Sustainable Environments in Education: Results on the Effects of the New Environments in Learning Processes of University Students

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1

This paper describes a study on the use of sustainable environments in education, in the specific case, the effects of the smart classroom in learning processes of university students. A well written and organized paper with a very strong bibliographic support. Easy to read and understand addressing a very important topic in the field.

We appreciate your feedback of the style and content of the manuscript and your apology for our contribution to the field of knowledge.

2

What were the different environmental conditions in both classes? Perhaps the type of sustainable environment in both rooms should be mentioned (such as materials, light, temperature, etc.). Some way of quantifying these characteristics (physical environment) and distinguishing them between the two rooms.

In line 69-71, we specify the main environmental conditions considered for the construction of the learning lab.

3

The type of class, the teacher, the subject will also influence the way the student behaves as he participates and how he obtains his visual appeal. Was the same subject tested, with the same teacher, in different classes? and the same teacher, the same students and different subjects?

In line 137-138, we clarify that, within each subject, the professor organized some sessions in LL and some in TC.

4

How are the knowledge obtained by students in these different environments evaluated? and the competencies?

This aspect has not been evaluated, it has been included as prospective for future studies (line 298).

5

In Table 4, the titles are slightly out of step with the values.

We have corrected and aligned the titles in table 4.

6

In line 212, references are not in ascending order.

In line 214, references 45, 46 and 47 are placed in ascending order.

7

Line 321, reference 1 and line 380, reference 27, change "Recuperado de:" to "available at:".

Both errors have been corrected.

8

Line 341, reference 10, and line 402, refrence 36, put the year in bold and remove "pp.".

We have deleted "pp." and reviewed the entire bibliography.

9

Line 418, reference 42, the year appears at the beginning. It's ok?

We have corrected that reference.

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10

When I read the title of the document I thought that the authors were going to talk about Smart Learning Environments, a current trend that is gaining momentum in the TEL community. Instead, the authors focus on physical classroom arrangements. They report an assessment of "smart classrooms" vs. "traditional classrooms" based on student's feedback. I think this paper represents an interesting, but small, contribution. However, in my opinion, several things should be changed:

We thank you for your feedback and appreciations that helped improve our paper. Certainly, the text was confusing before, so we have put the focus on the environment instead of the Smart Classroom.

11

I think it should be very clearly stated what a "smart classroom" is. Is a "smart classroom" defined by its physical arrangement? I understand that this is not the case, as a smart classroom is a methodology, according to the authors. Then, you should clearly state which other changes were done in the smart classroom vs. the control classroom. And, if it was only the physical arrangement, then you are not assessing a methodology, but a physical arrangement.

We have restructured the manuscript to clarify that we focus on physical environments, a dimension of the “smart classroom” model of Segovia, Beltrán and Arias. It is specifically explained on lines 58-71.

12

It is not clear to me what is new in your study. You carried out an experiment and all your results are coherent with what other researchers said long before you. So, what is your contribution? Are you only adding a small piece of evidence to something that is well known?

The contribution to science is that environments improve the processes of participation in the classroom, a fundamental reality in education, and in line with literature. As indicated on line 212-214, we justify the importance of participation in sustainable education.

13

It is not clear to me what is the relationship between smart classrooms and sustainability.

In line 36-40, we point to the goal of sustainable development No. 4 of the UN, which focuses on quality education. With this arrangement of the environment, participation is increased, which is an important element in the learning processes, and therefore in the educational quality.

14

Related to the previous point, I highly suggest you re-structure some sections. The introduction and the discussion sections can be much shorter. You can take out several paragraphs to create a "state of the art" section. Thus, it will be much clearer what is the current state of the art and how you go beyond it.

To speed up and order the reading of the introduction and conclusions, on line 72-133 we have created section “2. State of art: Learning process environments ”. There we have taken and modified several paragraphs of the introduction and the conclusions focused on the state of the matter.

15

It seems that your work is grounded and motivated by some papers that were written 10-20 years ago. It is OK to cite those papers, but I guess that the state of the art has changed quite a lot since then.

To improve this in the state of the art, we have reviewed the literature, updated it and added current sources that are strong support [13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 23, 26, 30, 42].

The references on which this research has been based are maintained, since they are based on an “intelligent classroom” model that has 20 years of implementation in educational environments.

16

"it is necessary to ensure quality education that promotes opportunities and guarantees the principles of equity and equality": this is pretty difficult to be "guaranteed".

In line 14, the phrase is reformulated being less pretentious.

17

"This new approach to education, whose new framework involves building a new path for improving everyone’s lives": this sounds like Smart Learning marketing

In line 52-54, we have rephrased the paragraph, and we have eliminated that quote that sounded very blunt.

18

"education is the necessary medium for living as worthy a life as possible": more marketing

In line 43, the phrase is reformulated being less pretentious.

19

"although few universities have reported on their sustainable performance [13]": nine years have past since this reference was published. In a decade many things have change in higher education.

In line 52, the reference is replaced by new ones that are consistent and relevant to the meaning of the text.

20

"This is the backdrop for Learning Lab, an education project headed by the international expert Stephen Heppell": any reference?

In line 67, Heppell's reference is included [18].

21

"and is part of the smart classroom (SC) model; a methodology that seeks to drive people’s integral and intentional development [14];": so I guess that this project is following the smart classroom methodology... which implies that, according to you, smart classroom is a methodology. There are many people talking and writing about smart education during the last few years, but I guess that you are not talking about the same thing as you are citing a document from 2003. In addition, this document is in Spanish, so the international audience cannot read it.

It is true that we are not talking about the same. Therefore, we have clarified throughout the manuscript the Spanish methodology: “intelligent classroom” of Segovia, Beltrán and Arias. We have also eliminated the term “Smart classroom” so that there is no confusion, and we have replaced it with the “learning lab”, which is the name used for this adaptation of the environment.

22

"a pleasant, comfortable and welcoming setting [15] that seeks to create a veritable learning community so that the true stakeholders of the educational process can learn to acquire the necessary skills to analyse the world around them or make decisions in a 64 meaningful manner.": this sounds nice, but I do not understand what makes a classroom be a smart classroom and what makes a classroom not be a smart classroom.

Both in the introduction, line 58-71, and in the state of art, line 72-133, we have clarified that we focus on the environment, and not on the idea of ​​Smart classroom. We differentiate between what is a traditional classroom (TC) and an adapted environment called Learning Lab (LL).

23

"agents and processes that are part of this original approach [16]": again an old reference in Spanish. I do not know what it talks about, but it has more than 20 years... so I guess it is not so innovative.

The intelligent classroom model was an innovative model 20 years ago, but currently it is still valid and innovative, adjusting to current times.

24

17, 18, 20, 21, 22... are very old references. The state of the art must have change quite a lot in the last 18 years.

We have included updated bibliography in the state of the art [13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 23, 26, 30, 42].