Glossary Term

Learning environment

The diverse physical locations, contexts, and cultures in which students learn such as outdoor environments, private homes, childcare centers, pre-schools, temporary structures, and schools. The term also encompasses the culture of a school or class- its presiding ethos and characteristics, including how individuals interact with and treat one another- as well as the ways in which teachers may organize an educational setting to facilitate learning, e.g. by conducting classes in relevant natural ecosystems, grouping desks in specific ways, decorating the walls with learning materials, or utilizing audio, visual, and digital technologies. School policies, governance structures, and other features may also be considered elements of a learning environment.