A Creative Classroom

IDEO - Photo by Steve Hall

I recently posted about the type of things I would want to have in my classroom.  This then evolved into what is actually my classroom for the upcoming school year.  Some of my ideas were given the thumbs down (hanging chairs from the rafters in lieu of a couch reading area and painting the tops of the desks with write-on IdeaPaint, moving out the desks all together in lieu of large collaborative tables) and some ideas didn't make it into my limited 'out of my own pocket' budget. I like how the classroom is shaping up (check back for photos soon!) - the addition of 14 little people and their work certainly helps - but what if we were really able to think outside the box?

Some of the most successful companies in the world attest that their work environment is the breeding ground for the creative ideas put forth by their employees and it was just one year ago that creativity made it to the top of the ranks of leadership competencies as identified by 1,500 CEOs in the marketplace.  

So why not think like these wildly successful companies who have cleverly 'married' art and science, fact and fiction, creativity and imagination and productivity when designing the spaces that students work in?

In reading the article What Schools Can Learn From Google, IDEO and Pixar I first loved that the creative genius behind these workspaces had strong connections (Steve Jobs) with Apple. Surprised?  I wasn't.  Just spend a minute looking at the places they head off to every day and you'll want to join them - no matter how much you love your current job!  The following videos offer you a tour of Pixar and Google - just amazing! 

 

 

 

 

 

I know a lot of people will have 'legitimate' concerns about the impact this could have on students in negative ways (although having worked with kids for 15 years I think that in addition to the tone set by the physical environment, the tone set by the teacher in conjunction with his or her students is equally vital, if not more so, for the success of the classroom), however I think providing a more thoughtful, stimulating environment has way to many pros to be dismissed as frivolous.  At our grade level, we offered students the choice of a school chair or an exercise ball (brought from home) to sit on.  About a third of my students have opted to take the route of having a ball for a chair. Some are still sourcing their ball and some don't care what they sit on so the chair will do them fine. This is hardly ground-breaking stuff but the point is, they had a choice.  And in the end, who doesn't appreciate getting to choose how their environment looks? And if changing it up also encourages collaboration, creativity and communication amongst 'our future', isn't it worth it?

Comments

[Heather]

How do I get a job at Google?! It looks like such an awesome place to work and be inspired!