A Contemporary Study of Learning Environments in Jammu, India.

Abstract

One of the earliest learning environment studies reported from India was nearly three decades ago. Although since then lot of studies have been carried out in different parts of the world, little has been reported about Indian learning environments apart from some small-scale studies conducted by local students whose work was never published. The study described in this chapter is the first ever large-scale study conducted in Jammu (India) where multiple research methods were used to explore the nature of classroom environments and student-teacher interactions. A sample of 1,021 students from 32 science classes in seven co-educational private schools completed the questionnaires, What is Happening in This Class (WIHIC), Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) and an attitude scale. The quantitative data provided a starting point from which other qualitative methods (interviews and observations) were used to gain a more in-depth understanding of the classroom environments. The findings from the quantitative data were supported by the findings of interviews and observations. It is hoped that the information in this chapter will give readers an understanding of the existing learning environments in Jammu, India.