Perceptions About Innovative and Traditional Learning Spaces: Teachers and Students in New Zealand Primary Schools

In New Zealand, the architectural design of schools and the spaces where children learn are being innovated to allow for more opportunities for teachers and students to work collaboratively. However, there is a dearth of research that has investigated both teachers’ and students’ perceptions of the learning spaces. Little attention has been paid to Asian students, who may perceive learning quite differently from their English-only speaking counterparts. This article compares the perceptions of teachers with students, highlighting the group from Asian backgrounds in both innovative with traditional learning spaces. Fourteen Year 5 and 6 primary teachers from traditional and innovative learning environments were interviewed. Additionally, a questionnaire was given to 150 Year 5 and 6 students. The study found that although many of the teachers perceived challenges with noise and distraction in innovative learning environments, this was not as evident in the responses from the students, particularly the Asian students.