Tutorial homes and coaching centres often turn out to be bitter, distasteful learning spaces, especially for students who have to spend up to 30 hours a week in the room. After a full day at school to spend another two-three hours in a coaching session is stressful by itself and this is where we need to think creatively. Sensitivity in planning the decor of a tutorial home can do a lot to create a less stressful ambience and a better, more productive learning place. The interiors should address: a) the functional requirements and b) the psychological needs of the students and teachers.

Functional requirement: Have furniture systems that can adapt to the changing classroom sizes, occupation volumes and age profiles. Modular chairs with writing desks and under-seat baggage trays are the favourite. They make the space less rigid and claustrophobic. Tutorial classrooms generally have free communication and open discussions, increasing the relative noise level. A simple acoustical treatment would help regulate this noise. Fabric blinds, fibreboard false ceiling panels and fabric panels are ideal. To enable detailed work, the blackboards in tutorial homes should be larger and longer. If space is a constraint, blackboards or writing boards can be put up on two faces of the rooms. Poster panels and soft-boards are also needed at a higher level in coaching homes as they have to be visible to a heterogeneous mix of students.

Illumination in the classroom should be adaptive to OHP (overhead projector) presentations, blackboard work and multimedia presentations. This flexibility would also help reduce the number of rooms needed. Tutorial homes are often good workplaces for groups. A reference library with a couple of round tables could be an added facility for better involvement. A personal counselling room could be a necessity. Students often find it difficult to manage their personal life and time. Studies can take a real toll on the students. A well-equipped and informal arrangement of sofas could provide them with a space to unwind. Don’t compromise on the essentials: put in a self-service coffee and tea dispenser, distinct toilet facilities, baggage station and a small waiting area.

Psychological needs: Create an ambience that will revive the spirit of learning and study that will invoke self-confidence to speak up and ask. A classroom layout that enhances eye contact of the faculty with the students is ideal. Difficult task schedulers and lengthy learning timetables are often intimidating. Remove these from the notice boards and use simple handouts instead. Students often face problems getting oriented to a new pattern of learning at coaching centres. Often the fear of competition induces psychological stress. In such instances, the peer group working method helps boost confidence levels. So dividing the classroom into small groups to solve problems would need highly flexible seats. The colour scheme should stick to browns, creams and beige. This invokes self-confidence and better communication.

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