For starters, while writing or illustrating on the white board in front of the classroom I could use different colored dry-erase markers (red, green, and blue) in addition to black to put specific points across to emphasize important points that would make the students feel more stimulated about the lecture. Red will get their attention, but green and blue -- being more soothing colors -- will add 'cooler' variety.
I also will more frequently pin up illustrations of the current assignment from past demonstrations that I have done, past student work, and examples printed off from the Internet. I would follow that up with a PowerPoint which has more complexities and do my usual drill of putting out Prismacolor markers, black and grey markers, a panoply of colored pentils, and computer paper.
Playing opera music or jazz in the background is something that I have done routinely, as of late, and it really sets a nice comfortable tone for the classroom.
My answers to this question have been geared to the Sketching for Interior Design class that I am teaching.
Greetings Marisa!
Congratulations to you for being as creative as possible under the circumstances/limitations of your classroom. It certainly sounds like the students are gaining from your creativity.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
In my personal case, I have no control over the classroom I'm assigned. The walls are white an unfortunately the projector screen covers the entirety of the white board (which ticks me off!). The seating consists of rows of tables w/ chairs & the room is quite tight so I cannot change the seating arrangement. Soooo, w/ these limitations, I've been trying to get creative w/ color in my power point slides. I try to use colors that compliment and aren't too bright or loud. I also try to keep in mind that students may be colorblind, so using greens or reds are limited. I incorporate related graphics & photos as much as possible in my lecture slides too. I use various colored pens to correct papers (instead of just red) & as a fun "reward" for my students, A papers get stamped with asmiley face stamp. The students seem to LOVE this and strive to get the smiley stamp on their assignments...it's quite funny to hear them brag about their stamps!
I teach artisan bread baking. The parts of the brain that are engaged change depending on whether we are learning new materioal, reviewing prior stuff, or compare/contrast two things we worked on earlier. I use sheet of baking parchment paper with the concpets, formulas, and directions written in large, colored markers. The left side of the bakeshop is where all the new stuff for the day goes. The right wall is for stuff from yeasterday, to make sure everyone has gotten to copy, review, or whatever it.
The front is for concepts that build on one another as the course progresses. The back is for "reference" typs stuff such as icon descirptions, vacabulary, math equations for calculating how much water goes in the baguettes, fo example, and stuff like that.
Each wall is a different color(s), so students always know subliminally how to use the information during their daily activities.
The students love it. They cluster around in small teams to discuss stuff they don't recall well, they quiz each other on techniques, and in general, use the walls as their brains.
Where did I learn this? In the bakeshop where my mentor taught me how to bake bread. And here's my shameless pug--the whole story is in the intro to my book How To Bake Bread: The Five Families of Bread(r). Available on Amazon. Thanks for letting me type that.
All the suggestions in the lesson were interesting. Colored paper for different assignment types is the easiest to try first. I would caution people who want to burn candles or incense to make sure they don't set off the automatic sprinkler systems:)
Since my class room is a kitchen it has to stay clean and sanitized, therefore I bring in colored markers and books with pictures that are related to the subject or handouts that are in color as well.
Towards the end of the 3 week sessions I play music to get the students more motivated.
On the plus side, I can and do use colored markers for writing on the whiteboard.I find it very helpful for highlighting, emphasizing, and differentiating concepts for the students. On the minus side, the school provides us with only four color choices. I will consider buying additional colors on my own.
I usually rely on the overhead projector for visuals because i am constantly moving from classroom to classroom.
It's like camping: "pack it in, pack it out".
I will try using music in the classroom. It is something I tried years ago and have been meaning to try again.
Now's the time!
I would love to use music in my classroom but being an arts college it is not possible plus I am teaching math and they need to concentrate. Personally choice of music could be difficult to address in the class and I prefer working in a quiet environment but I could see when it could benefit the students. I use different color markers to lecture which helps the students. If I am changing a method I change the color to emphasize the important. Majority of my student are visual leaners.
Changing the seating is a big challenge at my school. I have successfully done so in the past but must have everything back as it was and we have very heavy tables. Currently I am working on some colorful visuals, (posters & outlines) which I hope will work well as the subject matter can become very technical and it is an evening class. I also plan to incorporate music into the group exercise sessions
I like the idea of using music to improve the learning environment. However, I don't know if I am using the right approach as I allow my students to listen to their own music when doing independent assignments. As another colleague mentioned in a post; instructors at our college do not have much input into seating. In fact, in one classroom, I was actually facing the students' backs. I like using creative supplies such as different color markers if I write on board, or stickers to put on student's assignments.
