Smart Environmental Monitoring Pilot: Effects on Student Productivity via Surveys and Sensors

This study investigates the impact of temperature and humidity on student well-being and productivity using a Raspberry Pi-based environmental monitoring system. Conducted as a pilot project within a single semester, this research deployed sensor kits across six different campus locations to collect real-time data on ambient temperature and humidity conditions. Simultaneously, a survey was administered to gather self-reported data on students' feelings and productivity in relation to the recorded environmental conditions. Utilizing chi-square tests to explore the relationships between these environmental factors and students' self-reported feelings and productivity, our findings indicate that while there are trends suggesting optimal environmental conditions, the results were not statistically significant due to the limited sample size and the brief data collection period. The study highlights the importance of moderate environmental conditions, with preliminary data suggesting that certain temperature and humidity levels may influence student comfort and cognitive performance. However, the lack of significant findings underscores the need for extended data collection over multiple seasons and with a larger cohort to enhance the reliability and generalizability of the results. This pilot project lays the groundwork for more comprehensive studies aimed at optimizing learning environments to support student success, emphasizing the importance of automating data collection processes and expanding the sample size to better understand the impacts of environmental variables on educational outcomes.