RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CLASSROOM LAYOUT AND STUDENTS'

ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT IN PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN

GOMBE STATE
1
YUSUF, H. A. & 2JAHUN, I. L.
1
Department of Educational Management
Faculty of Education, University of Ilorin, Ilorin
2
Department of Educational Foundations
Faculty of Education, Federal University, Kashere
[email protected], [email protected]

Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between classroom layout and student
engagement in secondary schools within Gombe metropolis, Gombe State. The study
framework contained four independent variables, namely: classroom lighting,
interior designs, flexible furniture and ventilation. The dependent variable of this
study was Students Academic Engagement. Descriptive research design of the survey
method was used in this study. The population consisted of all the SSI, SSII and SSIII
students of private senior secondary schools within Gombe metropolis, Gombe
State, 200 students were selected as samples for the study using random sampling
techniques. Two hundred copies of questionnaires were distributed, and only 192
copies of the questionnaire were returned, giving the study a response rate of 96%.
The obtained data was analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation
(PPMC) statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of this study showed that
lighting had no significant correlation with the students' academic engagement (r = -
0.02), interior designs had a weak correlation with the students' academic
engagement (r = 0.109), flexible furniture had a strong correlation with the students'
academic engagement (r = 0.430) and ventilation had a very strong positive
correlation with the students' academic engagement (r = 1.0). This study concludes
that, good classroom layout does not only support learning needs of students for
proper academic engagements but also assist teachers to effectively manage their
class activities, cater for student differences, and in turn help in establishing a highly
suitable condition for learning. It was recommended that since air movement
improves the comfort of students in the classroom, ventilation should be of utmost
importance to school administrators and teachers as it affects the learners'
engagement in the class; hence, important measures such as opening windows fully
when students are engaged in class activities, using air diffuser or carbon dioxide
detectors as proxy for classes with high occupancy rates should be put in place for
effective ventilation in the classrooms.

Keywords: Classroom Layout, Lighting, Interior Design, Flexible Furniture,

Ventilation and Student Engagement.

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Introduction
Secondary education is one of the levels of education received after the
primary education and before the tertiary level (Federal Government of Nigeria,
2013). The underlying principle here is that, secondary schools should prepare the
individuals for useful living within the society and for higher education. The
expectations and objectives of secondary education are normally accomplished in
the classroom using a well-planned curriculum through effective classroom
management skills. Over the years, noteworthy studies (Enwezor, 2021; Gietz,
McIntosh, 2014; Schunk & Meece, 2012) have been completed in the field of
education that shows how school environment significantly relate and affect
retention, attention, motivation, learning and academic achievement of students in
school. No doubt, as a good amount of a child's time is spent sitting in the classroom
where necessary skills, knowledge, experiences needed to become a useful member
of the society are being imparted; the anticipated objectives of education is
accomplished using a well-planned curriculum through effective classroom
management. The classroom is the power-house in which the success or failure of
instructional delivery is determined. It is a learning environment where all the factors
like lighting, colour, sound, space, furniture, among others necessary for conducive
learning are put in place (Wigwe, 2013). While a recent study by the University of
Salford discovered that classroom design can positively or negatively influence
learning by 25%, many education stakeholders have been convinced that a good
classroom layout should strike a balance between teaching method and learning
outcomes that takes place in the classroom to create a learning environment that
facilitates fulfilling experience.
With the classroom being such an important place in the growth of a child in
school, it is important to understand the ways in which this environment can
influence teaching and learning process in order to receive maximum effectiveness
of 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.
Additionally, the academic engagements of students should be in line with the set
objectives of the subject matter as teaching and learning takes place in the classroom
to enhance students' performance. In recent time, research studies have investigated
the relationship between academic engagement, student behaviour, and the
classroom environment. The study of Earp (2009) posited that, classroom layout
should reflect teacher educational philosophy that will facilitate group learning such
that, desks are arranged to allow students to easily interact with each other and
cooperatively complete group tasks. Similarly, Umar (2015) found that school
environment as portrayed in the design, desk arrangement and resource availability
in the classroom are associated with the performance of learners in English
Language. However, Michael (2015) submitted that classroom layout can positively
or negatively impact on students experiences as artificial lighting and that of the

