It’s the 21st century, and the vibe of change is in the winds of the education system. Classrooms are being visibly transformed after the integration of educational gadgetry of Smartboards and Techbooks. But, other features are also in sync with this change, namely the design of the classroom and the elements it holds.
Technology may be shaping the generation, but the design of a classroom is the first thing that makes a growing child connect to the learning environment.
Here are 10 tips for modern classroom décor.
1. Flexibility and Furniture.
Modern-day classrooms must be flexible as they would host an infinite number of activities that generally fall under a students’ curriculum. Zones must be designated for different activities so that learning curves involved in each activity do not clash.
For example, a “science zone” could be dedicated for experiments and such, while a different zone could be created for collaborative participation.
Felt partitions can be used to segregate different zones and also enhance maneuverability and reconfiguration. Bean bags or oversized pillows will make cozy reading zones plus the capacity to remain connected with the entire class.
2. The art of ceiling craft.
Ceilings are an essential part of a classroom because, according to specific child psychology studies, it’s been proven that children do spend a particular amount of time staring at the ceiling.
Therefore, while implementing a design, you would want the ceiling to impart a sense of a mixture between learning and coziness. Felt ceiling panels could be used to cover the majority of the ceiling. Educational or inspirational posters could be stuck to the wall so that it gives a child something to contemplate about.
You could also go for felt hanging panels with the timetable and maybe multiplication tables for productive and holistic learning.
3. Work the walls
Walls for a classroom should be designed in a manner that is equally conducive to learning and adds a sense of camaraderie as well.
Acoustic felt wall covering could be implemented so that any noise that’s emitting out of a classroom would be kept inside. It would also help in teacher-student communication.
Black felt wall covering would suffice for the walls that would have Smartboards or a blackboard. You could also designate one wall for charts and maybe a point system for rewarding good work and bad work/behavior simultaneously.
4. Colour is every student’s friend
Certain studies have shown that bright colors and a colorful environment impact a student’s learning curve. Walls, ceilings, furniture; everything should set a serious and a flexible one. A student’s cortex, nervous system, and hormonal system are deeply affected by the proper balance of colors, thus, enhancing the productive output and intelligence one can have.
Deep colors like brown and maroon could be used for furniture while bright colors like yellow and blue could be used to spruce up the walls and the ceilings.
5. Consider a light-filled environment
You should know that light is an integral part of a modern classroom. Go for natural and incandescent light in the form of windows and lamps. Studies have shown that this makes students less a victim to headaches and lack of concentration but more productive regarding overall learning when students have been exposed to natural lighting.
The system must be flexible as light could wither be dimmed or brightened to fall in sync with the usage of screens or projectors.
6. An artistic touch
Art should be a compulsory part of every student’s learning. Try and also incorporate ideas of recycling along with the practice of art. Encourage students to bring old plastic containers or old hardbound books which could be recycled to form storage containers and paperweights! If they have old CDs, turn them into art.
It also helps to put students’ creations as exhibits on the walls. Each felt wall tile could be used to displace a particular student’s art.
7. Create writable spaces
A common mistake would be not to let student-oriented writing spaces grow and instead let teacher-oriented ones do. You could increase writing spaces by purchasing inexpensive dry erase-boards or DIY whiteboards that would also bolster the relationship between a teacher and a student.
8. Do not trifle with technology
The Digital Age has set in, and it was quite common and established that a child’s learning should be augmented with technology. Projectors hanging from ceilings and speakers are a must for a holistic audio-visual learning experience.
Smartboards are the status quo while an ordinary blackboard could also suffice depending on the teacher’s temperament.
Learning at the same level and not falling behind also helps to dampen indiscipline of a student. Try to get a common computer with the monitor set in the wall so that students can use the tool at their leisure for learning or recreation.
9. Remove the clutter
As a teacher, it’s paramount to set a tone to make sure that children imbibe correct soft-skills. Classroom remake is half removing things. |
Spend time considering what the student might need and what would be essential to add to the design of the classroom. Certain corners of the classroom could be equipped with waste paper baskets so that the students themselves could inculcate a healthy habit of waste disposal or management.
10. Ask the shareholders.
Well, students are not technically shareholders but they would be sharing a room together, and they should have a say in the décor for their particular classroom. A child could be having problems with certain elements of design in a classroom and should be given a chance to speak out.
At the end of all these suggestions, the tip to remember would be that a classroom should be a balance of learning and comfort. It is all about expanding a student’s comfort zone while ensuring that they grow up to be befitting members of the human race.
