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This article is about the ways that we can better design our classrooms so that our students can get the best education possible. The belief that uniformity in lighting and color choice was debunked by Fielding. He maintained that it was critical to have a some different lights, with the brightest in the center. Furthermore, he argued that it was important to have windows for children. He pointed out that some people believe that the windows would cause distraction. However, he argued that it was vital that students had a connection to the outside world. The windows offer that opportunity.
He also pointed out that it was important that colors found in nature and human tones are the best kinds of colors to be used in the classroom as well. Those are the colors that are best for young children and they help them feel more at ease as well. What is interesting about this article is that we have to pay close attention to how we design our classroom. Every small nuance within the classroom can positively or negatively impact the children. Careful selection of colors, posters, desk arrangement, and so on must be planned by the teacher in order for the students to get the best education possible.
We must take this one step further. When designing the online classroom, we have to be smart in our selection of colors. We have to make sure that the sites we create (whether blogs, wikis, or so on) are inviting to the students and make use of a warm color palette. If we do this, then student learning in the online community will be enhanced as well.This was an interesting article as it made me think about the tiniest details of my classroom. We must always remember that the smallest of things make the biggest of differences in the education of people.
Fielding, Randall. “What They See Is What We Get: A Primer on Light.” 1 March 2006. Web. Edutopia.org. 31 July 2011. < http://www.edutopia.org/what-they-see-what-we-get >.
Well I’m going to send this article to our superintendent! The majority of the classrooms in our school are interior. No windows. I travel from room to room during the week and have one assignment in a classroom with windows. What a difference it makes to the atmosphere!
ReplyDeleteThe selection of colors used in the online classroom is important as well. I participated in MOODLE course design where the presenter, Anne Thorpe, stressed the importance of color selection. In addition to selecting warm inviting colors for the overall site, she noted that we need to consider color blindness when selecting font color
That was very interesting about considering color blindness. Being a specials teacher, I do not always have that type of information about a child.
ReplyDeleteI also find that after I give directions and students move to their stations they calm down when I turn the lights out. My windows provide ample light. This really keeps the volume down and the heat lower. Computers get very warm after being on all day.
I have also heard that it is important to leave a blank "white" spot for students who need to focus can look at. When a room has so much to look at, it is believed that this space helps pull them back.
Very interesting post and responses. It was an ah ha moment for me. I have always heard the instructions about different colors in homes, work, and classrooms but I never tied it to online classroom sites.
ReplyDeleteI also would like to send this to our people who are responsible for designing offices and classrooms. We get the oh so beautiful cream color in every office and every classroom. It is boring and not very inviting. People need color in their lives.
I hate fluorescent lighting. If I want a space to be warm and inviting, I want to use incandescent lights. It has long been my belief that the type of lighting can really change the mood of the class, but the administration of my school is against lighting that needs to be changed regularly and costs more in electricity. If I want lamps in my classroom I'm on my own and have to maintain them. It is a small cost to make my classroom feel more home-like.
ReplyDeleteSorry, just had to vent about lighting...