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window can produce glare that affects the student experiences in the class. In the
same vein, students may at times be positioned in such a way that they are unable to
see charts or blackboard that a teacher is using.
Classroom layout for the 21st century learners should be prioritized to
accommodate the emerging and expanding population and technology that requires
modern and special facilities. The way teachers arrange technology in the classroom
like other parts of classroom layout, related to their teaching philosophy, hence, the
design of classroom need to take into account the types of computers chosen
depending on how the class is designed. For instance, if a teacher is designing a room
to emphasize group work, screens need to be selected that are large enough to give all
members of the group an adequate view of the work being done. Also, teachers who
want to emphasize a more traditional classroom layout may instead opt to use a
smaller screen that is obscured in a part of the room to better emphasize the
traditional lecture format. For instance, a study conducted to investigate the layout
of technology integrated classrooms revealed that, teachers used vastly different
approaches to using technology, a single computer assigned to each group to so that
students would be able to use it collaboratively rather than each student working
independently.
Meanwhile, sustaining such facilities needs experts who focus on the
attainment of learning objectives and exhibits good social behaviour in achieving
stated objectives. These objectives can be achieved if teacher creates an environment
that encourages cooperative learning, care for each other, and responsive to the use of
materials that assist in generating new knowledge and skills. Attaining these aspects
is a reflection of good social engagement behaviour between students and teachers in
school. In the years since the submission of Montello (1988) found a significant
relationship between high participation of students, feelings of belonging and good
classroom environment; classroom environment has become an important factor in
students' learning experience in the school. Given that students spend most of their
school time assigned to a seat for the entire day, making classroom environment and
layout a vital part of their learning experiences is necessary.
Previous studies investigated the influence of classroom designs on students'
learning and open learning spaces, flexible seating and writing surfaces (Barber,
2006; Graetz & Goliber, 2002; Hunley and Schaller, 2006). While looking at the
components of classroom environment, some researchers (Janowska & Atlay, 2007;
Sleegers, Molenaar, Galetzka & van der Zanden, 2012; Lombardi and Wall, 2006;
Sanders, 2013; Wannarka and Ruhl, 2008; Fernandes et. al, 2011; Rogers, 2020)
focused on aspects like seating position, classroom design, aesthetics density,
privacy, noise, windows, ventilation and classroom ecology. Rogers (2020) in a
study that focused on how seating layout affects overall assessment and performance
of fourth grade students in an elementary school. The study described ways in which
desks can be arranged in the classroom to influence students' participation using
layouts of small groups, horseshoe, and pairs. When students were asked directly
during interview what the best layout was, the horseshoe was the most chosen

