The Internet in British Columbia Classrooms: Learning Environments in New Contexts, 7(15)

Abstract

This article reports on a study of classroom environments in emerging Internet classrooms in British Columbia, Canada. The study involved an evaluation of the physical and psychosocial learning environments in these settings through a combination of case studies and questionnaires. This work focuses on the results obtained from the administration of a student questionnaire designed to measure aspects of the psychosocial learning environment in these settings and to relate these factors to students’ satisfaction with learning and to other physical aspects of the learning environment. Versions of the What Is Happening in This Classroom (WIHIC) instrument and Computerized Classroom Environment Checklist (CCEC) were administered to 358 high school students in 22 classrooms from six schools around the province. Analysis of classroom environment data revealed that student autonomy/independence and task orientation are associated with students’ satisfaction with learning. Relating data to physical measures such as the workspace and visual environments demonstrated significant associations between the physical and psychosocial learning environment in technology-rich classrooms. Further qualitative data suggest that factors related to teaching styles, classroom design, and the learning environment interact to influence students’ satisfaction with learning.