Students’ attitudes towards classroom window views

Martina Zbašnik-Senegačnik, Samo Drobne and Živa Kristl and Ljudmila Koprivec

Summary:  When locating school buildings in an urban environment, many important parameters are taken into account, but among them there is no criterion for the quality of window views, which - according to the results of many studies - contribute significantly to children’s well-being, living comfort and learning performance. The purpose of this study was to find out students’ attitudes towards window views in the classroom and whether they recognize high and low quality elements in the different motifs of window views. A questionnaire was used to collect data. Pupil from the third triad of four primary schools from different Slovenian regions were included. The answers were analysed using descriptive and probabilistic statistical methods. The students answered the survey questions very consistently. Most of the surveyed students preferred the view of nature and rated the view of the predominantly urban environment very unfavourably. A large proportion of them believe that the presence of greenery in space has a positive effect on well-being and health. Most of the students surveyed prefer a window seat that allows an unobstructed view of the outside. Almost two thirds of the students also believe that green has a positive and calming effect.