Perception of Grade 12 GAS Students on the
Effectivity of their Learning Environment to their
Academic Performance
N. Ahmad, J.J. Cruz(Jendrick_21@yahoo.com), J.R. Cruz (rafjosephcruz@gmail.com),
M.S. De Guzman (shey_deguzman22@yahoo.com), A.U.
Escobar(escobaraustin1917@gmail.com), M.R. Ilag (Ilagmhelvin@gmail.com), J.
Pagdanganan (pagdangananjitz@gmail.com), H.I.S. Ramos(ivanstanleyramos@gmail.com),
J.C. Ramos(Johncarloramoschico123@gmail.com)
ABSTRACT
Aim: The purpose of this study is to explore the
perception of grade 12 GAS students on the
effectivity of their learning environment to their
academic performance.
Method: In this study, Quantitative approach was
used and the statistical method used is
descriptive. Moreover, the researchers’ used
convenience sampling to gather data.
Conclusion: In a grqde 12 GAS student
perception, the researchers can say that the
learning environment at La Consolacion
University Philippines is appropriate and is
suitable for learning.
INTRODUCTION:
In this generation, there are many
innovations at hand that are being
introduced to further enhance and
discover how we can live better and
convenient in this world. Now, the
world’s standard of living rises and
because of this, learning becomes more
vital in this time. According to Google’s
Dictionary, learning is the acquisition of
knowledge or skills through experience,
study, or by being taught. Having said
this, for people to learn they need an
avenue for them to experience, study
and even let themselves learn from
others; this is where environment comes
in. Environment is the surroundings or
1
conditions in which a person, animal, or
plant lives or operates. Also another
definition of Google’s Dictionary said that
it is the setting or conditions in which a
particular activity is carried on. This
means everything around us, living or
non- living here we can interact or adapt
in it. Also the environment affects the
growth and development of the person.
In short learning is the acquisition of
knowledge or skill through experience
that affect our growth and development
of individuality.
A large amount of a child’s time is
spent sitting in a school classroom. This
place is where they will learn the various
skills deemed necessary and proper for
them to achieve success in the global
society (Hannah, 2013). This statement
also implies that the school and its
environment have a great influence to a
student’s life because most of his/her
time is spent at school. Also, Whitaker
(2004) reported that teachers are the first
most important point of contact in a
student’s life. Despite the countless
reforms and programs implemented to
improve education, no other element can
be as profound as the two human
elements “It’s the people, not the
programs” (Whitaker, 2004,). More
profoundly he added, “There are really
two ways to improve a school
significantly: Get better teachers and
improve the teachers in the school”.
Research acknowledges (Tyler & Boelter,
2008) teacher expectations as strong
and reliable predictors of performance
among elementary, primary and high
school students. Other research (Tileston
& Whitaker, 2004) revealed that for many
primary grade level students, the
classroom environment and the teacher
can affect a student’s desire to cheat
academically, consider or follow through
on dropping out of school, as well as
demonstrate a decline in academic
performance. The classroom physical
arrangement provides students with
effective instruction and promotes
smooth teaching learning process. By
improving the physical aspects, new
learning environments are expected to
encourage more collaboration among
students and teachers, allow proliferation
of ideas and ability of the students in
problem solving. Amiru, N. J. (2013).
Both classroom learning environment
and science laboratory learning
environment are significant predictors of
attitude. (Mageswary, Chong Keat, 2017).
The Physical facilities should be provided
as they are helpful in improving the
overall performance of the school
(Suleman & Hussain, 2014). It was
observed that the learning is optimal
when body, soul and spirit are in accord;
otherwise learning will be ineffective
(Frenzel, et al, 2007)). Hence, clean, quiet
and comfortable environment are
important components of learning
2
environment. Furthermore, creating of an
ideal learning environment must be a top
priority of every concern educator. Being
comfortable should be a combination of
several factors which include;
temperature, lighting, and noise control
(Murugan & Rajoo, 2013). Lizzio, Wilson
& Simons (2002) noted that academic
achievement of a student is most often
associated with a lot of components of
learning environment. According to
Ajewole and Okebukola (2000), a number
of factors are said to have contributed to
the students’ poor academic
achievement in school. The authors
stress that a host of these factors may
surround students’ poor achievement in
school which may include: poor study
habits and lack of available resource
materials, poor school climate,
indiscipline, inadequate facilities,
teachers’ ineffectiveness, the teaching
method and the type of learning
environment available for both the
students and the teachers. From the
authors view, the poor performance of
students in primary school may be a
reflection of the type of learning
environment.
Farombi (1998) observed that
school environment may have negative
influence on students’ academic
achievement especially if such
environment lacks good school climate,
instructional materials, discipline,
physical facilities, has poor teacher
quality, type of location of school is
questionable, there is small class size
and over population of students in
classrooms. Tsavga (2011) maintains that
the learning environment plays a vital role
in determining how students perform or
respond to circumstances and situations
around them. This implies that no society
is void of environmental influences. The
learning environment determines to a
large extent how a student behaves and
interacts, that is to say that the
environment in which we find ourselves
tend to mould our behaviour so as to
meet the demands of life whether
negatively or positively. Learning
environment according to Zaria in Aliade
(2008) is a place where teachers impact
knowledge of the various subjects to
students thereby bringing them up
