The Power of the Plant

Could indoor plants change the environment of your classroom?  According to research they can.

Jennifer S. Doxey and Tina Marie Waliczek from the Department of Agriculture, Texas State University, and Jayne M. Zajicek of the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, published a study of the impact of plants in university classrooms. Their main objective was to investigate the impact of plants in classrooms on course performance and student perceptions of the course and instructor.

Their study concluded that plants did not significantly improve the students grades when compared to a control group of students.  However, when these college students completed the end of course surveys, the students whose class had plants found their instructors' enthusiasm and organization to be better when compared to the students who attended class in a windowless, plant-less room.  So, the plants improved the environment for the students and instructors. (entire article may be found at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090903163947.htm)

Might plants improve learning in a classroom?  After all, the survey was conducted with adult college students, willing to perform and do their best.  These students have paid hundreds of dollars to attended these classes.  But let's face it, some of our students in public schools are not very willing students.  This being the case, might plants make a bigger improvement with some of these reluctant learners?

Other research seems to support this plants in the classroom.  Dr. Reinisch cites plants, among other items, that should be added to a classroom to encourage student learning.  Her study included 25 first-graders as she recorded their responses through interviews, student journals and observations.  One student was quoted as saying "It’s like a little living room when the plants are here.”

But is there a difference between plants and flowers?  Might students respond better the multitudes of colors in flowers than just green?   Also, for younger students, might the dynamics of the class change if students were given "plant duty".  These students would be charged with watering and reporting any problems with plants or flowers. Might these students look forward to coming to class?

I think plants have a place in our classrooms.  Plants or flowers might take the "edge"off for some students and allow them to become focused and ready learners.

Behold the power of a plant!