Abstract:

As a passionate educator, I am interested in using art, design and technology to create innovative and engaging learning environments. I believe school classrooms and environments need to be aesthetically designed, to trigger positive emotional attachments to a space. This will allow for understanding, recall and recognition, engagement, problem solving, and communication.

The classroom environment has a powerful influence on learning, and student’s perceptions of that environment can influence their behaviour. If an environment is limited in opportunities for exploration and involvement, the potential for learning is also limited. It is time to abolish out-dated and uninspiring learning environments and provide 21st Century learners with spaces that are interesting, engaging, inspiring and relevant. Classroom's need to be spaces that are interdisciplinary learning resources used to inspire and relate to curriculum through engaging graphics.

It is intended that participants will leave the workshop with an understanding of the factors that affect student's perception of learning environments and how these factors can affect learning. During the workshop, participants will understand the principals to design a variety of educational graphics for a classroom in their school and learn design techniques to enhance spaces in order promote rather than hinder learning. Spaces need to encourage and support interactive, interdisciplinary and collaborative thinking.

Examples will be provided for students to gain an understanding of why and how transforming classrooms into interdisciplinary resources for learning, will provide opportunities to learn interactively and promote high levels of engagement. Using whiteboard and blackboard surfaces, classrooms become exciting and creative environments as students are encouraged to become actively involved in the learning process. Bringing diverse experiences of all students into play during problem solving, increasing the richness of ideas explored.

Keywords:

Inspiration, innovation, creativity, engagement, design, learning, environment, memory, understanding.