What about using music to teach ratios and fractions. All the beats to music are mathematically assembled and are assigned with in the note of music.
What about engaging students in the
Fibonacci(sp) Numbers and showing them that everything in nature has a mathematical rhythm.
Mixing colors involves ratios.
Just a thought. These might be fun facts and engage the students.
I love quotes. My students create a quote about this class on their last exam; I ask them to give me an "attention getter" for the class. If it is bulletin board worthy, it goes on the board for eveyone to see. Some of the quotes: "There is Power in Simple Things", "I Love. Dream. Breathe the Sound of Dishes" "We have lips and tongues that we have used since childhood. Verbal Communications turns them into a Samuri Sword" These are just a few.
As far as music goes, sometimes I will get all the students up and have them walk around to different kinds of music. I will call out a name and everyone will follow the dance moves of that person. Eventually everyone has a moment to shine up front and center while everyone else becomes their backup dancer. It is really energizing. You have to gauge how long to have someone take center but it is very empowering. They have already done some pretty whacky exercises in this class so they go along with the flow.
Ww also do a creative speech where we brainstorm and decide on a product that would benefit the culinary arts but has never been done before. They have access to crayons, markers, colored pencils, construction paper, cardboard, playdoh and what ever they bring in. It really gets them thinking. After they present, we talk about how new ideas can be created.
My seating can change from time to time. When we are talking about the term "CENTRAL MARKERS" I re-arrange the tables before they come to class and they come in and take a moment and decide where they should sit. At some point we talk about creature comforts and suggestions are made to get out of the creature comfort mode. That same day we talk about perception and self awareness.
This module was very helpful, due to the fact that I teach art which is very stimulating.
Now, I will take it to the next level. All tests will be in pale blue and I will make sure students face each other in a variety of situations. Using a flip chart with scented markers is a great idea! To end the day, energizing music with lavender scented spray to calm and keep learner focused will be incorporated for future classes.
There's not much we can do about the colors of the room but supplying peripherals to increase visual stimulation, plus playing music before class starts are excellent ways to engage students.
So do I. I think sound is particularly interesting since so many of our students are constantly "listening" on headphones, etc.
I will give it a try.
Margaret Bennett
I use MANY images to facilitate the learning process. I rely on print handouts, Power Point Presentations, different colors of markers for the white board to aid retention.
I let my students listen to music during lab sessions (MP3 players).
We re-arrange the tables to make the seating more learning/teaching conducive.
I make sure not to overwhelm the students with too many colors/fonts on PP slides.
It is work in progress. Always something new to introduce to my classes.
Good morning Richard!
Very typical classroom. I don't know why education for adult learners can't be more fun! But so much depends on budget and some unimaginative person in charge. But I believe educators are beginning to see the value of color in classrooms, having a classroom more conducive to learning where music, color and group interaction can take place.
I like the idea of making PowerPoint presentations more appealing with color and sound, etc.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
Thanks Margaret!
It sounds as though you and I are on the same wave length! I, too, like color, creating a collaborative learning experience and not letting tables be barriers to learning activities. I haven't got the music thing down yet - but am working on it. I like the idea!
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
Our classrooms are a lovely shade of generic off-white. The desks are wood-tone particle-board. The carpet is industrial. I use the room one evening a week so redecorating is out of the question. My Powerpoint presentations could include colors with more visuals and maybe some animation with sounds. One problem I'm seeing here is that I'm color blind so some of my choices may not be what most people would choose. Music would be nice during quizes. I could rearrange the desks and chairs but the room has to be left in the same configuration I found it so rearranging and then dearranging at the end takes time so its probably not practical.
Jane, as we have learned color is very important to getting the attention of students. Colors that are too strong may be distracting,but colors that work are gray, blue, and green. I have also found that using colors helps me do a better job of keeping handouts separated. For example, it could be a good idea to use green for collaborative learning experiences, blue for other outside assignments, etc. I really love the idea of using music; It did that in secondary school but have not tried it in college. I will. Seating changes are a challenge with large tables that we have. However, our chairs roll around and I have students move around for groups, etc. Last week I gave students in one class colorful folders to use for their final papers. I think it added an appreciated touch and encouraged them to be professional. I let them select their own colors.
I think using markers and 3 by 5 cards to generate ideas or to help students remember important points can also work well.
Those are a few!
Margaret Bennett
