Ideas from Fall 2022

Idea List

CiSpIre brainstorm/ideation

Idea Pages

Actionable Insight #1:

Help Students And Teachers Feel More Energized

Pedal Exerciser

This pedal exercise system can help students and teachers feel more energized. Due to its size, this device can be placed under the desks and tables and not take space in the classroom or be in the way of students and teachers when moving around the classroom. This device can help students stay active and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Yoga Space

A yoga space can be implemented into the learning space so that students can have a space where they can relax, stretch and take a break from long lectures. This space can help students regain energy and focus. Some pieces that can be used in the space are bean bags, yoga mats, and yoga balls which can also be used for seating.

Snack/Beverage Cart

Students and teachers may lack energy because they do not have enough food in their system. Having an area in the classroom dedicated for snacks and beverages will help students build more energy and regain their attention. This area can be small with carts that can be moved around and a stationary mini fridge to keep drinks cold. Students can get their snacks/food and go back to their seats. This space can be expanded to a lounge area where students can take a break and eat their snacks and relax in comfortable seating such as bean bags.

Yoga Ball Chairs

The body naturally and continuously utilizes core muscle groups to maintain balance while sitting on one due to the instability of the ball. To stay sitting on the ball, you must move around constantly. And even a little movement aids in their concentration. This benefits persons who have ADHD as it improves concentration, reduces hyperactivity, and lengthens the amount of time spent on a task, in a chair, or on a ball.

Add more BLUE

Blue is more effective in difficult learning scenarios. You can also use blue paper, blue ink, or blue underlining to help with reading comprehension. According to research, boring classrooms and learning environments can make people feel anxious, upset, and even afraid. Furthermore, a lack of color can lead to agitation, exaggerated emotional reactions, attention problems, and annoyance.

Actionable Insight #2:

Help Students Be More Engaged

Whiteboard Tables

Whiteboard tables can help students write quick ideas and notes or solve quick math problems without needing scratch paper. These tables can be used so students can draw quick doodles and be creative. These tables can also be used to personalize the space of students and do individual work or they can be adjusted so that they can be used by small groups or large groups in a way that they can be engaging to them.

Change Standard Lecturing

Instead of having the teacher lecture for the whole class time, have short lectures pre-recorded (around 20 minutes) for students to look over before class. Then use class time to answer questions in class using interactive learning devices like clickers.

Project-Based Learning

Instead of taking Exams every couple weeks there should be weekly projects. Projects help students connect the material they have learned to the real world, effectively helping the students understand what they learned. While projects simulate real-world experiences, tests are artificial and don't replicate any scenarios that one might encounter in the future.

Class Pets

A class pet can teach children important values like compassion, empathy, respect, and responsibility for other living things, as well as give them much-needed leadership skills and stress relief.

Outdoor Classroom

Have a day in the week where students have class outside. The benefits would be on student mental health and academic performance. Students are often calmer and better able to focus when learning in nature, and teachers have reported better behavior and social interactions with fewer disciplinary issues.

Different Class Schedule Opportunities

Create different class times, one in the morning, afternoon, and night so that students and teachers can create their own schedule. This can help students in clubs, band, sports, and jobs (high school).

Virtual Pet

Today kids are involved with games in one way or another and incorporating it into school can help engage students to be more involved. There can be options where kids own a virtual pet. They have to complete certain assignments or learn new concepts to get the pet more accessories or new furniture. They can feed the pet by doing everyday quick studies. Being a part of clubs or sports can also get you different accessories for their virtual pet. Students can share and see other students pets.

Actionable Insight #3:

Personalized Spaces

Student Cubbies/Lockers

Having personalized cubbies or lockers for students gives students a space where they can place their personal belongings such as backpacks and personal learning tools they may need such as sensory tools. Placing their backpacks in an locker or cubby can reduce the number of distractions from using their cellphone. Keeping backpacks out of the way can help reduce the number of accidents such as falls. These cubbies can be used to store textbooks and graded assignments among other things personal to the student.

Student/Teacher Carts

Teachers will most likely share a classroom with other teachers so they will need somewhere to place their belongings such as bags and course textbooks. They may also have to move from space to space so having a cart to move their stuff can help not have to carry everything. These carts can also help them stay organized and have a personalized space

Furniture that can seperate sections off in classrooms

Like in hospitals where there are curtains on the ceilings to block off sections. The same can be applied to classrooms with moveable walls that allow sections to be blocked off. The biomimicry center has examples of this and it can be made out of sustainable material.

Modular Furniture

Create seating that can serve multiple functions. A space a student can create for their comfort, feeling safe and included with the rest of the class. A desk that is equipped with a built in white board, sections to cut off from others, cup holders, and options to stand up while learning.

Actionable Insight #4:

Cozy Environment

Actionable Insight #5:

Unique Learning Experience

Changing the Grading System

Students feel overwhelmed with trying to maintain a certain GPA or feel pressure from parents. We already have the ACTs and SATs to determine college scholarships and other scholarships. Forgetting the grade system and incorporating a form of novice-master grading. Instead of receiving a grade students are told the level of mastery they have with a subject. The next week is spent catching kids up with the concepts they didn’t understand. This can ensure students actually understand the information rather than memorization. Students move on once the concept makes a certain amount of sense to the student. Helping students learn rather than punish them for not understanding.

Actionable Insight #6:

Appealing Interior Spaces

Natural Light

Bright blue light exposure throughout the daytime increases mood, alertness, attention, and vitality. According to studies, exposure to natural light enhances students' conduct, attendance, and exam performance. Our bodies manufacture more vitamin D when exposed to natural light, which also enhances our circadian rhythms, sleep patterns, attention spans, productivity, and overall happiness. Getting enough of this essential resource is crucial for both our physical and mental health.

Actionable Insight #8:

Real Life Lessons

Onsite Therapist

Having a trained professional onsite to deal with the emotions teenagers face at younger ages. Can give kids a space to deal with and talk about their emotions rather than trying to process new information on their own.

Evaluation Tool

CisPire Concept Evaluations

Top Concepts

The top ideas that were found from using the Evaluation tool were Different Class Times, Whiteboard Tables, Pre-Recorded Lectures, Furniture that can Separate Sections in the Classroom, and Unique Learning Experiences.

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