Outdoor Classroom
Title: Reagan High School Outdoor Classroom
Size: 48.26 cm wide x 73.66 cm tall (x2) Medium: Two Printed Posters Date of completion: April 2023 |
- Exhibition Text -With the intention of reworking a classroom set up in order to create a more engaging room for students and teachers alike. Creating two posters that show the process and coming up with a solution to the problems within classrooms.
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- Inspiration -
When looking for inspiration for this project I knew what I was looking for, someone who used shapes to make things interesting. So when I ran into Frank Lloyd wrights work I already knew it was a perfect match, the way he was able to make fun designs was intriguing to me. My favorite works of his is the "The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum" Its so unique and just fun to look at. It definitely keeps your attention and doesn't make you bored
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- Planning-
After a while of brainstorming ideas for this class room It hit me that kids like their privacy and they like working with friends. So I wanted to include a way for kids to be able to study separately with friends in an area where they would be comfortable. Although I had to make sure that the teacher in charge of the classroom would be able to see all the kids so I had to find a way to make where the kids have privacy while still allowing the teacher to keep an eye on things. So my Idea was to make these circles in the room where they had an opening that faced the middle of the room where the teachers desk would be. The sides of the rooms would be deep enough to separate them but wide enough to let the teacher see inside. At first my original plan was to use squares but then I thought it would look all weird and ugly so I changed it to circles which I liked a lot more.
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These were some of my Seating Ideas that I made. On the left these seats were meant for students individually while on the right was meant for a class as a whole. For the individual seats I wanted to make sure that the seats were comfortable since the seats that are currently used in the school hurt and are uncomfortable. For the seats for a whole class I used the bleachers in gyms as a reference, although I made some safety changes.
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Once I was finally comfortable with the idea that I had I went ahead to make a more readable sketch. Here you can see that all the study sections that I like to call study cubbies are all made in equal size and spaced well. The openings too all the study cubbies are wide enough for the teacher but not wide enough where you can see most of other groups. In the middle of the study cubbies there would be round tables similar to the ones we already have in our courtyard. In the middle we have the teachers desk, I thought that all teachers should have a lot of space since they need to keep track of a lot of things so I made it longer then a normal desk to give them the space.
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Here you can see the tables where the students would be sitting in while in the study cubbies. They all would have a large umbrella covering the students so on a sunny day students won't get burned, and if its unfortunate to rain then the students and their papers won't get soaked. On the seat I decided to do a mix of my original two sketches since they both had good parts to them while also having some parts where it would be a bad move to use. Having wheels on a chair where students sit wouldn't be for the best since it can be distracting and in some cases dangerous. While the round chair I feel like it wouldn't be comfortable for some people and would cause some problems. In the end this table should be able to fit in 6 people at each table since there are 6 study cubbies in total.
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Once I had all my ideas organized I went ahead and made 3 final drawings in 3 different perspectives. Having 3 different perspectives would give a clear understanding of how the classroom would be shaped.
-Critique-
With in my work you can see a lot of similarity's between my work and the work of Frank Lloyd Wrights. The main simulacra is that there are no sharp corners and rather using rounded corners. Frank uses an interesting design that keeps your interest since its fun to look at.
You can also see that there are some clear differences within the works as well. Compared to Franks work you can see that his buildings are enclosed while my work doesn't have walls being more free.
You can also see that there are some clear differences within the works as well. Compared to Franks work you can see that his buildings are enclosed while my work doesn't have walls being more free.
-Reflection-
When working on this project I had a hard time really trying to understand what makes a room work and what changes it. I needed to understand everything that negativity effected a classroom because if I didn't I would be doomed to repeat it. This out door classroom really challenged me to think about the needed of others and made me think about years later. I knew in order to be successful I need to have something that would work for years later on. In the end I although I had a lot of problems and had difficulty I enjoyed the experience.
-ACT Questions-
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
In my art you can see that the shape is creative just like my inspiration.
2. What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
I believe he would see that the design is fun.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I had to learn about what keeps the interest of people and how to make a room that engages.
4. What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?.
Brain simulation.
5. What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
My inferences were that people need a place that isn't boring in order to properly work.
In my art you can see that the shape is creative just like my inspiration.
2. What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
I believe he would see that the design is fun.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I had to learn about what keeps the interest of people and how to make a room that engages.
4. What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?.
Brain simulation.
5. What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
My inferences were that people need a place that isn't boring in order to properly work.
-Citations-
The Guggenheim Museums and Foundation. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2023, from https://www.guggenheim.org/