This week, I have been working on how to design an innovative classroom environment that helps students develop creativity and become passionate about their learning.
Every time I see students disengaged in the classroom, I wonder how we can make learning a joyful experience where learners become creators instead of passive consumers. I always think of the excitement kindergarten students have about going to school. They are motivated, ready to absorb knowledge, and active. There is something about their classrooms that make their experience more attractive as well. Kindergarten classrooms are mostly a space filled with fun activities, different learning materials, and visual aids. We all know that this is what younger students need to feel welcome and succeed at school. However, this approach might also work for older students. Why would it happen if we designed more classrooms like this with different spaces where students are comfortable and eager to learn?
A study published by Vanhemert in 2013 showed how a classroom design could positively or negatively impact the student’s academic year’s progress. According to the paper, there are six parameters that affect the learning process: color, choice, complexity, flexibility, connection, and light. Choice, for example, refers to the importance of appropriate furniture in the classroom to enhance active learning. In my experience as a paraprofessional, I noticed that hard surfaces on chairs and tables could definitely interfere with students’ engagement. Investing in classroom furniture is essential if we want to help students enjoy their experience at school. It is something that will foster positive behavior and even will improve their posture when sitting down.
For some school districts, changing furniture to ergonomic chairs and tables is not an option. If this is the case, we need to find other classroom distribution strategies to improve the atmosphere. Some ideas to have a positive climate in the space could include:
Create a visually stimulating environment relevant to the class content that could be used during instruction and activities: word wall, maps, and picture charts to enhance students’ understanding.
Provide active learning opportunities by allowing students to use visual aids during class instruction. For example, activities where learners need to stand up, rotate, work in small groups and use the information, pictures, or charts on the wall.
Set up the classroom in different ways according to planned activities where students can move around the room (row of desks facing the walls when using technology, u-shape desk arrangement for discussions, or rows and columns for traditional teaching).
Classroom design
I work with students in different classrooms. Some classrooms are bigger and have open spaces where they have more freedom to do certain activities, while others are crowded, making the interaction between students and teachers more passive. The following is a design I created using HomeByMe of one classroom where I spend most of my time. It is a small room, and there are 23 students. In this classroom, students usually have to use their devices to complete assignments after instructions. One of the issues I noticed is that it is difficult for the teacher and other paraprofessionals to move around the classroom and give feedback to students or help them during class.
“Classroom” by Camila Mendez is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
I feel that this classroom could improve by removing some visual aids, furniture and organizing chairs and tables. I tried to make these few changes and this is how it looks when decluttering walls and redistributing the space a little bit:
“New classroom” by Camila Mendez is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
Although it is important to add some visuals in the classroom, choosing the appropriate amount of materials is essential to avoid oversaturating the space. Too much visual stimulation could disrupt students’ attention and be distracting, especially for younger learners. “Some educators warn against excessive use of sensory stimulation in primary-grade classrooms (e.g., Tarr, 2004; Thompson & Raisor, 2013). Montessori (1949) encouraged teachers of young children to have sparsely decorated classrooms”. Godwin and Fisher (2014).
Transforming the classroom into a space where students feel invited, comfortable, and can focus is one of the best ways we can help them become active individuals who discover their abilities and understand the purpose of learning.
Sources
Godwin and Fisher (2014). Visual Environment, Attention Allocation, and Learning in Young Children: When Too Much of a Good Thing May Be Bad. Psychological Science. 25(7):1362-1370 https://doi-org.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/10.1177/09567976145338
Vanhemert, K. (2013). Study shows how classroom design affects student learning. Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/1671627/study-shows-how-classroom-design-affects-student-learning.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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