Looking for articles or studies on WHY decorating the classroom is conducive to learning?

Question

i'm teaching a class next semester at a university. the class will teach future elementary educators to be creative in the classroom, and yet it is against the university rules to decorate our room! yes, we have to share the room with other classes, but why should that "punish" our objective?? so i need "back-up" to support my argument for decorating. it will be thematic and colorful. help?

Answer 1

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Answer 2

This report based on findings from UC Davis looks pretty promising:

"The Classroom: Physical Environments That Enhance Teaching and Learning (An Investigation of the Teaching/Learning Environment at the University of California, Davis)"

http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.po...

Answer 3

I also taught at an university.   The university rules must be followed.  I used Power Point for most of my classes and put photos of colorful rooms in the slides.   Color isn't everything, however.  A well-organized classroom is more important.  Some teachers put way too much clutter on their walls. Visual learners can become confused with too much getting their attention.

Have the students make bulletin boards on folding display boards.  Give them some guidelines to make the board both attractive and substantive in terms of instruction.  That's better than your decorating a room for one class.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I like Wibber's idea.  Just have them decorate those tri-fold poster boards or something.  I've never seen any studies about why decorating a room is conducive to learning though.  The only thing I've seen is that there should be a "free" wall where there's nothing on it.  It gives the eyes a chance to relax.

Plus, no offense, I'd rather learn about creative ways to present lessons instead of creative ways to decorate my classroom.