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October 26, 2010 Carolyne Kellner and George Latos, Providence, RI 5th grade ESL By: Carolyne K. from Lincoln, RI Comments: 29

October 26, 2010

Carolyne Kellner and George Latos, Providence, RI 5th grade ESL

By: Carolyne K. from Lincoln, RI
Comments: 29

COMMENTS

Posted By: Carolyne Kellner On: 9/26/2006 12:47:19 PM George's class and I are meeting first thing Monday mornings. We start off each class with students bringing in an example of "good" and "bad" design. George and I do this together, which is unique for me, since usuallly teacher's take their breaks during this time.
Posted By: George Latos On: 9/26/2006 12:55:02 PM It's also new and different for me because I've also left the art teaching to the experts. This is new to me because I"ve always thought art and design were the same thing.
Posted By: Carolyne Kellner On: 9/26/2006 12:57:14 PM The funny thing is you have to break it down for the kids. For example, art you don't touch...but with design you do! Art is pretty. Design has a purpose and a function.
Posted By: George Latos On: 9/26/2006 1:01:19 PM My class is enjoying finding objects that exemplify good, or bad, design and discussing the features and benefits of each object.
Posted By: Barbara Nikoomanesh On: 9/27/2006 12:01:22 PM Good for you Carolyne and George! Isn't teaming wonderful? I feel that you can bring different insights in to a lesson when you are teaming with someone from a different area. I will expand on my own conversation board.
Posted By: Franc Leo On: 10/14/2006 8:59:33 AM Carolyne and george! great activity, guys. I really think that this activity constantly creates a discussion or debate that reflects each students' perspective, and each one is unique!!! this must generate many more ideas and designs that fit or conform to each personality that is involved in the activity. Great, really interesting!
Posted By: Aruna Arjunan On: 10/15/2006 2:59:34 PM I like this as a starting point for introducing the topic of design in the minds of students. I'm sure many of them have never given much thought to the topic. At least, that is what i found with my learners! I am still struggling with how to show them the "importance" of it. I love this idea!
Posted By: Franc Leo On: 10/20/2006 3:42:00 PM Teaming for teachers is a great resource. Focus on individual needs are met with more efficiency.Great move guys!!
Posted By: George Latos On: 10/31/2006 1:56:42 PM Our classroom conversations on other subjects sometimes include a spontaneous comment on design. Once, the retractable screen retracted on its own, surprizing us all. When we all settled down, a student commented "bad design." Likewise, while on a trip to Slater Mill, we watched a machine make argile sock tubes; another student remarked that it was good design. So it seems design thinking is on their minds now.
Posted By: Barbara Nikoomanesh On: 10/31/2006 3:40:08 PM George, That is really exciting when you have your students noticing design outside of the classroom. Hopefully with enough discussion, all of our students will start critiquing the design of everything around them.
Posted By: Lisa Liu On: 1/7/2007 7:20:56 PM Carolyne and George- what criteria do you use for "good" versus "bad" design? Is it up to the students to explain or do you come up with a some criteria as a class first?
Posted By: Carolyne Kellner On: 1/13/2007 3:31:13 PM In response to: Good Design Vs. Bad Design We let them come up with it themselves, but we guide them with plenty of examples...for instance we had three types of chairs in the classroom, a kiddie one, a stool, and a teacher's chair. We discuss how the design effects its specific purpose. We discuss the horrendous parking garage at the local mall (bad design)... it is tricky because they are 5th grade ESL learners and we had to get clear on the definition of design itself. They thought that design was decoration. You decorate with a design!! The first question they get is: "Does it solve a problem?" Students were bringing in from home jewlery, things that were "decorated" and missing what was design. The second question is: "Does It Work?" Does the item successfully fufill its objective? Again, this is personal but it gets the children to articulate good vs. bad design
Posted By: Lisa Liu On: 3/28/2007 5:24:54 PM I can see objects having an answer of "yes" to both questions of solving a problem and it working, but it still be a "bad design." Is there a way to evaluate it is works WELL? How well something works seems to be more subjective. Also, I'm curious as to what kind of things the students have bought it really showed an understanding of design (as oppose to the jewlery).
Posted By: Lee Sappingfield On: 4/2/2007 11:59:35 AM We have had many discussions about good design vs. bad design. One thing I like the kids to focus on are the characteristics. For example it does not help to hear "that is bad!" of 66/100. It is helpful to hear "Symmetry is strong on the left side or great use of bulleted lists." We have our kids critique other students work on paper. They list 2 things they like about the design and 2 things they would do to improve the design.
Posted By: Donna Sharpe On: 4/3/2007 10:18:38 PM What a terrific project - how has it developed over the course of this school year? It sounds like an incredible opportunity to develop the vocabulary of your ESL students using their every-day environment.
Posted By: sudha singh On: 6/14/2007 9:02:06 PM Our school is brand new, and has been designed by an architent who acknowledged how she hated her school , so she deliberately designed our school as learner friendly . We sit in a fish bowl where we can be seen by everyone at every time. When the learners were given an initial tour they were explained the significance of the school design. Today , they are the ambassadors of the school and conduct guided tours for the incoming visitors , pointing out and explaining the rich design elements that exist in our school. They have compared their new school design to their old school design to see the differences and how it impacted their learning , behavior, and emotional well being. I wouild love to have them do what the good and bad designs that they notice on a daily basis as it is a great way of consciously developing an awareness of design around their day to day life and how it has an impact on learners' way of thinking and aesthetic sense.

