RESEARCH SUMMARIE FOUR

Title

Alternative educational methods for teaching traditional art and architecture to Romanian children raised aboard

PUBLICATION TYPE

Peer Reviewed Journal Article

Design Issue

The primary purpose of this study was to analyze the Romanian culture and determine if learning architecture and interior design can help children connect with their culture more. Researchers determined that a large portion of Romanian and Italian children do not live within their own culture, and they often travel aboard with their parents to various countries; therefore, they lose valuable connections to their culture and their practices. Children thrive on the ability to explore, play, and participate in creative experiences. They require forms of active participation and application to be able to completely understand a concept. Through learning architecture and design, children can utilize these abilities and their imagination to enhance their knowledge of their own culture.

Methods

The researchers in this article, utilized several methods to conduct their study. They first preformed research on the population of children from Romania and then analyzed the percentages related to the number of children living outside the culture. After completing this research, they designed a workshop titled, “The Little Architects.” During this workshop children learned about Romanian architecture and design through videos, images, and lectures. After learning more about the culture’s design practices, they had the opportunity to decorate and design a house based on what they had learned. Finally, they analyzed the students work and determined the key factors that were utilized in all the children’s designs.

Findings

Through this study researchers confirmed that architecture and interior design does have significant influences on a child’s development. With the help of architecture and design, we can begin to help solve issues in a unique way for children of all backgrounds and abilities. In relation to this study, design was found to help children strengthen their national identity. Researchers discovered that by using the Romanian architecture and design techniques, as a way to educate children about their heritage, children were more receptive to learning the content. It also helped the students with their ability to apply what they saw and heard about through a creative form. When designing their homes, almost 92 percent of the children incorporated the Romanian flag or the colors that make up the flag. Researchers also noticed that students utilized the color green, leaves and other natural elements to decorate their façade. Through this study, it is evident that architecture and design can play a major role in a child’s development. It can also be utilized to help educate children on various topics that might not seem interesting initially.