Rongrong Sun’s scientific contributions

Many countries are keen to enhance existing learning spaces beyond the status quo, as non-traditional learning spaces can be leveraged to cultivate talent and ability in the 21st century. Recently, many primary schools have begun to practice planning and constructing non-traditional learning. This review highlights the available evidence on the considerations, challenges, and existing learning space design guidelines based on primary-school research conducted from 2000 to January 2024. The Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases are intensively searched for research conducted in primary school settings in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The finding shows optimism regarding non-traditional learning spaces fostering more flexible, innovative, and open learning environments that support and assist student-centred pedagogical approaches, and it summarises the three results from the seven aspects. The primary considerations are physical space and pedagogical organisational design, challenges from users and designers and current research and guidelines for users and designers. Based on the three study results, this research proposes suggestions for physical learning spaces. There is an urgent need to design guidelines to promote primary school learning efficiency and create an environment that students and teachers like.

A well-designed learning environment is crucial for enhancing both the physical and mental health of students, which in turn improves their learning outcomes. However, many classrooms in China, particularly in rural areas, were constructed and designed several decades ago, so it is essential to redesign these learning spaces to align with the requirements of 21st Century education. This study aims to develop the stimulation, individuality, and naturalness (SIN) theoretical framework for identifying the learning environment of current classroom by examining the full range of sensory effects experienced by individuals. This study conducted qualitative interviews with 72 students and 18 class teachers to explore major issues with their existing learning spaces in four primary schools in Shandong Province of China. The results show that high temperatures and poor air quality are frequently raised by respondents, which directly impact students' learning experience. This finding confirms naturalness likely underpins human comfort. Teachers and students felt that the classroom should be improved from the aspects of crowded space, imperceptible decoration, congestion and monotonous layouts. The study emphasised the important factors that designers and policymakers should consider to promote a comfortable, efficient, and healthy learning environment.