You may have not thought about it before, but the brightness and color of lights can affect your mood, concentration, and even energy level. This is especially important in school, but builders, administration, and some teachers completely overlook it. The standard bright lights in a school can affect the learning and concentration of students, oftentimes this can cause bad performance and initiative in classes. 

Many students find that they can be anywhere from mildly distracting to causing headaches and anxiety during class.  Mollie McCorkle, a student at Edmond North, shares how she feels about the brightness of lights in a classroom.

“I can focus more when the lights are less bright, and dim lights help me read the Smartboard. When teachers provide dim lighting it’s easier on the eyes and seems more natural. It creates a more welcoming environment,” McCorkle said.

There are also some cons to it though. It can cause tiredness, which can result in it being hard to focus. For example, some students find themselves getting tired, especially during earlier hours of the day.  

I talked to Mariah Piatkiewicz, a Sophomore at Edmond North.

“Sometimes, especially during first and second hour, it (dim lighting) can cause me to doze off. Usually I can get over this though, and the dim lights create a calm working environment that makes it easier to focus. I definitely prefer dim lights over bright lights. In the past, I’ve even gotten headaches from the lights” Piatkiewicz said.

Overall, the census seems to be that dim lights create a more focused and calm environment, as well as reduce anxiety and headaches during class time. Schools should reconsider the lighting choices for both the well-being of the students and teachers.

Dim lighting has been proven by research  to help people be more rational and better decision makers. Therefore, dim lighting in classrooms would improve classroom behavior, allowing for more instructional time. Dim lighting can also positively affect people’s emotions, causing a better work ethic and willingness to learn.

Ultimately, dim classes seem to help students focus and stay attentive during lessons and work time. It can also help them relax during group projects and in high-stress situations, such as presentations.

“I like having dim lights when I’m working, and almost all of my students love the dim lights,” Ms. Lewis said. 

Lastly, substitute teachers compliment the lighting, and say they enjoy working with them and students seem more cooperative.

For comments or questions about this article, please contact Evan Hodge at [email protected]