I found this quote on an educational Internet site: "Green schools not only make a big impact on the district’s budget, but also create green scholars as test scores rise for those surrounded by healthy environments."
Does this statement imply that test scores rise in green schools? I certainly hope they do, but how do we know this is true? Can anyone show a causal relationship between"green" schools and student achievement? (I am thinking about standardized test scores in "green" schools compared to standardized test scores in "non green" schools measured with appropriate statistical methods.)
"Green schools save greenbacks". I have not found any research that ties green schools to student achievement. The consenus I gather suggest the complexity of conducting a study examining the relationship is too great. Green schools are too few and the definition of a green school is too elusive (We typically think of LEED certifications as a definition). The review and assessment " Green Schools: Attributes for Health and Learning" conducted by the National Research Council of the National Academies (http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309102863)offers insight into the relationship in the executive summary, specifically findings 2a, 2b, and 2c.
ReplyDeleteThis comment (from schindler) should never be true in a research university setting: "The consenus (sic) I gather suggest the complexity of conducting a study examining the relationship is too great."
ReplyDeleteSo Ken Tanner says, "We, as researchers, need to devise ways to conduct sound research and not make assumptions that everything is OK just because the LEED certificate has been granted! My hope is that we start questioning things that come from people and organizations that profit from adopting their ideas. Without hard evidence the argument ranges on scale from very weak to dead.
There are still some people believing that windowless classrooms are good for students, since students can't see outside and therefore must watch the teacher all day." Finally, I am definitely in favor of “going green”, but we can’t attach achievement to green and claim that green influences achievement positively unless we can prove it!!
Note: It would be more professional and beneficial if bloggers on an academic site would identify themselves instead of operating as phantom bloggers.
I would be interested in reading any research on this topic. If causal relationship did exist, the concepts for improved learning would be greater. Can such a simple change make a significant difference? I like what Dr. Tanner said, "We, as researchers, need to devise ways to conduct sound research and not make assumptions that everything is OK just because the LEED certificate has been granted!" Going green is admirable, but will scores really increase?
ReplyDeleteThe next question I would pose would be a financial one. If there is a causal relationship between "green" schools and test scores, I would find that to be yet another thing that could create a chasm between higher and lower funded schools. How many schools have the ability in m & o to create a "green" school?
ReplyDeleteMistie Dakroub (TSU)
In the little research that shows a causal effect of students' achievements in schools of disrepair, I can imagine that it would in turn show "Green Schools" may have a positive effect on the achievement also. Just the impact on student health and increase in attendance would possibly justify an increase on student achievement with the building of "Green Schools". The initial cost of building this school may be higher, but the payoff for the district and community would be worth the cost.
ReplyDeleteB. Irick (TSU)
It would be interesting to see the correlation between green schools and non-green schools on student achievement. (F. Granados - Tarleton)
ReplyDeletePromising areas of research are in play that have great potential to improve human health and learning outcomes in school building envelopes. It seems everything material is under scrutiny from exposure to building materials and cleaning products to the role of light on learning as well as life-long effects on health in children, including its effects on regulating sleep and wakefulness in children.
ReplyDelete(C. Scott--Tarleton State University)
I would like to see research that proves this. If this is in fact true, this research should be presented to struggling schools. Those schools might want to think of ways to raise money to take the necessary steps toward becoming "green."
ReplyDelete