Educational posters are a deceptively simple teaching resource which can have a huge impact in the classroom - if used to their best advantage. The reason that these materials are 'deceptively simple' is that it can be very easy to get it wrong. If not used carefully, educational posters become background wallpaper which does nobody any favours! Fortunately, we've got some great tips to help you make them work well for you...
1. Looks DO matter
When it comes to the educational posters you use to inspire your students, looks really do matter. We know, it probably should be that the inspiring content of the poster is enough to make it great, but if your they don't look good, they're not likely to attract any attention or to improve the appearance of your classroom.
1. Looks DO matter
When it comes to the educational posters you use to inspire your students, looks really do matter. We know, it probably should be that the inspiring content of the poster is enough to make it great, but if your they don't look good, they're not likely to attract any attention or to improve the appearance of your classroom.
Many studies conducted over the past 60 years have shown that visually unappealing rooms can have an extremely negative effect on mood, which can also affect the performance of students. According to Maslow & Mintz 1957, unappealing rooms create feelings including fatigue, discontent and a desire to escape.
With this in mind, is it any wonder that a bright, colourful classroom, full of carefully designed, visually appealing educational posters, is more likely to be a happy and inspiring place to learn?
2. Be fussy
Don't just hang any old thing on your walls. Educational posters need to be relevant and need to do the job they were designed for. A poster which has little relevance to what your students are working on is only going to be a distraction, so keep the subject matter fresh and useful. Meanwhile, a badly designed poster with too much text, baffling illustrations or unclear fonts is of no use to anyone. It may cause your pupils to squint and get distracted during teaching time, but they are not likely to learn much from it. With this in mind, always ensure:
Text size is readable from a reasonable classroom distance
Images are large enough to see clearly and pique interest
There is not too much text, leading to confusion or a cluttered look
3. Ring the changes
Variety is the spice of life and this is no different when it comes to educational posters. If left in the same place for too long, the posters blend into the background and become 'wallpaper'. By chopping and changing your poster display every few weeks, you can keep your walls fresh, interesting and inspiring too! Keeping up with the changing syllabus is also important so, once you're done with a topic, replace related educational posters with new ones that cover your new subject!
Article Source: Steve P Morgan
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