Document Type
Research Paper
Publication Date
2026
Abstract
Most research related to hospital school programs has focused on adult perspectives (e.g., teachers, administrators, parents, and clinical staff) rather than on the perspectives of hospitalized students. This study examined the education-related perspectives of hospitalized K–12 students (N = 10) who had engaged with the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital School Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Participants completed one semi-structured interview and two short surveys. Sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed, in vivo coded, and thematically analyzed. Despite the challenges associated with hospitalization, participants generally reported equal or greater enjoyment of in-hospital schooling compared to non-hospital schooling. Survey responses revealed that higher levels of reported enjoyment corresponded with greater perceptions of autonomy support from hospital school teachers. Participants identified concerns related to non-hospital schooling, including difficulty sustaining attention and limited teacher support; in contrast, participants described in-hospital schooling more positively, particularly regarding enjoyment and supportive teacher–student relationships. Findings suggest that autonomy-supportive instructional practices may contribute to both academic engagement and social-emotional well-being among hospitalized students.
Recommended Citation
Buck, Hannah, "Student perceptions of the learning environment in a hospital school program" (2026). Brehm Scholars Research. 28.
https://commons.emich.edu/brehm/28