morally and guide them as that many
students fall short of the requirements
necessary for admission into primary
schools. Gagne (1997) states that
environment for the child includes a host
of structures such as buildings,
furniture’s, equipments, instructional
materials, the teachers, the peer group
and other people involved in the
development of a child. Booth and Okely
(2005) looked at school environment as
the physical environment (e.g. facilities
and equipment), school policies (e.g.
time allocated for physical and Health
Educational Sport) and school practices
regulating PE and Sport, banners to
participation and strategies to promote
participation). This definition
encapsulates components of the Health
Promoting School Model (NHMRC, 1996)
and also how school staff tends to
contextualized health, particularly
physical activity. According to State of
Maine (2002) school environment
includes the physical and aesthetic
surroundings and the psychological
climate and culture of the school.
3
A recent trend in Nigeria, the issue
of poor academic performance of
students of secondary schools in
external examinations such as the
National Examination Council and the
West African Examinations Council.
Major concern has centered on the
quality of teachers and non-commitment
of the students to their studies due to
distractions that hamper learning but
very little attention has been given to the
learning environment. But the
environment in which the students learn
such as classrooms, libraries, technical
workshops, laboratories, play grounds,
conveniences, sanitation, maintenance
culture, aesthetics among others are
variables that affect students’ learning
and academic performance. Hence, the
learning environment remains an
important area that should be studied
and well managed to enhance students’
academic performance.
The researchers decided to conduct a
study with regards to the prior issue that
aims to accomplish the following
objectives:
(1) To assess if the current learning
environment has a positive effect on the
student’s academic performance.
(2) To assess if the classroom
atmosphere and size is efficient for
learning.
(3) To assess if the classroom
temperature/ventilation affects student’s
performance in the classroom
(4) To asses if the classroom design
helps improve student’s performance in
the classroom.
This study aims to explore the
perception of grade 12 GAS students on
I.V D.V
(Independent (Dependent
Variable) Variable)
the effectivity of their learning
environment to their academic
performance. The researchers will focus
more on the classroom features and and
its effect on the students.
This study will help the students
identify if their current learning
environment influences them in a positive
or negative way. They will also know how
to adjust to it. This will help the teachers
to identify the positive and negative
influences of the learning environment in
the classroom. Also, the teachers will
know what to improve and enhance in
the clasroom.
METHODOLOGY:
Research Approach
This part contains the methods
that used in the study that will be utilized
by the researcher in seeking for
information that will answer the
questions in the statement of the
problem. This part of the study involves
the methods and technique of the study,
population and sample of the study,
research instrument, data gathering and
statistical treatment.
The researchers used the
descriptive method in achieving the
objectives and purpose of the study.
According to Travers (1978), the
descriptive method aims to describe the
nature of situation as it exists at the time
of the study to explore the causes of a
particular phenomenon. Furthermore,
Gay (1976) defines descriptive method as
involving collection of data to test
hypothesis or to answer questions
concerning the current status of the
4
subject of the study. The method is
appropriate for the study because it aims
to explore the perception of grade 12
GAS students on the effectivity of their
learning environment to their academic
performance.
Research Method
The researchers first identify all
the possible respondents of the study.
The researchers have gathered a total of
30 respondents. After the validation of
the structured questionnaire, the
researchers conducted the survey in a
form of a questionnaire to the students
that is in his/her free time. The
researchers picked thirty convenient
people to be the respondents of the
research. A survey was used as an
instrument to gather data in a form of a
questionnaire that is divided into four
sets; set A has four questions about
Classroom Atmosphere/Size, set B has
two questions about Classroom
Temperature/Ventilation, set C has five
questions about Classroom Design, and
set D has three questions generally
about evaluating the classroom learning
environment. The questions present in
the questionnaire were constructed by
the researchers with revisions and
validations from the researcher’s
consultant. Over all, the questionnaire
has fifteen questions with five choices to
be selected as answers; strongly agree,
agree, disagree, neutral/undecided, and
strongly disagree.
There are five ratings in the questionnaire
that the students answered according to
specific questions :
5 – Strongly Agree
 4 – Agree to collect necessary informations from
3 – Neutral/Undecided the respondents in a form of a
2 – Disagree questionnaire. The questions are
arranged in a likhert scale manner.
1 – Strongly Disagree
Likert-type or frequency scales use fixed
For the interpretation of the mean, the choice response formats and are
scale below is used : designed to measure attitudes or
opinions (Bowling, 1997; Burns, & Grove,
Scale Verbal Interpretation 1997). Furthermore, A Likert-type scale
4.5 – 5 Strongly Agree assumes that the strength/intensity of
3.5 – 4.49 Agree experience is linear ; on a continuum
2.5 – 3.49 Neutral/Undecided from strongly agree to strongly disagree,
and makes the assumption that attitudes
1.5 – 2.49 Disagree
can be measured (McLeod, 2008). To
1 – 1.49 Strongly Disagree further the descriptive method is used to
observe and describe the situation in the
Research Technique: study. The researcher computed the
In this study, quantitative approach was average/mean to generate interpretations
utilized. Also, as said earlier, the from the collected data from the
researchers used survey as a technique respondents.

