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| My classroom 2011-2012 |
Big Question #1:
Is there such a thing as classroom interior design?
The obvious answer, of course, is yes. There are design elements in classrooms. One only has to go to the nearest teacher store to witness first hand the answer to that. But a quick google search of "classroom interior design" opens up a bunch of websites that offer "tips" on ways to add elements of design to your classroom but fail to explore theoretically the space as it is: a room of intention, where function, aesthetics and transparency collide.
A short search on "living room interior design" highlights that the design of living rooms has adapted to the design of that time. Think of the "modern living room" or "mid-century modern living room" or "the arts and crafts living room" and so on. Have classrooms had a similar mirroring of current design trends? You could design your classroom to reflect this design style but there doesn't seem to be any correlation between a current design style and its evidence in a classroom. How have classrooms largely evaded design trends?
I am not an interior designer. That much is PAINFULLY evident. A 10 minute Google search isn't enough to answer the question: Is there such a thing as classroom interior design? Maybe it exists and I need to do a lot more research. Maybe it doesn't....
Maybe it should.
There are certainly companies out there in the marketplace that promote a specific aesthetic: Playmobil, Community Playthings, FisherPrice....I guess my question would be, "Are these aesthetic choices based on a thoughtful/research-based approach to child development or are a company's aesthetic choices simply a means of branding or distinguishing oneself in a crowded commercial space?" Do those preprinted Teacher Store purchases exist because someone determined that children associate those symbols with learning, or do we hang up pictures of apples and books because it's what we as adults think represents "school"? I feel like you have so much space here to explore....perhaps a child focus group would be helpful...
ReplyDeleteHi! Hope you are well! Just wanted to direct you to the work of Carol Weinstein, an Educational Psychologist at Rutgers. I'm not sure if you are familiar with her work, but she has published a lot on the physical environment of schools and classrooms that might be of interest to you. This is a very interesting topic and I wish you luck on your adventures!
ReplyDeleteKevin, I sent them an email with many of the questions that you posed. I'll post about it when/if they respond. Great idea. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMonica, that is exactly what I'm looking for. Thank you so much for the guidance and I hope you're doing well, as well. I would love your further input and perspective so please subscribe if you want.