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formation of all the three layouts.
This study focused on the interactions among variables in a social system
which in this context is the school, hence systems theory is considered suitable as it
supports the study. The system theory is relevant to this study as it deals with the
relationship between or among inputs to be transformed into outputs. A system is
considered as a set of interrelated parts that operates as a whole to achieve a common
goals (Peretemode, 1999). A system approach to educational institutions attempts to
view the school as a unified, purposeful organization or as a system composed of
interrelated parts. Educational institutions are systems and sub-systems in which the
components among others include human resources, material resources, financial
resources, physical facilities among others. A social system as described by Parson
(1951) is the plurality of individual actors interacting with each other in a situation,
which has at least a physical or environmental aspect. The application of social
systems theory to school administration was delineated by Gerzels and Guba (1957).
A social system could be identified with the characteristics like a group of people; in
a purposive interaction; which are interdependent; with pattern formed into
institutions in a geographical location. This implies that, school as a social system
consists of inputs, process, outputs, feedback and environment. Hence, for teaching
and learning to be effective, all variables involved must interact either partly or as a
whole for the goals of education to be actualized. Thus, this study examined the
relationship between the sub-sets of classroom layout such as lightning, ventilation,
interior design and flexibility of furniture as it relates to students' academic
engagement in the classroom.
Similarly, Barkley's (2010) model of students' engagement also provides a
theoretical base for this research study. Students' engagement in classroom as
described by Barkley is a process whereby students experience a continuum and
synergistic interaction between motivation and active learning (Barkley, 2010). The
classroom environment should create synergy between active learning and
motivation thereby students having a sense of community, helps students work at
their optimal level of challenge and help students learn holistically. On this note,
attention should be paid to how the classroom design and conditions promote
students' academic engagements.
The concept of students' engagement is predicated on the belief that learning
improves when students are inquisitive, interested, or inspired; thus, student
engagement is the degree of attention, curiosity, interest, optimism and passion that
allows students show when they are learning or being taught. This extends to the
motivation they have to learn and progress in their education. Contextual factors
such as family, peer group, school environment is among the main factors
contributing to the academic engagement of students in school (Sahil, 2011; Hamid,
Othman, Ahmad & Ismail, 2011; Audas & Willms, 2001). Specifically, classroom
physical environment plays a vital role in operation and functioning of teaching and
learning as they determine the excellent performance of a school. It has been
regarded by Basit (2005) as one of the stimulating factors that play a fundamental

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role in improving academic engagement in the school system.
When it comes to classroom participation, there are multiple configurations
that teacher may want to experiment with that will make them engage with one
another and also have equal access to the teacher. With appropriate classroom layout,
concentration can be increased, behaviour can be improved, and teachers can support
learning outcomes more effectively. Although, student engagement focuses on
measurable aspects such as behavioural and disciplinary actions, the extent of
student engagement is indicated by students' participation in their classes, their
enthusiasm in learning and the quality of their completed class assignments (Azman,
Ali, Tamuri & Jelas, 2005; Lewis, 2008, Trowler, 2010). Classroom environment
should encourage teachers to be able to use consistent cues that foster intellectual,
emotional, behavioural, physical, social and cultural engagement of learners that
will help them stay on task and remain engaged during a class. By this variation in
classroom routine, teachers can reduce monotony and potential disengagement that
may arise when learners are seated, doing similar tasks for extended period of time.
Globally, determining a suitable classroom layout usually pose a challenge for
teachers. More specifically, the arrangement of desk leaves them to decide which
arrangement will benefit specific learning circumstances and work best for learners
Rogers (2020). Secondary schools in Nigeria which is immediate institutions in the
schooling process do not enjoy the expected quality of classroom layout. The public
secondary schools do not have classroom arranged in the way that is attractive,
conducive and suitable for teaching and learning while most private secondary
schools attempt to apply the concept of classroom layout considering its influence on
academic engagements of students. On this note, significance of classroom layout on
academic engagement has not been given the necessary attention that it deserves in
public and private secondary schools in Nigeria and has therefore overwhelmed
school teachers and administrators. It is against this background that this study
sought to investigate the relationship between classroom layout and student
engagement in secondary schools in Gombe State, Nigeria.

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the classroom layout
on students' academic engagement with focus on classroom lighting, interior
designs, flexible furniture and ventilation. Specifically, this study examined if
1. there is a significant relationship between classroom lighting and academic
engagements of secondary school students in Gombe State.
2. there is a significant relationship between interior designs and academic
engagement of secondary school students in Gombe State.
3. there is a significant relationship between flexible furniture and academic
engagements of secondary school students in Gombe State.
4. there is a significant relationship between ventilation and academic engagement
of secondary school students in Gombe State.

