"Lighting The Way To Better Learning: Assessing And Addressing Artificial Light Concerns In Classrooms"

Abstract

This study examines the effect of artificial lighting on college student's health and academic performance, a pertinent issue as educational settings increasingly utilize artificial environments. The research was conducted in Visakhapatnam, employing a cross-sectional survey methodology involving 500 students. The preliminary data collection tool was a structured questionnaire, which gathered information on the student’s dependency on artificial lighting and the frequency of associated health symptoms. The methodology included descriptive statistics to summarize the data and chi-square tests to evaluate the relationships between artificial lighting dependency and health symptoms. The results indicate a significant correlation between high dependency on artificial lighting and increased reports of eye discomfort, headaches, and drowsiness. These symptoms affect students during class hours and extend into night hours, impacting sleep quality and overall health. The study concludes that excessive reliance on artificial lighting in educational settings may detrimentally influence student health and learning outcomes. It underscores the importance of reassessing and redesigning lighting systems in educational institutions to integrate more natural light, aiming to enhance student well-being and academic performance. This research contributes essential insights into optimizing indoor environmental quality in educational settings, providing a basis for future research and policy-making.