ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Considering that, environments with information and communication technology innovations, including educational institutions, are providing more interaction among individuals anywhere in the world and contributing to higher learning flexibility, it is necessary to pay extra attention to the radiation dissipated by technological equipment in these environments. OBJECTIVE: Investigate whether the behavior of the globe temperature (tg) in relation to the air temperature (ta) could affect the performance of students in information technology laboratories (ITLs). METHODS: The methodological procedures adopted consisted of the following analyses in six institutions: thermal variables - mean radiant temperature (trm) and (tg-ta); students' performance and architectural elements. RESULTS: ITL G was the ITL with the highest incidence of thermal radiation, thus a mathematical model was proposed for this sample to determine whether (tg - ta) and trm are related to overall student performance (Dt). For each increase of one degree in the difference between the globe temperature and the air temperature (tg-ta), the students' performance in the institution G decreased by approximately 29%. CONCLUSION: As well as productivity can be altered due to changes in air temperature in air-conditioned teaching environments, in this specific case, if tg> >ta, possibly the thermal radiation may interfere with the performance of the people present in the environment technological innovations of communication and information.