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Methodology
The research design adopted for this study was the descriptive survey. The design
enabled the researchers to seek the opinion of a population from representative
sample upon which conclusion, inference and generalizations were made on a
contemporary phenomenon. The population of the study consisted of all the private
school students within Gombe metropolis, Gombe state. Four secondary schools
were selected using the stratified random sampling technique. In each school, fifty
(50) students selected by simple random sampling technique., making a total of two
hundred students selected as sample from the four (4) secondary schools. The
participants comprise of the three levels of Senior Secondary School Students in
Gombe State. Data was collected using two instruments with sections entitled:
Classroom Layout Questionnaire (CLQ) and Students Academic Engagement
Questionnaire (SAEQ) designed by the researchers. Section A consist of
demographic variables to elicit information such as age, class, gender of the
participants while section B had 20 question items related to influence of classroom
layout on students' academic engagement. A four (4) Likert-point scale ranging from
strongly agree (1), agree (2), disagree (3) and strongly disagree (4) was used. In
establishing the validity of the instruments, the questionnaires were subjected to the
perusal of research experts in educational foundations from Federal University
Kashere and University of Ilorin. The comments and modifications made by these
experts were considered and incorporated in the final selection of items on the
questionnaires. In furtherance, Cronbach Alpha computerized reliability analysis
scale (coefficient Alpha) was used to determine the reliability of the instrument. A
reliability score with the coefficient value of 0.782 was obtained after administering
the questionnaires on 20 set of students who were not part of the sampled participants
for the study. Thus, the procedures adjudged the instrument reliable. Approval of
the school authority was sought and given before distributing the research
questionnaires to the students and data obtained were analysed using descriptive
statistics and correlation analysis in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences
(SPSS).

Results

Answering of Research Questions

To the research questions, Pearson correlation was used to determine if there was a
statistically significant relationship between the variables. (See Table 2 below).
Pearson Correlation analysis in this study indicated the significance, direction, and
strength of the bivariate relationship between the variables (Campbell & Machin,
1999).

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Table 2: Relationship Between Classroom Layout and Students Academic
Engagement of the Respondents
In te rio r V en tilatio n
L igh t D esign F u rn itu re
E n ga g em en tP earso n
C o rrelatio n
S ig. (2-tailed ) 0 .0 2 .1 0 9 .4 3 0 1 .0 0
N 192 192 192 192
* * . C o rrelatio n is sign ific an t at th e 0 .0 1 lev
-ta iled
el (2).

Research Purpose One: The relationship between classroom lighting and academic
engagements of secondary school students in Gombe State.
The result showed light had no significant correlation with the students' academic
engagement (r = 0.02) (See Table 2 above). That means that presence of good lighting
in the class does not lead to students' academic engagement.

Research Purpose Two: The relationship between interior designs and students'
academic engagement of secondary school students in Gombe State.
The result showed that interior designs had a weak correlation with the students'
academic engagement (r = 0.109) (See Table 2 above). That means that presence of
interior design in the class leads to students' academic engagement.

Research Purpose Three: The relationship between flexible furniture and

academic engagements of secondary school students in Gombe State.
The result showed that flexible furniture had a strong negative correlation with the
students' academic engagement (r = 0.430) (See Table 2 above). That means that
presence of flexible furniture in the class lead to students' academic engagement.

Research Purpose Four: The relationship between class ventilation and academic
engagement of secondary school students in Gombe State.
The result showed that ventilation had a very strong positive correlation with the
students' academic engagement (r = 1.0) (See Table 2 above). That means that
presence of ventilation in the class lead to students' academic engagement.

