IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i7p2668-d338152.html

Sustainable Environments in Education: Results on the Effects of the New Environments in Learning Processes of University Students

Author

Listed:
  • Diego Galán-Casado

    (Faculty of Education and Health, Camilo José Cela University, 28692 Madrid, Spain)

  • Alvaro Moraleda

    (Faculty of Education and Health, Camilo José Cela University, 28692 Madrid, Spain)

  • María Luisa Martínez-Martí

    (Faculty of Education and Health, Camilo José Cela University, 28692 Madrid, Spain)

  • Miguel Ángel Pérez-Nieto

    (Faculty of Education and Health, Camilo José Cela University, 28692 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

Within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals, it is necessary to move towards quality education that promotes opportunities based on the principles of equity and equality. For this reason, the environment where the teaching–learning process occurs plays a fundamental role. Our research shows the results of the effects of the environment in the learning processes of university students (N = 33). Using a method of sampling experiences, the students assessed how the new environment learning (NEL) compared to the traditional classroom (TC) encouraged their attention, participation in class, creativity, curiosity, critical thinking, motivation to learn and mood (hedonic tone and activation level). In addition, the students assessed to what extent the class seemed visually appealing to them. The design was of repeated measures, so that the experiences of the same subjects in both classrooms were evaluated over a period of 53 days. Over this period of time, after finishing each of the classes selected for the study, the participants received a message on their mobile phones with a link to a short ad hoc questionnaire that evaluated their experience in relation to the learning environment of the classes they had just attended. In total, we recorded 359 responses in relation to the TC and 209 in relation to the NEL. The results show statistically significant differences in the degree of participation and visual appeal, with higher levels in the NEL. These elements are vital in achieving the education for sustainable development, oriented towards critical thinking, responsibility and social transformation.

