environments
Creative classrooms Find out how schools around the world are reconfiguring their environments to engage students and improve learning
INTERIOR DESIGN An immersive experience David Heath, an IB Diploma Programme history teacher at the Bavarian International School, near Munich in Germany, has turned his whole classroom into a learning experience. “I focus on ensuring my students feel history and not just articulate it,” he says. “The flags (pictured below) are a key way of achieving
this. The onslaught of colour in my classroom creates an immediate reaction from students. The seams and stitches of such old flags add an extra dimension to my class, which gives students a subconscious awareness of the traditions and history that went into making such symbols.” Do you have a passion or hobby that you could use to create an innovative learning space for your class?
“I focus on ensuring my students feel history and not just articulate it” negative connotations? Consider each age group, and how they Studies have shown that the choice of colour respond to colours: younger children, for instance, prefer bright warm colours. used in school buildings can have a massive The use of each space should be reflected impact on student behaviour. Misuse of in the colour scheme: colour can have orange and yellow undesirable effects, just inspire activity in a as spaces that are gym, while calming devoid of colour have blues are ideal for been shown to cause meditative spaces and irritation and difficulties libraries. Learn more in concentrating. about colour theory at When choosing a www.designcouncil. colour scheme, think org.uk/publications/ about your school’s Use colour creatively the-impact-of-schoollocation and culture. Do learningany colours in particular to make an impact environments/. have positive or
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The chair necessities There’s so much more to school furniture than desks and chairs. Telefonplan School in Stockholm, Sweden, which opened in 2011, has put innovative physical spaces at the heart of its curriculum. There are no classrooms here, but a series of spaces that were designed by Rosan Bosh Studio to encourage students to think creatively, explore new ideas and collaborate with their classmates. The opportunity for group work is balanced with areas for reflection and private study. Every area offers the potential for students to learn through technology – whether standing up, sitting or lying down – and to pursue learning in a relaxed way.
Studiomode/Alamy; www.123rf.com; Rosan Bosch Studio
Arcaid Images/Alamy
Colourful spaces