CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Intelligence is not the only determinant of academic performance of a student (Shamaki, 2015). The academic performance of a student is most often associated with a lot of components of learning environment. According to Bosque (2013), “teaching and learning environment ought to implement six (6) functions: inform, communicate, collaborate, produce, scaffold and manage. He further added that the learning environment refers to the whole range of components and activities within which learning happensâ€. Hence, learning environment takes into account several variables that have direct and indirect effect on students’ performance.
Denga (2012) maintained that each environment plays a part in shaping the development of the child academically and otherwise. Accordingly, a child gets from his environment all he needed to enable him develop best. Students of urban surrounding have more opportunities to radios, educative film shows, electricity, televisions, well equipped laboratories and libraries etc that help or contribute in moulding their approaches when compared to rural location students regarding academic achievement. Effiong (2011) on his part opined that any two individuals with approximately equal intelligence but living in two separate and distinct environments may end up attaining unequal intellectual heights.
Past and present research in education has long-established that academic performance of all categories of students have been a point of concern to many educators (Ashby, Sadera, & McNary, 2011).
Indeed, learning environment plays a major role in shaping the quality of academic achievement. It seems there is perceptional consistency among scholars about learning environment and the student’s cognitive and effective outcome (Lizzio, et al, 2012). It was observed that the learning is optimal when body, soul and spirit are in accord; otherwise learning will be ineffective. Hence, clean, quiet and comfortable environment are important components of learning environment. Furthermore, creating an ideal learning environment must be a top priority. Being comfortable should be a combination of several factors which include; temperature, lighting, and noise control (Murugan & Rajoo, 2013).
Ryan (2013) stated that a large amount of a child’s time is spent sitting in a school classroom. This place is where they will learn the various skills deemed necessary and proper for them to achieve success in the global society. The classroom is where they will gain an understanding of their place in the world and the gifts that they have to offer it. It is where the student develops what they want their future to look like, as well as knowledge of the skills needed to reach that goal. With the classroom being such an important place in the growth of a child it is important to understand the ways in which to affect this environment in order to receive maximum effectiveness in instruction. If schools really do play a large role in teaching the next generation how to be successful members of society then every precaution should be taken to make sure that the learning environment is one that helps students thrive. If not approached correctly, a classroom can be set up in a way that stifles creativity or does not promote a positive learning environment. There are many things that can affect this environment. There are physical elements such as wall art, arrangement of desks, or resources. Also, there are intangible elements such as the energy of the classroom, the rules, or the sounds within the room. Each of these can impact a student’s focus and performance in the class. They can also affect a teacher’s attitude in the class.
Included in each of these elements of the classroom is the emotional environment. The way in which a teacher organizes their class, or how they control it, will yield positive or negative consequences for their students. If a teacher is unmotivated or negative there will be a direct impact on the students within the classroom. Similarly, if a teacher is motivated and positive they will likely have a beneficial impact on their students as well. It is important for a teacher to understand this cause and effect in order to understand how to organize their classroom to create a better learning environment.
Byoung-suk, (2012) stated that children need safe, healthy and stimulating environment in which to grow and learn. During the school year, children can spend 6 to 8 hours at the school where the environment plays a significant/critical role in child development. More of the time is spent in the school yard or travelling to and from school. This condition requires careful planning and designing to optimize experiences that support education, health and stewardship. Therefore, the school environment is of paramount importance in shaping and reshaping intellectual ability. However, supportive and favourable school environment enriched with enough learning facilities, and favourable climate makes students more comfortable, more concentrated on their academic activities that resulted in high academic performance. The forces of the environment begin to influence growth and development of the individual right from the womb of his mother. The educational process of development occurs in physical, social, cultural and psychological environment. A proper and adequate environment is very much necessary for a fruitful learning of the child. The favourable school environment provides the necessary stimulus for learning experiences. The children spend most of their time in school, and this school environment is exerting influence on performance through curricular, teaching technique and relationship (Arul Lawrence 2012).
Mudassir & Norsuhaily (2015) remarked in a document prepared by policy studies association (PSA) reviewed in 2014 in Washington D.C. (USA) that students’ academic performance is more heavily influenced by the quality of the environment than by students’ race, class, prior academic record or school a student attended. This effect is particularly strong among students from low-income families and African-American students.