Posted By: Carolyne Kellner
On: 9/26/2006 12:47:19 PM

George's class and I are meeting first thing Monday mornings. We start off each class with students bringing in an example of "good" and "bad" design. George and I do this together, which is unique for me, since usuallly teacher's take their breaks during this time.

Posted By: George Latos
On: 9/26/2006 12:55:02 PM

It's also new and different for me because I've also left the art teaching to the experts. This is new to me because I"ve always thought art and design were the same thing.

Posted By: Carolyne Kellner
On: 9/26/2006 12:57:14 PM

The funny thing is you have to break it down for the kids. For example, art you don't touch...but with design you do! Art is pretty. Design has a purpose and a function.

Posted By: George Latos
On: 9/26/2006 1:01:19 PM

My class is enjoying finding objects that exemplify good, or bad, design and discussing the features and benefits of each object.

Posted By: Barbara Nikoomanesh
On: 9/27/2006 12:01:22 PM

Good for you Carolyne and George! Isn't teaming wonderful? I feel that you can bring different insights in to a lesson when you are teaming with someone from a different area. I will expand on my own conversation board.

Posted By: Franc Leo
On: 10/14/2006 8:59:33 AM

Carolyne and george! great activity, guys. I really think that this activity constantly creates a discussion or debate that reflects each students' perspective, and each one is unique!!! this must generate many more ideas and designs that fit or conform to each personality that is involved in the activity. Great, really interesting!

Posted By: Aruna Arjunan
On: 10/15/2006 2:59:34 PM

I like this as a starting point for introducing the topic of design in the minds of students. I'm sure many of them have never given much thought to the topic. At least, that is what i found with my learners! I am still struggling with how to show them the "importance" of it. I love this idea!

Posted By: Franc Leo
On: 10/20/2006 3:42:00 PM

Teaming for teachers is a great resource. Focus on individual needs are met with more efficiency.Great move guys!!

Posted By: George Latos
On: 10/31/2006 1:56:42 PM

Our classroom conversations on other subjects sometimes include a spontaneous comment on design. Once, the retractable screen retracted on its own, surprizing us all. When we all settled down, a student commented "bad design." Likewise, while on a trip to Slater Mill, we watched a machine make argile sock tubes; another student remarked that it was good design. So it seems design thinking is on their minds now.

Posted By: Barbara Nikoomanesh
On: 10/31/2006 3:40:08 PM

George, That is really exciting when you have your students noticing design outside of the classroom. Hopefully with enough discussion, all of our students will start critiquing the design of everything around them.

Posted By: Lisa Liu
On: 1/7/2007 7:20:56 PM

Carolyne and George- what criteria do you use for "good" versus "bad" design? Is it up to the students to explain or do you come up with a some criteria as a class first?

Posted By: Carolyne Kellner
On: 1/13/2007 3:31:13 PM

In response to: Good Design Vs. Bad Design We let them come up with it themselves, but we guide them with plenty of examples...for instance we had three types of chairs in the classroom, a kiddie one, a stool, and a teacher's chair. We discuss how the design effects its specific purpose. We discuss the horrendous parking garage at the local mall (bad design)... it is tricky because they are 5th grade ESL learners and we had to get clear on the definition of design itself. They thought that design was decoration. You decorate with a design!! The first question they get is: "Does it solve a problem?" Students were bringing in from home jewlery, things that were "decorated" and missing what was design. The second question is: "Does It Work?" Does the item successfully fufill its objective? Again, this is personal but it gets the children to articulate good vs. bad design

Posted By: Lisa Liu
On: 3/28/2007 5:24:54 PM

I can see objects having an answer of "yes" to both questions of solving a problem and it working, but it still be a "bad design." Is there a way to evaluate it is works WELL? How well something works seems to be more subjective. Also, I'm curious as to what kind of things the students have bought it really showed an understanding of design (as oppose to the jewlery).

Posted By: Lee Sappingfield
On: 4/2/2007 11:59:35 AM

We have had many discussions about good design vs. bad design. One thing I like the kids to focus on are the characteristics. For example it does not help to hear "that is bad!" of 66/100. It is helpful to hear "Symmetry is strong on the left side or great use of bulleted lists." We have our kids critique other students work on paper. They list 2 things they like about the design and 2 things they would do to improve the design.

Posted By: Donna Sharpe
On: 4/3/2007 10:18:38 PM

What a terrific project - how has it developed over the course of this school year? It sounds like an incredible opportunity to develop the vocabulary of your ESL students using their every-day environment.

Posted By: sudha singh
On: 6/14/2007 9:02:06 PM

Our school is brand new, and has been designed by an architent who acknowledged how she hated her school , so she deliberately designed our school as learner friendly . We sit in a fish bowl where we can be seen by everyone at every time. When the learners were given an initial tour they were explained the significance of the school design. Today , they are the ambassadors of the school and conduct guided tours for the incoming visitors , pointing out and explaining the rich design elements that exist in our school. They have compared their new school design to their old school design to see the differences and how it impacted their learning , behavior, and emotional well being. I wouild love to have them do what the good and bad designs that they notice on a daily basis as it is a great way of consciously developing an awareness of design around their day to day life and how it has an impact on learners' way of thinking and aesthetic sense.

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