Suggested Citation

  • Diego Galán-Casado & Alvaro Moraleda & María Luisa Martínez-Martí & Miguel Ángel Pérez-Nieto, 2020. "Sustainable Environments in Education: Results on the Effects of the New Environments in Learning Processes of University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-12, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:7:p:2668-:d:338152
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/7/2668/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/7/2668/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gisela Cebrián & Mercè Junyent & Ingrid Mulà, 2020. "Competencies in Education for Sustainable Development: Emerging Teaching and Research Developments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-9, January.
    2. repec:wbk:wbpubs:30920 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Daniel Kahneman & Alan B. Krueger, 2006. "Developments in the Measurement of Subjective Well-Being," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 20(1), pages 3-24, Winter.
    4. David Branham, 2004. "The Wise Man Builds His House Upon the Rock: The Effects of Inadequate School Building Infrastructure on Student Attendance," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 85(5), pages 1112-1128, December.
    5. Naresh Giangrande & Rehema M. White & May East & Ross Jackson & Tim Clarke & Michel Saloff Coste & Gil Penha-Lopes, 2019. "A Competency Framework to Assess and Activate Education for Sustainable Development: Addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals 4.7 Challenge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-16, May.
    6. Abigail López-Alcarria & Alberto Olivares-Vicente & Fátima Poza-Vilches, 2019. "A Systematic Review of the Use of Agile Methodologies in Education to Foster Sustainability Competencies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-29, May.
    7. Ying Dai & Shyh-Huei Hwang, 2019. "Technique, Creativity, and Sustainability of Bamboo Craft Courses: Teaching Educational Practices for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Natanael Karjanto & Maxima Joyosa Acelajado, 2022. "Sustainable Learning, Cognitive Gains, and Improved Attitudes in College Algebra Flipped Classrooms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-18, September.
    2. Sara Mohamed Abdelaziz El-Menawy, 2025. "Sustainability-driven marketing education: assessing the role of perceived marketplace influence on consumption patterns in private Egyptian universities," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Figen Akça, 2019. "Sustainable Development in Teacher Education in Terms of Being Solution Oriented and Self-Efficacy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-16, December.
    2. María Jesús Santos-Villalba & Juan José Leiva Olivencia & Magdalena Ramos Navas-Parejo & María Dolores Benítez-Márquez, 2020. "Higher Education Students’ Assessments towards Gamification and Sustainability: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-20, October.
    3. Erika González García & Ernesto Colomo Magaña & Andrea Cívico Ariza, 2020. "Quality Education as a Sustainable Development Goal in the Context of 2030 Agenda: Bibliometric Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-18, July.
    4. Helen Lee Curtis & Lucas Catalani Gabriel & Marlyne Sahakian & Sandro Cattacin, 2021. "Practice-Based Program Evaluation in Higher Education for Sustainability: A Student Participatory Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-14, September.
    5. Abel Brodeur, 2012. "Smoking, Income and Subjective Well-Being: Evidence from Smoking Bans," Working Papers halshs-00664269, HAL.
    6. Foliano, Francesca & Tonei, Valentina & Sevilla, Almudena, 2024. "Social restrictions, leisure and well-being," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    7. Gordon John Anderson & Teng Wah Leo, 2021. "On Extending Stochastic Dominance Comparisons to Ordinal Variables and Generalising Hammond Dominance," Working Papers tecipa-705, University of Toronto, Department of Economics.
    8. van Hoorn, André, 2018. "Is the happiness approach to measuring preferences valid?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 53-65.
    9. Savatore Puglisi & Ionuț Virgil Șerban, 2019. "Beyond Gdp: Which Options To Better Represent Modern Socio-Economic Progress?," Sociology and Social Work Review, International Society for projects in Education and Research, vol. 3(1), pages 17-32, June.
    10. Prinz, Aloys & Bünger, Björn, 2009. "From full life to balanced life: Extending Martin Seligman's route to happiness," CAWM Discussion Papers 17, University of Münster, Münster Center for Economic Policy (MEP).
    11. Calvo, Esteban & Beytía, Pablo, 2011. "¿Cómo medir la felicidad? [How to measure happiness?]," MPRA Paper 48967, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Thi Truong An Hoang & Andreas Knabe, 2021. "Time Use, Unemployment, and Well-Being: An Empirical Analysis Using British Time-Use Data," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 2525-2548, August.
    13. Lepinteur, Anthony & Flèche, Sarah & Powdthavee, Nattavudh, 2016. "My Baby Takes the Morning Train: Gender Identity, Fairness, and Relative Labor Supply Within Households," IZA Discussion Papers 10382, IZA Network @ LISER.
    14. Hong, Yan-Zhen & Su, Yi-Ju & Chang, Hung-Hao, 2023. "Analyzing the relationship between income and life satisfaction of Forest farm households - a behavioral economics approach," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    15. Jean-Yves Duclos, 2006. "Liberté ou égalité?," L'Actualité Economique, Société Canadienne de Science Economique, vol. 82(4), pages 441-476.
    16. Burhan, Nik Ahmad Sufian & Mohamad, Mohd Rosli & Kurniawan, Yohan & Sidek, Abdul Halim, 2014. "National Intelligence, Basic Human Needs, and Their Effect on Economic Growth," MPRA Paper 77267, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. John Helliwell & Haifang Huang, 2011. "New measures of the costs of unemployment: Evidence from the subjective well-being of 2.3 million Americans," Working Papers 2011-03, University of Alberta, Department of Economics.
    18. Marta Estrada & Diego Monferrer & Alma Rodríguez & Miguel Ángel Moliner, 2021. "Does Emotional Intelligence Influence Academic Performance? The Role of Compassion and Engagement in Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, February.
    19. Tatiana Karabchuk, 2016. "The subjective well-being of women in Europe: children, work and employment protection legislation," Mind & Society: Cognitive Studies in Economics and Social Sciences, Springer;Fondazione Rosselli, vol. 15(2), pages 219-245, November.
    20. Paola Giuliano & Paola Sapienza, 2020. "The Cost of Being Too Patient," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 110, pages 314-318, May.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:7:p:2668-:d:338152. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.