What is a High Performance Learning Environment?

…educationally superior, instantly available, environmentally friendly, beautiful, & highly efficient.

A High Performance Learning Environment, when used in the context of the CASE 21 project, is a classroom environment which incorporates numerous strategies into the physical environment for purposes of enhancing teaching and learning. Some of these strategies are related to Sustainable Design (i.e. day-lighting, light shelves, etc.), some are related to advanced technology integration (i.e. interactive white boards, video projection, wireless access, etc.), and still others are related to appropriate incorporation and location of key support elements like power, data, instructional surfaces, etc.

For the first time in history, we now have documented research which reveals the impact of the physical classroom environment on the performance of the students and teachers in that environment. We have conclusive evidence that the controlled and detailed manipulation of lighting, acoustics, sound, video, technology, ventilation, heating, cooling, furniture and numerous other factors DO have a definitive influence on the performance of the students and the overall satisfaction and delivery of the facilitators (Teachers) within that environment. A heightened understanding of these factors and their thoughtful integration into the design of the classroom environment produces a High Performance Learning Environment… an environment where students outperform their peers as facilitators explore more material at a faster rate than those in a traditional classroom environment. It’s a real phenomenon that architects and educators have speculated about for many years. However, only recently has documented evidence become available through the advanced research programs of organizations across the world.

A comprehensive knowledge of all of this evidence and its successful integration into a single classroom environment produces what CASE 21 defines as a High Performance Learning Environment.