Tropical plants inside the university classroom can help improve the satisfaction levels of students with their class and instructor.
Researchers studied two classes taught by the same professor in the same semester, three times involving 385 students. A significant difference was found between student evaluations of their class and instructor in classrooms with and without plants. Students in rooms decorated with plants gave significantly higher marks to the class and instructor, particularly when marking areas related to learning as well as the instructors’ enthusiasm and organization. In these areas, students in stark, windowless classrooms generally evaluated more harshly.
Interestingly, no difference was noted on academic performance despite such results.
This study is interesting for us as your local Toronto florist, since it shows that potted plants aren’t just appropriate for homes and offices – they’re also great to decorate the classroom, positively impacting the way students perceive their professors and one of their primary learning environments. They provide a beneficial role and should be essential in design, much like the colour of the walls and windows (it would certainly help the barren classrooms I attended during my university days).
Perhaps one day, research will prove that potted plants can help improve academic performance as well!
The study was conducted by the combined effort of Jennifer S. Doxey and Tina Marie Waliczek from Texas State University’s Department of Agriculture and Jayne M. Zajicek of Texas A&M University’s Department of Horticultural Sciences. It was done last year.