Discussion of Findings
There is a significant relationship between classroom lighting and academic
engagements of secondary school students in Gombe State.
The findings of the study revealed that lighting had no significant correlation with the
students' academic engagement and presence of good lighting in the class does not
lead to students' academic engagement. Although research study has shown that
daylight can impact learners' mood, performance and well-being in schools, artificial

185
lighting may generate glare that can contribute to eye strain, visual fatigue and
sometimes headache. Michael (2015) submits that classroom layout can positively
or negatively impact on students' experiences as artificial lighting and that of the
window can produce glare that affects the students' experiences in the class. Also,
research studies (Morrow & Kanakri, 2018; Vietch & McColl, 2001) found that
functioning fluorescent can be a source of flicker and have a general feeling of
discomfort, illness, eye strain and reduced speed of visual search and performance in
students. In this regard, the artificial illumination in the classroom undoubtedly
influences the perception of comfort or discomfort of the students in their
engagements.
There is a significant relationship between interior designs and students'
academic engagement of secondary school students in Gombe State
Although, the result show that interior designs had a weak correlation with the
students' academic engagement, the presence of interior design in the class leads to
students' academic engagement. Rands (2017) posit that interior design of classroom
plays an important role in the way students learn and perform their activities in the
classroom, as a well-designed learning space allows students to learn more and
anticipate for activities that will happen for the day.
There is a significant relationship between flexible furniture and academic
engagements of secondary school students in Gombe State
The result showed that flexible furniture had a strong correlation with the students'
academic engagement and presence of flexible furniture in the class lead to students'
academic engagement. Rogers (2020) states that seating layout affects overall
assessment and performance of fourth grade students in an elementary school. The
type of furniture used in the classroom determines the level of comfort, posture and
concentration of learners. Classroom of today are not well equipped to support
students' engagement in terms of flexibility. In many classes, students sit in a
traditional uncomfortable desks and chairs that were never moved, this may prevent
teachers from configuring their classes to a smaller group or other formation to suit
their lessons. Utilizing the right type of furniture such as flexible seating will help
students to lean, stand or move with ease and in turn increases oxygen flow to their
brain and core strengths. This will support the students to be proactive learners and
keep their mind more alert and focused while in the classroom.
There is a significant relationship between class ventilation and academic
engagement of secondary school students in Gombe State. The result showed that
ventilation had a very strong positive correlation with the students' academic
engagement and presence of ventilation in the class lead to students' academic
engagement. Research evidence shows that inadequate ventilation can have a
negative consequence on student engagement and impact learning which in turn may
cause an increase in learners' absenteeism in the classroom (Mendell et al, 2013).
Therefore, air movement that will improve the comfort and well-being of the learners
in classroom should be of utmost importance to the teacher. School administrators
should also ensure that the existing building and classrooms in particular are suitable
to provide learners with healthy air for breathing and to help minimize any
186
discomfort.

Conclusion
This study examined the relationship between classroom layout and students'
academic engagement in Gombe State. The study found a significant relationship
between ventilation and interior designs while the lighting does not have significant
relationship in this study. The classroom layout plays an important role in the aspect
of learning. From the furniture students sit on to the aesthetics on the wall, and the
classroom fittings; the learning process commence from the tone and warmth
received in the classrooms. Studies reviewed have revealed that the layout of the
classroom can affect the mood and performance of students in the school and so, it
should be developed inside out since the classroom experience is central to the
layout. No doubt, a good classroom layout does not only support learning needs of
students for proper academic engagements but also assist teachers to effectively
manage their class activities, cater for student differences, and in turn help in
establishing a highly suitable condition for learning. On the part of the students, the
size, the shape, the furniture, the air and humidity and all others have a remarkable
impact on how well they are engaged with the class activities.

Recommendations
Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made
1. Teacher should set a good tone for the class and build a warm environment that
nurture learners
2. Since lighting does not lead to students' engagement in this study, artificial
lighting may not be necessary in the classroom except for laboratories or
workshop and places that are not bright.
3. Teacher should have a wide variety of techniques that will keep the class
organized, orderly and students focus through designs, wall papers, charts,
graphs and paintings that will support students' learning and engagements in the
classrooms.
4. Flexible furniture that will suit all lessons and allow students move, lean or stand
without any difficulty should also be put in place for their study.
5. Important measures should be put in place by school administrators and class
teachers to ensure proper ventilation such as opening of windows when students
are engaged in the class activities to prevent negative consequences that could
hinder learning and help deal with discomfort.

187
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