Sunday School Learning Environment

Does the learning environment have any impact on what happens in a class? Does it impact learning? Does it impact relationships? Does it impact assimilation?

In my experience, the physical environment does make a difference. I have talked to women who could not attend class because of cold temperatures. I have talked to senior adults who could not attend because there were no chairs with arms to push out of in order to stand up. I have known children and adults who could not attend because the church did not have ramps, elevators, and handicapped accessible bathrooms.

The social environment also impacts Sunday School. Since so much communication is nonverbal (93%), how can relationships with classmates be enhanced when the teacher lectures to rows of attenders? Yes, teachers and attenders can connect relationally, but how do you connect with backs of heads--attenders with attenders? When there are two or fewer friends in class, people tend to drop out. Also, since hearing alone has a low 20% rate of learning retention, lecture/rows can have other obvious impacts on learning besides relationships.

What other ways does the physical and social environment impact what happens in the class?