How simulated sunlight helps with learning in the classroom

Bright, cool light keeps you awake and allows you to focus on your work for longer. But it is not easy. A room filled with orange light is more relaxing – but this in turn makes you tired in the long run. Depending on the color or wavelength range, light can evoke different levels of alertness and well-being in us.

Lighting therefore plays a special role in schools. In theory, the lighting standard for interior lighting regulates how much light should be available in a classroom. Uniformity and color rendering are also regulated, so that even red in light looks like red.

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However, the general room climate can be further optimized and improve students’ learning behavior and attention, as a research group Aspern Smart City Research (ASCR) together with Vienna Energy has shown. In Primary schools in Ebreichsdorf, Guntramsdorf and Unterwalterdorf A new lighting system was installed in Lower Austria, consisting of so-called energy-efficient LED lights. hcl technology (“human-centered light”) exists.

“The HCL lighting concept is focused on people. Luminaires were used that produced high quality light. Illumination, uniformity, color rendering and color temperature are optimally chosen,” says elizabeth teufelsbauerUse case leader in research project »demand oriented lighting,

Special feature: This is achieved by daylight control and programming natural sunlight Copy.

biorhythm supported

The lighting automatically adapts to the course of the day and thus supports the students’ biorhythms. In addition to mimicking natural sunlight, the system also provides other functions, such as attentive work, that teachers can use for short periods of time. “If there’s an exam, for example, the teacher switches from the normal course of daylight to active work. Then I have high light or cool light on to help the kids with their concentration,” Teufelsbauer says.

In addition, a lighting option was installed for comfortable working. It is suitable, for example, when a classroom wants to reflect the day in a circle of chairs. “Then the dim light shines with less brightness.”

various sensors

In addition to illumination, installed systems also have different sensor, They measure temperature, speed, volume, humidity and carbon dioxide levels in orbit. “The CO2 Indicator He was very popular among teachers. They saw with a small lamp that they had to re-ventilate, for example, when the lamp turned red”. The parameters measured from the sensor will still be evaluated.

In any case, the aim of the study was to aid the children in their development, but not to increase the pressure to perform with the system, stressed Teufelsbauer. The purpose of lighting is also to compensate for the lack of daylight. The results showed that the system made the children feel more awake overall and that the light contributed to greater calm, concentration and well-being.

avoid extremes

Extremes should be avoided both in schools and at home – ie too little or too much, too warm or too cold lighting. “Kids fall asleep in a classroom with very warm lighting.” On the other hand, if, they are continuously exposed to cold light, as is common in sports halls where competitive sports are practiced, for example, they will remain alert for a certain time, but then they become very tired. Must have happened. “A balanced, good-quality light is best,” she adds.

It is also important that the lighting is of high quality so that no flicker occurs. “People don’t notice it themselves, but if they sit under a light source that flickers all day, they notice it in the evening and don’t feel well.”

According to Teufelsbauer, it’s usually worthwhile to switch to energy-efficient HCL lights. However, these are a bit costlier than traditional LED technology. However, traditional LED lights are already well developed and provide good illumination as well.