Reconceptualising Urban Green Spaces as Learning Environments

By : Mayank Bhardwaj

Page No: 158-169

Abstract
Engagement with nature in educational settings has been acknowledged to improve cognitive abilities and fostering emotional well-being by alleviating stress and anxiety in students. Moreover, green spaces promote social connections, encourage collaboration, improve personal well-being and enhance the cultivation of positive behavioural traits. It encourages pro-social behaviour and reduces feelings of social isolation thereby contributing to personal growth. This paper examines the advantages of incorporating green spaces into urban schools, highlighting their significance as essential learning environments that transcend conventional classroom limits. It also highlights the challenges faced by the schools in urban areas in terms of space constraints and also delineates the effect of these challenges on the students’ overall well-being and academic performance. This paper promotes a comprehensive strategy for efficient space management and creative educational planning that emphasises green spaces as vital elements of healthy, inclusive, and sustainable learning environments. Integrating nature into urban schooling can lead to holistic and enriching experience, improved well-being for both teachers and students, and the inculcation of a value system that promotes sustainability.

Author
Dr. Mayank Bhardwaj, Ph.D., University of Delhi.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/NL.2025.57.02.3