Color Sense

A recent study on how the condition of a school building can affect academic achievement provides empirical evidence of the effects of building quality on academic outcomes. Other literature concerning classroom environment discusses these main themes: color, size, sound, light, windows and furniture. Studies have shown that classrooms painted with color, lighted with full-spectrum lighting, and devoid of visual noise resulted in students with reduced blood pressure; less off-task behavior, aggressiveness, disruptiveness; and improved academic performance.

The goal of a study by members of the WellU Academic Integration Subcommittee of The College of St. Scholastica's College's Healthy Campus Initiative plan was to determine whether changing color in the classroom could have a measurable effect on students. One simple improvement a school can make in a classroom is adding color; paint is relatively inexpensive, and painting is not extremely labor-intensive.

Two similar classrooms were identified. A test classroom was painted in a manner congruent with suggestions in the literature: three walls were painted beige, a color that reduces tension, and the front wall was painted blue-gray, a complementary or darker hue. The purpose of the front wall's paint color is to reduce student eyestrain during class. A control classroom remained all white.

Through a survey, 100 college students were studied before and after in each classroom using three methods, including on-task behavior, academic performance and sense of well-being.

Is it possible that a colorful classroom can increase student performance?