internet
Zandvliet, David
Fraser, Barry
Physical and Psychosocial Environments Associated with Networked Classrooms
title Physical and Psychosocial Environments Associated with Networked Classrooms
title_full Physical and Psychosocial Environments Associated with Networked Classrooms
title_fullStr Physical and Psychosocial Environments Associated with Networked Classrooms
title_full_unstemmed Physical and Psychosocial Environments Associated with Networked Classrooms
title_short Physical and Psychosocial Environments Associated with Networked Classrooms
title_sort physical and psychosocial environments associated with networked classrooms
topic educational productivity
satisfaction
psychosocial environment
physical environment
ergonomics
educational technology
internet
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/31807