RESULTS:
Table 1
Set A : Classroom Size and Atmosphere

SA A N D SD
Verbal
Mean
5 4 3 2 1 Interpretation

1. The classroom has an 40 52 24 2 0 3.9 Agree

attractive atmosphere for
learning.
2. The number of students per 25 76 12 4 0 3.9 Agree
class can influence the learning
process students.

5
 3. Comfortable seat and sitting 55 48 18 2 0 4.1 Agree
arrangement affects students’
performance in the classroom.

4. The peer group of each student 15 88 12 2 0 3.9 Agree

can affect its learning
environment

5. The classroom size is efficient 35 60 18 4 0 3.9 Agree

for the learning process of the
students.

Weighted Mean 3.9 Agree

Table 1 (1st variable) shows that question 3, comfortable seat and sitting
arrangment affects students’ performance in the classroom, has the highest mean of
4.1 with the verbal interpretation of agree and the rest of the questions got the same
mean of 3.9 with the verbal interpretation of agree.

Table 2
Set B : Classroom Temperature/Ventilation

SA A N D SD
Verbal
Mean
5 4 3 2 1 Interpretation

6. The climate and air quality 65 48 12 2 0 4.2 Agree

(ventilation) influences the
learning environment of a
student.
7. You can perform better in a 45 44 24 4 0 3.9 Agree
moderate classroom
temperature.
Weighted Mean 4.0 Agree

6
 Table 2 (2nd variable) shows that question 6, the climate and air quality
(ventilation) influences the learning environment of a student, has the highest mean of
4.2 with the verbal interpratation of agree while question 7, You can perform better in
a moderate classroom temperature, has the lowest mean of 3.9 with the verbal
interpretation of agree.

Table 3
Set C : Classroom Design

SA A N D SD
Verbal
Mean
5 4 3 2 1 Interpretation

8. The classrooms need a map, 10 60 27 4 4 3.5 Agree

charts, pictures, models, exhibits,
reference books.
9. Having a creative board in the 35 56 15 8 0 3.8 Agree
classroom can improve a
student’s Learning Environment
10. The classroom painting and 20 76 9 8 0 3.7 Agree
lighting being capable of affecting
students’ performance.
11. The lightning can have 40 48 18 8 0 3.8 Agree
significant effect to the Learning
Environment of a student
12. Furnitures (book shelves, 35 40 36 2 0 3.7 Agree
chairs, etc.) can help improve the
learning environment of the
students.
Weighted Mean 3.7 Agree

Table 3 shows that variable 9, Having a creative board in the clasroom can
improve a student’s Learning Environment and variable 11, the lighting can have

7
significant effect to the Learning Environent of a student, has both the highest mean of
3.8 with both having the verbal interpretation of agree however, variable 8, The
Classrooms need amap,charts,picture,models ,exhibits, reference, and books, has the
lowest mean of 3.5 with the verbal interpretation of agree.

Table 4
Set B : General Questions

SA A N D SD
Verbal
Mean
5 4 3 2 1 Interpretation

13. You are favorable to the 5 52 42 0 2 3.3 Neutral

classroom’s facilities.
14. The temperature in the 30 44 52 0 0 4.2 Agree
classroom is efficient to have an
environment suitable for learning.
15. Overall, the school has an 10 72 24 4 0 3.6 Agree
appropriate learning environment.

Weighted Mean 3.7 Agree

Table 4 shows that variable 14, The temperature in the classroom is efficiecnt to have
an environment suitable for learning, has the highest mean of 4.2 with the verbal interpretation
of agree while variable 13, You are favorable to the classroom’s facilities, got the lowest mean
with 3.3 with the verbal interpretation of Neutral.

because this enables them to be more

DISCUSSION:
In summary, learning environment
is important especially to the students
efficient in their learning process. And as
said earlier, a huge chunk of the
student’s time is spent in the classroom

8
so the learning environment of ones and overall, the school has an
classroom will a large factor on the appropriate learning environment.
student’s academic performance. The
study was to determine the influence of The researchers suggested
learning environment on students' conducting another study about
academic achievement in mathematics measuring the classroom atmosphere,
at senior secondary school level size, temperature/ventilation, and design.
(Shamaki, T. A. 2015). Having a good The researchers suggested
learning environment expands the conducting a study about measuring
covering models of educational academic performance of students.
productivity (Vermeulen, L., & Schmidt, H.
G. 2008). Making the classroom more The researchers suggested
interesting to the eyes of the students conducting a study about the effects of
will take interest in studying and they will parent’s choice of career to the
get high marks (Kausar, A., Kiyani, A. I., & academic performance of a student.
Suleman, Q. 2017).
The researchers suggested
Base from table 1 that is about the conducting another study about the
classroom size and atmosphere with a effects of learning environment outside of
weighted mean of 3.9, the reseachers the classroo
can say that the respondents agree that
the classroom size and atmosphere
affects their learning in the classroom
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